What’s the best sniper in Apex Legends?

Apex Legends has a total of seven different weapon classes. Each class fulfills a specific niche within the game's ecosystem, and the sniper class' weapons are no different. The kings of long-range fighting, sniper rifles easily take down enemies at a distance. The snipers in Apex Legends are one of the smallest weapon groups in the game, with only four members. But which one reigns supreme? Which out of the four members is Apex Legends' best sniper rifle?

Without a doubt, the Kraber is the definitive best sniper rifle in Apex Legends. The Care Package sniper deals 140 damage to the body alone, and 280 to the head. In almost every case, if your fight leads off with you hitting a Kraber shot, that fight will be in your favor. Taking out that much health from a single shot alone wins fights. However, what about the drawbacks?

The Kraber only has 12 shots, takes a whole four seconds to reload, and is exclusive to the Care Package. So you won't find the best sniper in Apex Legends just from ground loot. But, if you can hit your Kraber shots, that's all you truly need.

Now, outside of the Kraber, there's only two main options. Prior to the Charge Rifle rework, there was a good case for it being the best sniper in Apex Legends. Despite the Longbow and Sentinel being a close match for each other, one truly reigns supreme: the Longbow DMR. It's the original ground loot sniper.

The Longbow DMR has been around since the start of Apex Legends and has been a consistent threat since. Dealing 55 damage to the body, 118 to the head, and with a certain hop up, 138 to the head is quite the damage profile. Although the damage numbers aren't as high as its brother sniper, the Sentinel, the fire rate is what makes the Longbow the better pick.

Below is the Longbow DMR's damage breakdown via Apexlegends.fandom:

It's also worth noting the attachment options for the Longbow. Unlike any other sniper, the Longbow has room for five attachments. The extra attachment slots only add to the strength of the weapon, as it only further increases its performance. Not to mention, it's the only sniper that can be equipped with a Hop-up. Specifically the Skullpiercer Rifling Hop-up, which increases headshot damage by 35%. This sizable damage increase puts it over the top as the best ground loot sniper in Apex Legends.

Its usage isn't just theoretical. In the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Championships Split 2 weapon stats on Apexlegendstatus, the Longbow sits four spots above the Sentinel with more damage done, more shots fired and more overall usage. You can see the entire weapon stats and more for the ALGS Year 3 Championships here.

Although the Longbow is the best ground loot sniper, the Sentinel is still a great option. So don't be afraid to pick if up if you are in a sniping mood! For more Apex Legends news, stay tuned to esports.gg!