New Players Guide To Understanding Apex

This guide compiles information from various sources into one comprehensive post. Originally created during Season 8 and updated for Season 25 (Prodigy, May 2025), it reflects the latest changes to Legends, weapons, and mechanics. Helpful tips and updates for each Legend will continue to be posted here as the game evolves.

Prodigy Update Overview Season 25

Welcome to the "Prodigy" update in Apex Legends! This patch introduces significant changes including:

• New Legend: Sparrow: A team-focused Legend with abilities that boost squad performance.
  Bocek Compound Bow: Returns with explosive arrows and unique ammo mechanics.
  Arenas Mode: Reintroduced as a 3v3 Deathmatch in the Mixtape playlist.
  Gameplay Enhancements: Improved audio, anti-cheat measures, and Ranked matchmaking tweaks.
  Death By Design Event: Cosmetic rewards and challenges (May 6–June 24, 2025).

• Creator Commissioners (Continued from Season 24):

  
  
  • Concept: The Creator Commissioners initiative involves popular content creators influencing gameplay for two weeks each, with unique challenges, modes, and rewards based on their playstyle.
  • Implementation:
    • Rotation: Four creators rotate every two weeks throughout the season.
    • Challenges: Creators design special tasks or objectives tailored to their style.
    • Modes: New or returning modes may be highlighted during each creator’s tenure.
    • Rewards: Completing challenges unlocks:
      • Apex Packs: Community progress in week one sets pack tiers for week two (10, 15, or 20 packs).
      • Legendary Weapon Skins: Unlock creator-selected skins via individual challenges in week two.
  • Community Engagement: Ties rewards to collective efforts, boosting community participation.
  
  

  Armor: Armor and Gear are critical in Apex Legends. There are four types of gear you can find in a match:

  
  

  Evo Shields: Provide extra shield HP for your character;
  Helmets: Reduce headshot damage or enhance abilities;
  Knockdown Shields: Protect you when knocked;
  Backpacks: Increase inventory size.

  
  

  Gold Gear: The Gold Body Shield differs from regular Evo Shields because it doesn't evolve. However, it increases the healing amount of syringes and shield cells from 25 to 50.

  Gold Body Shield: Doesn’t evolve but boosts healing from syringes and shield cells.
  Gold Helmet: Reduces Tactical and Ultimate recharge time by 20%.
  Gold Knockdown Shield: Revives teammates with 50% health and shields.
  Gold Backpack: Carries an extra Med Kit, Shield Battery, and Phoenix Kit.
  Golden Magazine: Auto-reloads the first weapon after 5.5 seconds of not being used.
  Golden Shotgun Bolt: Quicker fire rates and reloads one bullet every 5 seconds.

  Armor:

  Evo Shields: Provide extra shield HP; evolve through combat.
  Level 0: 0 Shield HP. 100 Damage to upgrade.
  Common (white): 50 Shield HP. 200 Damage to upgrade.
  Rare (blue): 75 Shield HP. 300 Damage to upgrade.
  Epic (purple): 100 Shield HP. 750 Damage to upgrade.
  Heirloom (red): 125 Shield HP. Can't evolve.

  Gold Helmet

  Reworked into Gold Armor Upgrade Helmet
  Offers Improved Minor Healing perk that doubles the output of Cells & Syringes
  Sets the player’s Armor to 100 regardless of Level
  Leveling still required to unlock Legend Upgrades, but no longer affects armor while equipped
  No headshot damage reduction
  Chance to appear in Gold Bins after Bin Reset

  NEW Mythic Armor Upgrade Helmet

  Red tier introduced
  Sets player’s armor to 125 regardless of level
  Leveling is still required to unlock Legend Upgrades, but no longer affects armor while this item is equipped
  Red helmets offer no headshot damage reduction
  Appears in the Mythic Bin & late game Care Packages

  Knockdown shields are used to help reduce quick thirst or provide cover for your teammates.

  Common (white): 200 HP barrier.
  Rare (blue): 450 HP barrier.
  Epic (purple): 750 HP barrier.
  Heirloom (gold): Guardian Angel; revives spawn with half health and shields.

  Backpacks are used to store heals and ammo.

  Common (white): +2 slots (12 total).
  Rare (blue): +4 slots (14 total).
  Epic (purple): +6 slots (16 total).
  Heirloom (gold): +6 slots (19 total if stacking heals; 16 regular slots without stacking)
  New Perk: Deep Pockets.
  Deep Pockets: Large medical supplies stack higher. Batteries and Medkits stack to 3; Phoenix Kits stack to 2.

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Weapon Hop-ups

Anvil Receiver: Increases semi-auto damage, but single fire uses 2 ammo per shot and reduces fire rate.

Boosted Loader: Reloading near empty speeds up reload and overloads the next magazine.

Deadeye's Tempo: Firing at the perfect moment increases fire rate.

Disruptor Rounds: Increases damage to shielded targets.

Double Tap Trigger: Grants an alternative burst fire mode, firing two rounds per trigger pull.

Dual Shell: Allows compatible weapons to reload 2 rounds at a time.

Hammerpoint Rounds: Increases unshielded damage.

Kinetic Feeder: Automatically loads rounds and reduces choke time while sliding.

Precision Choke: Greatly reduces the gun's spread by aiming down sights, up to three levels.

Quickdraw Holster: Reduces weapon swap time, ADS time, and hip-fire spread.

Selectfire Receiver: Grants an alternative fire mode for compatible weapons.

Shatter Caps: Rounds split into a blast pattern when hip firing.

Skullpiercer: Increases the weapon's headshot multiplier.

Turbocharger: Reduces autofire spin-up time for compatible weapons.

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Game Modes

Game Mode Battle Royale: Pair with 2 teammates to face 20 teams. Be the last squad standing to win. Respawn teammates at beacons, with unlimited retries at different beacons if banners are recovered quickly.

Game Modes Mixtape:

Arenas (New in Season 25): 3v3 Deathmatch featuring the latest weapons and Legends, including Sparrow and the Bocek Compound Bow.

Team Deathmatch: Team vs. team, every player for themselves.

Gun Run: Cycle through weapons with each kill. Melee attacks bump you back one weapon.

Control: Hold three locations longest to win.

Straight Shot: Check out the collection event blog for more details

• Players spawn above a random POI and skydive in, no Jumpmaster.
• Weapons spawn kitted at different rarities, streamlining loot.
• Reduced lobby to 30 players and shorter rounds.
• Requeue with your party directly from the death screen.

Game Mode Ranked:

Similar to Battle Royale but with a focus on strategy for points. Updated matchmaking in Season 25 ensures fairer lobbies.

• • Required Level: 20
  • Entry Cost: 20
  • Challenger Bonus: +50% RP for eliminating higher-ranked players.
  • Top 5 Streak Bonus: Up to +40 RP for maintaining a 5th or better placement streak.

Game Mode Solo: Use Battle Sense to detect nearby enemies, wield pre-kitted weapons, and leverage auto-heal and Second Chance mechanics.

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Global Features:

• Respawn Mechanics: Players respawn with adjusted gear:
  • Body shield and helmet level preserved.
  • Knockdown shield reset to white.
  • Backpacks removed.
  • Inventory with ammo, syringes, and shield cells.
  • Weapons maintained, except care package weapons; attachments removed.
  • Closing Ring: Dynamic timer, damage increases with each ring closure.

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Closing Ring: After landing, a timer dictates ring closure. Stay inside to avoid damage, which scales with each ring. Rotate strategically to catch enemies in or out of the ring.

• Players spending too much time outside the Ring will be warned, then eliminated.

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Care Packages: Packages drop during matches with randomized loot from a seasonal pool, including weapons and gear.

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• Crafting System:
  • Replicators: Craft items instantly; one per player per replicator, 12 across the map. Craftable items include Shield Battery, Medkit, Ammo, and Player Banners.
  • Team Crafting: Crafted items have a 15-second exclusive loot window for you or your pinged teammate.

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Assault Rifle Weapons and Damage

Damage is given as Body DMG/Head DMG/Leg DMG. Reload times are for non-empty/empty reloads.

Name Ammo - Damage - DPS - RPM - Mag Size - Reload

Marksman Weapons and Damage

Damage is given as Body DMG/Head DMG/Leg DMG. Reload times are for non-empty/empty reloads.

SMG Weapons and Damage

LMG Weapons and Damage

Sniper Weapons and Damage

Damage is given as Body DMG/Head DMG/Leg DMG. Reload times are for non-empty/empty reloads.

Shotgun Weapons and Damage

Pistol Weapons and Damage

Common Questions on Weapons

• Are any of the guns hitscan? No, all weapons in Apex Legends use projectile-based mechanics with bullet travel time, except the Charge Rifle, which is hitscan.
• Is there bullet drop in Apex? Yes, all projectile-based weapons have bullet drop, requiring aim adjustment at long range. The Charge Rifle (hitscan) has no bullet drop.
• Is there a damage drop-off? Yes, most weapons have damage falloff at extreme ranges, reducing body/head/leg damage.
• Does each gun have a predictable spray pattern? Yes, weapons have fixed recoil patterns that can be learned for better control.
• Is there aim drift? No, Apex Legends does not have aim drift; aim is consistent unless affected by recoil or movement.
• Do different guns affect movement speed? Yes, heavier weapons (e.g., LMGs, snipers) slightly reduce movement speed when held compared to lighter weapons (e.g., SMGs, pistols).
• Does taking damage slow you down? Yes, taking damage causes a brief slowdown, except for Fortified Legends (Gibraltar, Caustic, Newcastle), who are immune.

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Apex Legends Champions and Abilities:

There are classes of legends to define what they can offer inside the game. These classes will be broken down with what they do and who falls into those categories.

Assault Class: Assault legends have a special Class Perk that allows them to hold more ammo per inventory slot. Assault legends can also upgrade loot via a Smart Loot system located in hidden compartments in Weapon Supply Bins.

Ash
Fuse
Mad Maggie
Bangalore
Revenant

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Recon: Recon legends can use Survey Beacons to see enemy placement around them.

Bloodhound
Crypto
Seer
Vantage

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Skirmisher: Skirmishers can see high-value items in Supply Drops from a distance.

Pathfinder
Wraith
Octane
Horizon
Valkyrie

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Support: Support legends can open hidden compartments in blue Supply Bins for healing items and craft Banner Cards.

Gibraltar
Lifeline
Loba
Newcastle
Mirage
Sparrow

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Sparrow (New in Season 25)

Passive: Sparrow’s Song – Sprint faster and reload quicker when near squadmates.
Tactical: Power Surge – Throw an arc star that chains lightning to nearby enemies.
Ultimate: Battle Cry – Boost squad movement speed and shield regeneration.

Sparrow Perks:

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Fuse Abilities:

Passive: Grenadier – Stack an extra grenade per inventory slot. Fire grenades farther, faster, and more accurately.
Tactical: Knuckle Cluster – Launch a cluster bomb that continuously expels airburst explosives on impact. 2 charges, 20s cooldown.
Ultimate: The Motherlode – Launch a bombardment that encircles a target area in a wall of flame.

Fuse Perks:

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Bangalore:

Passive: Double Time – Taking fire while sprinting boosts speed briefly.
Tactical: Smoke Launcher – Fire a high-velocity smoke canister that explodes into a smoke wall.
Ultimate: Rolling Thunder – Throw a canister that rains rockets in a zig-zag pattern.

Bangalore Perks:

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Bloodhound:

Passive: Tracker – Foes leave behind clues for you to find.
Tactical: Eye of the Allfather – Reveal enemies, traps, and clues through structures. No assists for scans.
Ultimate: Beast of the Hunt – Enhance senses, see cold tracks, move faster. Knockdowns extend duration.
Additional traits: Recon – Scan Survey Beacons for enemy positions.

Bloodhound Perks:

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Caustic:

Passive: Nox Vision – Gain threat vision on enemies in your gas.
Tactical: Nox Gas Trap – Place up to 6 canisters that release Nox gas when shot or triggered.
Ultimate: Nox Gas Grenade – Blanket an area in Nox gas.
Additional traits: Fortified – 15% less incoming damage, immune to bullet slowdown.

Caustic Perks:

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Crypto:

Passive: Neurolink – See what your Surveillance Drone detects up to 30m.
Tactical: Surveillance Drone – Deploy an aerial drone. 40s cooldown if destroyed. Opens crates, revives teammates, recovers banners, and opens care packages.
Ultimate: Drone EMP – Deals 50 shield damage, slows players, destroys traps.
Additional traits: Recon – Scan Survey Beacons for enemy positions.

Crypto Perks:

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Gibraltar:

Passive: Gun Shield – Aiming down sights deploys a shield blocking incoming fire.
Tactical: Dome of Protection – Blocks incoming and outgoing attacks.
Ultimate: Defensive Bombardment – Mortar strike on a marked position.
Additional traits: Fortified – 15% less incoming damage, immune to bullet slowdown.

Gibraltar Perks:

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Horizon:

Passive: Spacewalk – Improved air control, reduced fall impacts.
Tactical: Gravity Lift – Lifts players upward, boosts outward on exit. 20s cooldown.
Ultimate: Black Hole – Deploys NEWT to pull players toward a micro black hole.

Horizon Perks:

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Lifeline:

Passive: Combat Revive – Revive two players simultaneously, cancelable to allow defense.
Tactical: D.O.C. Heal Drone – 8 HP/s, faster deployment.
Ultimate: Care Package – Guarantees upgrades in Body Shield, Equipment, and Weapon Attachments.

Lifeline Perks:

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Loba:

Passive: Eye for Quality – See epic/legendary loot through walls, same range as Black Market.
Tactical: Burglar's Best Friend – Teleport via jump drive bracelet, no slowdown post-translocation.
Ultimate: Black Market Boutique – Teleport nearby loot to inventory, 2 items per Legend, 120s cooldown.

Loba Perks:

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Mirage:

Passive: Now You See Me... – Cloak when using Respawn Beacons or reviving.
Tactical: Psyche Out – Send a controllable holographic decoy.
Ultimate: Life of the Party – Deploy a team of controllable decoys.

Mirage Perks:

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Octane:

Passive: Swift Mend – Restore health over time when not taking damage.
Tactical: Stim – Boost walk speed 30%, sprint speed 40% for 6s, costs health.
Ultimate: Launch Pad – Deploy a jump pad for air launches, double jump in midair.

Octane Perks:

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Pathfinder:

Passive: Insider Knowledge – Scan survey beacons to reduce Zipline Gun cooldown.
Tactical: Grappling Hook – Reach out-of-reach places quickly.
Ultimate: Zipline Gun – Create a zipline for all to use.
Additional traits: Recon – Scan Survey Beacons for enemy positions.

Pathfinder Perks:

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Rampart:

Passive: Modded Loader – Increased magazine capacity, faster reloads for LMGs and Minigun.
Tactical: Amped Cover – Build a crouch-cover wall, deploys a full-cover amped wall (Max: 5).
Ultimate: Emplaced Minigun "Sheila" – Mounted machine gun, high ammo, long reload (Max: 3).

Rampart Perks:

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Revenant:

Passive: Assassin's Instinct – Highlight low-health enemies, faster crouch walk, better wall climbing.
Tactical: Shadow Pounce – Powerful forward pounce, charge for distance.
Ultimate: Forged Shadows – Shroud blocks direct damage, regenerates after breaking. Refreshes on knockdowns.

Revenant Perks:

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Wattson:

Passive: Spark of Genius – Ultimate Accelerants fully charge Ultimate, carry more, regenerate 1 Shield HP/s out of combat.
Tactical: Perimeter Security – Create electrified fences with nodes, damage and slow enemies.
Ultimate: Interception Pylon – Destroys ordnance, repairs shields, boosts tactical recharge (Max: 3).

Wattson Perks:

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Wraith:

Passive: Voices from the Void – Warns of approaching danger.
Tactical: Into the Void – Reposition through 'void' space, avoiding damage.
Ultimate: Dimensional Rift – Link 2 locations with portals for 60s.

Wraith Perks:

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Valkyrie:

Passive: VTOL Jets – Engage jetpack in air (toggle/hold modes in options).
Tactical: Missile Swarm – Fire 12 mini-rockets in a grid, damaging and disorienting enemies.
Ultimate: Skyward Dive – Launch into the air with teammates for a skydive.

Valkyrie Perks:

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Seer:

Passive: Heart Seeker – Detect enemies within 75m, orange arrow indicates direction.
Tactical: Focus of Attention – Reveal enemies in a 55-degree cone, show health and shields.
Ultimate: Exhibit – Dome of micro-drones reveals running or firing enemies.

Seer Perks:

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Ash:

Passive: Marked for Death – See enemy death boxes on the map, use data knife to track attackers.
Tactical: Arc Snare – Throw a spinning snare that tethers the first enemy, acts as a trap on surfaces.
Ultimate: Phase Breach – Open a one-way portal to a targeted location, allies

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New Legend: Sparrow (Season 25)

Passive: Sparrow’s Song: Sprint faster and reload quicker when near squadmates.       

Tactical: Power Surge: Throw an arc star that chains lightning to nearby enemies.       

Ultimate: Battle Cry: Inspire squadmates with increased movement speed and shield regen.