Ammo in Apex Legends: Types, rarity and differences cover image

Ammo in Apex Legends: Types, rarity and differences

#Guides

Apex Legends ammo is not all the same! We breakdown the types, rarity and differences between them from bullet drop to damage.

With an ever changing weapon meta, an important component to Apex Legends is ammo. Every weapon utilizes different ammunition. Some legends prefer fighting up close, and others sniping from distance. Regardless of your playstyle, it's important to know details surrounding your favorite weapons and their ammo.

What is the loot distribution for the different ammo types?

Season 14 has seen the return of the Volt to ground loot. It's return, and the heavy distribution of energy ammo thus far this season, has brought Volt users out of the woodwork. While Apex Legends ammo distributions change with the weapon meta, the current loot percentages for ammo are as follows:

Ammo
Current loot percentages
30.93%
27.84%
25.77%
13.4%
2.06%
Season 14 Apex Legends ammo distribution according to Apex Legends Wiki

If you are a consistent shotgun user don't fret! While the spawn rate of shotgun shells is by far the lowest, the spawn rate of the shotguns themselves is relatively common and it only takes 16 shells to fill an inventory slot. This means even though the ammo alone does not spawn very often, you can pick up your shells from the numerous shotguns in the loot pool.

What's the difference between the Apex Legends ammo types?

Energy ammo

As previously mentioned, energy weapons are absolutely having their day in the sun right now. There are five weapons that use energy ammo with one of them currently in the crafter (Devotion).

  • Devotion (LMG)
  • Havoc (AR)
  • L-Star (LMG)
  • Triple Take (Marksman)
  • Volt (SMG)

Energy weapons come with a variety of perks. Two of the most noticeable and valuable are the projectile speed and the flight path. These weapons have very low projectile drop due to their speed which is most prevalent in mid to long range engagements.

Since its return to ground loot, the volt is one of the most highly used weapons in season 14
Since its return to ground loot, the volt is one of the most highly used weapons in season 14

Apex Legends energy ammunition and weapon statistics

Name
Ammo
Damage
DPS
RPM
Mag Size
Reload
Havoc-AR
Energy
32/18/14
198
672
24/28/32/36
3.2s/3.2s
Volt-SMG
Energy
23/15/13
180
720
19/21/23/26
1.6s/2.25s
L-Star-LMG
Energy
26/17/14
170
600
24/26/28/30
3.6s
Devotion-LMG
Energy
23/15/13
225
900
36/40/44/48
3.2s/3.8s
Triple Take-Marksman
Energy
126/63/58
82
78
6/7/8/9
2.6s/3.4s

Heavy ammo

Heavy ammo weapons can hang their hat on the fact that they tend to have a higher DPS (damage per shot). This positive is counter balanced by the fact that heavy weapons usually have a slower rate of fire and more bullet drop. This can make using them at range challenging for those that don't know recoil patterns. There are currently 5 weapons that utilize heavy ammo:

  • 30-30 Repeater (Marksman)
  • C.A.R. SMG (SMG)
  • Hemlok Burst AR (AR)
  • Prowler Burst PDW (SMG)
  • VK-47 Flatline (AR)
The C.A.R. smg utilizes both heavy and light ammo and is absolutely lethal up close
The C.A.R. smg utilizes both heavy and light ammo and is absolutely lethal up close

Apex Legends heavy ammunition and weapon statistics

Name
Ammo
Damage
DPS
RPM
Mag Size
Reload
Flatline-AR
Heavy
32/18/14
180
600
20/25/28/30
2.4s/3.1s
Hemlok-AR
Heavy
35/20/15
214
643
18/24/27/30
2.4s/2.85s
CAR-SMG
Light/Heavy
20/13/10
202
930
20/22/24/27
1.7s/2.13s
Prowler-SMG
Heavy
23/15/12
171
685
20/25/30/35
2.0s/2.6s
30-30 Repeater-Marksman
Heavy
74/42/36
98
140
6/8/10/12
0.6s/bullet

Light ammo

Weapons using light ammo usually have a much higher fire rate but do less damage per round. Recoil control is integral with weapons with higher fire rates (R-99, R-301, RE-45, M-600 Spitfire). This makes light weapons (particularly those with faster fire rates) good for short to medium range. The bullet drop on light weapons is pretty substantial in comparison to some other weapon categories. The weapons that use light ammo are below:

  • Alternator SMG (SMG)
  • C.A.R. SMG (SMG)
  • G7 Scout (Marksman)
  • M-600 Spitfire (LMG)
  • P2020 Pistol (Pistol)
  • R-301 Carbine (AR)
  • R-99 SMG (SMG)
  • RE-45 Auto (Pistol)
The R-301 is considered an 'S' tier weapon and is one of the most user friendly in the game
The R-301 is considered an 'S' tier weapon and is one of the most user friendly in the game

Apex Legends light ammunition and weapon statistics

Name
Ammo
Damage
DPS
RPM
Mag Size
Reload
R-301 Carbine-AR
Light
25/14/11
190
816
18/20/25/28
2.4s/3.2s
CAR-SMG
Light/Heavy
20/13/10
202
930
20/22/24/27
1.7s/2.13s
R-99-SMG
Light
17/11/9
198
1,080
20/22/24/27
1.8s/2.45s
Alternator-SMG
Light
24/16/13
160
600
19/22/25/27
1.9s/2.23s
Spitfire-LMG
Light
27/18/15
162
540
55
3.4s/3.8s
G7 Scout-Marksman
Light
60/34/26
136
240
10/15/18/20
2.4s/3.0s
RE-45-Pistol
Light
18/12/11
150
750
16/19/22/25
1.5s/1.95s
P2020-Pistol
Light
27/18/16
126
420
14/16/18/21
1.25s/1.25s

Sniper ammo

Sniper ammo is used by the four weapons in the loot pool. It is the second rarest ammo in the loot pool and 28 rounds fills a slot in your inventory. A huge benefit to utilizing snipers is the ability to deal collateral damage to your enemies. Snipers are powerful enough to fire through enemy legends and deal damage to multiple opponents with a single round (with the exception of the charge rifle). The four weapons that use sniper ammunition are:

  • Charge rifle (sniper)
  • Longbow DMR (sniper)
  • Sentinel (sniper)
  • Wingman (pistol)
28 rounds fills an inventory slot for sniper ammo (14 rounds per box) and the Wingman now utilizes sniper ammo/attachments
28 rounds fills an inventory slot for sniper ammo (14 rounds per box) and the Wingman now utilizes sniper ammo/attachments

Apex Legends sniper ammunition and weapons statistics

Name
Ammo
Damage
DPS
RPM
Mag Size
Reload
Charge Rifle-Sniper
Sniper
56/45/45 (+45)
23 (+23)
30
8
3.6s/3.6s
Longbow-Sniper
Sniper
118/55/44
71.5
78
6/8/10/12
2.66s/3.66s
Sentinel-Sniper
Sniper
140/70/63
40
37.5
4/5/6/7
2.5s/3.6s
Wingman-Pistol
Sniper
97/45/41
117
156
6/7/8/9
2.1s/2.1s

Shotgun shells

Shotgun shells are statistically the rarest ammo type in Apex Legends. Although this may seem like a viable reason to avoid their use, shotgun availability and the need for less ammo bolsters their cred. Shotgun shells break apart and fire pellets at enemy targets.

Pellets do varying damage for the three shotguns in the loot pool. They are high risk and high reward weapons that are most effective up close. While the bullet drop on shotguns is low, the pellet spread promotes shotgun use in close quarters if you want high damage dealt to your opponents. The three shotguns in the loot pool are below.

  • EVA-8 Auto (Shotgun)
  • Mozambique (Shotgun)
  • Peacekeeper (Shotgun)
Although the scarcest ammo on the map, low inventory space and plenty of shotgun spawns make these viable weapons
Although the scarcest ammo on the map, low inventory space and plenty of shotgun spawns make these viable weapons

Apex Legends shotgun ammunition and weapon statistics

Name
Ammo
Damage
DPS
RPM
Mag Size
Reload
Peacekeeper-Shotgun
Shotgun
121/99/99
96
58
5
2.5s/3.5s
Mozambique-Shotgun
Shotgun
69/45/45
135
180
6
2.1s/2.6s
EVA-8-Shotgun
Shotgun
70/56/56
129
138
8
2.75s/3.0s

Alex Roberts
Alex Roberts
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