Assault rifles have moderate, manageable bullet drop for mid-range fights. The R-301 has the least drop in this class, so you only need to aim about one head height above a target at 200m to land a shot. The Flatline has slightly more drop, while the Hemlok falls right in the middle of the two. All of these are reliable for fights up to 300m if you adjust correctly.
Sniper rifles have the most significant bullet drop overall, except for the hitscan Charge Rifle. The Kraber has the highest drop of any weapon in the game, so you’ll need to aim 3-4 head heights above a target at 300m to land a hit. The Longbow and Sentinel have slightly less drop, making them more forgiving for new long-range players.
SMGs and shotguns have extremely high bullet drop, as they’re designed for close-quarters combat. You’ll barely notice drop for SMG fights under 100m, but past that point, you’ll have to aim so high to compensate that it’s usually not worth wasting ammo. Shotgun pellets drop so fast that you’ll miss most shots past 50m even if your reticle is perfectly lined up.
There are a small number of weapons that have no bullet drop at all, thanks to their hitscan mechanics. These are great options if you struggle with adjusting for drop during fast fights:
- Charge Rifle (continuous beam hitscan, no travel time or drop at any range)
- RE-45 Auto (pistol, hitscan up to 75m, with minimal drop past that point)
- P2020 (pistol, hitscan up to 65m, ideal for close-range cleanups)
- Havoc Rifle with Select Fire receiver (full auto hitscan mode that eliminates drop entirely)
Easy Adjustments to Compensate for Bullet Drop Mid-Match
You don’t have to do complex math in the middle of a fight to adjust for bullet drop. There are simple, intuitive tricks you can use to land more shots without overthinking:
First, use the built-in hash marks on your scopes. All 2x to 10x scopes have marked lines that correspond to specific distances, calibrated exactly for the weapon you’re holding. Don’t ignore the hash marks—if your target is 300m out, line their chest up with the 300m mark instead of the center reticle, and your shot will land perfectly. Most players don’t realize these marks are custom for each gun, so they’re far more reliable than guessing how high to aim.
Spend 5 minutes in the firing range before every play session testing the guns you use most. Shoot targets at 100m, 200m, and 300m to get a feel for how high you need to aim for each distance. Muscle memory will kick in faster than you think, and soon you’ll adjust without even noticing you’re doing it. I do this every time a new season drops, and it saves me from missing easy shots during my first few ranked matches.
Account for travel time alongside bullet drop. Most projectiles don’t reach their target instantly, so you’ll need to lead moving targets at the same time you adjust for drop. For targets moving perpendicular to you at 200m, lead by about one full body length for assault rifles, and two full body lengths for snipers. You’ll get a feel for this the more you practice, so don’t get frustrated if you miss a few shots at first.
If you’re still struggling, use legends that simplify long-range aiming. Bloodhound’s scan reveals the exact distance to every target it marks, so you don’t have to guess how far away someone is. Vantage’s sniper marker gives real-time aim adjustment cues, so you know exactly how high to aim for any distance. These legends are perfect for new players still learning bullet drop patterns.
Common Bullet Drop Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced players make these simple bullet drop mistakes that cost them fights. Avoiding these will immediately improve your hit rate at mid and long range:
The most common mistake is using the same adjustment for every gun. I’ve seen players pick up a Kraber after maining the R-301 all match, aim just a little above a 300m target, and miss completely because the Kraber’s drop is 3x higher than the R-301’s. Always adjust your aim based on the gun you’re holding, not the one you were using 2 minutes earlier.
Another mistake is overcompensating for drop at close range. A lot of new players start aiming way above targets even at 50m out, which makes them miss easy shots they would have landed if they’d just aimed directly at the hitbox. Bullet drop is almost unnoticeable for most guns at distances under 100m, so you can ignore it entirely in close-quarters fights.
Don’t forget that hop-ups can change bullet drop values. For example, equipping High Velocity Rounds on the Flatline reduces its bullet drop by 30%, so you don’t have to aim nearly as high for long shots. Check your hop-ups before taking long shots to make sure you’re not overadjusting for a gun that now has lower drop than you’re used to.
Finally, don’t ignore height differences between you and your target. If you’re shooting down at someone from a high cliff, bullet drop will be less noticeable because gravity is pulling the bullet in the same direction as your shot. If you’re shooting up at someone on a hill, you’ll need to aim even higher than you would for a target at the same distance on level ground. It’s a small detail, but it’s the difference between landing a game-winning shot and giving away your position for no reason.
At the end of the day, if you were asking does Apex Legends have bullet drop, the answer is a resounding yes, and mastering it is one of the fastest ways to climb the ranked ladder. You don’t have to memorize every single gun’s exact drop value to get better—start with the 2-3 weapons you use most, spend a few minutes in the firing range each session, and use the in-game scope tools to your advantage. Over time, adjusting for bullet drop will become second nature, and you’ll land way more of those satisfying long-range shots that make Apex Legends so fun to play.