The Best Apex Legends Assault Rifles Ranked

Apex Legends has already become a major success, with more than 1 million signups on day 1 alone. One of the best part of the game is the wide variety of weapons available. If you’re seeking high damage that you can apply from varying ranges, it may be time to pick an assault rifle. But which one to choose?! Don’t worry, friends, Nerds and Scoundrels has made a list for the Apex Legends best assault rifle for you.

Apex Legends Best Assault Rifle List

There are three assault rifles in Apex Legends:

Hemlok Burst AR
VK-47 Flatline
R-301 Carbine

When we made our list, we based our rankings on a few things. First and foremost, we looked at the base damage a weapon can do. Second, we looked at how well that assault rifle applies that damage; this includes the rifle’s rate of fire, recoil, and accuracy. We also consider a weapon’s modification options as well as how difficult they are to obtain. There are no hard-to-find legendary assault rifles, so this final factor didn’t weigh heavily on this list.

3. R-301 Carbine

Fully Automatic Carbine Rifle
14 Bodyshot Damage
28 Headshot Damage
Available Slots: Barrel, Optic, Mag, Stock

The R-301 is listed as an assault rifle, but it’s almost more of a hybrid between a SMG and an AR. It even uses light ammo, and it is much easier to handle than other assault rifles.

The R-301 is likely the first assault rifle you come across, and it’s not bad. Its rate of fire is good, and rapidly tapping the fire button and put out a lot of damage. The weapon is fully automatic and has an 18-round magazine. The other assault rifles are generally better than this weapon, but it’s not bad to start with.

2. VK-47 Flatline

Fully-Automatic Assault Rifle
16 Bodyshot Damage
32 Headshot Damage
Available Slots: Optic, Mag, Stock

THe VK-47 Flatline is an excellent assault rifle, especially in the mid-game. It has the best headshot damage of any assault rifle, although the Hemlok does more when firing in burst mode. It uses heavy rounds, which is one reason why this weapon packs so much punch.

The Flatline is a great option, even though it doesn’t top our list. It has three available slots, which puts it at the bottom of the class. However, it has a 20-shot magazine which is a larger ammo capacity than any other assault rifle.

The Flatline excels at rapid firing through button mashing. If you are able to maintain your accuracy you can overwhelm enemies with your firepower. The weapon is also good when hip firing, although less accurate than the Flatline. If assault rifles are your thing, this one is worth keeping around. Because of its accuracy, it is a valid option for fighting at both close and medium range.

1. Hemlok Burst AR

3-Round Burst Assault Rifle
18 Bodyshot Damage (54 in Burst Mode)
24 Headshot Damage (72 in Burst Mode)
Available Slots: Barrel, Optic, Mag, Stock

The Hemlok is a unique weapon, and it’s one of our favorite guns in all of Apex Legends. But fair warning; it’s not for everyone. That’s because its place at the top of our list relies on successfully using the burst fire mode. If burst fire isn’t for you, you may prefer the flatline.

That said, in full burst fire mode this assault rifle is a monster. The 3-round bursts present a tight pattern making it fairly easy to land all three. The result is a ton of damage from medium range. It uses heavy rounds and has an 18-bullet magazine. There is significant recoil, so you’ll need to be careful with your aim for headshots.

When it comes to the best assault right in Apex Legends, our debate usually centers on Hemlok vs. Flatline. While we prefer the Hemlok due to the sheer firepower of burst mode, Flatline is a great option that can spit out a ton of damage with some button mashing.

Nerds and Scoundrels

And that concludes our Apex Legends Best Assault Rifle List. Did you find this guide helpful? We hope so. Either way, let us know by leaving us a comment below. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our Apex Legends content here at Nerds and Scoundrels.