Apex Legends Havoc Rifle Guide

By TJ Denzer ·

The Havoc Rifle is the first new weapon to come to Apex Legends and we've got the tips and tricks to help you understand its capabilities whether you're going full-auto or sniper.

Apex Legends Havoc Rifle Guide

Apex Legends isn’t lacking in the incredible arsenal of weapons, characters, and abilities you can use against foes, but that isn’t stopping EA and Respawn Entertainment from upping the ante with new weapons. The Havoc Rifle is now available, featuring a solid versatility between full-auto assault weapon and sniper, and we’ve put together everything you’ll need to know to use it effectively.

Havoc Rifle Specs

There's only two Legendary skins for the Havoc in Apex Legends right now, but they're still spiffy to say the least.
There's only two Legendary skins for the Havoc in Apex Legends right now, but they're still spiffy to say the least.

Ammo Type: Energy Weapon

Firing Mode: Full-Auto/Single Beam (Select Fire Receiver required for Single Shot)

Clip Capacity: 25 (Single Shot uses 5 rounds per single fire)

Attachments

  • Assault Stocks
  • Sights: 1x ACOG up to 2x-4x ACOG (Threat & Sniper Sights Not Allowed)
  • Hop-Ups: Select Fire Receiver and Turbocharger

Bullet Spray Pattern

Full-Auto Havoc Rifle
Full-Auto Havoc Rifle

Single Shot Beam Havoc Rifle
Single Shot Beam Havoc Rifle

Damage Per Shot (Approximate Values)

Body: 18 (Full-Auto), 40 (Single Shot Beam)

Head: 36 (Full-Auto), 80 (Single Shot Beam)

Note: The Havoc Rifle has a spin-up period just like the Devotion machine gun energy weapon. Much like the Devotion, the only way to remove this is with the Turbocharger hop-up mod. The Turbocharger cannot be used simultaneously with the Select Fire Receiver hop-up.

Havoc Rifle Variations: Full-Auto or Sniper?

Perhaps one of the most unique features of the Havoc Rifle is that it is one of the only weapons in Apex Legends that can be used as a full-auto assault rifle or sniper. Of course, what you can do with it will depend on what you can find on the fly. The Havoc can take three mods: assault stocks, optics, and hop-ups, but which variation of the gun you run will heavily determine your needs for it. If you’re looking specifically to run one way or the other with the weapon, there’s some gear and strategy necessary to get the most out of both approaches to using the Havoc.

Full-Auto Havoc

With or without the Turbocharger, when the Havok Rifle is spinning, it will cut enemies down in a jiffy.
With or without the Turbocharger, when the Havok Rifle is spinning, it will cut enemies down in a jiffy.

Recommended Loadout

  • Assault Stock
  • 1x-2x ACOG or 2x-4xACOG
  • Turbocharger Hop-Up

Using the Havoc as an Assault weapon can be tough, but if you get the right tools for it, it becomes supremely deadly. The most important thing here is getting a Turbocharger. The Havoc has a wind-up that can put you at a mild disadvantage against weapons in Apex Legends that can fire right on contact. The Turbocharger hop-up removes this disadvantage, but it’s a gold Legendary tier piece of gear. If you can’t get your hands on one, a viable strategy may be to practice winding the Havoc up so that it’s warmed up and ready to fire when you actually do get into a fight. If you get caught with a cold Havoc, you’ll be in trouble. It might be tough to anticipate the fight, but by tapping on the fire button and winding the gun constantly, you can cut the risk a bit. The Havoc doesn’t have a barrel stabilizer (much like the Flatline), but with a fairly straight-up muzzle climb, it’s not the most difficult weapon to control with just a stock and optics either.

Sniper Beam Havoc

With a charge-up finishing on the sniper variant of the Havoc, this Gibraltar in our 2x-4x sights doesn't know, but he's already dead.
With a charge-up finishing on the sniper variant of the Havoc, this Gibraltar in our 2x-4x sights doesn't know it, but he's already dead.

Recommended Loadout

  • Assault Stock
  • 3x Ranger ACOG or 2x-4x ACOG
  • Select Fire Receiver Hop-Up

When you put a Select Fire Receiver on the Havoc, it becomes the only hitscan weapon in Apex Legends. That means the shot and hit are almost instantaneous. The only tough part is making sure to allocate for the charge up on the beam shot in your aim. The Havoc can’t take sniper optics or stocks, but it features a massive benefit of not having any real bullet drop to account for either. If you are pointing directly at an enemy when you fire, it will hit them. At around 40 damage per body hit, the Havoc does less damage than the Longbow, but more than the G7 Scout. It really just depends on how well you can compensate for the charge time between shots. That said, you also have the option to switch the Havoc back to full-auto in case of a sudden close quarters engagement, which takes less time than changing to a back-up gun, so it also features the benefit of acting like two weapons in one in a pinch.

Is The Havoc Worth Your Time In Apex Legends?

The Havoc has a high skill cap for a weapon to be sure, due majorly in part to the charge-up on the gun, but it also may be one of the most versatile weapons in Apex Legends due to the hop-up attachments it allows. When you have a gun that can deliver a focused full-auto barrage, a long distance snipe, and some spray-and-pray power, you have it all in the Havoc, and that versatility is sure to make it a rewarding weapon among many players. If this is the starting point of new weapons for Apex Legends, it’s a good one to be sure. We can’t wait to see what players accomplish with it.

Want to get some swag for your Havoc and other cool cosmetics? If you’re subscribed to Twitch Prime, be sure to check out how to pick up the Apex Legends Twitch Prime Pack for some free Apex Packs and an exclusive Pathfinder skin.