Is the Alternator an underrated weapon in Apex Legends Season 21?

Alternator is underrated in Apex Legends (Image via EA)

Yes, the Alternator is an underrated gun in Apex Legends Season 21. This is an automatic light-ammo Sub Machine Gun (SMG) that has rotated from ground loot to the care package in Season 10. It is a powerful weapon off-drop that scales efficiently as the match progresses but requires a lot of different attachments. A base Alternator can only help you score the initial gunfights to create space and loot better weapons.

This article will highlight the possibility of an Alternator meta in Apex Legends Season 21.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the opinion of the author.

When should you use the Alternator in Apex Legends?

The Alternator is a boon if you can find it off-drop while contesting any Point of Interest (POI), considering no Havocs or Flatlines are available as options. Since its return from the care package, the community has recognized its potential and that it can compete with Assault Rifles.

However, it is not a preferred choice for the primary weapon slot.

Alternator in Legend Locker weapon preview (Image via EA)

It has a slow fire rate that limits the amount of burst damage you can inflict. This can act in your favor as it lowers the recoil kick for the gun drastically, making it easier to control. It has a total of 19 bullets without extended mags and can pack a maximum of 27 rounds with the Level 3 (Purple) or Level 4 (Golden) magazine.

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On a fully kitted enemy (highest level shield and helmet), the Alternator deals a total of 19 for headshot, 16 for body shot, and 13 for leg shot damage. So it would take you a minimum of 12 clean headshots to score an elimination or knockdown. This is a difficult task to complete as Apex Legends is known for its fluid movement mechanics which makes it difficult to track enemies.

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These stats make the SMG unfavorable for various scenarios. However, if you can find the Disruptor Rounds Hop-Up, the damage output changes in favor of the SMG. It can dish out a total of 22 headshot damage alongside 19 for body and 15 for leg shots.

The developer balanced this power up for the Alternator by limiting the damage modifier to work only when the enemy players have shields. It does not do the same damage after you have cracked the opponent.

We recommend switching out your secondary weapon for an Alternator only when you find the Hop-Up to maximize your damage output. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for more updates, news, and guides.