The best Apex Legends guns are the Nemesis Burst assault rifle and the Volt SMG, with the Hemlok and R-301 close behind for steady mid-range damage. Below we rank the top weapons in each of the seven classes, so you can build a loadout that holds from close quarters to long range.
The ranking is our opinion, and balance patches move things around every season, so treat it as a starting point rather than a fixed tier list. Any gun works with enough practice. Your Legend matters too, so read our Apex Legends character guide before you lock in a pairing.
Assault rifles
1. Nemesis Burst
Our pick for the best assault rifle. It fires in four-round bursts and charges up as you shoot, so it ends up close to full auto without you having to mash the trigger. It stays accurate from the hip and through the scope, which makes it the easiest rifle to learn on.
2. Hemlok Burst
Slightly lower damage per second than the Nemesis, but you can switch fire modes mid-fight and its ammo economy is better. Good for ambushes, and worth a try even if you dislike burst weapons.
3. V-47 Flatline
The hip-fire and close-quarters rifle. It hits hard and has loyal fans, but it is harder to control if you are new, and it is a poor choice for headshots at extreme range.
4. HAVOC Rifle
It behaves like an SMG in a rifle frame. With a Turbocharger and a good optic it is fun and fast, but it is more of a high-risk pick than the three above.
5. R-301 Carbine
The old reliable. It copes with longer ranges better than the Flatline and has gentler recoil. It ranks fifth only because the class is so tight, not because it is bad.
Submachine guns
1. Volt
An SMG that still works at range, with low recoil and strong damage. Like the Nemesis, it rewards you the moment you pick it up.
2. Prowler Burst PDW
Huge damage per second, but its five-round bursts and small magazine punish missed shots. Strong once your tracking is solid.
3. Alternator
The movement player's SMG. Spread is easy to manage and it holds accuracy at mid to long range, though total damage can lag.
4. C.A.R. SMG
It takes both light and heavy ammo and gets an extended magazine with either. Versatile rather than special.
5. R-99 SMG
Hip-fire changes hit it hard. The recoil is difficult to live with and the damage trails the others.
Light machine guns
LMGs are the weakest class as a group, but the top two earn a slot.
1. L-Star EMG
Surprisingly good up close. You never reload it, and the overheat is a fair trade for steady hip-fire damage.
2. M600 Spitfire
The mid-range LMG. Strong at full fire rate, with the usual slow reload.
3. Rampage
A rev-up LMG that gets silly if you hold a thermite grenade to overcharge it. Close to the L-Star up close, better at distance.
4. Devotion LMG
Weak without a Turbocharger and at least a stabiliser. With them it becomes one of the fastest-firing guns in the game.
Marksman rifles
1. 30-30 Repeater
Wait for the charge while aiming and it deals great long-range damage. Do not be caught holding it at close range.
2. G7 Scout
Once the top marksman rifle, now behind the Repeater. It is a forgiving semi-auto for mid-range accuracy.
3. Triple Take
Three barrels fire in a spread that tightens when you aim. Slow, with bullet drop, but handy against campers and tight corridors.
Sniper rifles
1. Sentinel
The steadiest long-range option. High damage, small clip, and easy to practise with.
2. Kraber .50-Cal
A bolt-action that lives on headshots. Harder against fast movers, and sniper duels with it are memorable.
3. Longbow DMR
A semi-automatic sniper with more ammo to play with. Best treated as a marksman rifle for distant targets.
4. Charge Rifle
The railgun. Hard to learn and hard to master, but a useful tool for improving timing and aim.
Shotguns
1. EVA-8 Auto
A full-auto shotgun that is excellent for cleaning up in the endgame.
2. Mastiff Shotgun
Easy to pick up and hits hard. A case can be made that it is the top shotgun.
3. Peacekeeper
A lever-action with high impact. It rewards aiming down sights, which is rare for a shotgun.
4. Mozambique
Its history is all over the place. Range and magazine changes have left it well behind.
Pistols
1. Wingman
The best pistol by a clear margin. Damage, accuracy and strafing all work, and it makes a fine secondary.
2. RE-45 Auto
Plays like an SMG. Worth using when you find it in a care package, mostly for finishing injured enemies.
3. P2020
Semi-auto with little to offer. You need precise trigger timing to get anything out of it.
Picking your loadout
A reliable pairing is one burst or auto rifle, such as the Nemesis, plus a Wingman or shotgun for when things get close. Learn one gun per range and stay with them for a few weeks before chasing the next patch. Players who also want help with aim can read about our Apex Legends cheat, though none of this software is risk free, so look at live status before you queue.