Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes include nerfs for the Prowler and Nemesis, the return of the Hemlok Burst AR and the arrival of the Akimbo Wingman. These changes are part of the Cipher update launching 3 November 2026, with full numerical patch notes scheduled for 2 November.
Respawn explained why the current weapon meta is shifting in its October 30 designer notes. The Prowler and Nemesis have grown increasingly reliable, while the Hemlok Breach or Elite variant has been popular since Season 28.1. Cipher introduces a different balance between these familiar weapons.
Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes: what is confirmed?
The official preview names four headline changes. The Prowler and Nemesis are both being nerfed; the Hemlok Burst AR returns as the Breach or Elite version leaves the rotation; and the Akimbo Wingman becomes a new way to use the familiar revolver.
Those are confirmed developer decisions, not estimates based on leaked weapon files. The full Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes will be detailed in the November 2 patch notes, but players can already prepare for a different weapon selection at the start of Cipher.
Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes: Prowler nerf
Respawn says the Prowler has climbed steadily in both use rate and win rate. In the developer’s recent data, the weapon stands out for its share of downs and success in encounters. The Season 31 nerf aims to reduce that reliability and bring it closer to the rest of the weapon roster.
The October 30 designer notes confirm the Prowler nerf but don’t include the final damage or handling adjustments. Wait for the full 31.0 notes before changing a damage chart or attributing the nerf to a specific stat. The confirmed news is that a nerf is coming.
Nemesis nerf in Cipher
The Nemesis is also getting a nerf. Respawn points to the weapon’s steady rise in usage and encounter success over Season 30. It wants to reduce how consistently the weapon outperforms alternatives, while keeping the wider weapon ecosystem healthy.
The developer has not published a final value for Nemesis damage or charge behaviour in its early preview. That doesn’t change the announced direction: the Nemesis is being toned down alongside the Prowler. Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes will give players a reason to reassess loadouts after the patch.
Hemlok Burst AR returns as the Elite variant leaves
The Hemlok Burst AR is returning to the rotation. Respawn is removing the Hemlok Breach AR, also referred to as the Elite Hemlok, after a long period of popularity that began with its Season 28.1 introduction. This is a version change, not an announcement that all Hemlok weapons disappear.
If you liked the previous Burst AR, its return is worth watching. The precise launch-state stats will be in the full patch notes. The Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes should be read as a rotation away from the special Breach variant, not as a promise that every attachment or weapon value remains unchanged.
How Akimbo Wingman fires
Cipher also adds dual Wingman pistols. Their unusual firing sequence is the big mechanic: pulling the trigger produces two shots, one after the other, rather than both revolvers firing simultaneously. Respawn calls it the first burst-style option within Apex’s Akimbo system.
That design keeps the emphasis on deliberate aim, even with two weapons equipped. Players shouldn’t treat the new configuration as a confirmed automatic pistol or rely on made-up magazine statistics before the patch is live. Our Akimbo Wingman guide explains the new firing pattern.
What should you use after the weapon changes?
If you’ve relied heavily on the Prowler or Nemesis, it is worth testing alternatives as soon as the patch arrives. Both weapons are being brought back into line with the rest of the arsenal, so their previous performance is not a safe guide to the new season. A nerf to a popular gun can change preferred pairings once players experience the live balance.
The Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes also arrive alongside Strongholds, which offer Care Package weapons, gold guns and other high-tier loot in the middle of matches. That means the weapon you find through a contested objective may matter just as much as your preferred ground-loot choice. Our Strongholds guide explains the capture and loot system.
When are the full Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes published?
EA scheduled the full Cipher patch notes for 2 November 2026, one day before the season goes live on 3 November. Those notes are the place for final weapon numbers, because the October designer blog explains the goals rather than listing each adjustment.
For Apex Legends Season 31 weapon changes, the confirmed headlines remain Prowler and Nemesis nerfs, Hemlok Burst AR returning, Hemlok Breach leaving and Akimbo Wingman arriving. Check the detailed notes before treating any exact damage or attachment values as final.
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Official source: EA and Respawn Cipher Designer’s Notes.
