Alternator SMG
Twin barrel full-auto SMG.
Alternator SMG stats
EA changed Head damage, Leg damage in the patch of 3 November 2025 without publishing the new value, so those numbers are out of date until they do.
Shots to kill
Shots needed to down a legend through each Legend Armor level, at 18 body damage per shot. Every legend has 100 health with the armour on top — since February 2024 that armour is inherent and levels up on EVO points rather than being looted as a body shield.
| Legend Armor | Total HP | Body shots | Head shots |
|---|---|---|---|
| No armour | 100 | 6 | — |
| Level 1 | 150 | 9 | — |
| Level 2 | 175 | 10 | — |
| Level 3 | 200 | 12 | — |
| Level 4 | 225 | 13 | — |
Counts assume every shot lands on the same body part with no damage falloff and no attachments fitted. Compare weapons in the damage calculator.
In the game files
Alternator SMG ships in Apex Legends as mp_weapon_alternator_smg.
Other sub machine guns
Recent changes
Season 30 · 3 August 2026
- Damage reduced to 18 (was 19), and to 14 per bullet with Double Tap (was 15).
- Magazine sizes: 18 base, 20 / 22 / 26 with white / blue / purple magazines.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Apex Legends: Marked Patch Notes
Season 29 · 4 May 2026
- The Double Tap Trigger takes 500 points to unlock (was 375). Light ammo stacks are smaller.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Apex Legends: Overclocked Patch Notes
Season 28 · 23 March 2026
- Double Tap mode no longer shows shotgun-style extra hit markers.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Aftershock Event + Midseason Patch Notes
Season 27 · 3 November 2025
- Damage increased to 19 (was 18). Blue magazine reduced to 26 (was 27); purple and gold magazines increased to 30 (was 29).
- New Double Tap Trigger locked hop-up (375 points): fires from both barrels at once for 15 damage per bullet at a lower fire rate.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Apex Legends: Amped Patch Notes
Season 26 · 10 September 2025
- Locked Accelerator hop-up removed.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Get explosive in the Wild Iron Event
Season 26 · 4 August 2025
- Locked hop-up: Accelerator.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Apex Legends: Showdown Patch Notes
Season 25 · 5 May 2025
- Headshot damage increased by 1, as for all SMGs.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Apex Legends: Prodigy Patch Notes
Season 24 · 10 February 2025
- Damage increased to 18 (was 16); headshot damage 22.
Summarised from EA's patch notes. Read the original: Apex Legends: Takeover Patch Notes