I don’t know how to explain the Charge Rifle in Apex Legends. It’s a sniper rifle that fires off a laser beam, but instead of using energy ammo, it uses sniper ammo. Everything about this thing is strange, from the way it looks, to how it operates, and yet, that is its strongest suit. All these factors combined make the Charge Rifle my favorite sniper rifle in Apex, and yes, there may be better sniper rifles than it; I just don’t care.
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So, How Does the Charge Rifle Work in Apex?
In almost every regard, the Charge Rifle is similar to an energy weapon in Apex Legends. It has an unusual design, it fires off a laser beam, and it has its own particular mechanic. Its mechanic is, surprise surprise, *drumroll*… That you have to hold down the button to charge the shot. *gasp*
But, unlike the Bocek or the 30-30, which also have a sort of “charge mechanic”, the Charge Rifle’s mechanic works differently. When you press down the fire button, a laser beam is shot out that deals 3 damage for 15 ticks, and after that, it releases a full-powered shot at the enemy. The Charge Rifle is also quite hungry, as it uses up 2 ammunition per shot. Oh, and it’s a hitscan weapon; the only one in the game actually. This means that as long as you have your crosshair directly on the enemy, you’ll do damage. Because of that, you don’t have to compensate for bullet drop or, God forgive me for saying this … unlucky shot dispersion.
The Stats of the Charge Rifle
Just like the Bocek and 30-30 that we mentioned previously, the Charge Rifle also has 2 damage tables.
Here’s the damage table for its laser ticks:
| Target | Mods | DMG | 100 | 150 | 175 | 200 | 225 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head (1.25x) | – | 60 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Head | Lvl. 1 | 60 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Head | Lvl. 2 | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Head | Lvl. 3/4 | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Body | – | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Body | Fort | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Legs (1x) | – | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Legs | Fort | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
And here’s the damage table for its shot:
| Target | Mods | DMG | 100 | 150 | 175 | 200 | 225 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head (1.25x) | – | 56 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Head | Lvl. 1 | 54 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Head | Lvl. 2 | 51 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Head | Lvl. 3/4 | 49 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Body | – | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Body | Fort | 38 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Legs (1x) | – | 45 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Legs | Fort | 38 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Because the damage is split like this, at first it might seem as if the charge rifle is quite weak compared to the other sniper rifles, but oh, that couldn’t be farther from the truth!
Attachments for the Charge Rifle
Here’s what you can slap onto the Charge Rifle:
- Sniper Stock
- 1x HCOG “Classic”
- 1x Holo
- 2x HCOG “Bruiser”
- 1x-2x Variable Holo
- 6x Sniper
- 3x HCOG “Ranger”
- 2x-4x Variable AOG
- 4x-8x Variable Sniper
- 4x-10x Digital Sniper Threat
As you can see, there’s not much that you can attach to this thing. The brainiacs over at Vinson Dynamics are still trying to figure out how they can attach a barrel stabilizer onto this thing, but the progress has been quite slow with that project.
Ideal Charge Rifle Set-Up
Seeing as there aren’t many attachments that you can put on this thing, here’s how you should ideally go about kitting it out.
Find a 4x-8x Variable Sniper scope as soon as possible, though, a 6x Sniper scope will do just fine. In the event that you get lucky with a supply drop or a lifeline package, attach a 4x-10x Digital Sniper Threat scope. The ability to fire at a longer range and to see through obstructions is a godsend. Oh and, attach an Epic Sniper Stock whenever you find it. The sniper stock really doesn’t do much for this thing, so it isn’t a high priority.
The Charge Rifle Compared to the Other Sniper Rifles
The closest competitor that I can think of to the Charge Rifle is the Sentinel, my second favorite sniper rifle. So, I’ll be honest, I’m a bit biased. The Sentinel is great, don’t get me wrong, but it isn’t Charge Rifle great. The Sentinel suffers from a slow rate of fire and has bullet drop, cons that the Charge Rifle doesn’t have. It does do more damage, yes, but the cons outweigh the pros.
The only other sniper that might be able to compete with the Charge Rifle is the Kraber, but the problem with the Kraber is that it’s a care package only weapon. Its damage is downright insane! … But so is its rate of fire and reload – in a negative sense. So, in a duel between the Charge Rifle and the Kraber, I’d go with the Kraber, but in every other matchup – the Charge Rifle is king!
Potential Balance Changes for the Charge Rifle in the Future
Our dear old Charge Rifle is in a pretty good position right now, but, only the Oracle of Delphi can tell what will happen with it in the future. A change I’d like to see implemented is the inclusion of a magazine attachment slot, this would make the Charge Rifle more viable in those long-range stand-offs, without making it seriously overpowered. Either that or we’ll see its damage rebalance.
