C.A.R. SMG
Combat Adaptive Rifle firing both Light and Heavy ammo types interchangeably, pairing 202 DPS with an ammo-swapping flexibility that prevents ammo starvation.
Weapon Overview & Ballistic Profile
Combat Adaptive Rifle firing both Light and Heavy ammo types interchangeably, pairing 202 DPS with an ammo-swapping flexibility that prevents ammo starvation.
Shield Tier TTK & Damage Breakdown
Below is the empirical Time-to-Kill (TTK) performance matrix for the C.A.R. SMG across all four standard shield tiers in competitive Apex Legends:
| Target Armor Tier | Total Effective HP | Time to Kill (TTK) | Body Hits Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Shield (Tier 1) | 150 HP | 0.77s (12 shots) | 12 shots |
| Blue Shield (Tier 2) | 175 HP | 0.84s (14 shots) | 14 shots |
| Purple Shield (Tier 3) | 200 HP | 0.97s (16 shots) | 16 shots |
| Red Evo Shield (Tier 4) | 225 HP | 1.10s (18 shots) | 18 shots |
Ballistic Handling & Recoil Smoothing Mechanics
Recoil Tendency: Sharp diagonal upper-left kick, requires active counter-pull.
In the Source engine underlying Apex Legends, engaging targets at an angular crosshair speed of 3.7 degrees per second or greater triggers Recoil Smoothing. When tracking strafing enemies between 20 and 45 meters with the C.A.R. SMG, counter-strafe to eliminate horizontal recoil kick and maintain pinpoint accuracy.
Optimal Attachments & Loadout Synergy
- Supported Attachments: Extended Light/Heavy Mag, Standard Stock, 1x-2x Optics.
- Recommended Secondary Pairing: Pair with R-301, Hemlok, or 30-30 Repeater to cover close-quarters corner peeks.
- Best Legend Synergy: Loba, Bangalore, Mad Maggie.