Elite Weapons Debut: RE-45 Burst Pistol is Broken (For Now) – Apex Legends Season 26 Guide

Season 26 of Apex Legends isn’t just about the new Wildcard mode, spicy cosmetics, or ranked changes. This season introduces something totally fresh: Elite Weapons – radically reimagined versions of familiar guns with completely new mechanics, stats, and vibes.

And leading the charge?
The RE-45 Burst, a pistol so cracked it makes SMGs feel like peashooters.

If you haven’t run into one yet... you will. And chances are, it'll be the last thing you hear before your death box hits the ground.


๐Ÿ”ฅ What Are Elite Weapons, Anyway?

Elite Weapons are temporary, fully reworked versions of existing guns that rotate in and out each season. Think of them like Limited-Time Legends for your loadout – big buffs, experimental mechanics, and a whole lot of chaos.

Key Takeaways:

✅ RE-45 Burst replaces the standard RE-45 (which is gone from the loot pool)
✅ Fires energy ammo in 3-round bursts for insane DPS
✅ Features a spin-up mechanic that rewards sustained fire
Limited-time weapon – may rotate out by mid-season or Season 27

This is Respawn’s way of testing bold mechanics without blowing up the core meta permanently.


๐Ÿ’ฅ RE-45 Burst Stats & Why It’s Broken Right Now

The RE-45 Burst takes everything we knew about the original RE-45 and cranks it to eleven.


Elite Weapons Debut: RE-45 Burst Pistol is Broken – Apex Legends Season 26 Guide
๐Ÿ”ง How It Works

  • Ammo Type: Energy (shared with Nemesis, Volt)

  • Fire Mode: 3-round burst (can also tap fire single shots)

  • Spin-Up Mechanic: Firing speed increases after 2 bursts

  • Magazine Size: 21 rounds (7 bursts per mag)

  • Attachments:

    • Laser Sights (hipfire boost)

    • Optics up to 2x (default 1x HCOG)

    • No stock / no hop-up slots


๐Ÿ“Š Damage Profile

Range    Body DMG    Headshot DMG    DPS (Full Spin-Up)
0-15m1523195
15-30m1320169
  • Out-DPS’s the R-99 (190) at close range

  • More accurate than the CAR SMG

  • Basically, it’s like giving the Nemesis to a pistol main


๐Ÿงจ Why It’s OP (But Kinda Fun)

1. Early Game Monster

  • Spawns as floor loot with energy ammo

  • Melts white/blue shields in one burst

  • Dominates until opponents are rocking purple attachments

2. No Real Counters

  • Out-trades shotguns in close quarters

  • Beats other pistols (even Wingman) consistently

  • Laser-accurate hipfire makes it feel unfair in movement fights

3. Built for Movement Legends

  • Octane + spin-up = jumpy death machine

  • Horizon can abuse air accuracy mid-fight

  • Bangalore reloads in smoke and resets for another burst


๐Ÿง  Pro Tips: How to Abuse It Before It Gets Nerfed

If you’re gonna use the RE-45 Burst (and you should), do it right:

Best Legend Synergies:

  • Octane: Stim into fights + spin-up wrecks

  • Horizon: Floaty burst combos mid-air

  • Bangalore: Use smokes to reload safely mid-fight

Best Loadout Pairings:

  • RE-45 Burst + Nemesis: Energy ammo stack efficiency

  • RE-45 Burst + Peacekeeper: Covers every range

  • RE-45 Burst + Volt: Double down on high mobility

Advanced Movement Tech:

  • Slide-Burst: Fire during slides to maintain momentum

  • Reload Cancel: Melee after final burst to skip reload animation


๐Ÿ‘€ Community Reaction: “It’s Basically a Pocket Nemesis”

“This thing deletes people before they even realize what happened.” – u/Skynade

“If you thought R-99 was busted, this is next level.” – u/iTempPlays

“It's like a Nemesis had a baby with the P2020 and fed it pre-workout.” – u/TheGamingMerchant

Yeah. Players are LOVING it – until it beams them from 20m away with zero recoil.


๐Ÿ“† Elite Weapon Rotation Schedule (Leaked & Theorized)

Respawn confirmed that Elite Weapons rotate every 4–6 weeks. Based on early leaks and dev hints, here’s what’s coming next:

๐Ÿ”œ Burst Prowler (Heavy ammo version with tighter spread)
๐Ÿ”œ Semi-Auto Wingman (fires faster, no Skullpiercer)
๐Ÿ›‘ Watch out for loot pool bloat if too many variants are active at once

"Elite Weapons let us test radical ideas without permanently altering the meta." – Respawn Designer, via Twitter


⚠️ What Could Go Wrong?

  • Loot Pool Bloat: Too many Elite versions might overwhelm casual players

  • Balance Nightmares: Each Elite weapon basically needs its own balance patch

  • Meta Creep: SMGs and other secondaries might get left behind

That said, it’s super fun right now, and that’s what counts. (Right?)


✅ Final Verdict: Broken, Fun, and Totally Worth Using

The Good:

✔ Unique twist on a classic weapon
✔ Insane DPS, easy to pick up
✔ Great with mobility legends
✔ Rewards aim tracking & burst timing

The Bad:

❌ No hop-up support
❌ Could make SMGs irrelevant
❌ Probably getting nerfed mid-season

๐Ÿ”ฎ Prediction: Damage nerf from 13 → 11 per bullet and/or spin-up delay added by Week 3 patch.


๐Ÿ“… What’s Next?

Keep your eyes on:

  • Week 3 patch notes for nerfs & rotation news

  • New Elite Weapons teased in leaks

  • Possible Elite-only LTM mode in Season 27

Let us know what you think:
๐Ÿ—ณ️ Love it – keeps the meta fresh
๐Ÿ—ณ️ Hate it – too gimmicky
๐Ÿ—ณ️ Needs balancing ASAP


๐Ÿ”— Community Links & Resources

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