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The Nemesis is a terrifying assault rifle that, if used well, can dominate mid and long-range fights, but it’s not the easiest weapon to master.
Like any weapon in Apex Legends, the Nemesis has its strengths and weaknesses, and if you want to use this gun to its full potential, you’ll have to be aware of when you should and shouldn’t use it. Here’s everything you need to know about how to use the Nemesis and overcome its weaknesses.
How To Use The Nemesis
The Nemesis is a burst-fire assault rifle that uses Energy Ammo and can deal an astounding amount of damage in a short time thanks to its unique charging mechanic. As you shoot with the Nemesis, a bar will fill above the weapon information. The higher that bar is, the faster the gun shoots, and the more dangerous it becomes.
At medium and long ranges, the Nemesis’s damage output rivals the best weapons in the game. Its four-shot burst is surprisingly easy to control, and it can fire so quickly that it easily outperforms most guns. This tendency toward mid-range fights suits Support Legends, Recon Legends, and Gibraltar’s Gun Shield especially.
If you pick up the Nemesis, try to get into poke fights — situations where two teams are firing at each other from mid-rage while ducking in and out of cover. The Nemesis can deal critical damage in the short times when enemies peak and create an opening for your team to move in. Pathfinder’s Zipline is a great way to capitalize on bursts of damage like this.
The Nemesis still performs well in longer-rage fights, but it isn’t as effective as single-fire weapons like the Sentinel and G7 Scout which are more accurate and deal more damage with fewer bullets.
Keeping Your Charge
In long, drawn-out fights, the charge mechanic will take care of itself, and you’ll find your weapon getting more and more effective as time goes on. Controller Legends like Wattson will help you create this type of fight more often, but if you find yourself in a fight that doesn’t fit this mold, you’ll have to do what you can to increase and maintain your weapon charge.
Keep shooting your weapon as you reposition to retain the charge level, and if you’re staring at where an enemy might appear, don’t be afraid to lay down some suppressing fire. It may keep your opponent in cover longer and give your team more time to reposition.
The opening of fights can be tricky as the Nemesis won’t have any charge built up. There’s no easy way to counteract this, so consider switching to your second weapon at the start of a fight instead of trying to make it work with the Nemesis.
The Weaknesses Of The Nemesis
The Nemesis’s ability to dominate mid-range fights doesn’t mean it’s well-suited for every situation. The first thing to keep in mind is that the Nemesis has a terrible hip-fire spread — it is nearly useless if you’re not aiming down sights. This means that it is significantly weaker in close-range fights where hip-fire reigns supreme. You don’t want to run the Nemesis on Legends like Octane who love to push as close as possible.
The burst-fire pattern makes the Nemesis similar to single-fire weapons like the Wingman, where it can deal a lot of damage at once but losses effectiveness against moving targets. The fact it shoots multiple bullets mitigates this downside, but it’s still worth mentioning that fully automatic weapons, like the Flatline, will likely do better against moving targets.
Finally, keep in mind that the Nemesis uses quite a bit of ammo. It gets its high damage output by firing four rounds back-to-back, so while it may feel similar to other mid- to long-range weapons like the 30-30 Repeater, it will use roughly four times the ammo. The Nemesis’s charge mechanic can also encourage players to spend more ammo than they usually would.
Best Weapons To Pair With The Nemesis
To counteract these weaknesses, consider picking up a second weapon with great close-range potential first and foremost. If the enemy gets too close, you’ll want a better hip-fire option than the Nemesis. Additionally, you’ll want to look for automatic weapons that can be better used on moving targets.
These two guidelines make it clear that SMGs are likely your best choice, but taking an LMG or second assault rifle can also shore up these weaknesses while giving you additional options in mid-range fights. If you’re worried about carrying two ammo-hungry guns, you can opt for a shotgun, which can win up-close fights with a single stack of ammo.
