With each new season of Apex Legends, a slew of changes usually follows and that goes double for the game’s arsenal. It’s no surprise that guns should rise and fall on the tier lists because each passing season changes their stats in radical ways.t That trend is no different in Season Five.
Knowing this, it’s important to realize that you’re go-to gun from Season Four or Season Three may no longer be viable as it once was. Although it goes without saying, the reverse of that could also mean that your favorite weapon has seen very little change since Launch Day. You should also expect some weapons to “sneak” up on you in terms of suddenly being better than you could have anticipated. I would say that in order to figure out which gun you should invest time in, you need to go to the range. You also need to know the weapon’s stats that make a difference. It’s important to note that DPS isn’t always the determining factor for ranking a gun’s effectiveness. In this guide, you’ll no doubt see that apparent fact in many examples.
[Top 10] Apex Legends Best Guns (Season Five)
#10 - RE45
It may be shocking to see this weapon on the list at all, but as I mentioned, I’m not considering just DPS when it comes to ranking these weapons. This weapon is an auto pistol that uses Light Ammo and it was manufactured by Lastimosa Armory. For starters, it has a below-average TTK or Time To Kill, around 1.18s, which brings it closer to the Alternator. Be that as it may, you can put a hurting on your opponents with this weapon. The design and function of the RE45 help it to just squeeze in the Top 10.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 16/19/22/15
- Reload: 1.74s/2.12s
- DPS: 143
- B/H/L DMG: 11/16/9.9
- Fire Rate: 13
Why the RE45 is great:
- It allows you to move quickly as if you were hip firing with an ADS speed slightly under the P2020 and the Wingman.
- It’s fully auto.
- It can reload quickly when compared to other weapons.
- It’s easy to find and source ammo in a match whether you’re just dropping or on the second circle.
- You can equip a Threat Detector scope to help sort through Caustic gas or Bangalore smoke.
- It acts as an attachment holder for upgraded guns like the R-99 or the R-301.
RE45 in Action:
#9 - Hemlock
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see this weapon on the list, but its low position is due to a couple of factors. The Hemlock is an assault rifle that uses Heavy ammunition and it was manufactured by Wonyeon Defense. One of the reasons the Hemlock’s position is lower on the list is due to its TTK, which is 1.15s in Burst-fire mode and a lower in single-fire at 1.41s. While it’s TTK is better than the RE45, it can’t match the proceeding weapons on this list.
It’s also difficult to use this weapon with just Iron Sights; it’s almost a requirement to find a scope, otherwise, you could easily miss your shots. Plus, this weapon can be outmatched by your standard R-99. A recent damage buff in Season Four makes this a dangerous weapon in the right hands.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size:18/24/27/30
- Reload: 2.40s/2.80s
- DPS: 180
- B/H/L DMG: 22/44/16.5
- Fire Rate: 8.2
Why the Hemlock is great:
- The single-fire option allows you to do high amounts of damage quickly, similar to G7, but at a much faster fire rate.
- It has a 2x headshot multiplier.
- You can switch it easily between Burst mode and single fire.
- With the proper scope, this weapon is versatile at close and medium ranges.
- You have very high accuracy with this weapon.
- It also has the second-highest single fire rate in the game.
The Hemlock in Action:
#8 - L-Star
The next gun in the Top 10 is the L-Star. It’s an energy-based machine gun that was manufactured by Lastimosa Armory. It was converted to a world-drop weapon from a crate-only weapon in Season Three and has largely stayed the same. The L-Star’s TTK is 1.10s which earns it this rank in the Top 10. A built-in mechanic causes this gun to overheat after continuous firing, so it’s best to feather the trigger to cut down on the recoil and this issue.
The ADS is also a little less than half of what it would be when you’re hip firing and the muzzle flash sometimes “masks” your opponent’s movements, making them harder to hit. So, it’s important to manage these negatives as you fight.
Weapon Stats:
- N/A or ∞
- Reload: 3.26s/3.26s
- DPS: 180
- B/H/L DMG: 18/36/14.4
- Fire Rate: 10
Why the L-Star is great:
- It has a 2x headshot multiplier.
- It’s capable of dealing high amounts of damage in a short amount of time.
- It can be used without reloading and avoiding the “overheating” mechanic by “feathering” the trigger.
- It has large projectiles, which make it easier to hit targets.
- This weapon can open doors by shooting the handles.
- The L-Star’s recoil is fairly easy to control in short bursts.
The L-Star in Action:
#7 - Sentinel
The next gun on this list is Apex Legends’ newest bolt-action sniper rifle, the Sentinel. While the weapon was pretty good in Season Four, the newest “unmentioned” buff has increased this weapon’s viability in matches. It has a “Disruptor” mechanic that allows it to knock out an opponent’s shields in one shot. While its shortcomings are apparent, it can more than makeup for them in a fight when used correctly.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 4/5/6/7
- Reload: 2.50s/3.60s
- DPS: 70
- B/H/L DMG: 70/63/140
- Fire Rate: 0.57
Why the Sentinel is great:
- Each shot from the Sentinel has a high damage possibility.
- Its “Disruptor” mechanic can be charged with 2 Shield Cells now instead of 1 Shield Battery. The charge lasts for 90 seconds.
- No matter where you shoot your opponent, the “Disruptor” mechanic will bring shields down to 0%.
- Bullets can penetrate enemies, much like the Longbow, so it’s possible to hit multiple enemies.
- You can open doors by shooting the handle.
The Sentinel in Action:
#6 - Flatline
The Flatline is next on this Top 10 list and for those who use it on a regular basis, it’s really no surprise. It’s an assault rifle that uses Heavy Ammunition and was manufactured by Wonyeon Defense. It’s TTK barely beats the R-99 at 1.05, but if you pair that with some well-placed headshots, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Once you master this weapon’s recoil pattern, it becomes an entirely new weapon. Despite this weapon’s slower projectile speed, its ADS factor is equal to all the other assault rifles.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 20/25/28/30
- Reload: 2.40s/3.10s
- DPS: 190
- B/H/L DMG: 19/38/14.25
- Fire Rate: 10
Why the Flatline is great:
- This weapon has a 2x headshot multiplier.
- This AR is capable of doing high amounts of damage in a short amount of time.
- It can be switched between single- fire and fully automatic modes quickly.
- Despite the recoil pattern, this weapon is easy to get used to with a little practice.
- It’s great for close to medium range fights.
- It has an improved Iron Sights with the Season Four Battlepass Level 100 and 110 skins.
The Flatline in Action:
#5 - Mastiff
The next gun on this list is the Mastiff Shotgun. As of Season Five, it was recently converted into a world-drop weapon instead of a crate-only weapon. It was adjusted accordingly to match this change, but it hasn’t seemed to affect this gun’s overall viability and power much. Like many weapons in this game, Lastimosa Armory manufactured this gun as well. With the recent change, the shotgun ammunition is affected by the new inventory stacking amounts. The shotgun comes with a default magazine size of six rounds that was recently increased from four.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 6
- Reload: 1.03s/1.70s
- DPS: 187.2
- DMG: 128-160
- Fire Rate: 1.0/recently reduced from 1.3
Why the Mastiff is great:
- Even after the adjustments, it can still do high damage.
- Aiming down the sight makes this gun incredibly accurate.
- It has 0% leg reduction damage.
- It has a decent magazine size now and can be reloaded quickly.
- A recent increase to the projectile speed keeps it competitive with other shotguns.
The Mastiff in Action:
#4 - Havoc
Another assault rifle makes it into this list and it also was one of several guns that received some nerfs. The Havoc is an energy-spitting assault rifle that was manufactured by Wonyeon Defense. In Season Five, it received a specific nerf that had to do with the recoil. It’s surprising that they chose to leave the damage output and the “wind-up” time alone considering that the weapon is still very powerful. With a little practice, the new recoil pattern is manageable. It still has a TTK of 1.04, keeping it comparable to the Flatline.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 32
- Reload: 3.20s/3.20s
- DPS: 201.6
- B/H/L DMG: 18/36/13.5
- Fire Rate: 11.2
Why the Havoc is great:
- It has a 2x headshot multiplier.
- It has the highest magazine capacity of any assault rifle in the game.
- It deals a high amount of damage over any other assault rifle.
- It has a high projectile speed that makes it close to a hitscan weapon, but not quite.
- You can equip the Selectfire Hop-Up and fire a single charged shot that has a 0% leg damage reduction.
The Havoc in Action:
#3 - R-99
It shouldn’t be a surprise to find the R-99 on this list and in such a high rank. Some might argue that it should be higher, but it’s hard to control and with its fire rate where it is, you might miss your target completely. The R-99 is an SMG that uses Light ammunition. It was originally designated and manufactured by the Lastimosa Armory as the R-97CN A3, the R-99 SMG was intended for use with the Frontier Colonial Navy, hence the "CN" classification. The Colonial Navy would often conduct Orbital Boarding Parties on hostile ships in high orbit or entering the atmosphere, so they needed a weapon platform that was compact and had the ability to spit lead downrange in low gravity or extremely confined areas such as cockpits or ship corridors. This gun’s TTK is very similar to the Havoc and Flatline, but it’s movement capabilities far outweigh the previous two guns.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 20/22/24/27
- Reload: 1.80s/2.45s
- DPS: 198
- B/H/L DMG: 11/16.5/8.8
- Fire Rate: 18
Why the R-99 is great:
- It has a high magazine capacity, the second-highest in the game, even after the Alternator buff.
- It has a super-fast fire rate that once mastered, makes this gun irreplaceable.
- It can act as an attachment holder for the R-301.
- While ADS you have an 86% movement speed, helping it rank much better than any AR or shotgun.
The R-99 in Action:
#2 - Prowler
Another SMG makes it to the top of the list and it’s one of my personal favorites. The Prowler is an SMG that uses Heavy ammunition. It was manufactured by the Lastimosa Armory. If you argued that the R-99 and the Prowler are almost equal in stats, then you would be correct. However, the nature of this weapon such as the 5-round burst and full-auto mode with the Selectfire Hop-UP, helps to boost it higher than the R-99. It has a TTK of 1.06 which is slightly below its light ammo cousin.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 20/25/30/35
- Reload: 2.00s/2.60s
- DPS: 122.78 (burst)/ 195 (full-auto)
- B/H/L DMG: 15/22.5/12
- Fire Rate: 20
Why the Prowler is great:
- It has two firing modes: the 5-round burst fire and full-auto.
- Uses the Selectfire attachment, which seems to be spawning more in-game.
- It has the highest magazine size of any SMG.
- It has a far more stable recoil than the R-99.
- It can equip a Threat detector scope.
The Prowler in Action:
#1 - Wingman
The last and best-ranked gun in this list is the Wingman. It’s a Hand Cannon that uses Heavy ammunition and it is an extremely powerful weapon. In the right hands, this gun can take down someone with Level Five Evo Shield. To be honest, this weapon has seen its fair share of nerfs, which have brought it to a level that is close in comparison to the rest of the arsenal.
Be that as it may, with Season Five and the return of the Skullpiercer, this weapon can really be the only one that holds this spot. Veteran users of this weapon know its strengths and its weaknesses, but they pale in comparison to how powerful this weapon can be. The sheer power this weapon boasts as well as its small frame and incredible accuracy help rank this weapon at the top. The recent addition of the Skullpiercer only increases this weapon’s viability even further.
Weapon Stats:
- Mag Size: 5/6/7/8
- Reload: 2.10s/2.10s
- DPS: 117
- B/H/L DMG: 45/90/40.5
- Fire Rate: 2.6
Why the Wingman is great:
- It has a very high damage capability per shot.
- This is a small weapon that allows for quick strafing and ADS while trying to move and avoid bullets from your opponents.
- It performs well at the close, medium, and long-range fights because of how fast the projectiles travel.
- It is extremely accurate.
- It can open doors by shooting the handle.
- It is “ammo efficient” meaning that you don’t need to fill your inventory with Heavy ammo to use it.
The Wingman in Action:
That about covers it for the Season Five Top 10 guns. What do you think? Does this list make sense? Did I include the relevant guns for this season or are some key ones missing? Admittedly it’s hard enough to choose a weapon to use while trying to prepare for the inevitable fighting in Apex Legends. So, having a list that explains the pros and cons of each weapon will only help to educate and remove the guesswork that comes with using this game’s ever-changing arsenal. What’s your favorite Top 10 gun in Apex Legends?
Also be sure to check out:
- Apex Legends Weapon Tier List 2020 [Apex Legends Best Weapons]
- Apex Legends Best Drop Locations for Each Map (Season 5)
- Apex Legends Best Kills Ever Compilation
- [Top 10] Apex Legends Best DPS Weapons
- [Top 10] Apex Legends Best Guns (Season Five)
- Ranked: Apex Legends Best Champions (Season 5)
- Apex Legends Best Finishers For Each Legend (Season 5)
- [Top 5] Apex Legends Best Duos - (Season Five)
- Apex Legends Best Weapon Skins for Every Weapon
- Apex Legends Best Iron Sights for Every Weapon
- Apex Legends Best Attachments
- Apex Legends Best Banners And How To Get Them
- Apex Legends - Best Weapon Combos
- Apex Legends - Best Legends
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