Charge Rifle Nerf Hits Apex Legends Live Servers
Charge Rifle nerfs hit Apex Legends live servers Friday as the result of a mini patch deployed without server downtime.
The nerfs begin by removing the Charge Rifle's ability to equip extended energy magazines. To compensate for that change, the weapon can now hold up to 12 rounds — the equivalent of four shots — rather than just nine. Previously, a fully upgraded Charge Rifle could hold 18 rounds, or six shots.
Heads up, Legends: This morning we deployed a small patch that implemented the following changes to the Charge Rifle:
— Apex Legends (@PlayApex) October 25, 2019
?Can no longer equip extended energy magazines
?Base magazine capacity is now 12 (4 shots)
?Fire rate reduced
?Damage falloff has been modified pic.twitter.com/L3lfdExBHo
Respawn Entertainment also reduced the Charge Rifle's fire rate and modified its damage falloff. Exactly how much the fire rate dropped and how the falloff has changed remain unknown, but both changes directly address players' specific concerns with the weapon's power level.
Respawn Entertainment had previously announced plans to re-balance the Charge Rifle on its bug tracking Trello board. The developer introduced the balance changes without taking servers offline or otherwise disrupting players' in-game experiences.
The Charge Rifle arrived in Apex Legends at the start of Season 3, which premiered Oct. 1.
Photo courtesy of Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts