The Apex Legends R-99 continues to prove popular if you're after a strong Apex Legends SMG to use in the heat of battle, as Season 18 continues to progress.
Season 18 saw a number of weapon buffs and nerfs affecting various weapons and the R-99 was one of them, with the SMG receiving a slight ammo capacity nerf. The R-99 also entered the crafter this season, along with the Rampage LMG, meaning it's easier than ever to get your hands on one. Does it still deliver excellent performance or are there better options available?
Before we reveal all the intel on the Apex Legends R-99, take a look at our guides on Ballistic as well as weapon mastery.
Apex Legends R-99 basic information
Here is the basic information that you need to know about the R-99:
- Weapon Type: SMG
- Firing Modes: Automatic
- Ammo Type: Light Rounds
- Magazine Size: 17 / 20 / 23 / 26
- Range: Close
- Tac Reload Time: 1.8s / 1.74s / 1.68s / 1.62s
- Full Reload Time: 2.45s / 2.37s / 2.29s / 2.21s
- Rate of Fire: 1080 RPM
- DPS: 216
R-99 damage stats
Just below you'll find the damage stats for the R-99. Do note these are just the basic damage stats and do not reflect stats for Fortified Legends (Caustic, Gibraltar, Newcastle, etc.) where damage stats are typically reduced by 15%.
Target | Damage | Shots To Kill: 100HP | 150HP | 175HP | 200HP | 225HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head | 15 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
Level 1 Helmet | 14 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 |
Level 2 Helmet | 14 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 |
Level 3/4 Helmet | 13 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
Body | 12 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 |
Leg | 10 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 23 |
Apex Legends R-99 attachments
The R-99 can tear through unshielded enemies in a heartbeat, but it needs attachments to be able to do so effectively. Thankfully, there are plenty to choose from, including a range of sights, stocks, laser attachments, and magazine extensions.
Sights
- 1x Holo (Common)
- 1x HCOG Classic (Common)
- 2x HCOG Bruiser (Rare)
- 1x-2x Variable Holo (Rare)
- 1x Digital Threat (Legendary)
Stocks
- Common stock (WHITE)
- Rare stock (BLUE)
- Epic stock (PURPLE)
Stocks attached to weapons in Apex Legends allow for increased reload time, improved aim stability while ADSing, as well as a shorter mobility time where the attachment decreases the time it takes to both holster/unholster the weapon, as well as the raise/lower actions while the gun is being carried.
Laser sights
- Common laser sight (WHITE)
- Rare laser sight (BLUE)
- Epic laser sight (PURPLE)
Laser sights were introduced to Apex Legends in Season 14. They replaced the barrel stabiliser attachment on SMGs and Pistols, and so the R-99 weapon now has a slot for a laser sight attachment available. Laser sights offer a large hipfire spread reduction, and players can fully customise the colour of the laser to their preferred reticle shade.
R-99 skins
At the time of writing, there is a total of 91 weapon skins available for the R-99. This includes 28 Legendary, 10 Epic, 36 Rare, and 16 Common. The skins range in cost from 1,200 Crafting Metals (Legendary) to 30 Crafting Metals (Common).
- Earn currency: Learn how to get more Crafting Metals.
Apex Legends R-99 review
The R-99 is a great weapon to have on hand in both the Battle Royale public and Ranked matches. If you pair it with an Assault Rifle or a Ranged weapon like a Sniper or Marksman, you can become unstoppable in both long and mid-range fights. It's also an ideal weapon for indoor firefights. It has a devastatingly rapid-fire rate, meaning you can easily shred any enemies that dare to get too close without worrying about re-loading mid-fight.
Also, your movement speed isn't impacted when you're looking down the sight of an R-99. Therefore, it's perfect if you're planning an ambush on an unsuspecting squad. However, it does have quite a strong recoil that isn't quite as forgiving as its SMG counterpart, the Alternator. However, once you master the pattern of an R-99, you become an unstoppable force.
If you're searching for some weapons to pair with your R-99 in Apex Legends, then we have some suggestions. You can pair it with the deadly Sentinel Sniper Rifle. This weapon is dangerous at its base level, but it can become lethal if you equip the right attachments. If you land a charged headshot with the Sentinel, your enemies can be easily finished off with a quick burst from the R-99.
However, if you want to play with the R-99 in a much more close-quarters style, we'd recommend the Wingman pistol or a Shotgun like the Peacekeeper. Both offer a huge damage output and if paired with the speed and DPS of an R-99, you'll quickly mow down any enemies in your path.
So, that's all you need to know about the R-99 SMG in Apex Legends. As Season 17 of the popular Battle Royale comes to a close, be sure to check out the changes coming to Ranked in the next season, or brush up on your knowledge of the other SMGs in the game, like the Volt energy weapon.