Respawn Entertainment's next Apex Legends event is almost here and we can't wait to jump back into World's Edge. There's going to be a Rampart Town Takeover, a Rampart Rework, and a Reward Tracker for you to complete. We're a handful of hours away and here's everything you need to know about what's coming in the Evolution Collection Event...
PAINTBALL WEAPONS - Only via Big Maude
The Rampart Town Takeover that's going to be introduced in the Evolution Collection Event is going to be more than just a new place to die in Apex Legends - There's going to be a series of Vend-It Machines inside that will sell you "Custom Modded Paintball Weapons".
We don't really know how this will work - however, we're under the impression it'll cost you Scrap like the Fabricators that you can find in Apex Legends at the moment.
Here's what Respawn Entertainment had to say on the matter:
" Inside the shop, you can use collected materials to purchase Rampart’s Custom Modded Paintball Weapons from the new Vend-it Machines. These guns cost a bit, but they come fully kitted at different tiers. This should give players a reason to rotate here mid-game if their weapons just aren’t as upgraded as they’d like."
START DATE - When does Evolution begin?
Apex Legends' Evolution Collection Event is due to start on September 14th. We don't know the specific time just yet, but previous Apex Legends events have started around 10:00 PST / 13:00 EST / 18:00 BST - so, this would be a pretty good guess.
We're expecting the Evolution Collection Event to last at least two weeks - like every other Apex Legends event - and Respawn Entertainment has shared the following information regarding what's going to appear in the in-game store during the event...
As you can see in the image above, it looks like there's a mix of new and returning cosmetics to spend your Apex Coins on.
EVENT TRAILER - First look at new skins revealed
Respawn Entertainment has shared a good look at the new skins coming to Apex Legends in the Evolution Collection Event alongside the Event Trailer. You can check out the trailer below:
Then, you can check out some screenshots of the new cosmetic items that are on the way below:
Shrugtal has also uploaded Apex Legends' short Skin Preview - which can also be found in Respawn Entertainment's Patch Notes post here - below:
CHALLENGES & REWARDS - What's available?
We don't know exactly what Apex Legends Challenges you'll need to complete during the Evolution Collection Event, but we do have a look at the Reward Tracker. Interestingly, there's only one Legend skin included and it isn't even for Rampart.
As you can see below, it looks like there's a few Weapon Charms and a Lifeline skin up for grabs - for free, anyway.
Rampart's Heirloom - Problem Solver - is also being added to the game. It's basically a Wrench with a Bubblegum Dispenser built into the handle. We want to know why we can't get a hold of one of these for ourselves, really...
ARENAS & BIG MAUDE - What's changing?
Big Maude, Rampart's mobile workshop, is headed to World's Edge. This is what Respawn Entertainment had to say about it:
" Enter Big Maude, Rampart’s custom shop (also a giant tank, what else would you expect?) located near Lava City in World’s Edge. This POI is big enough to accommodate a few teams fighting over the shop itself, and she’s also built a wonderful paintball course out front that acts as a spill off location if the drop just looks too spicy.
" Inside the shop, you can use collected materials to purchase Rampart’s Custom Modded Paintball Weapons from the new Vend-it Machines. These guns cost a bit, but they come fully kitted at different tiers. This should give players a reason to rotate here mid-game if their weapons just aren’t as upgraded as they’d like."
In addition to this, Rampart's going to be taking over Apex Legends' Arenas mode with modded weapons being included at a discount of the price. Rampart's deals are always changing though, so you should find that these modded weapons are on a frequent rotation while you're playing.
TAP STRAFING - Movement changes delayed...
Respawn Entertainment is making a specific effort to remove the controversial "Tap Strafing" from the game to better protect movement and gun fighting in the game.
After original changes were put together, however, Respawn has run into some unintended consequences that will delay these changes from going live in the upcoming update.
With Respawn making it clear that this mechanic is being heavily altered or removed entirely, we still expect changes to arrive sometime soon, though they may be pushed back further than many had hoped.
Read over the company's reasoning behind changing Tap Strafing below.
The first issue: it’s highly inaccessible. By “inaccessible,” we mean that it’s an opaque technique that’s practically impossible to learn organically (and the most egregious examples require a strange keybind).
Secondly, tap-strafes have terrible readability and limited counterplay. Path grapples and Octane pads aside, I’ve seen clips of players breaking ankles with victims (including high-skill players) who are at a loss for what to do. While it’s not terribly prevalent, I’m concerned about how this could continue to evolve as more players adapt and further develop their tap-strafe mechanics.
The third point, and the most problematic, is how tap-strafing is exacerbated by movement abilities. I can buy that a tap-strafe at a normal velocity in a gunfight occurs infrequently and is relatively mild enough to not immediately kill with fire. But Path grappling past and tap-strafing back into your face with a Mastiff, or Octane cranking 90s while maintaining ridiculous speed both bring up greater gameplay concerns.
PATCH NOTES - Highlights of the update?
Legend Changes
- Rampart
- Sheila has gone mobile!
- Rampart will now be able to run around with Sheila out, and shoot while walking. The spin up is longer, and she only gets 1 magazine in this mode.
- Once Sheila is out, you can put it away and pull it back out until you run out of ammo (or hit the cooldown time).
- At any point, you can still place Sheila down for your teammates to use. Once placed, it has infinite reloads and acts just like the previous version. You cannot pick it back up.
- Sheila has gone mobile!
- Revenant
- VFX (similar to the pulse on Loba ult placement) added to increase visibility for when a totem is placed nearby.
- Octane
- Reduced jump pad horizontal distance by 10% - 15%.
- Reduced the rate of Octane’s Stim regen from 1.5 to 1.0 hp/sec.
- Bloodhound
- When Bloodhound pings a clue from their passive, it will now show their teammates in quickchat how long ago the event took place
Weapon Changes
- Bocek Compound Bow
- Draw speed slightly reduced from 0.56 to 0.54
- Arrows per brick increased from 14 to 16
- Arrows per inventory stack increased from 28 to 32
- Hemlok
- Reduced hipfire spread
- Hipfire resets slightly faster
- Shatter Caps - Bocek Compound Bow
- Damage per pellet increased across all draw strengths
- Short draw damage: 4 to 6
- Medium draw: 7 to 9
- Full draw: 11 to 12
- Shatter Caps - 30-30 Repeater
- ADS Strafe speed increased to shotgun strafe speed while Shatter Caps are enabled
- Charged pellet damage multiplier increased from 35% to 50%
- L-STAR
- Cool-off time slightly increased
- Overheat lens replacement time slightly increased
- Rounds before overheat reduced at base and all Energy Magazine tiers
- Base: 22 to 20
- White: 24 to 22
- Blue: 26 to 24
- Purple/Gold: 28 to 26
- Arenas price adjustments:
- Base: 500 to 600
- Blue: 300 to 250
- Purple: 400 to 350
- Shotguns
- EVA-8 and Mozambique headshot damage multiplier reduced from 1.5 to 1.25 bringing it in line with the Peacekeeper and Mastiff.
- Triple Take
- ADS charge time decreased from 1.0 to 0.8
You can find the full set of Patch Notes for the Evolution Collection Event update here. There's going to be some Quality of Life changes you'll want to know about.