Season 5 of Apex Legends is upon us and while there may be no new weapon this season, plenty has changed in the meta to warrant an updated weapon tier list. As with every season launch, Respawn has tweaked some values on several weapons and moved some spawns around to completely revitalize the increasingly stale weapon meta, and with these changes in mind we are going to break down the best and worst weapons in the game currently. It is worth noting that this tier list is evaluating each weapon based solely on its individual power, right off the ground. Hop-ups will be mentioned, but are not factored in when determining the weapon's tier. With that in mind, let's break down the best weapons in Season 5.
S Tier
Havoc - Despite a slight nerf this season, the Havoc manages to reign supreme in Apex Legends in the current meta. The Havoc doesn't need any attachments to perform well, and if an enemy snags one right from landing then it's pretty hard to combat against. Boasting a magazine size of 32, and a relatively easy-to-control recoil, the Havoc is just all-around powerful. Season 5 saw a slight increase to the Havoc's recoil but that was not nearly enough to dethrone this powerhouse weapon.
Devotion - The Devotion used to be a standard weapon, but one of Season 4's biggest changes was removing it from the standard loot pool and adding it to care packages. This powerful LMG can absolutely melt people from close or mid-range (if players can master the recoil). The spin up time is drastically reduced thanks to it having the properties of the Turbocharger attachment, so unlike the Havoc there is virtually no spin-up time. Overall it can absolutely decimate multiple people before having to reload, making it great for final-ring engagements.
Peacekeeper - Season 5 brought a massive change to the Peacekeeper, taking it out of the loot pool and tossing it in care packages just like the Devotion. To make up for this, the Peacekeeper only got stronger. It was already one of the most powerful weapons in the game, but now it is absolutely brutal. This "shotgun" basically doubles as a sniper that specializes in ripping off enemy shields. It's a phenomenal weapon that will serve players well no matter the engagement.
A Tier
Flatline - The Flatline has always been one of the better weapons in Apex Legends. It has a higher base damage than its light ammo cousing the R-301, but has a harder-to-control recoil to make up for this. Thankfully the Flatline is a fairly easy gun to get the hang of, and it is powerful in any player's hands - you don't need to be playing the best characters in Apex Legends to make use of this gun. It also does not need many attachments (due to the removal of Anvil Receivers this season). Overall it's a solid weapon with little drawback, perfect for early and late game.
R-301 - Few guns feel as smooth to use as the R-301, and it only gets smoother as players find attachments. Even without a barrel stabilizer, the R-301 can hit shots fairly consistently - but if players manage to snag a Level 4 Stabilizer then the gun turns into an outright laser beam. But considering the gun without attachments, the R-301 is a great pick, much like the Flatline, for its use at varied ranges, as well as its reliability. The R-301 is a work horse weapon and it'll treat you right all match.
R-99 - The R-99 is one of the most infamous weapons in Apex Legends. This bullet-hose of an SMG may burn through ammo, but it can melt enemies with ease if players can hit their shots. It's definitely easier to use on PC thanks to the recoil being slightly easier to control, but even on console this gun can shred opponents at close ranges. Some players can even melt enemies from medium ranges if they can master the recoil of this weapon. Overall if a player works to master the R-99, few guns will outperform it.
Sentinel - The Sentinel sniper rifle was the new gun added with Season 4, and since then it has received a couple buffs that have really brought it into the spotlight. While this gun has a slow rate-of-fire, it can 2-tap enemies with the proper accuracy. And to make up for players who may not have Twitch-pro level accuracy, the Sentinel can be charged with 2 shield cells (this action used to cost a shield battery, but was changed in Season 5) to activate Disruptor Rounds. These rounds guarantee a shield break on enemies that are hit by the Sentinel. This gun can be deadly with proper team coordination and is only made more deadly by the recent change from shield battery to shield cells.
Mastiff - Formerly a care package weapon, the Mastiff is now part of the standard loot pool much to the delight and dismay of many players. This shotgun still hits like a truck at close range, and is made even better if players find a shotgun bolt. But even without the shotgun bolt, the Mastiff can easily tear enemy shields off at close range, making it the perfect gun to pair with a P2020 with Hammer Point rounds. It's a gun that rewards high-aggro playstyles, and it's made its home in the preferred loadout of many players.
Kraber - The Kraber has always been the go-to sniper for those with spectacular accuracy. The Kraber is the one gun in the game that can instantly down any legend (Except the all-powerful Gibraltar with a gun shield) so long as players can hit a headshot. It's not an easy task, which is why the Kraber is in A-tier and not S-tier, but it's still powerful enough to keep it at the top of the list.
B Tier
G7 Scout - Whether players are just running around Apex to look for treasure packs or to take on competitive, the G7 Scout is a great weapon to take with you. This weapon packs a surprising punch considering it is a light weapon, but the Scout can be quite effective at various ranges depending on the sight attachment. If players ca master the Scout's bullet pattern, then it will serve them well no matter what range they are engaging the enem.y
Hemlock - The Hemlock assault rifle is by default a 3-round burst weapon, but can switch between single-fire and burst. While Burst Fire is fun, a single-fire Hemlock can be an absolute powerhouse gun. Toss a 2x-4x sight on that and it essentially turns into a sniper rifle. It can also be fired essentially as fast as a player can click, making it absolutely devastating at nearly every range. It's a gun that many ignore, but it certainly shouldn't be.
Prowler - The Prowler is the only Heavy SMG in the game, and by default it is a 5-round burst weapon. While many sleep on the Prowler without the Selectfire Hop Up, that 5-round burst can pack a punch and should not be ignored. Yes, it turns into a monster with the Selectfire, but without it the Prowler can still be a formidable weapon at close-to-medium range.
Spitfire - The Spitfire is not nearly as good as it used to be, and that may be a good thing for many layers. While the Spitfire's single-shot damage may be low, the Spitfire specializes in pumping out an obscene amount of bullets. Featuring a base mag size of 35, this gun is a great oppression weapon - keeping enemies from pushing through a hail of bullets. The Spitfire's damage is nothing to laugh at, but it could be better. But if that were to happen, then the mag size may need to be reduced to keep balance - but where's the fun in that?
L-Star - When the Devotion was moved to the care packages, the L-Star was removed from them and added to the normal loot pool. While the L-Star is listed as an LMG, it is essentially a glorified shotgun. The L-Star's large projectiles make it great at close range as it can pack a punch. However, at any decent range it is essentially useless.
Longbow - The Longbow DMR is a fast-firing, hard-hitting sniper that only gets better with more attachments - especially a Skullpiercer. While it's single-shot damage is lower than the Sentinel, it is a bit more forgiving to those who miss shots. It's also the only sniper that can get more accurate thanks to a barrel stabilizer. If this gun's single-shot damage was increased, it could very well jump up a tier.
Triple Take - The Triple Take is Apex Legends' sniper-shotgun that has a spot in many players' hearts. It is devastating both close range and long, though without the Precision Choke attachment it is less effective at far distances. This gun is great close-up, making it one of the few snipers that can be used against teams that are pushing. In a perfect world, now that the Triple Take is the only gun using the Precision Choke, Respawn will add the "choke" effect to the gun and just remove the hop-up, making it likely to push into the next tier.
EVA-8 - In terms of Shotguns, the EVA-8 is a solid choice, especially early-game. This full-auto shotgun hits hard and hits fast. While each shot may do less than the Mastiff or Peacekeeper, it can pump out more shots before having to reload, and did I mention it is full auto? The titular "8" spread pattern means that tons of pellets will hit when attacking head-on, so don't be afraid to push with this gun!
Wingman - While the Wingman is intended to be used as a follow-up secondary weapon, watching Twitch streamers would make you believe that it is meant to be a primary. This pistol rewards those with good accuracy, though its base magazine size leaves much to be desired. Those who can hit shots with it will have little issue, but it is punishing for those who do not consistently hit (head) shots. On the bright side, the Skullpiercer hop-up is back so the Wingman can get even more rewarding for those who use it well. Plus the Wingman is Season 5's battle pass evolving skin, making it a great time to start training with this gun.
C Tier
P2020 - The P2020 is a fantastic gun, and would be top-tier if hop-ups were a factor in this tier list. Wither Hammer Point rounds, the P2020 is an absolute monster if paired with a gun that can melt off enemy shields. It's the perfect 1-2 Punch. However, without Hammer Points then the P2020 is a lot less useful.
RE-45 - The RE-45 is essentially an SMG in a Pistol frame. This fast-firing pistol can pack a punch, but it is still a little on the weaker side to make it viable late-game without a ton of attachments. Whether its a magazine size buff, or even a slight damage increase, the RE-45 could still use a little love to bring it up in ranks.
Charge Rifle - The Charge Rifle was Season 3's new weapon, and it is certainly not as powerful as it used to be - though perhaps that's for the best. The Charge Rifle is one of Apex's most unique weapons, though it still lacks a certain something to keep it up around the top of the list with the other Sniper Rifles. It is certainly great for poking enemies at long range, but it suffers in situations where the other team is aware of the user's location.
Alternator - The Alternator is yet another light SMG, but slower to fire than its cousin the R-99. The Alternator is a decent gun by itself, especially after the Season 5 buff to its magazine size, but there are few situations where a player would, or should, choose it over the R-99. It really needs something special to make it a competitor against the other SMGs in the game currently, especially if new SMGs are coming to Apex Legends.
F Tier
Mozambique - Please buff the Mozambique. Please.
The gun meta in Apex Legends was getting a bit stale by the end of Season 4, but with the changes Respawn made at the start of Season 5 the meta got a breath of fresh air - made even more surprising by the lack of new weapons. Hopefully as the season progresses, Respawn will continue to monitor the under-performing weapons and buff them (like they buffed Mirage this season) to make them top-tier.
Apex Legends is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
