The Nemesis is coming to the Apex Games in season 16, which will be the first new gun added to Apex Legends since the CAR SMG back in season 11. At the time, Respawn had said that it didn't need to add a weapon every season and would instead focus on adding guns that brought something to the meta. For the CAR SMG, that was a unique weapon that could utilize different ammo types; for The Nemesis, it is to add some needed variety and rivalry to the workhorse ARs, the R-301 and Flatline.
The R-301 has been a popular mainstay in Apex Legends since the pre-season period, and while the Flatline has fluctuated in popularity, both are effective at mid-to-close range combat. They are the go-to for many players, and shaking that up won't be easy. However, at the very least, The Nemesis presents players with another option, aside from the Havoc and Hemlok.
The Nemesis is a four-round burst energy assault rifle with an automatic trigger, meaning the gun will rattle off shots as long as it is held down. Consecutive use of The Nemesis, however, results in the delay between bursts being reduced; the more players use it, the faster it is. This delay burst will last through reloads, as long as players are consecutively using it in this time period, and with this in mind, it is capable of dealing lots of damage. Otherwise, Apex Legends fans can also expect the standard array of attachments for it: a barrel, an extended magazine, a stock, and an AR optic.
The Nemesis is a big change for the weapon meta in Apex Legends, but it's not the only one coming this season. The R-301 is seeing a slight nerf in damage, down to 13 from 14, and ARs at large are seeing a nerf to their hip-fire accuracy. The Volt SMG and the Longbow will go into the crafter this season, while the Hemlock is entering the Supply Drop with a significant buff. Furthermore, Apex Legends is adding new Golden Shotgun bolts to the game, which reloads the weapon when players are sliding, and players will be able to add stocks to the Peacekeeper and Mastiff.
All in all, Apex Legends season 16 is signaling a major meta shift. Not only are weapons getting significant additions and changes, but with every Apex Legends character getting reworked to some degree, fans may find the Apex Games a little different this season.
Apex Legends is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.