Gamespot leaked the patch notes in advance (Buffs/Nerfs/Seer/Weapon changes)
Update:
Legend Changes: Buffs And Nerfs
Emergence introduces a number of buffs and nerfs to existing legends. The ones we know about are listed below.
Caustic (Buff)
- Instead of five ticks of damage per second, Caustic's gas will now increase in damage every other second (so 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, etc.) with no limit on how much it can increase.
- The gas cloud created from Caustic's Nox Gas Grenade dissipates five seconds sooner.
Revenant (Nerf)
- Enemies will get an audible and visual indication when Death Totem's death protection is about to end, letting them know that Revenant and his allies are about to be vulnerable.
Horizon (Buff)
- Horizon's ability to maneuver while in the air on her Gravity Lift is adjusting to be closer to how it was in Season 7, prior to her substantial nerfs in following seasons. It's not a total revert though.
Fuse (Buff)
- Fuse's Knuckle Cluster will last twice as long, allowing him to deny areas for longer.
- Enemies caught in The Motherlode will be highlighted (even if they're in a building or behind a wall), making it easier for Fuse and his allies to plan their follow-up attack.
Seer's Abilities
- Passive Ability: Heartseeker - While aiming down sights, Seer can hear the heartbeat of nearby legends, helping him discover their location.
- Tactical Ability: Focus of Attention - Seer releases several minidrones and after a delay they mark all enemies in front of him, interrupting their use of healing items/revives and revealing their locations and health to Seer and his allies for eight seconds.
- Ultimate Ability: Exhibit - Seer throws out his heart chamber, which releases hundreds of mini drones that form a sphere. Enemies that move quickly or fire their weapons in the sphere are marked, revealing their location and footsteps to Seer and his allies. Enemies can destroy the heart chamber by shooting and destroying it, in a similar manner to stopping Crypto and Horizon's ultimate abilities.
Weapon And Hop-Up Changes
Summary:
- Prowler out of CP, burst mode only.
- Sptifire and Alternator (with buffed Disruptor) in CP.
- Anvil removed.
- Quickdraw baseline on pistols
- New hopup: Boosted Loader - Hemlok + Wingman. Reload faster and bonus ammo if reload at right time
- L-Star takes energy mags and barrel stabilizer now. Energy mags reduce overheat time.
- EVA-8 reduced benefit from shotgun bolts.
- Bonus reload speed moved from mags to stocks.
- Marksman rifles take sniper stocks.
At the start of Emergence, the Prowler will rotate out of Care Packages and once again become a ground loot weapon. However, the gun will only have burst fire mode; you won't be able to switch it to automatic fire.
In its place, both the Spitfire and Alternator are rotating into Care Packages. In Care Packages, the Spitfire will revert to its pre-nerfed state and the Alternator will automatically come equipped with Disruptor Rounds, a dangerous hop-up that was added to Apex Legends in Season 2 and then immediately removed in Season 3 for how powerful it was. Disruptor Rounds amplify damage against shields, shredding through even the strongest body armor in moments
Because of these Care Package adjustments, in Arenas, you'll be able to buy the Prowler and no longer be able to purchase the Alternator or Spitfire.
In terms of hop-ups, both the Anvil Receiver and Quick Draw will be removed from the game at the start of Emergence. The traits of the Quick Draw will be automatically implemented into pistols, though to a lesser degree.
In their place, Apex Legends is getting a brand-new hop-up: Boosted Loader. This hop-up goes on the Hemlock and Wingman, changing the guns so that they reload faster and get bonus ammo if reloaded at the right time. Similar to Deadeye's Tempo, it's a timing-based hop-up.
Emergence will also change the L-STAR. The LMG will now also take barrel stabilizers and extended energy magazines. Higher level energy mags will increase the time it takes for the L-STAR to overheat and will cause it to cool faster when it does.
And speaking of speed, the fire rate for the EVA-8 when it has shotgun bolts equipped is being nerfed. Additionally, reload speed will no longer be tied to extended magazines starting in Season 10. Instead, that trait will now be tied to standard stocks and sniper stocks.
And speaking of sniper stocks, Marksman Rifles will start taking sniper stocks in Season 10 as opposed to standard stocks.
