Apex Legends: choose your combat range before building your loadout

In Apex Legends, a useful loadout begins with one question: at what range will you fight most often? EA presents the R-301 Carbine and Volt SMG as accessible reference points for beginners, not as a mandatory duo. Choose one weapon for your main range, then use the second to cover its weakness.

Choose the range where you will fight

The R-301 uses light ammo and works in both close-range and mid-range exchanges. The Volt uses energy ammo; EA describes it as an SMG built for fast duels.

Open each weapon card in Legend Locker > Weapons. It shows the weapon’s damage, fire rate, firing modes and ideal range. That indication is more useful than a universal distance measured in metres.

• Inside a building, look for an SMG or a shotgun.
• For short- to mid-range fights, choose an assault rifle.
• To hold a long sightline, take a sniper rifle.
• Compare the statistics before equipping an attachment.
• Check the mode you are playing before applying an ammo rule.

The official EA weapons guide details ammo families and the uses of each category.

Use the R-301 and Volt for different jobs

The R-301 is the easier starting point to understand. Keep it if you want a versatile weapon and light ammo that is easy to identify.

The Volt is better suited to fast duels. In Marked, its energy economy follows particular rules: Energy Ammo crates have been removed under the relevant rules, and the reserve is internal. It regenerates while the weapon remains inactive.

Firing and reloading interrupt this regeneration. The patch notes indicate a maximum reserve of 40 shots without an extended magazine and 54 shots with a purple magazine. These values apply to the Volt under the documented rules; do not apply them to another weapon.

For the current figures, consult the EA developer notes on Marked and the official patch notes.

Fill your backpack in the right order

1. Set your primary range. Start by choosing where you take fights.
2. Confirm the ammo. Check both ammo families before filling your backpack.
3. Cover a second range. Avoid carrying two weapons that serve the same purpose.
4. Read the weapon card. Compare damage, fire rate, ideal range and firing modes.
5. Check every attachment. Equip it only if its statistics support your playstyle.
6. Reassess your backpack after a fight. Drop the ammo for any weapon you replaced.

Hop-ups require extra checking. Their behavior varies between Core and Freestyle modes, so check the compatible weapon before picking them up.

Check the rules of your current mode

A shotgun complements a team that lacks close-range pressure. A sniper rifle suits a team that commits to long sightlines. A sniper will not fix poor positioning inside a building.

Care Package weapons use mythic ammo. It is limited, cannot be reloaded and cannot be dropped. Do not reserve backpack space for a standard ammo crate.

Corrupted Attachments add one bonus and one penalty. Only one can be equipped per weapon. Compare the benefit with the drawback at your actual combat range.

The energy rules apply to Battle Royale, Mixtape and Wildcard. Wildcard nevertheless has separate settings for the reserve and regeneration delay. Check the interface before generalizing a delay.

To follow seasonal changes, consult the latest jeu.vidéo news, video game news and esports content. For weapon figures, return to the in-game cards and EA’s notes.

Frequently asked questions

Additional information about hop-ups and mythic ammo can be found in the EA patch notes and the official EA weapons guide.

Further tracking resources related to these rules are collected in the official EA patch notes and the official EA weapons guide.

To keep following the topic, also read our article on Apex Legends: which legend should you choose when starting out? and our article on Overwatch: how to read a tier list without getting the wrong one.