The new Chaos Theory Collection event has brought aÂhugeupdate toÂApex Legends. Among changes to game modes, character perks, and items, this new event is attempting to answer and fix the age-old question ofApexÂplayers: is the Mastiff shotgun too OP? TheApexÂMastiff has been a top-tier weapon in competitive play for nearly the entirety of its existence but many consider it to be too powerful. The new update is going to change the gun in a few ways to hopefully balance the game better.
Mastiff Changes
These two changes may seem subtle but will definitely change how the Mastiff feels. Reducing its damage output might change its place in the meta as a reliable shield cracker. Depending on the angle and distance of the enemy, this update might relegate the Mastiff to being an early game weapon for use only on low-tier shields.
The fire rate time increase also seems small, but in the heat of battle will make all the difference in the world.The developers at Respawn made it clearthat they wanted to make each shotgun even more distinct between the “fast fire EVA-8 and the heavy-hitting Peacekeeper.” This will put the Mastiff between those two weapons, but it’s unclear right now how that will resonate. Players might ask “why grab a Mastiff if the EVA-8 is faster and the Peacekeeper hits harder?”
Other Weapon Changes
The other three weapon changes are as followsfrom the official patch notes:
Weapon Optics
Dev Note:Â The burst damage from the Hemlok’s hip-fire was feeling a little too consistent for an AR that should excel at medium range. This change mitigates the Hemlokâs close quarters damage spikes that felt bad on the receiving end.
For more on the Chaos Theory Collection event changes, make sure to check out our coverage ofall Legend updatesandthe big takeaways from the upcoming event.
