Apex Legends

## TL;DR{#toc} Below, we will share insights into meta changes coming in 31.0.

We’ll discuss the thought processes behind the implementations.

- [NEW Strongholds](#strongholds) - [Introducing Akimbo Wingman](#akimbo-wingman) - [Crypto, Lifeline and Revenant Buffs](#legend-buffs) - [Loba and Axle Nerfs](#legend-nerfs) - [Prowler and Nemesis Nerfs](#weapon-nerfs) - [Welcome Back, Hemlok Burst AR](#hemlok-burst-ar) ## INTRODUCTION Welcome to the latest season of Apex, Cipher.

Let’s decode the upcoming changes coming to Battle Royale with this edition of Designer’s Notes.

Coming off the heels of last season, Marked, we are in a strong place for balance, and we are excited to introduce some new changes to close out the year!

Strongholds are a new mid-match objective that pairs well with the loot rework we did last season.

The high-end rewards they offer make the effort of unlocking them well worth it.

Speaking of weapons and loot, you’ll be seeing double this season with the long awaited Akimbo Wingman.

We’ve touched up Crypto as his kit was overdue for a refresh.

We feel this set of changes strikes a good balance between reworking his play pattern to be more healthy, while not fundamentally ‘removing’ anything from his kit.

After the last round of nerfs to Axle (details below), we’re sitting back at a solid level for legend and weapon balance.

We’re making a few more tweaks this season, but generally no Legend is far and away higher than others in pick rate and the concentration of the ‘most picked’ team comp is back below 1% of all team comps in ranked.

Closing out the changes we’ve brought back District night time.

We heard the community conversations asking for it to return after our recent rework brought it to daytime.

We plan on experimenting more with day/night changes to keep playing on our maps fresh across patches so let us know what you think.

Enjoy Cipher, we hope you have as much fun playing the new content as we do!

## NEW: STRONGHOLDS{#strongholds} In Cipher, we’re introducing a new type of Air Drop: the Stronghold.

Each match, one Stronghold will drop, in addition to our existing Care Packages.

Strongholds deliver on and evolve the risks and rewards that systems like Care Packages and Mythic Bins provided, while carving out a new space in the map for a gunfight.

Their presence can shift the flow of the game through an area in ways that will change with each match, influenced by elements like local terrain and ring position at time of drop.

We feel this provides an important mid game moment and a reliable vector for big loot gains that some players have been missing after last season’s update; but Strongholds deliver it in a way that is healthier and more sustainable for the game.

These new dynamic structures will fall into the map much like a Care Package.

Upon landing they are locked and inaccessible, in order to access the loot inside (which includes Care Package Weaponry, Gold Guns, and other rare loot), players must capture and hold the space around the Stronghold.

Enemies can contest this capture and try to steal the loot for themselves.

As they land, Strongholds will deploy dynamic cover in the surrounding area.

 With each change to Apex’s Battle Royale mode, our focus is on providing players with meaningful choices to make in each match.

Apex is at its absolute best when it presents a tricky strategic choice for players, and rewards the players who took the risk and leveraged their game sense and masterful expression of mechanical skill to navigate those challenges.

The Apex Care Package is iconic: A rocket airdrop that falls from the sky to deliver the one-hitter-quitter to the field, a beacon drawing all players in, players hiding in whatever nearby cover can be found while furiously looting, gunfire raining in from all directions, and a massive payoff for anyone capable of grabbing the loot and getting out.

We asked ourselves: What if we just double down on that moment?

What does that look like?

For us, it looks like **Strongholds**.

[*Back to Top*](#toc) ## INTRODUCING AKIMBO WINGMAN{#akimbo-wingman} Wingies.

Whatever version you want to call them… The time has come for the iconic revolver to receive double the firing power.

This will be the first introduction of another akimbo weapon since the system was added all the way back in S22, and we are super excited for you, the community, to get your hands on the newest addition, the Akimbo Wingman!

 Why Akimbo Wingman?

We have been looking for a new addition to the akimbo system for some time now, and when presented with the front runners, Wingman just felt like the best candidate for the job!

*( But Akimbo Spitfires were tempting for a moment there ;) )* During development, a lot of work was put into trying to preserve that high skill floor, mid-range poke identity that defines the Wingman, while also lowering the intimidation factor so that more players are empowered to wield the weapon.

What transpired was the creation of our first ever “burst” akimbo gun.

Pulling the trigger will cause both Wingmen to fire sequentially, one right after the other.

A little **pop-pop… pop-pop** if you will.

We are confident this style of firing will not only allow it to stand apart from its other akimbo counterparts, but really carve its own niche in Apex’s weapon roster.

[*Back to Top*](#toc) ## LEGEND BUFFS{#legend-buffs} ### Crypto Crypto is a difficult Legend to master, but you’ll always see people say they love having a good Crypto on their team.

Unfortunately, when they’re just camping in their drone and aren’t in the fight when they need them, it causes a lot of frustration.

With the changes we’re making this season, we’re striving to maintain what makes Crypto unique and interesting while encouraging players to spend less time in his drone.

This should put him into a more aggressive recon role and keep him with the team.

![Graph showing Crypto's pick rate from Feb.

He's barely above 0%, with only a small uptick near Jan.

1st 2026, before falling back down near 0% by Apr.

1st 2026.](https://drop-assets.ea.com/images/32AK9Fi8kfLgPpgaeACnWD/d557b928fa05de3a8f9f0fd64d23b557/Legend_Pick_Rate_-_Crypto_v1.jpg?im=AspectCrop=%2816,9%29,xPosition=0.5713541666666667,yPosition=0.46435185185185185) **Data from Ranked and Trios gameplay beginning 2025-02-10 through 2026-10-07* Crypto has had a very low pick rate for multiple seasons.

We want to try and freshen up his kit to make him more approachable for all players.

We’re adding some new functionality to Crypto's drone while trying to reduce the friction of entering and exiting it, improving its availability and making the Ultimate easier to trigger.

We are also integrating some popular Upgrades and adding some new ones.

#### Passive We are integrating the **Ally.MoveTo()** Upgrade (move faster to teammates) into Crypto’s base kit.

He’s getting a speed boost when running toward teammates.

Even though time-in-drone should be less, we still wanted to give him a way to get back to his team more quickly.

#### Tactical Crypto’s drone now has a battery that lasts 25 seconds; after the battery runs out it will automatically recall.

The goal with this is to limit the amount of time people are spending in the drone, requiring you to take quicker actions and getting back to your team.

The recall time is a little longer to give it some downtime before redeploying the drone.

The time the drone will be available after being destroyed has been sped up.

The goal with this is to allow Crypto more access to his drone.