Crypto Changes- Early Thoughts & Feedback
Hello Team Respawn and fellow Gamers,
Hope all is well.
Today I bring some early thoughts to the much awaited Crypto buffs and QoL improvements that have now come to life.
As a dedicated Crypto main and Apex Legends player that has almost 8k hours and that has hit masters rank multiple times on console, I have spent some time testing his latest changes, and while I appreciate the buffs and quality-of-life improvements, I genuinely believe the nerfs significantly outweigh the positives.
Even though I'm still running through lobbies in my Gold 2 reset and having high-RP games, I am NOT enjoying my Crypto gameplay experience nearly as much as I did before these changes.
In fact, I didn't even want to play the game at all due to the annoyance of the nerfs.
Here is my breakdown of the biggest problems.
1. Massive Nerf to Information Gathering
This is easily one of my biggest complaints.
Crypto's greatest strength has always been his ability to gather information, scout enemy positions, monitor his surroundings, and help his team make informed decisions.
Unfortunately, these changes have severely weakened those capabilities.
-We now have to constantly redeploy the drone just to check banners for nearby enemy squads.
-We can no longer comfortably use the drone to monitor blind spots.
-Maintaining awareness of surrounding threats requires significantly more micromanagement.
-Scouting and planning ahead have become much more restrictive.
-Leaving the drone high in the sky for extended surveillance is no longer practical.
2. The Drone Battery System Is a major downgrade
After further testing, I genuinely believe the new battery system is one of the worst aspects of this rework.
The battery drains ridiculously quickly.
In fact, you cannot even comfortably fly the drone to its maximum operating distance before the battery runs out.
To my knowledge you cant even hit past 180m before the drone powers down.
You can't leave drone behind and run the 240m with crypto before the drone powers down.
This creates several problems:
Extended scouting is severely limited.
Planning rotations and identifying enemy positions becomes more difficult.
Checking banners now consumes valuable battery life.
Retrieving teammate banners becomes considerably more stressful.
Drone multitasking is significantly more demanding.
I have to constantly deploy Hack to check squad banners. It's exhausting.
To make matters worse, the battery system now occupies a perk slot.
Why are we sacrificing a perk selection for a battery mechanic that already feels overly restrictive?
The battery system needs serious reconsideration of it being removed.
3. Drone Recall Changes Are Awful
The increased time required to recall the drone is another frustrating change.
Even worse, attempting to recall the drone while actively piloting it now kicks Crypto out of drone view, leaving the drone exposed and vulnerable to being destroyed.
This creates an unnecessary additional responsibility.
Instead of simply recalling the drone, players now have to:
-Find a safe location for the drone.
-Manually fly it somewhere less exposed.
-Exit drone view and initiate the recall.
-Wait through the increased recall time
This is especially frustrating during active engagements when every second matters.
His drone which he relies on so much is now getting destroyed now more than ever.
The recall changes make drone management unnecessarily clunky and punish players for trying to use their abilities efficiently.
4. Reduced Drone Health
The drone also has less health now I think, making it easier for enemies to destroy.
Combined with the battery limitations and recall changes, this makes Crypto's most important ability considerably more vulnerable And worse than ever.
We have less time to operate the drone, less freedom to position it, and less room for error.
These nerfs compound one another rather than existing independently.
5. Increased Time to Enter Drone View
The increased time required to enter drone view is another unnecessary frustration.
Crypto already sacrifices direct participation in combat whenever he pilots his drone.
Making the transition into drone view slower further disrupts the flow of gameplay.
Crypto should feel smooth and responsive, not increasingly sluggish when accessing the ability his entire kit revolves around.
And to add salt to would it now has this eye sore green screen with Crypto sister Mila symbol blocking our center view briefly and other green asthetics all around the corners.
The white flash bang was already enough when going into drone view.
7. Trailblazer Speed Nerf
For a character that adds nothing to the team when his drone is down besides his gun it's important we don't nerf the only ability/passive that allows him to keep up with the rest of the meta.
8. Crypto's Drone Now Requires Excessive Micromanagement
This is ultimately the biggest issue with the changes as a whole.
Crypto already required more multitasking and situational awareness than many other legends.
Now we have to constantly worry about:
-Drone battery life.
-Drone positioning and survivability.
-Increased recall time.
-Slower drone deployment.
-Reduced scouting opportunities.
-Constantly redeploying to check banners.
-Reduced mobility.
-More dangerous teammate banner recoveries.
Instead of rewarding intelligent drone management, the rework feels like it punishes players for using the drone extensively.
9. Ultimate
If I am not mistaken, EMP would scan enemies that it didnt see for a few seconds. It was formally a upgrade perk but was later introduced into his base kit.
In season 31, this has been removed from his base kit with no mention of its removal in the patch notes.
Overall Thoughts
want to emphasize that I genuinely appreciate the buffs and quality-of-life improvements introduced with these changes.
I love the no dmg on self EMP.
I love the 360 scans
I love the shield break on LOS EMP and drone speed/handling increase.
I love the bit of more fluidity of activating EMP when Hack is stowed by sending it straight out while also emping.
I REALLY LOVE that Hack has a voice now even if it's Mila from the lore. So awesome thank you so much.
However, the nerfs are so severe that they overshadow much of what was improved.
Crypto's identity has always revolved around information gathering, reconnaissance, strategic planning, and supporting his team through intelligent drone usage.
These changes have made nearly every one of those responsibilities more difficult.
I am still performing well, winning fights, and having high-RP games.
My criticism is not coming from an inability to succeed with Crypto or adapt.
My criticism comes from the fact that Crypto simply feels less enjoyable, less fluid, and more restrictive to play.
What I Would Like Respawn to Reconsider
-please revert all these nerfs
-give him extra recon/hacking/scan abilities that do not require the drone
-allow him to glide with Hack
-remove aim assist when aiming at Crypto when he is off the grid. Cheaters find you easy.
-give him Mirages perk "Renaissance Man"
For a season where Crypto is supposed to be the highlight, the promotion, the advertisement, the exciting part of the new season he is not enjoyable to play where Lifeline and Revenant steal the show.
Crypto should be rewarded for intelligent scouting, strategic positioning, and effective multitasking, not punished for using the very ability that defines him.
As a Crypto main, I sincerely hope Respawn listens to feedback from players who regularly use this legend.
Because right now, despite continuing to perform well, I am simply not enjoying these changes or my time with Apex Legends and it makes me feel like his prestige skin is going to look hideous.
Everyone on YouTube, TikTok and IG are all complaining so much about these nerfs it's like a pandemic of individuals saying they hate it lol.
Well, that's all I got for now. I hope I didn't leave anything out.
I may play a bit to garner a better reset for next season, and enjoy any new future events dropping but I am not having fun lol.
Thank you none the less, take care! :D
