The Apex Legends Longbow DMR and Triple Take are both excellent Marksman/Sniper options, but the choice depends on your style: the Longbow offers consistent, high-damage single shots, while the Triple Take excels at close-to-mid-range bursts and poking with its unique projectile spread.
Welcome, fellow legends! Choosing the right weapon for those longer-range engagements in Apex Legends can feel tricky. You have the reliable Longbow DMR, which hits hard when you connect, and the versatile Triple Take, which shoots in a neat little spread. Many new players scratch their heads wondering which one deserves that valuable sniper slot. Don’t worry; this is a common challenge! It’s like choosing between a focused arrow and a quick volley. We are going to break down these two heavy-hitters step-by-step, comparing their feel, power, and best use cases. By the end of this guide, you’ll confidently know which rifle suits your unique playstyle best.
Understanding the Marksman/Sniper Role in Apex Legends
Before we dive into the direct showdown, let’s remember what these weapons are designed to do. Marksman and Sniper rifles are crucial for controlling space, knocking down opponents at a distance, and applying pressure before a fight even starts. Mastering one means you can support your squad from a safe vantage point.
In Apex Legends, loadout choice is everything. You usually want a close-range weapon (like an SMG or Shotgun) and a mid-to-long-range weapon. The Longbow and the Triple Take compete directly for that second slot. Understanding their core mechanics is the first step toward mastering them.
The Basics: Projectiles, Damage, and Firing Modes
Every weapon has a feel. Some feel light and quick, while others feel heavy and powerful. For these two rifles, the difference is in how they deliver their damage.
- The Longbow DMR: This is a traditional semi-automatic sniper rifle. It fires one heavy bullet at a time. Think of it as a precise, fast-shooting arrow.
- The Triple Take: This unique weapon fires three projectiles in a tight, horizontal spread. It feels more like a rapid-fire shotgun or a burst rifle at longer ranges, though it technically falls under the Marksman category.
Apex Legends Longbow DMR: The Consistent Punch
The Longbow DMR is a fan favorite because it rewards accuracy with significant stopping power. It uses Sniper ammo, and attaching a reliable scope makes it sing.
Longbow Damage Profile and Characteristics
The key appeal of the Longbow is its predictable damage output. When you land a shot, you know exactly how much damage that single bullet did. This consistency is vital for tracking enemy health bars.
Here is a quick look at its base damage numbers (these can change slightly with patches, but the principle remains):
| Hit Location | Base Body Damage | Base Headshot Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Body Shot | 55 | 110 (with Skullpiercer Hop-Up) |
| Headshot (No Hop-Up) | N/A | 100 |
Notice how significant a headshot is. If you can consistently hit headshots, the Longbow can quickly crack shields and down opponents, even without the specialized Skullpiercer hop-up (which increases headshot damage).
Pros and Cons of Choosing the Longbow
When deciding if the Longbow is your primary long-range tool, consider these factors:
Longbow Pros:
- High Single-Shot Damage: Excellent for punishing enemies who peek out briefly.
- Predictable Recoil: Once you learn the timing, the recoil pattern is very consistent between shots.
- Scales Well with Attachments: It benefits greatly from a good stock and extended magazine, allowing for faster follow-up shots.
- Effective Range: It remains highly accurate even at extreme distances, making it a true sniper rifle.
Longbow Cons:
- Fire Rate Reliance: If you miss your first shot, you are vulnerable while cycling to the next one. It demands good mechanical aim.
- Requires Good Optics: It’s tough to use effectively without at least a 2x-4x scope, making early-game usage challenging.
- Ammo Consumption: Landing shots costs more ammo than the Triple Take’s burst potential.
Apex Legends Triple Take: The Versatile Burst
The Triple Take is often called a hybrid. It behaves like a standard Marksman rifle but uses its unique firing pattern to deliver quick, spread-out damage. It uses Sniper ammo, just like the Longbow.
Triple Take Damage Profile and Characteristics
The crucial difference here is the projectile spread. The Triple Take fires three darts simultaneously. To maximize damage, you need all three projectiles to connect with the target—this is known as landing a “full spread” or a “Talon strike.”
The damage listed is usually the damage per projectile. Landing all three is key.
| Hit Location | Damage Per Pellet (Base) | Maximum Burst Damage (All 3 Pellets) |
|---|---|---|
| Body Shot | 23 | 69 |
| Headshot (Per Pellet) | 46 | 138 (If all 3 hit the head) |
This burst nature makes the Triple Take incredibly forgiving at closer mid-ranges. If you are using it against an enemy running sideways, you are more likely to land at least one or two pellets than you are to land one perfect Longbow shot.
Pros and Cons of Choosing the Triple Take
The Triple Take shines when flexibility is required. It’s a great bridge between a true sniper and a mid-range assault rifle.
Triple Take Pros:
- Forgiving Spread: Excellent for engaging moving targets or when you don’t have the perfect scope setup yet.
- High Potential Burst Damage: A full, clean hit can match or exceed the Longbow’s first shot damage, often faster.
- Better at Close/Mid Range: Its spread tightens slightly as you attach scopes, but it remains more manageable in dynamic close fights than the Longbow.
- Uses Choke (Optional): While often used without it, the hop-up tightens the spread significantly, making it feel almost like a precision rifle at range.
Triple Take Cons:
- Inconsistent Damage: If you only land one or two pellets, the damage output drops significantly, making shield cracking slower.
- Projectile Travel: While it doesn’t technically have bullet drop in the traditional sense of other snipers (it has more of a slight arc), the time it takes for three projectiles to travel can feel slower to lead targets than the Longbow’s single round.
- Less Effective at Extreme Range: The spread widens too much over very long distances, making it hard to secure those crucial full hits.
The Showdown: Longbow vs. Triple Take Head-to-Head
Now that we know what each weapon brings to the table, let’s put them head-to-head in common combat scenarios. This comparison should help you lock in your preference.
Scenario 1: Long-Distance Poking (200+ Meters)
In scenarios where enemies are barely visible, precision is paramount. You need to land one, maybe two, guaranteed hits to get their attention or finish a cracked shield.
- Winner: Longbow DMR. The Longbow’s tight, single projectile holds accuracy far better than the Triple Take’s spread. You can aim dead center mass or on the head and trust where the bullet will land. The Triple Take becomes too unreliable here.
Scenario 2: Mid-Range Pressure (75–150 Meters)
This is where most fights start in Apex. You need to deal damage while moving or repositioning.
- Winner: Tie/Slight Edge to Triple Take. If you are accurate, the Longbow might deal more damage faster if you can land two clean body shots quickly. However, the Triple Take is much more forgiving here. If you slightly miss your primary target zone, you’ll still land two pellets, often resulting in a faster shield crack with less intense mechanical aiming.
Scenario 3: Close-Quarters Marksman Use (Under 50 Meters)
Sometimes, you are stuck with your sniper when an enemy rushes you. Which one helps you survive?
- Winner: Triple Take. Absolutely. If an enemy pushes you while you’re holding a Triple Take, aiming near their torso will guarantee multiple hits because of the spread. The Longbow requires you to transition into hip-fire or a full sidearm/SMG, whereas the Triple Take can still deliver viable damage while scoping or quickly aiming down sights.
Essential Attachments: Maximizing Your Rifle’s Potential
No matter which rifle you choose, attachments dramatically change its performance. Think of attachments as tuning your bowstring for better speed and consistency!
Longbow DMR Must-Haves:
- Sniper Stock: Crucial for reducing handling time and improving ADS movement speed.
- Extended Sniper Magazine: More bullets mean less downtime between shots, which is the Longbow’s biggest weakness.
- Skullpiercer Rifling (Hop-Up): If you find this, it instantly makes the Longbow a top-tier threat due to the massive increase in headshot damage (100 base to 110 per shot!).
Triple Take Must-Haves:
- Extended Sniper Magazine: More bursts mean more chances to land a full spread.
- Sniper Stock: Helps keep your sight steady between those bursts.
- Precision Choke (Hop-Up): This is arguably the most important attachment for the Triple Take. It dramatically tightens the spread, making it behave much more like a traditional single-projectile rifle at range, significantly boosting its effectiveness beyond 100 meters.
Beginner Tip: How to Practice Projectile Lead
Leading your targets—aiming slightly ahead of a moving enemy so your bullet meets them where they are going—is crucial for both weapons, but it feels different for each.
For the Longbow, you only need to lead one projectile. Focus on getting the timing right for that single bullet to intercept the enemy.
For the Triple Take, you are leading three projectiles. Because they travel side-by-side, if you lead the center projectile correctly, the outer two will usually travel close enough to connect as well. This can sometimes feel easier for beginners practicing leading shots.
If you want to practice aiming fundamentals, resources from institutions like the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) often provide excellent, general marksmanship principles that translate well, focusing on breath control and sight alignment, which you can adapt to the digital aiming mechanics in Apex Legends.
Choosing Your Champion: When to Use Which Rifle
Your final choice should align with your general approach to fighting in the Apex Games.
Pick the Longbow if…
- You feel confident in your mechanical aiming skills.
- You prefer a consistent, heavy “thwack” sound and damage indicator.
- Your secondary weapon is very strong up close (e.g., a Peacekeeper or R-99), allowing you to rely on the Longbow for true sniping.
- You consistently hit your headshots.
Pick the Triple Take if…
- You struggle to hit single, precise shots on moving targets.
- You often find yourself fighting enemies in the mid-range “no-man’s-land” where a sniper is too slow, but an AR feels weak.
- You enjoy the utility of being able to use it effectively even if you only find a 1x HCOG Classic early on.
- You frequently play fast-paced legends like Octane or Wraith who encourage quick repositioning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for New Rifle Users
Q1: Which gun handles bullet drop better in Apex Legends?
A: The Longbow handles bullet drop more predictably because it’s a single projectile. The Triple Take’s spread makes judging the arc of three separate darts harder to calculate over extreme distances.
Q2: Can the Triple Take use the Skullpiercer Hop-Up?
A: No. The Skullpiercer is exclusively for the Longbow DMR and Sentinel sniper rifles. The Triple Take uses the Precision Choke hop-up to tighten its spread.
Q3: Which rifle is easier for a brand-new player to learn?
A: The Triple Take is generally easier for beginners. Its burst mechanic allows players to miss slightly and still secure meaningful damage, building confidence faster than the Longbow, which harshly punishes a full miss.
Q4: Does the Triple Take count as a true sniper rifle?
A: In the game’s categorization, it occupies the Marksman Rifle slot, sitting between Assault Rifles and Snipers. However, it uses Sniper ammo and can equip sniper scopes, blurring the line.
Q5: Which weapon has a faster fire rate (Time to Kill potential)?
A: If both weapons are perfectly utilized, the Longbow can sometimes achieve a slightly faster raw Time to Kill (TTK) due to its very fast semi-auto speed, provided you are landing consecutive body shots quickly. However, the Triple Take’s potential for burst damage in one click (69 damage) means it can sometimes feel faster if you land the full spread consistently.
Q6: Which scope is best for both guns?
A: For the Longbow, the 4x-8x Variable or 4x-10x Digital Sniper are ideal for long-range precision. For the Triple Take, the 2x-4x Variable or even the 1x HCOG Classic works well, especially if you find the Precision Choke, as you won’t need extreme magnification.
Conclusion: Your Perfect Shot Awaits
The battle between the Apex Legends Longbow vs Triple Take isn’t about finding a single ‘better’ weapon; it’s about finding the right tool for your specific job on the map. If you are patient, disciplined, and strive for those satisfying headshots, the Longbow DMR offers unparalleled consistent long-range power.
However, if you thrive in fluid, mid-range skirmishes, or you need a reliable weapon that forgives the occasional minor aiming error, embrace the versatile burst of the Triple Take. Remember, archery, whether real or digital, is about consistency and knowing your equipment. Take the time in the Firing Range to test both. Feel how they behave when you lead your shots and how quickly you can recover when you miss. Equip the one that makes you feel the most confident, practice those attachments, and you will start raining down damage on the Outlands in no time. Good luck out there, Legend!