The Marked update reshuffled Apex Legends enough that your muscle-memory loadout may no longer be the smart pick. The biggest reason is a change to how Energy ammo works, which quietly turned several mid-tier guns into some of the most convenient options on the map. A few small nerfs to popular short-range weapons pushed the balance even further in that direction.
Quick answer: Run the Volt SMG, Havoc, or Nemesis to exploit the new regenerating Energy ammo, grab the 30-30 Repeater whenever it drops from a Care Package, and keep the R-301 as a reliable all-round assault rifle.
Why Energy weapons jumped to the top
Energy ammo no longer spawns as loot. Instead, every Energy weapon carries its own internal supply that slowly refills on its own. When you stop firing and stop reloading, the gun regenerates about one magazine every 18 seconds, and that pace holds even if you fit a larger magazine.
The practical upside is inventory space. You never have to scoop up ammo stacks for these guns, so those slots go to shields, health, and grenades instead. The trade-off shows up in drawn-out fights, since a long engagement can burn through the whole reserve with no deathbox ammo to top it back up.
| Weapon | Type | Why it works now |
|---|---|---|
| Volt SMG | Energy SMG | Free ammo regen on an already strong SMG |
| Havoc | Energy AR | Longtime top-tier rifle, now with no ammo overhead |
| Nemesis | Energy burst AR | Strong burst damage with no ammo anxiety |
| 30-30 Repeater | Care Package | Buffed damage and faster aim from the drop |
| R-301 | Light AR | Low recoil, common, unchanged and still elite |
The three Energy guns to grab first
Volt SMG
The Volt was already a dependable SMG, and the ammo change makes it the standout pick of the patch. Pick one up and it arrives with two spare magazines’ worth of ammo, all of which quietly refill whenever you are not shooting or reloading. Because you never need to carry extra Energy ammo, the freed-up inventory goes toward healing and utility.
Havoc
The Havoc has been a strong assault rifle for years, and the new system removes its one real chore. It comes with three magazines’ worth of ammo when you first pick it up, and it refills one magazine roughly every 18 seconds. Since none of that ammo eats a backpack slot, the Havoc is easier than ever to keep fed through a match.
Nemesis
The Nemesis benefits from the exact same rules and lands with three stockpiles of ammo when found on the ground. Those magazines refill over time, so its burst damage stays available deep into a fight. If you like a rifle that rewards controlled bursts at range, this is the Energy option to reach for.
30-30 Repeater: A buffed Care Package pickup
The 30-30 Repeater is no longer a world drop. It now lives in the Care Package, and it arrived with several buffs that make it worth taking whenever you find one. The changes cover its damage, aim speed, reload, and hop-ups.
| Stat | Change |
|---|---|
| Damage | Increased to 51 (was 43) |
| ADS Charge Time | Reduced to 0.25 seconds (was 0.4) |
| Reload Speed | Improved |
| Dual Shell Hop-Up | Removed |
| Shattercaps Hop-Up | Added |
| Stockpile Size | 50 |
R-301: The safe pick that never changed
The R-301 got no adjustments at all, and that is exactly why it belongs on this list. Its recoil and spread stay easy to manage, which makes it forgiving at almost any range and for any skill level. It also spawns commonly, even in spots that rarely hold rare loot, so you can usually build a solid loadout around it fast.
What got nerfed and why it matters
The reason the picks above stand out is partly because several close-range favorites lost a step. The Hemlok, Alternator, RE-45, and R-99 all took minor nerfs, which makes them slightly less appealing than they were last season. You can still win fights with them, but they no longer sit clearly ahead of the alternatives.
Put together, the takeaway is simple. Lean into the Energy guns while the free ammo regen is fresh, take the 30-30 Repeater when a Care Package offers one, and keep the R-301 as your reliable fallback that works no matter where you land.
