The Hemlok has been one of the biggest talking points in Apex Legends lately, and now it looks like its current full-auto era may not last forever. According to prominent Apex leaker HYPERMYST, the weapon will eventually go back to its original burst fire setup, which would be a major shift after Respawn recently turned it into the Hemlok Breach AR.
That rumor has already caught the attention of the community because the current version of the Hemlok has completely changed how the weapon feels. Instead of the classic burst and single fire identity long-time players knew, the new version arrived with full auto fire and a Breach Charge mechanic, making it one of the most talked about guns in the current meta.
HYPERMYST says the Hemlok will revert in the future
The new report comes from HYPERMYST, who posted that the Hemlok “will revert to its original burst fire mode in the future.” Right now, there is no official timeline attached to that claim, and Respawn has not publicly confirmed when or how that reversion would happen. So for now, players should treat this as a credible leak rather than a locked-in official announcement.
Even so, the idea is not exactly coming out of nowhere. Community discussion around the weapon has been intense ever since the rework went live, with many players arguing that the current Hemlok is simply too dominant compared to the rest of the mid-range weapon pool.
The current Hemlok has become such a huge topic
Respawn’s recent Hemlok redesign gave the rifle a completely different role in Apex Legends. The Hemlok Breach AR dropped the classic burst and single fire modes and replaced them with automatic fire plus a Breach Charge shot built to pressure defensive setups and fortified positions. That change made the gun feel stronger, easier to use, and much more versatile than the old version in many players’ eyes.
The weapon became so strong that Respawn already stepped in with balance changes on April 2, 2026. In that update, the developers lowered the Hemlok’s base damage from 23 to 22, reduced magazine size across all tiers by two, and fixed its interaction with Trophy Systems. Respawn also said the weapon had become the dominant choice in both popularity and win rate over the past week.
That is a pretty clear sign the gun is sitting above the pack right now. When one weapon starts crowding out too many alternatives, reworking it back toward its original identity becomes a lot easier to justify.
A burst fire return could restore the Hemlok’s old identity
The Hemlok was always a gun with a very specific rhythm. It rewarded controlled aim, timing, and smart spacing. The older version was not just another assault rifle that you could just hold down the trigger on. It had a personality, and that identity is part of why some players would welcome a return to burst fire.
Bringing the weapon back to burst could also help separate it from guns like the Flatline and R 301 again. Right now, the full auto Hemlok has blurred that line while also adding utility through Breach Charge. If Respawn wants each assault rifle to feel distinct, putting the Hemlok back in its old lane would make a lot of sense.
If the Hemlok really does revert, the current meta could shift quite a bit. The weapon has been strong not just because of its damage output, but because it is forgiving, flexible, and useful in a lot of situations. Moving it back to burst fire would almost certainly raise its skill floor and lower its ease of use for a large chunk of the player base.
That would open the door for other mid-range weapons to breathe again. It could also be Respawn’s way of keeping the Hemlok interesting as a temporary experiment without letting this version become the permanent standard.
Respawn has not confirmed the Hemlok reversion yet
As exciting as the leak may be for longtime Hemlok fans, it is still important to keep expectations in check. The only thing we have right now is HYPERMYST’s claim and the growing community belief that the full auto version is not meant to stay forever. There is no official Respawn blog or patch note confirming the reversion as of April 9, 2026.
Still, the timing makes the rumor feel believable. The weapon has already been nerfed once, players keep debating whether it is healthy for the game, and even community chatter is increasingly framing the current Hemlok as a temporary phase rather than a permanent redesign.
