How did charge rifle make it past QA

@Cabowse Interesting idea, although not sure everyone would like it. Apex is great 'cos it's a game which rewards aggressive forward play, pushing and close combat... it worries me that anything which encourages camping and sniping from across the map would be a little antithetical to what gives Apex it's individuality and makes it different. On a practical level I think the devs said somewhere they wanted to keep a limit of 6 hopups in the game, and there isn't a single hop up which only fits one weapon... you'd need this hop up to fit another gun too, and tbh I think the Wingman is the only candidate. Makes it a bit close to the skullpiercer. Maybe you could give it to the hemlock in single fire mode.

Although I will admit both wingman and longbow feel a little "naked" to me without the skullpiercer, was sad to see it go.

(I would also like to see the rationale given in "game world logic" for a hop up which makes a bullet do MORE damage the further it travels... that would be a funny story!) 

@Cabowse I thought spitfire but wouldn't it have to be on a single shot weapon rly? Can't rly see hopup like that suiting an automatic weapon. Is why I thought maybe hemlock if not wingman... problem with wingman is that with max x2 sight on it I am not sure there is a range you could find for it's effectiveness where it would be both fair and useful at the same time... either too OP or not rly worth it. As hemlock can take an x4 scope you can have a more realistically useful range for it I think.

And of course, snipers have always been a part of the game, with the longbow being an important part of the meta... however Apex hasn't (up until now) been a game where you can triumph from across the map, you still have to push and finish off teams at close range, and snipers have been part of that process... either chipping people down before pushing with zipline or vortex, or one covering/pinning while 2 push. I simply think it would be a shame if the use of snipers were encouraged too much beyond a range where it is reasonable to push, I don't think it would improve Apex if too many teams felt the best strategy is to sniper up and camp.

Seriously this riffle and the new map just encourages campy snipefests with OP riffles that take no skill to aim, and I just love the fact that the charge riffle can take you down even with gold shield with 2 hits. 

I think I'll pass on this season untill the nerf is done, way to go Respawn, you made the only thing that made this game stand out obsolete with one OP gun.

@Hold_My_Tea_Dear Couldn't agree more... the map really doesn't help. Lots of large open areas with high up campy spots. I can't deny it is kinda fun to use but a complete nightmare to be up against especially when they are so relatively "common". It is spoiling the game a bit imo. Maybe they should just stick it inside care packages instead. That would be okay, the odd one, like the Kraber.

The devs have no idea what they're doing. Almost got killed with purple shield in only 3 shots in a few seconds by it. 

1. It should be guaranteed damage no matter how little

2. It should cost more ammo. You could literally only have 80 shots and be good for the whole entire match

3. The fire rate is way too fast for how easy this gun is.

Who ever designed this gun has no idea what they're doing and they don't actually play their own game

All you guys have to do was replace this with the kraber and it would've made more sense. We already had the triple take so why the hell do you add ANOTHER sniper to the game?

Yes, the Charge Rifle needs to be nerfed.  Like many other people who have commented I have also been the victim of it being over-powered - high rate of fire, high damage output, accurate at long range, hitscan slows down players hit by it.  Either throw the Charge Rifle in care packages like the L-STAR or nerf it's rate of fire, damage, and accuracy at range.