We're only about a week into the latest season of Apex Legends and there have already been some key changes. Respawn Entertainment is always listening to the fans and it looks like they are responding with several more weapon nerfs.
LATEST - New Weapon Nerfs Are Here
The new Arena Flash Event is out right now but it isn't the only thing that Respawn Entertainment has changed. Both the Bocek Bow and the Spitfire have been nerfed following fan backlash to their dominance in the new Arenas mode.
We have the changes listed below:
Spitfire Nerf Changes
- Bullet Damage Reduced: 19-> 18
- Purple/Gold Magazine Reduced: 55 -> 50
Bocek Bow Nerf Changes
- Max Body Shot Damage: 70 -> 60
- Weapon Charge Time Increased: 0.54 -> 0.56
- Deadeye's Tempo Charge Increase : 0.32 -> 0.38
- Bocek Bow Stack Size: 16 -> 14
- Ammo Slot Reduction: 48 -> 28
Thankfully, it looks like Headshot Damage has been left untouched by Respawn Entertainment but the reduction in Max Body Shot Damage should offer you some protection if you're in a fight with someone who's good with a Bocek.
Official Patch Notes
The Apex Legends Legacy Game Update patch notes have been revealed, and they're massive!
Spanning a ton of balance changes, new operators, new weapons, new map changes, and plenty more - you don't want to miss them.
Read over the changes in full here.
Loba's Tactical Buffed
Loba’s tactical, Burglar’s Best Friend, was supposed to be a powerful teleport ability.
However, it didn't turn out to be quite as good as players had hoped.
Now, in the new Season 9 Legacy Update, the tactical ability has been buffed.
YouTuber Coffee ASAP has posted a video that details the differences between the ability in Season 8 and Season 9.
Loba can now run at full speed while using the ability, as opposed to just being able to walk.
But, there is a trade-off because her Ultimate has been nerfed with a longer cooldown, but its a compromise that should be worth it.
Ground Emote Previews
It's been a long time coming; Ground Emotes are now in Apex Legends and we are thrilled to see what's in store.
It looks like each Apex Legend will start off with three different Ground Emotes, each of which should be individual to that character and reflect key aspects of their personality.
(Basically, they're all going to be different and suit who's using them.)
Below, you can check out a few early looks at some of the Ground Emotes that are on the way. These are subject to change, as you might imagine, but we can imagine that they won't change a whole lot.
It looks like each Ground Emote has a different duration. So, if you plan to sue them in combat... That's something to be aware of.
As it stands, you should be able to use a Ground Emote at any stage during the game and there will be an option to use them when you win in an Arenas game. The question is, then... Which Legend has a Dab Emote? Octane or Mirage, surely.
Legacy Ranked Announced
Apex Legends' new major title update might not literally be called Season 9, but there is still a Ranked Leagues refresh and we have all the new information about Apex Legends: Legacy Ranked right here.
The first thing to note is that there isn't really going to be any major changes to the way RP and Ranked Leagues work in Apex Legends going forwards.
According to Respawn Entertainment's Blog Post on Legacy Ranked, Season 8 was the most successful Ranked Season for Apex Legends to date. At some points, almost 50% of all matches being played were in Ranked playlists!
In the Tweet below, you can check out the new batch of Ranked Leagues rewards you can earn throughout the Legacy Season.
Legacy Ranked Map Split Dates
This season, World's Edge is back for the first split of this season's Ranked League and will be available until June 15 2021. The second split will be all about Olympus and the rest of the season will keep you there.
Olympus Map Changes Detailed
At long last, Respawn Entertainment is giving us a better look at what to expect from Olympus when we drop into the new content.
The Icarus has docked with Olympus and unleashed a parasitic plant on the station. The invasive root has broken up parts of Olympus' surface and there's a new drop location to be found between Bonsai Plaza and Solo Array.
" Throughout The Icarus are the corpses of some of the scientists who worked aboard the ship while in deep space. Be sure to take advantage of the leftover keycard that spawns randomly upon one of their bodies."
The front of the crashed Icarus has the best loot on the map, but you'll need a Bridge Keycard to access it. Be warned though as you might be open to an ambush!
There are a few more new POIs in there and a whole host of minor tweaks that aim to improve the overall Olympus experience.
You can find the full, meatier look from Dave Osei (Lead Level Designer at Respawn Entertainment) in the Tweet below:
Arena Mode Revealed
A brand new Gameplay trailer showcasing the new Arena Mode, Valkyrie, and the Bocek Bow can be found below:
Apex Legends' Arena Mode takes a leaf out of CS:GO's / Rogue Company's / Valorant's book by introducing a round-based elimination mode with a Buy Phase. It doesn't seem too out of the ordinary, but it's going to prove exciting to play with as an Apex Legends character.
We also get to check out some of Valkyrie's gameplay, but we don't have any specifics just yet. What we do know though is the Bocek Bow is going to have two unique Hop Ups: Shatter Caps (makes arrows Shotgun shots) and Deadeye's Tempo (means you can shoot faster).
Arenas Legend Meta Breakdown
Apex Legends' new Arena Mode is going to be a highlight for a lot of people playing the next season. But, with it being an elimination mode with round-based combat... How does the Arena meta differ from the Battle Royale meta?
Of course, there are going to be some difference between the two and you have to think that the offensive-based Legends will be a driving force in winning rounds.
Well, Respawn Entertainment has tapped on someone in the know and they've done a deep-dive Beginner's Guide on Apex Legends Arenas mode.
You can check it out in the tweet below, but this is what DazsBF has said regarding the Legend Meta.
Bloodhound is great for visibility and Octane is fantastic as always because of his increased movement speed. In addition to this, Lifeline's quicker revive time is always handy. Pathfinder and Wraith can also both be fantastic for re-positioning and flanking.
Bangalore is one Legend that might not be as helpful, according to the video. In addition to this, Crypto's abilities take a lot of time to use and this can expose him and his team.
Interestingly, with the right team composition, any one of Apex Legends' seventeen Legends can be a viable pick in Arenas if you're aware of how they can be used in this different context.
Where To Watch The New Trailer
Apex Legends' upcoming Legacy Update Gameplay Trailer is going to be a big one. It's going to give us our first look at Season 9 (the Legacy Update), the new Legend - Valkyrie, the new weapon - The Bocek Bow, AND the new Arenas Mode.
That isn't even it! We could get to see the new Olympus map changes and some upcoming Legend skins if we're lucky! It's going to be a hell of a trailer and there are claims that it's going to be over six minutes long!
If you want to watch it, the best place is the YouTube link in the tweet below:
The trailer itself is due to go live at 08:00 PST / 11:00 EST / 16:00 BST, so grab your snacks!
New Apex Legends Trailer
The new Apex Legends trailer is here and you can check it out via the link below:
This Legacy Launch Trailer has offered us our first look at the new update and it is impressive, to say the least.
We get a fresh look at how Valkyrie will play and what her Ultimate Ability could be and a new look at the Bocek Bow in-game!
The Legacy Update
The one thing that makes this seasonal update a little different from the others is the fact that Respawn Entertainment is reportedly changing the way they label their seasons going forwards.
Rather than the next update being called "Season 9", it's actually going to be referred to as the "Legacy Update" going forwards.
This could see a change in how new content is added to the title going forwards and start a disconnect between the Battle Pass and the major updates. This would make it a little harder to predict when new content is dropping, but it would also give Respawn Entertainment a lot more freedom in how they do things.
Apex Legends Season 9
Following the new Stories from the Outlands short, Northstar, we have a new batch of information about what's coming to Apex Legends in Season 9.
Valkyrie is joining the roster after a confrontation with the legendary Kuben Blisk. This doesn't rule out Blisk in the future, but it does give us an updated look at his character model.
You can check out the short itself below:
Along with these changes, Apex Legends Season 9 will also introduce the Bocek Bow that was leaked seasons ago!
Release Date
Following the new short, we now have confirmation that Apex Legends Season 9 is going to start on May 4th.
New Legend: Valkyrie
Kairi Imahara, the daughter of the Titan Pilot Viper, is going to be the new Legend to join Apex Legends in Season 9. We don't know how she'll play just yet, but she's going to have a Titan-assisted toolset that promises to bring a fair balance of mobility and firepower to her loadout.
You can check out the first look at her character description below:
Map Updates: Olympus Infestation
We don't know what it will look like yet, but we know that Olympus is the next map to undergo major changes in Apex Legends.
" An infestation has sprung loose, strangling the city with roots and natural growths."
This was hinted at before and many thought that Olympus had fallen from the sky. We don't know if this is still the case, but we do know that it isn't going to be the same map we jumped into before this season.
New Weapon: Bocek Bow
The Bocek Bow has been confirmed as the next weapon to be added to Apex Legends. It's a Compound Bow that packs a punch.
" A powerful and deadly weapon, for those with the skill to wield it. Capable of inflicting tremendous damage at medium range, you’ll need to make each shot count."
We don't know what Ammo Type it uses yet, which leads us to suggest that it might be a Supply Drop exclusive for the time being. However, we're expecting clarification on this soon.
In-Game Events & More
We don't know about any of the upcoming in-game events just yet. However, following the delay of the Chinatown Market x Apex Legends crossover collaboration... We could see this coming in Season 9 once the rebrand is finalised. Other than this, though, we're not sure about what's in store just yet.
We're also waiting on the new season's Patch Notes, but these will release much closer to the launch of Season 9.
Apex Legends Season 9, titled Legacy, is coming on May 4th. Get ready for a wild ride.