Weapon combinations in battle royales are incredibly important, and Apex Legends is no exception. You can hold only two weapons at a time, so you have to choose wisely if you want to become the champion.
While everyone has their favorite weapons, you may not be able to get your hands on your preferred loadout for every Apex match. More often than not, you’ll have to salvage the best out of what you have. In that case, getting to know all the weapons in the game will make your life easier.
Each season of Apex introduces a plethora of gun changes alongside a new legend. New weapons will also occasionally arrive, many of which play a big role in shaping the best loadouts you can find in the game.
Here are the best weapon combinations in Apex to help you take down your foes.
Best Apex Legends weapon loadouts for season 16
Nemesis Burst AR and EVA-8
The R-301 remains easy to use, but it’s now laughably weak compared to the awe-inspiring damage that the Nemesis Burst AR can dish out. Capable of taking down full-health opponents in just a few bursts, the Nemesis is now the clear top dog among assault rifles after the season 16 update.
In addition to how much faster the Nemesis can deal out damage than its main rivals in the R-301 and Flatline, its burst and the low projectile drop nature of energy weapons means it’s much easier to deal effective damage with it from a longer range than the other two assault rifles, especially now that both have had the Anvil Receiver hop-up removed. While it might not be as good of a weapon up close, slap a purple or gold shotgun bolt on the EVA-8 and you’ve got a loadout that’s simple to use and incredibly effective for players of just about any skill level.
Sentinel and R-99
The CAR might still be the most flexible SMG out there with its ability to take light or heavy attachments or ammo, but the season 16 buff to the R-99 has placed it firmly above the SMG that once supplanted it. Apex‘s original SMG terror is back and better than ever, capable of easily melting opponents at short range with a simple-enough recoil pattern that also makes it useful at longer ranges.
Since the R-99 can do so much in different shorter-range engagements, we thought a beefier long-range option would be the best to pair. The Sentinel isn’t the simplest sniper to use, but since it only takes one shield cell to charge (and no cells at all if you’re wearing gold armor), it doesn’t matter if you miss a few shots. This sniper now feels like a mini-Kraber against fully-shielded opponents, especially if you manage to land a headshot. If you’re good with the gun, pack a stack of extra cells and surprise your enemies with its long-range destruction.
Rampage LMG and Peacekeeper
This is more of a niche loadout, as neither of these weapons are considered the best of the best in Apex right now. Playing to their strengths, however, enables both of them to shine. The Peacekeeper might not be as easy to use as the EVA-8, but it’s still a shotgun that can wipe out an enemy’s health if you’re precise, and it’s devastating when playing around cover while the EVA-8 requires its user to put themselves more in an enemy’s line of fire.
The Rampage is the stranger pick of the two, but hear us out: it’s an LMG that you can use like a marksman from long range and like an assault rifle when enemies get closer. Its slow rate of fire makes it useful for long-range poke damage since it’s easier to control and land shots over long range than its LMG brothers (unless you’re a pro, in which case we expect you don’t need our advice on loadouts).
But revved up with a thermite grenade, the Rampage can be a terror in mid-range engagements and around enemies trying to hold doors since the revved-up Rampage destroys those easily. Yes, it requires you to keep a couple of thermite grenades handy, using slots that would normally go to healing items or ammo. That’s why it’s paired here with a shotgun, which should only take up one inventory slot for ammo, and it’s a good thing there’s a whole character class in Apex now that lets you carry more ammo per stack anyway, isn’t it?
30-30 Repeater and Prowler SMG
This one is for the heavy weapon enthusiasts out there, and those that prefer running guns that aren’t fully automatic. While the CAR’s slight nerf, the R-99’s buff, and the Volt going into the Replicator roation shook up the SMG class in season 16, the Prowler also remains a very strong option since its buff in the Spellbound update. Its recoil is also easy to control for shooting over medium-range distances in addition to its obvious short-range prowess, making it a very flexible weapon for most to pick up.
And when you’re looking to pick something else up to pair with it, you can do far worse than the 30-30. The Scout received a nerf in that same Spellbound event that buffed the Prowler, and even though it’s returned to floor loot from the crafter, the 30-30’s damage potential is just too good to pass up. Bonus points if the Skullpiercer is in the Replicator. With it, the 30-30 packs some serious wallop and will have you laying down damage all across the map.
Wingman and R-99 SMG
This one is the controller special. Pick these two guns up and just let the aim assist flow through you. While it’s a bit more limited when it comes to ranged engagements, given most players prefer to slap the 1x HCOG Classic on the Wingman or just use one of its “pay-to-win” skins for the iron sights, it’s a loadout that will make other players think twice before they try to push your squad.
We’ve sung the praises of the season 16 R-99 already, but the Wingman remains a great weapon purely for its ability to level the playing field. There are not many guns in Apex that can take down multiple high-health opponents without reloading, but the Wingman is one of them, especially if you hit a headshot or two.
The best part about this loadout? It’s one that’s fantastic for taking a quick fight, as neither gun particularly needs attachments to be deadly against white or blue armor. Throw a Skullpiercer or a gold light magazine into the mix, and you’ve got the potential to shred through opponents no matter what type of body shield they’ve got on.
Instead of chasing the perfect loadout, the best thing you can do in Apex is practice a wide variety of weapons since it increases the chance you’ll be able to win those early-game fights where you only have access to one or two guns at most. While using two of the same class of weapon isn’t necessarily a good idea for a variety of reasons, Apex is a well-balanced game where even strange or unconventional loadouts can still win matches. And as always, the guns you feel most comfortable using are often the best ones for you to pick up unless you’re intentionally trying to get better with other ones.
Now go out there and hit some headshots, legends!
