... okay, so not EVERYONE thinks that the R301 is the best gun in the game, but I think the majority would pick it as their number one choice.However, since the update I (personally) think there's a new number one, the Prowler. If you can handle burst weapons then that thing now absolutely shreds.

Bruh... like the other day when I sent my friend a clip of me beaming this kid up in the B tower at Barometer, from across the map with R301. Anyway, she said "try that with a Flatline", and I said "wth would I do that?". R301 ftw!

@EdwardDLuffy Prowler has always had crazy hip fire accuracy. Remember when it came out of the care package they had to quickly nerf it more than originally thought?Flatline is still the best tho. I definately prefer it to r301. Bigger clip, more damage per bullet means you can miss more.

@E9ine_AC Perhaps a touch of realism cause I always try for kneeling and bracing my forward arm on my knee when shooting offhand with no bipod in real life?One of the core tenants of real life shooting accuracy is recoil control, and a kneeling stance can help with that.

@EdwardDLuffyMy biggest single vice in this game, or any other, is that I will pick up a weapon once and if I die with it then I will NEVER pick it up again. So 20k matches into this game I have almost never used the 301 because once in season 0 I tried to fire it and it shot all around the target instead of into it. Of course that was just early inexperience but it's ridiculous how those kinds of experiences stick in my head and bias me unreasonably. Of course, every two or three thousand matches I'll try again... and always get the same result. This time for lack of practice or familiarity. And so the cycle of doom continues ever on. Thank the Apex gods for the charge rifle.

The R301 isn’t always the best gun but the R301 will always be the most reliable gun for all occasions (you can use it for short-mid-long range). What I meant by “Isn’t always the best” is that there usually a broken gun per season especially those spitfire/rampage seasons. Fun fact: The R301 is so balanced that it only received 1 nerf in the 4 years that this game is live. In season 8 it got a minor nerf in headshot damage. Other changes to the R301 are not to the gun specifically like the hipfire nerf for all ARs and the recent anvil receiver limb damage nerf. Season 15 weapons are actually pretty balanced in my opinion.

R301 no longer the best gun in the Apex ...

25 Replies

PeterN_UK
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@EdwardDLuffy

There are a handful of "good" guns. But situational in best use.

For long distance using AR. R301 using jitter aim, where you rapidly do small circles and for some reason it reduces recoil to minimal. Pretty sure not intentional game mechanic, but it works to make it beam at distance. People do this with havoc too, which is meant to be close range weapon. Lots of light ammo on map, so can spam away.

Car SMG, R99 and Volt is at close range is most lethal.

Charge rilfe is more suppression at long range, but you have to peek longer for the full beam to output. Other snipers fire one shot and can cover.

I do miss the Prowler hop on then turned it full auto.

So I say more situational what is best. But towards end of the circle I find snipers/grenadesuseful for burning out enemy heal inventory.

Option is to carry 2x AR/SMG for quick swap insead of reload in close combat or carry 1x AR/SMG and 1x Sniper to be flexible or well Vantage has advantage in sense can carry 2x AR/SMG, carry 2-3 Accelerants and pretty much use Ultimate for sniping more often.
EdwardDLuffy
3 years ago
@PeterN_UK I remember the Prowler on full auto before it went into the care package. My god, it was a laser.
hayhor
Hero
3 years ago
@EdwardDLuffy Prowler has always had crazy hip fire accuracy. Remember when it came out of the care package they had to quickly nerf it more than originally thought?

Flatline is still the best tho. I definately prefer it to r301. Bigger clip, more damage per bullet means you can miss more.
E9ine_AC
Hero+
3 years ago
@hayhorYea prowler imo is the one gun that has 100% accuracy with minimal effort needing to be applied. I have stood on the platform in the firing range where you get shotguns and crouch and hip fire the dummy all the way in front of the snipers. It's accuracy at that range is on point as if I'm right in front of them.

Also something about crouch firing improves hipfire so much. don't know why but all guns will perform better with hipfire if crouched. I can even hipfire crouch shot when in the air with with wingman its accuracy its nuts when crouched.
dSKyNafinchin
Hero
3 years ago
@EdwardDLuffy Maaaaaaaaan, I completely forgot they buffed it!! Definitely gonna have some fun with that tonight
Kyldenar
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@E9ine_AC Perhaps a touch of realism cause I always try for kneeling and bracing my forward arm on my knee when shooting offhand with no bipod in real life?

One of the core tenants of real life shooting accuracy is recoil control, and a kneeling stance can help with that.
hayhor
Hero
3 years ago
@Kyldenar I had the same thought.
KelRiever
3 years ago
But...
...that has always been the problem with the triple bullet burst weapons. A mighty big IF.
I personally think this is appropriate for the Prowler, given it is short range, and hard to use. It should do more damage at close range than the R-301. I would go so far as to have not buffed the damage but to let it go back to full auto, because close range triple burst is completely annoying.
Aside from that, though, 'better', while opinion based, would mean to be better in all or nearly all circumstances. And DPS only works if you hit with your shots. So I go with the R-301 still as the never ever gonna have a gun better in the game. Or if it is, Respawn will be sure to nerf that other imposter weapon soon after
🙂
(On heavy weapons, at shortish range, I'd still also rather have a Flatline. That weapon makes me happy)
Xubunnytwo
3 years ago
I like the following guns;
Spitfire, R-99, Flatline, Devotion, C.A.R., Alternator, Volt, and Tripletake.
I dislike the following guns;
Hemlock, Havoc, 30-30 Repeater, Wingman, and Bocek.
All others not listed above will do in a pinch, if my favorites are not available. Since having a weapon is much better than no weapon at all.
reconzero
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@EdwardDLuffy

My biggest single vice in this game, or any other, is that I will pick up a weapon once and if I die with it then I will NEVER pick it up again. So 20k matches into this game I have almost never used the 301 because once in season 0 I tried to fire it and it shot all around the target instead of into it. Of course that was just early inexperience but it's ridiculous how those kinds of experiences stick in my head and bias me unreasonably. Of course, every two or three thousand matches I'll try again... and always get the same result. This time for lack of practice or familiarity. And so the cycle of doom continues ever on. Thank the Apex gods for the charge rifle.