How to use the Flatline in Apex Legends: Tips, damage stats & DPS

❘ Published: 2022-02-10T17:00:30

Respawn Entertainment

Apex Legends’ Flatline is one of the most versatile guns in the game, giving players great accuracy and kill potential across close to mid-range engagements.

The Flatline has been around since Apex Legends’ initial release and has always been a reliable AR that deals impressive damage in any kind of skirmish.

As a result, Respawn opted to nerf the weapon slightly in Season 12, reducing its damage from 19 to 18 per bullet.

Not only that, it’s now only available to create via Crafting Stations in Defiance, so it’ll be interesting to see if the popularity of the weapon goes up or down.

Despite these changes, if you’re looking to beam enemy players with lethal single-shot headshots or just want a highly accurate AR you can rely on, then the Flatline is a great choice.

Apex Legends Flatline damage stats
Apex Legends Flatline Mag attachments
Apex Legends Flatline optic attachments
Apex Legends Flatline tips & tricks

Apex Legends Flatline damage stats

The Flatline 2x headshot multiplier can make short work of any player.

Before you craft a Flatline, you’ll want to get to grips with the rifle’s damage profile first. After all, Apex Legends wins don’t come easy, so make sure you utilize the Flatlines 2x headshot multiplier and excellent body shot damage to beat the competition.

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Combine this with the Flatline’s 20-round standard mag, methodical fire rate, single fire option, and you have a reliable rifle that can cut down even the hardiest of foes.

Keep in mind, in Season 12 the Flatline was removed from the ground loot and added to the crafting rotation. This means the only way to get your hands on the gun is to create one at a station.

The full damage breakdown for the Flatline assault rifle can be found below:

Body Part	Damage
Head	32
Body	18
Legs	14

Flatline Mag attachments

The Flatline holds a similar amount of ammo to that of the R-301, which helps give it a slight edge in prolonged firefights. However, if you wish to avoid having to reload every few seconds, you’ll want to seek out a blue or purple Mag.

Below you can see the number of rounds each Extended Light Mag will give you.

Stock: 20
White Mag: 25
Blue Mag: 28
Purple/Gold Mag: 30

Flatline optic attachments

An optic with a decent zoom can really help line up those headshots.

Here are the optics that can be equipped to the Flatline:

1x Holo
1x HCOG “Classic”
2x HCOG “Bruiser”
1x-2x Variable Holo
3x HCOG “Ranger”
2x-4x Variable AOG

Master the Flatline’s recoil pattern

You’ll need to manage the Flatline’s vertical recoil if you want to land those lethal headshots.

One of the main reasons a lot of players dislike the Flatline is due to its incredibly high recoil, which makes it difficult to land shots during medium to long-range firefights. To avoid any frustrating deaths and to increase your overall accuracy, you’ll want to head into the practice range and unload your entire clip into the nearest mid-range target. The rifle will naturally creep upwards, snaking its way to the right, then begin climbing vertically once again.

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To compensate for this, you’ll want to gradually drag your mouse or analog stick downwards to offset the weapon’s vertical recoil. Once you’ve got the hang of doing this and mastered the Flatline’s fully auto recoil, you’ll be able to quickly take down multiple foes in close-quarter and mid-range skirmishes.

Know when to use the Flatline’s single-fire mode

The Flatline’s single fire mode is very potent when you have an Anvil Receiver.

Being able to down targets in just a couple of hits is always going to be incredibly useful in any firefight, particularly when you need to clutch out a victory for your team. Fortunately, the Flatline’s Heavy rounds pack a mean punch, especially when you’re able to quickly fire off a number of lethal shots to the head.

While it can be tempting to hold down the trigger and hose down the nearest enemy you see, it’s important that you pay attention to the distance of your enemy. After all, the Flatline’s recoil pattern can make landing shots frustratingly difficult, so consider switching to the single-fire mode when you’re in need of extra precision.

The slower fire rate may seem rather jarring and somewhat counter-intuitive at first, but switching between these firing modes will drastically increase your overall accuracy during engagements.

Take a close-range weapon to avoid any frustrating deaths

The Mastiff is always a great close-quarters option.

The Flatline may not be the slowest firing weapon in the game, but it does tend to get outclassed by Apex Legends’ speedier weapons, making it particularly problematic in close-quarters fights. Having a gun that you can rely on to quickly melt through multiple opponents will give you a huge advantage, particularly if you don’t have to waste time aiming down sights.

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After all, the Flatline’s 20-round magazine and reticle make it rather difficult to hip fire your shots, so make sure you equip any of the above guns to avoid any early deaths.

So, there you have it, everything you need to know about the Flatline. If you follow these Flatline tips & tricks, you’ll be able to secure more kills in no time. Make sure you follow @alphaINTEL for all the latest Apex Legends news and updates.