Apex Legends revolves around the mix of character abilities and gunplay. While the Season 4 character tier list highlights the strongest Legends in the game based on their abilities, this weapons tier list is going to break down the must-have guns and the ones that are better left in the bin due to their damage, skill curve, and overall power. There are plenty of weapons in the game, with more being changed and added every season, so the list has shaken up quite a bit since Season 3.
This tier list breaks down every weapon in Apex Legends, showcasing their strengths and weaknesses. Ranking is based on performance without any special hop-ups though the hop-ups will be mentioned in their respective weapon's breakdown.
S Tier
Devotion - One of the biggest changes in Apex Legends Season 4 is the removal of the Devotion from the standard loot pool, instead having it be a Care Package weapon. Respawn reworked the weapon to always have the Turbocharger effect, as well has a a tier 4 barrel stabilizer, making the new Devotion an absolute powerhouse. The gun carries three magazine's worth of ammo which is more than enough to wipe a few teams with proper strategy. Overall, the Devotion is better than ever, but just a bit harder to obtain.
L-Star - The L-Star is this season's surprise hit for sure. This Energy LMG used to be a Care Package exclusive, but now it's readily available in the loot pool after the Season 4 patch. What makes the L-Star so powerful is that it never needs to be reloaded. The gun has an overheat mechanic, so as long as players are not firing it for long periods of time, the gun will never need to reload. The L-Star's large projectiles make it lethal at close range, and many players are using it as the new weapon to rush teams with. Whether it will stay this powerful remains to be seen, but for the moment, the L-Star is at the top of the list for standard weapons.
A Tier
Kraber - The Kraber still remains one of the best weapons in all of Apex Legends thanks to its ability to down (almost) anyone in one shot. It finds its best use in the hands of a skilled marksman who can line up those headshots to quickly dispatch a team, but the slow reload on it punishes those who can't consistently hit their mark. The map changes in Season 4 did little to mitigate the long sight lines on World's Edge, so players with a Kraber will be able to hit targets for quite a distance as long as they can factor in the bullet drop.
R-99 - As to be expected, the R-99 continues to dominate at close range (or medium range if playing with a mouse and keyboard). If a player can master controlling the R-99's rough recoil then they will be able to dispatch nearly anyone in their way. The only drawback to this gun is its incredibly high ammo consumption. Players will likely want to run a Shotgun or Sniper, so they do not have to worry about carrying much ammo for their secondary weapon. Aside from some minor magazine changes, the R-99 remained virtually unchanged in Season 4 thus cementing its place at the top of most lists.
Prowler - The Prower SMG is perhaps one of the most slept on weapons in the game. Even without the Selectfire Receiver, the Prowler is vicious in its damage output. Since the weapon is a 5-round burst gun, it can be devastating at close range engagements. The gun even got a buff this season to its base damage-per-bullet, so it's even better than before. Toss on the Selectfire and players essentially have an R-99 using heavy ammo, but players will do just fine without it. While in burst mode, the gun can tag targets further away, boasting a range that is uncharacteristic for an SMG.
R-301 - The R-301 is quite easily the most reliable workhorse weapon in Apex Legends. Featuring a easy-to-control recoil and a surprising range, the 301 is remarkable at both close and long-range engagements. With the ability to switch between full-auto and single fire with proper attachments, the 301 can poke enemies at longer ranges (with devastating damage if equipped with the Anvil Receiver) while still being able to melt down people at close-range. Toss on a 2x-4x sight on the 301, and it can cover an incredibly range for an Assault Rifle, making it a must-pick for many players.
Flatline - The heavy counterpoint to the R-301, the Flatline is a solid powerhouse weapon that can be used all game with little worries. It's moderate rate-of-fire helps it keep up with the speed demons of the R-99 and Prowler, but it is more effective at longer ranges thanks to its single-fire mode. On top of that, the Flatline is also capable of using the Anvil Receiver to further buff the single fire mode. While it struggles against the R-99 at point-blank, from further away other players will certainly be in trouble.
Peacekeeper - Despite the constant nerfs to the Peacekeeper, this gun still manages to be a staple for many players at the moment. The Peacekeeper obliterates anyone in close range as long as players can land the majority of the pellets. The star-shaped burst pattern means that a majority of the shots hit the body while some are almost guaranteed to hit the head if aimed properly. If players stumble upon a Precision Choke, then the Peacekeeper becomes more precise essentially when fully charged. The gun is still incredibly powerful, though sometimes inconsistent in its damage.
Mastiff - Last up in the A-Tier is the Mastiff, the last of the Care Package weapons. This hard-hitting shotgun fires in a horizontal line unless aiming down sights which condenses the pellets. This gun can absolutely decimate anyone nearby. During the Grand Soiree's Gold Rush mode, fans got to really have some fun thanks to the high spawn rate of the Mastiff. The gun is perfect for hunkering down and holding a building inside the Ring or for pushing a team in close-quarters. Overall, it's an extremely powerful gun that rightfully belongs in the Care Package.
B Tier
Wingman - Everyone's favorite pistol, the Wingman, has seen quite a few changes in the past couple seasons. Season 4 brought a rework to the Wingman's extended magazines which is a bit of a nerf with higher-tier mags. The Wingman now has 5 rounds in the magazine by default, with a level 1 mag bringing it to 6. Level 2 magazines have dropped from 8 to 7 while Level 3 magazines dropped from 10 to 8. While this is a big change for most players, those with great skill with it can make the most out of those 8 shots. However, it's even more punishing for those who cannot consistently hit shots with it.
G7 Scout - The G7 got a pretty unique change in Season 4, no longer being classified as a sniper but instead as an Assault Rifle. The change makes sense as the G7 is certainly more of a marksman's rifle as opposed to a full-fledged sniper. Now, the G7 uses assault rifle attachments which seem to be much easier to come by. Regardless, this gun can pump out some serious damage thanks to its high rate of fire and great range. The gun performs exceptionally well even without its Double Tap Hop-Up, but the Hop-Up can be useful for fighting close-range targets.
Spitfire - The Spitfire excels at one thing: burying people in bullets, and without any extended magazines, the Spitfire can hold 35 shots. With a tier 3 magazine, it can hold 55. On top of that, the Spitfire deals great damage per bullet, making it ideal for those who want to lay down suppressing fire or to ensure someone doesn't survive an engagement. It's ideal against tough opponents like Gibraltar as it will quickly dispatch his Gun Shield and then his (Fortified) health. Players partaking in the Apex Legends' Valentine Event may want to give this weapon a shot since it's easy to take down two opponents without having to reload.
Hemlock - This burst-fire Assault Rifle is more than meets the eye. While it deals impressive damage in burst mode, it can also shred through people in single-fire. The single-fire mode on the Hemlock actually got a rate-of-fire buff in Season 4 that makes it even easier to quickly burn through opponents. Whether using burst or single-fire, the Hemlock is a solid choice for any sort of engagement in Apex Legends.
Triple Take - The Triple Take is a powerful, hard-hitting sniper rifle that is actually very strong at both close-range and long-range battles. The spread without the Precision Choke can be a bit rough at extended battles, but for most targets in the gun's effective range, it will do just fine.
Longbow DMR - The Longbow has long been a fan-favorite due to its decent rate of fire and strong headshot multiplier. If a player can nail headshots, then the Longbow will serve them very well. Without the long-forgotten Skullpiercer Hop-Up, it doesn't hit quite as hard as it used to, but it's still deadly for players who have decent accuracy.
Sentinel -The Sentinel is the new sniper in town with Season 4, introduced alongside the new sniper ammo type. The Sentinel is a powerful bolt-action sniper that can hit like a truck in the right hands, and players can even expend a Shield Battery to grant the Sentinel Disruptor rounds that will deal bonus damage to shields. The main drawback with the Sentinel is its slow rate of fire, making it ideal for long-range engagements but it struggles at close-range.
EVA-8 - The EVA is a solid shotgun, and being full-auto makes it a great contender for close-range engagements. However, it gets pushed down so heavily because the Peacekeeper is so powerful. In a Peacekeeper vs. EVA fight, the Peacekeeper will more often win that engagement. However, if no Peacekeeper can be found, the EVA is sure to be a great companion weapon that will certainly come in hand when fighting up close and personal.
C Tier
Havoc - The Havoc has dropped a bit in popularity and use in Season 4, and understandably so. The whole idea of the Havoc revolves around spinning the gun up before unleashing a torrent of bullets. However, the Turbocharger was used to mitigate that spin-up which made the Havoc so popular. Now that the Turbocharger is gone, soo to is Havoc's viability in high-pressure engagements. Many guns will out-damage the Havoc by the time that the Havoc has spun up, making it a poor choice for endgame fights. Playing Gibraltar may help a bit since he has hefty damage resistance and his Gun Shield to offset the free shots enemies get during the spin-up.
RE-45 - The RE-45 is the only full-auto pistol in Apex Legends, essentially making it a handheld R-99. However, the limited magazine size makes it hard to contend with other SMGs while the damage-per-bullet makes it hard to contend against the Wingman. The RE-45 is great for melting people close-range by surprise, but if they start firing first, then a different weapon would be more suitable.
Alternator - The Alternator is a solid workhorse SMG which does not rely on the player having a solid understanding of recoil patterns to make use of it. It's great for close and medium range engagements but lacks the sheer damage output of its A-tier counterparts. It's a great early gun game or for the player who doesn't want to fight their own weapon to earn a kill.
Charge Rifle - The Charge Rifle was the weapon added alongside Season 3 and is significantly weaker than it was during that season's launch. While the Charge Rifle has incredible range, it still eats a ton of ammo without actually putting out that much damage. It's a solid sniper when examined in a vacuum, but when compared to the other options, it's better to choose those instead.
D Tier
P2020 - The P2020 is the last of the pistols in the game, and it's pretty lackluster without the Hammerpoint hop-up. The gun may fire quickly, but if players who want a fast-firing pistol will do better with the RE-45. Overall, the P2020's base damage leaves much to be desired, and without the Hammerpoint Rounds, it's better left on the ground.
Mozambique - Rounding out the bottom of the list is the infamous Mozambique. This shotgun pistol holds three shots and has a three-pellet burst. However, the gun is painfully weak for its very limited magazine size, which desperately needs increased. The Mozambique in Titanfall 2 was leaps and bounds better than the Apex iteration, whose only saving grace is the Hammerpoint hop-ups which make it far more viable. Hopefully in Season 5 (or the mid-season split in Season 4 when players return to King's Canyon) the Mozambique will get the buff it truly deserves.
The loadout variety in Apex Legends is incredibly diverse and truly makes every game different. The great thing about many of these weapons is that even if they are lower tier, combining them with another weapon may create a fantastic loadout. There are also the hop-ups that will add an extra kick to certain weapons. While Apex Legends needs to change some major things in 2020, Season 4 is sure off to a good start.
Apex Legends is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.