Apex Legends Fans Are Begging Respawn To Nerf The Bocek Bow

Apex Legends thrives where so many other battle royales falter, bringing in new content every season, with a range of new legends, maps, and weapons.

The latest season, named Legacy, saw Japanese pyrotechnic virago, Valk, land with all the grace of her native samurai and a habit of using the skies to rain explosions on her foes. With VTOL jets and an arsenal of rockets stepped to an Exo set, Apex Legends' own combination of Joan of Arc and Guy Fawkes has lit up a new era for the game.

The new era also sees Arena mode come in, differing from the battle royale mode where it has cherished, to add a new tactical shooter dynamic in a 3v3 setting. Both aspects have been warmly welcomed, with Apex enjoying its time in the limelight.

However, one element from the Season 9: Legacy update has players wincing from their gaming chairs at every instance: The Bocek Bow.

The Robin Hood fanatics have wasted no time getting comfortable with the arrow-dynamic slinger, and it has become a terror in the Outlands. After just a week, the fan base is screaming for the Bocek Bow to be nerfed. Hard.

Why Is The Bow So Overpowered?

With a base damage of 70 to anywhere on the body at any range, the bow takes just two hits to down anyone who has a common shield or flesh, with just one more projectile needed to knock a legend using a purple shield. A headshot also causes a whopping 123 damage, which will leave any opponent on the arena either in a Deathbox or on the Grim Reaper's doorstep after two well-placed shots.

So what? The Sentinal does this too.

Well, the Bocek Bow has an insane fire rate, similar to that of the G2 Scout or 30-30 repeater, especially with the Deadeye's Tempo hop-up equipped. The quiver also needs no reload time, with Katniss Everdeen like reactions to ping their way to oblivion.

Taking to Reddit, user "Renegade_Edge_X" showcased the differences between the Bow and the Sentinel.

• Related - How To Use The Bocek Bow In Apex Legends

Interestingly, the player base took to the thread to point out some further problems with the bow. One user pointed out that the audio and trajectory path - or lack of - is a problem for players. They said "also almost no weapon audio and no ammo trajectory visible. I find it really difficult to counterfire the bow when you don't know where it is coming from."

Another also added that the counteraction to the Bow is almost impossible, especially for the likes of defensive legends like Rampart. One comment said that the "Bow was a huge nerf to Rampart because of this. Put up a wall? It's dead before it's up from who knows where. Wall already up? They just pelt the top of it from who knows where until it's down."

How Can They Nerf The Bocek Bow?

The problem is that the Bocek Bow has been approved by the developers to be fine in its current state. After the outpour of rage from the fans though, it is likely that we'll see some tweaks added, but no major nerf any time soon. 

Nerfing the Bocek Bow has to be calculated, as it would be easy to strip it back to become a slingshot spud gun that quickly becomes useless.

One Reddit user recommended that "The bow should remain silent as it is in most FPS games (we need a stealth option). However, I’m all for increasing arrow drop, decreasing range and a slight damage reduction."

Another implied that an adjustment to the damage would be a good fix, comparing it to weapons in the same class. They said: "I just don't get why it does more than double the damage than the G7 and 30-30, weapons of the same class," insinuating that it would be fairer if the Bocek Bow did similar damage to the rifles.

However, the Bocek Bow has only just been added, so far now, you best learn how to harness your inner Legolas.

 

Image via Respawn Entertainment