If you’ve spent any time playing fast-paced FPS games, you’ve probably messed around with dual wield loadouts at some point. There’s something deeply satisfying about unloading two guns at once to melt an opponent before they can react. If you’re wondering can you dual wield in Apex Legends, you’re not alone – I get asked this question at least once a week by new players in my lobbies. I’ve logged over 1200 hours in Apex across casual, ranked, and tournament play, and I’ve tested every dual wield loadout extensively to see what works and what doesn’t. This guide breaks down everything you need to know, from which guns support dual wield to how to use the mechanic to get more kills without throwing your matches.
Can You Dual Wield in Apex Legends? Core Mechanics Explained
The short answer is yes, but it’s not a universal feature you can use with any weapon in the game. Dual wield in Apex is tied to a specific rare hop-up attachment that only works with a small handful of light sidearms. When you pick up the Dual Wield hop-up and attach it to a supported weapon, the game automatically gives you a second identical gun to hold in your off-hand, no extra looting required. Dual wield loadouts only work for close-range combat, with a maximum effective range of 15 meters, so you won’t be picking off enemies across the map with two pistols. You also can’t aim down sights when using dual wield guns – all shots are hip fire, which means you have to get much closer to your target to land consistent hits. The hop-up also overrides any other attachments you have on the gun, so if you had an extended mag or hammer points equipped, those will be removed when you attach the Dual Wield perk.
Weapons That Support Dual Wield in Apex Legends
As of the current season, only three light weapons work with the Dual Wield hop-up. Respawn occasionally adds temporary dual wield support for other weapons in limited time modes, but these three are the only ones you’ll find in standard battle royale and ranked matches. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so your pick will depend on your playstyle and what you have available:
The Dual Wield hop-up spawns as ground loot across all maps, with higher spawn rates in high-loot zones like King’s Canyon’s Capitol City or Storm Point’s Estates. You won’t find it in the replicator, so you have to get lucky with looting to pick one up. It doesn’t take up extra inventory space once attached to your weapon, so you don’t have to sacrifice room for healing items or grenades to carry it.
Pros and Cons of Using Dual Wield Loadouts
Dual wield isn’t a meta pick for most matches, but it has some clear advantages that make it worth picking up in the right situations. Incredibly high close-range DPS that outperforms most SMGs at under 10 meters is the biggest draw – even a fully kitted R-99 can’t compete with the burst damage of dual RE-45s when you’re right up in an opponent’s face. You also free up a secondary weapon slot, so you can carry more healing items, grenades, or ammo for your primary weapon. That’s a huge bonus in early game when you’re still scavenging for supplies.
But there are some pretty big downsides that stop dual wield from being a viable all-the-time pick. First, the lack of ADS means you’re completely useless at ranges over 15 meters. If an opponent is picking at you from 20 meters away with an R-301, you won’t be able to land enough hits to fight back. You also burn through ammo extremely fast – dual RE-45s can empty all 40 rounds in just 2 seconds, so you’ll need to carry extra light ammo to avoid running dry mid-fight. You can't attach other hop-ups or sights to dual wield weapons, so you lose out on powerful perks like hammer points that would make the single version of the gun much stronger.
I only pick up dual wield loadouts in the first 3 minutes of a match, or if I’m playing a fast-paced legend like Octane or Wraith who spends most of their time pushing close quarters fights. If I’m playing a support legend like Gibraltar or Newcastle, I skip it entirely, since I’m usually fighting at medium range to back up my team.
Tips to Use Dual Wield Effectively in Matches
If you do decide to run a dual wield loadout, there are a few simple tips that will help you get more kills and avoid throwing fights because of its limitations. First, always pair it with a medium or long range primary weapon. An R-301, Flatline, or Sentinel will cover you for fights where you can’t get close enough to use your dual wield guns, so you don’t get caught out by opponents playing at range. Always aim for the torso when dual wielding, since the spread of the two guns means you’ll land far more consistent hits than if you aim for the small head hitbox. You’ll still get random headshots occasionally, but focusing on the torso will let you take down enemies much faster.
Use movement to your advantage too – slide around corners, jump while shooting, and use legend abilities like Wraith’s portal or Octane’s stim to close gaps fast. The less time you spend exposed running towards an opponent, the less time they have to shoot you before you’re in range to melt them. Save dual wield for casual matches, early drop fights, or limited time modes like Team Deathmatch where most fights are close quarters. It’s not a viable pick in ranked matches above Platinum tier, where most players will stick to medium range and pick you off before you can get close. If you find a Dual Wield hop-up late in a match, it’s usually better to leave it unless your team already has plenty of long range coverage and you have extra light ammo to spare. It’s fun to use, but it’s not worth ditching a fully kitted secondary weapon for unless you’re confident you can make it work.
At the end of the day, the question can you dual wield in Apex Legends has a clear, if nuanced answer: yes, but only for specific weapons, and only if you adjust your playstyle to match its strengths. It’s not a meta pick that will carry you to Apex Predator, but it’s a fun, situational option that can lead to some of the most satisfying kill clips you’ll ever get in the game. Next time you find a Dual Wield hop-up in a casual match, give it a try – you might be surprised how many kills you can rack up before you have to swap to a more long-range loadout for the end game.