The Nemesis Burst AR has fallen into an interesting spot. It’s the second energy assault rifle in the game, but also the second burst rifle. But, is it something fresh, or is it more of the same old same old, just in a new package? Let’s take a look.
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The Nemesis Burst AR, in Comparison
It’s only fair to compare the Nemesis to its closest brethren, the Hemlok and the Havoc. Let’s begin with the Hemlok. Compared to the Hemlok, the Nemesis fires 4 rounds, instead of the usual 3. It also has a lower damage per bullet than the Hemlok, but comparable DPS. Compared to the Havoc on the other hand, the damage per bullet is the exact same as a turbocharged Havoc. What it doesn’t have going for it is fully automatic fire… Or does it?
Here’s where the Nemesis Burst AR is also quite unique. It fires in 4 round bursts, but unlike the Hemlok or the Prowler, you don’t need to repeatedly press the fire button to fire, you can simply hold down the fire button and it will continue to fire. What’s more, the gun has a “heat” mechanic that generates heat with each burst, the more heat you have, the faster the gun fires.
The Stats of the Nemesis Burst AR
Now let’s see what’s so special about it.
| Target | Mods | DMG | 100 | 150 | 175 | 200 | 225 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head (1.7x) | – | 116 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Head | Lvl. 1 | 108 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Head | Lvl. 2 | 92 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Head | Lvl. 3/4 | 84 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Body | – | 68 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Body | Fort | 56 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Legs (0.75x) | – | 52 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Legs | Fort | 44 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
As was said above, the damage is comparable to a turbocharged Havoc. But, unlike the Havoc, the Nemesis has a higher fire rate. So in the end, the Nemesis actually ends up dealing more damage per second than the Havoc – granted you land all the shots on target, that is.
Attachments for the Nemesis Burst AR
When it comes to attachments, the Nemesis is similar to most other guns in Apex Legends. It has 4 attachment slots. These are The Laser, the Mag, the Optics, and the Stock. For the full list:
- Barrel Stabilizer
- Extended Energy Mag
- Standard Stock
- 1x HCOG “Classic”
- 1x Holo
- 1x-2x Variable Holo
- 2x HCOG “Bruiser”
- 2x-4x Variable AOG
- 3x HCOG “Ranger”
Ideal Nemesis Burst AR Set-Up
In ideal circumstances, you should go for a Legendary Extended Energy Mag first. Then you can go for an Epic Barrel Stabilizer. Following this, find an Epic Standard Stock. And lastly, grab either a 2x-4x Variable AOG or a 3x HCOG “Ranger”.
Thankfully, the iron sights of the Nemesis are pretty good, though, you should avoid longer-ranged engagements until you find better sights. But, before you can do any of that, you must find an extended mag and a barrel stabilizer first. The Nemesis Burst AR chews threw ammo like a hungry dog and the spread without a barrel stabilizer basically locks you out of long-range engagements. That is why you should get the optics at the end, because, until you have a barrel stabilizer, you won’t be able to hit anything at range anyways!
Is the Nemesis Burst AR the new King of Burst Weapons?
Definitely. Just from the sole fact that you don’t have to repeatedly press the fire button to continue firing. But not just that. The Hemlok has always been a gun that performs well at range but struggles at close-range engagements because of its relatively slow rate of fire. The Prowler on the other hand performed exceptionally in close-range engagements but struggled at range. The Nemesis has neither of those drawbacks, as it can perform well both at range and in close quarters… But there’s a catch. To unlock its full potential, you have to equip it with the right attachments, as it suffers from poor dispersion without a barrel stabilizer and an even poorer magazine capacity for close-quarter engagements. So, in a sense, it’s the definition of a sleeper gun.
Potential Balance Changes for the Nemesis Burst AR in the Future
Seeing as the Nemesis Burst AR is a brand-new toy, we’re still learning the ropes about what it can do. But, if it were up to me, I would definitely increase the base magazine size by one more burst. As it currently sits, the Nemesis eats through its ammunition in a few short bursts. Having one more burst will definitely make it competitive with the R-301 and the Flatline. On the other end though, its hip-fire capabilities are nothing spectacular, but when aimed down sight it becomes devastating. So, in all likelihood, the opposite will probably come to fruition, and it will be slapped with a big fat nerf.
