The mid-season update for Apex Legends Season 27: Amped quietly reshapes the gun meta with a focused set of buffs to core rifles, burst weapons, and a handful of underused guns. There are no outright nerfs here; the changes mostly raise the floor on mid-tier picks and restore some power to old staples.
Assault rifle changes (R-301 and Flatline)
Assault rifles remain the backbone of most loadouts, and both bread-and-butter ARs receive small but meaningful damage bumps.
| Weapon | Change | Previous | New | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VK-47 Flatline | Body damage | 19 | 20 | Faster time-to-kill, especially in close‑mid range beams |
| R-301 Carbine | Body damage | 14 | 15 | Makes the low-recoil 301 more competitive with burst and marksman options |
A one‑point damage increase per bullet looks minor on paper, but over a typical magazine, it adds up to several extra bullets’ worth of effective damage. The Flatline hits harder in its ideal 20–40 meter ranges, while the R-301’s reliable recoil pattern now pays off more in duels against marksman rifles and LMGs.
LMG changes (Rampage and L-STAR)
The LMG category gets targeted buffs aimed at making sustained fire more rewarding and easier to use, without restoring the old close-range dominance of reverse hipfire.
| Weapon | Change | Old value | New value | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rampage | Energized duration | 90 seconds | 120 seconds | Thermite charge lasts longer between fights |
| Rampage | Shots while Revved | Baseline | Slightly increased | More high-DPS shots per thermite charge |
| L-STAR | Initial projectile size | Smaller | Larger | More forgiving hitbox at the start of each shot |
| L-STAR | Projectile size over distance | Less growth | More growth | Helps track targets at medium range |
The Rampage buffs specifically improve its “Revved” window. You can charge early, rotate, and still arrive with a meaningful duration left instead of watching the buff drain away. The extra shots in the energized state slightly increase damage output per thermite without changing its recoil or handling profile.
The L-STAR’s projectile size tuning does not alter its damage numbers, but it reduces whiffed beams in hectic fights. Larger projectiles make it easier to connect shots as you track strafing targets, particularly in tight corridors or when jiggle peeking.
Pistol changes (RE-45 Burst)
The RE-45 Burst continues its push away from “panic sidearm” and toward a reliable close-range option.
| Weapon | Change | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| RE-45 Burst | Recoil improved | Burst pattern is easier to control under sustained fire |
| RE-45 Burst | Projectile size increased at close range | More consistent hits in hip‑fire and short-range ADS fights |
Smoother recoil and a slightly inflated projectile at short distances mean more of each burst connects, especially when you need to finish a broken target quickly. The changes aim to make the RE-45 Burst feel less punishing when you commit to it as a main secondary rather than a last‑ditch finisher.
SMG changes (Prowler PDW)
The Prowler PDW gets its rhythm back and extra payoff for investing in its hop-up.
| Weapon | Condition | Change | Old value | New value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prowler PDW | Burst behavior | Burst delay decreased | Higher delay | Lower delay |
| Prowler PDW | With Selectfire | Body damage | 16 | 17 |
The reduced burst delay restores some of the snappy feel that made the Prowler a favorite in past metas. While it still demands controlled trigger pulls, the shorter gap between bursts improves time‑to‑kill when you keep shots on target.
With Selectfire Receiver equipped, each bullet hitting for 17 instead of 16 increases the value of acquiring and running the hop‑up, especially in coordinated team fights where you can reliably land full bursts into cracked armor.
Shotgun changes (Mozambique)
The Mozambique receives a single but important tweak focused on reliability.
| Weapon | Range band | Change | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | Close range | Projectile size increased | Easier to land full or near‑full pellet hits up close |
Larger projectiles tighten the practical spread without rewriting the weapon’s pellet pattern. At very short distances, partial hits should be less common, making the Mozambique a more trustworthy early‑game shotgun or backup sidearm, especially when you are forced into hip‑fire duels.
How these weapon changes shift the Season 27 meta
Individually, most of these numbers look conservative, but together they pull several trends in the weapon sandbox.
Core ARs become safer default picks. The R-301 and Flatline were already popular for their flexibility. With slightly better damage per bullet, they now push harder into “always viable” status in both pubs and ranked. Players who leaned on marksman rifles for secure mid‑range time‑to‑kill gain fewer advantages in straight AR duels.
LMGs gain reliability without returning to close‑range dominance. Rampage’s extended Revved window rewards planning—charge before a rotation, then take multiple engagements on that same thermite. The L-STAR changes make it less streaky at mid range, which helps it compete with Volt and alternator‑style SMGs when you need sustained damage down lanes.
Bursts and sidearms get real payoff. Prowler’s faster burst cadence and higher Selectfire damage, alongside the RE‑45 Burst’s recoil and projectile tweaks, move both away from “only if I have to” options. They now sit closer to the mainline SMG pool for close‑quarters fights, especially in hands that can manage burst control.
Early-game loot feels less punishing. A more forgiving Mozambique and a stronger RE‑45 Burst reduce the number of unwinnable drop fights created purely by weapon RNG. You still want to upgrade into shotguns, SMGs, or rifles quickly, but starting on these options is less of a liability.
None of these updates fundamentally rewrite Apex Legends’ gunplay, but they do compress the gap between top-tier and mid-tier weapons. Expect to see more Flatlines and R-301s back in long fights, Prowlers reappearing in close‑range loadouts, and fewer groans when someone lands on a Mozambique or RE‑45 Burst off drop.
