Snipers and shotguns shouldn’t be a mode that works in Apex Legends. You either get taken out by two headshots from across the map or everyone rushes at each other with Peacekeepers – there’s no in between. But somehow, I’m enjoying it.

Usually, I opt for an assault rifle and a shotgun. The Flatline is my go-to, but I won’t turn down an R-301 if I get my hands on one either. Recently, I’ve also been rocking the Marksman weapons. The 30-30 is vastly underrated, and I’ve recently been channelling my inner Legolas with the Bocek Bow. But now, I’ve got no choice. Longbow it is.

Related: Are Corporate VTubers The Future Of Gaming Advertising?

I’m not going to be one of those cheesy Charge Rifle players – I refuse – and I need some range, so picking up a Longbow and Sentinel is the only option. I was hesitant going in. There’s a reason I don’t play with sniper rifles, and it’s mostly because they’re too all-or-nothing for me. Sure, each shot hits for 50 or 60 damage (and twice that if I hit a headshot), but that relies on one very important factor: that I actually hit my target.

Tracking opponents feels easier when you’re spraying a magazine’s worth of heavy ammo at them. Not all my bullets will land, but enough will to make a mess of an opponent’s armour. In the same length of time it takes me to unload an AR’s mag, I can take three or four sniper shots, depending on the rifle. They will all miss.

Armed and Dangerous has forced me to practise with sniper rifles, and – surprise surprise – I’ve improved. And I’m actually enjoying the mode. It’s got its problems; hot dropping is encouraged and on Storm Point especially that gets boring, and getting taken out by an opponent you can’t even see is still infuriating. But with a fresh meta and different crafting rotation, it’s enough of a change to feel refreshing compared to regular battle royale matches. Still, one major problem remains: it’s not Control.

Control is Apex Legends’ best ever LTM. It’s much better than Arenas, which is for some reason still a permanent mode. If you haven’t played it, first of all why not? Second of all, teams of nine compete in a capture the flag contest on iconic Apex POIs. Pick a movement character (or go Caustic and Wattson if you’re boring) and have fun. You automatically respawn if you die, you pick your weapons from preset loadouts, there are loads of changes from the regular Apex formula that make it fast-paced and fun. It’s a fan favourite mode for good reason, and every day we’re without Control, I shed another tear.

Armed and Dangerous should have been a Control event. Maybe it would have been even more annoying to face a team sitting at the top of the tower in Barometer with Charge Rifles, but you could rush them with nine Peacekeepers and then what are they going to do? Armed and Dangerous works most of the time in battle royale, so it’s time to try it in Control. If it doesn’t work – I don’t claim to be a game designer – then bring back the regular Control next time.

I’m not convinced that Armed and Dangerous would work as an LTM for Control, but it would definitely provide a fresh way to experience Apex’s best mode. Control has ruined all other LTMs for me, because none will ever be as good as that 9v9 respawning action. Whether Respawn folds other LTMs into it or just replaces them with it, I don’t care. I just want to play Control again and again and again.

Next: Inside The Burger Brigade: Apex Legends Esports’ Rowdiest Fanbase