Combat Strategies for Apex Legends Players

SURE, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF TRULY AWESOME, MULTI-player, battle royale combat games to experience on a PC, Xbox One, or PlayStation 4 that offer intense action, non-stop challenges, and a wide range of unique gameplay experiences. Epic’s Fortnite: Battle Royale and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) are just two extremely popular examples.

Welcome to the world of Apex Legends! Buckle up and get ready for a heart-pounding, challenging, and visually stunning gaming experience that takes battle royale games to the next level!

Starting in February 2019, when it was first released, EA’s Apex Legends (developed by Respawn Entertainment) quickly captured the world’s attention and attracted more than 25 million gamers in just one week. The Apex Legends gaming community has been expanding ever since! By mid-March 2019, the game attracted more than 50 million gamers.

Apex Legends welcomes players into the future to experience a colorful, squad-based combat adventure. It requires gamers to continuously explore potentially deadly terrain; amass and use a powerful fighting arsenal; successfully interact with squad mates; and participate in high-intensity, fast-paced battles seen from a vivid first-person perspective.

Several things make Apex Legends stand out from other battle royale games. For starters, all matches are experienced as a three-player squad. You can team up with gamers you know, or have the game select squad mates for you randomly.

During each match, your three-person squad will compete against 19 other three-person squads. In other words, there are 60 gamers participating in real-time during each match. The sole objective is to be the last soldier alive (or the last squad alive) at the end of each match. Only then will you earn the title of “Champion.” Thus, focusing on survival skills is often more important than racking up a high kill count.

Unlike other battle royale games, from a visual standpoint, all of the action in Apex Legends is seen from a first-person perspective. The focus is on what’s happening directly in front of the futuristic soldier you’re controlling.

Plus, instead of controlling a random soldier during a match, you’re forced to choose from one of the eight initial characters, called “Legends,” each of whom has a unique skillset. (Starting in March 2019, EA/Respawn Entertainment began introducing additional Legends into the game.)

Each Legend’s unique skillset includes a Passive, Tactical, and Ultimate ability that sets them apart from one another.

In addition to controlling just your Legend (soldier) during a match. Success requires you to utilize your Legend’s unique skills while working as part of a well-balanced squad.

Prior to each match, it’s important for each gamer to select a Legend that’ll complement the others in their squad. Creating a well-balanced squad is a critical first challenge. As soon a match begins, it’s then the responsibility of each squad member to carry their own weight, utilize their unique skills, and build their own powerful arsenal. Most importantly, squad mates need to communicate clearly, work together, protect each other, and when necessary, fight as a cohesive unit.

Beyond the unique fighting and defensive skills each Legend possesses, during a match, dozens of specialized weapons, weapon attachments, loot items, and soldier armor can be found, collected, and ultimately used.

While finding and collecting many different types of weapons, weapon attachments, compatible ammo, loot items, and armor pieces is certainly beneficial, each Legend can only carry so much at any given time. Thus, developing inventory management skills is necessary, since you always want your Legend to be armed with an appropriate arsenal, based on the fighting situations they’re about to encounter in the type of terrain they’re currently in.

Which weapon attachments are used in conjunction with guns determines the weapon’s capabilities. Learning to build and maintain the most powerful arsenal possible is another essential skill that’ll help your Legend and squad achieve victory.

Your squad mates are your fighting and defensive partners. A squad that loses one or two members is at a huge disadvantage, especially when facing squads where all three members are still alive and working together as a cohesive unit. If you look in the bottom-left corner of the screen (shown here on a PC), you can see that all three squad members are alive and in good health.

Shown here, the soldier this gamer is controlling is using a Syringe. Meanwhile, one of the squad members has been killed, leaving just two squad mates alive.

Sharing weapons, weapon attachments, ammo, armor, and loot items with squad mates is often necessary. Equally important is taking the time to revive squad mates who get “knocked” (injured) and are rendered unable to fight (but remain alive).

When you or a squad mate gets killed in action (and this is likely to happen often), all is not lost. If a surviving squad mate locates and grabs a deceased Legend’s “Banner,” and successfully gets it to a Respawn Beacon within about 100 seconds, the fallen squad member will be returned to the match.

Even if you’ve previously mastered other battle royale games, like PUBG or Fortnite: Battle Royale, you’ll quickly discover that Apex Legends offers some exciting new twists and gaming elements that’ll keep you on your toes!

When Apex Legends first launched, the game featured eight unique Legend characters, including: Bloodhound, Gibraltar, Lifeline, Pathfinder, Wrath, Bangalore, Caustic, and Mirage. (You’ll need to spend some money to unlock Caustic and Mirage.) A ninth Legend, called Octane, was added to the game in March 2019. You’ll learn more about him in “Section 9—Take Advantage of Apex Legends Battle Passes.” As the game evolves and upgrades are released, EA and Respawn Entertainment plan to introduce new Legends into the game, so stay tuned!

At the start of each match, each Legend’s Health meter is pre-set to 100. Using special items and armor, it’s possible to boost the Health meter up to 200. However, each time a Legend gets shot or injured some of their Health gets depleted. The Health meter for the Legend you’re controlling is shown in the bottom-left corner of the main game screen. The Health and Shield meters for your squad mates are displayed in a slightly smaller format, directly above your Legend’s Health and Shield meters.

A Legend’s Shield meter starts off at zero (nonfunctioning). To activate and maintain your soldier’s Shields for added protection against incoming attacks, you’ll need find and grab body armor, and then use shield replenishment items, such as a Shield Battery, Shield Cell, or Phoenix Kit. A Legend’s Shield meter is displayed directly above their Health meter. Its color determines the level of protection that’s being offered, based on the level of the Body Shield being worn.

When a Legend’s Health meter hits zero, they’re considered “downed” or “knocked.” This means they can move around and Ping, but can’t fight. While in this state, a squad member can revive the injured Legend, which is a process that takes seven seconds, during which time both the injured soldier and the soldier doing the reviving are both vulnerable to attack.

Keep in mind, a downed Legend who is not revived in time, or who is the recipient of additional attacks, will be killed. At this point, a squad member needs to help them respawn, which is a more difficult and time-consuming task that’ll be explained later.

The focus of “Section 2—Meet the Legends,” is on introducing you to each of the Legends and teaching you about their unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. It takes time and practice to get acquainted with and be able to make full use of each Legend’s unique abilities.

Each Legend falls into a category. When viewing the Legends screen, you’ll see a thumbnail image of each Legend. In the top-right corner of the thumbnail is an icon which graphically depicts what type of soldier that Legend is. For example, Bloodhound is a Tracker, while Lifeline is a Healer and Support soldier. Gibraltar is a defensive soldier, while Wrath, Bangalore, and Mirage are more aggressive Attackers.

As a newb (beginner), get to know and practice using one Legend at a time. Don’t try to master all of them at once. You’ll be a much better asset to your squad if you go into each match with plenty of experience controlling a specific Legend.

Before each match begins, your squad lineup is displayed, along with details about the gamers controlling each squad member. Pay attention to who is the highest level player and follow their lead if you’re a newb.

At the start of a match, it’s the Jumpmaster who decides when the squad will leap from the airplane (the Jump Ship) and determines where the entire squad will land. However, any squad mate can break apart from the squad during freefall and land where they’d like. This is often counterproductive to working as a team and staying together. The assigned Jumpmaster’s screenname is displayed near the bottom-center of the screen once the squad enters into the plane.

At least initially, all matches take place within a vast gaming arena (an island) known as Kings Canyon. As you’ll discover, it’s comprised of many different regions, and each region contains different types of terrain and terrain-based challenges. As soon as you start playing Apex Legends, invest some time getting to know the Kings Canyon map and the different areas you’ll soon be exploring and fighting in.

When each match kicks off, the entire Kings Canyon arena is safe to explore. However, shortly after each match begins, the safe area slowly begins getting smaller, which forces the remaining Legends into closer proximity.

Staying within the safe area is important to your Legend’s health and well-being. Embarking into the unsafe area (or getting caught there) will be extremely detrimental to your soldier’s Health meter.

Pay attention to the map screen to determine where the safe area currently is, and where the safe area will be as the match progresses. By the End Game (the final few minutes of a match), the safe area will be extremely small. During this phase of a match (if your Legend is still alive), plan on participating in close-range firefights, since all surviving Legends will be in close proximity.

At the time Apex Legends launched, no vehicles were available on the island. One way to quickly get around, however, is to hop a ride on a zipline. Throughout Kings Canyon, a network of ziplines already exists. However, one of Pathfinder’s special abilities, as you’ll soon discover, is that he can create new ziplines almost anywhere that he and other Legends (including enemies) can then use.

Be sure to check out “Section 5—What to Expect within Kings Canyon,” to learn more about Kings Canyon and how to read the map and mini-map that are available during each match.

Shown here, a weapon is about to be picked up and added to the soldier’s arsenal at the start of a match. As you can see by looking at the bottom-right corner of the screen, he’s currently unarmed.

When Apex Legends first launched, approximately 20 different types of guns were available, including an assortment of Pistols, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Submachine Guns (SMGs), Assault Rifles (ARs), and Light Machine Guns (LMGs).

Each type of gun has a special type of compatible ammo, and without an ample supply of that ammo, the weapon is rendered useless. Types of ammo include: Heavy Rounds, Light Rounds, Shotgun Shells, and Energy Ammo.

To enhance the capabilities of each type of gun, special weapon attachments (such as the 4x-8x Variable Sniper Scope that’s shown here) can be added. Different types of weapon attachments can improve a gun’s aim, reduce recoil, expand how much ammo it can hold, and/or reduce its reload time, for example. Weapon attachments need to be found and collected separately from weapons and ammo.

Every type of gun requires a compatible type of ammunition in order to function. Be sure to collect and stockpile ammo for the guns in your Legend’s current arsenal. At any given time, a Legend can carry two guns, along with a selection of throwable weapons and other items. Only one of the two guns can be active, but it’s easy to switch between weapons.

Along with guns and each Legend’s special abilities, Apex Legends includes a selection of throwable grenades, including an Arc Star (shown here), Frag Grenade, and Thermite Grenade.

To get started playing Apex Legends, there’s nothing to buy initially, although the game does offer optional in-game purchases that you’ll learn more about shortly.

PC gamers simply need to visit the official Apex Legends website (www.ea.com/games/apex-legends) and click on the Download for Free button that’s displayed in the top-right corner of the browser window. You’ll need to set up a free, online-based Origin account (www.origin.com) to play the game once it’s downloaded and installed.

To download the game on the Xbox One, from your Internet-connected gaming system, visit the Microsoft Store. Keep in mind, a paid subscription to the Xbox Live Gold service is required to play Apex Legends. PlayStation 4 gamers should download the game, for free, from the PlayStation Store directly from their Internet-connected gaming console.

Using real money, within the Apex Legends Store, you’re able to purchase bundles of coins. As you can see here, 1,000 coins cost $9.99 (US), 2,150 coins cost $19.95 (US), 4,350 coins cost $39.99 (US), 6,700 coins cost $59.99 (US), and 11,500 coins cost $99.00 (US).

From the Store, coins are used to purchase Featured Items, Apex Packs, and to unlock additional Legends. Apex Packs are collections of cosmetic items that include weapon skins, legend skins, banners, quips (audibles), and other items.

You’ll quickly discover that sound is an extremely important element in Apex Legends. During a match, you’ll need to clearly hear the sound effects and character narration. Since this is exclusively a squad-based game, you’ll also need to continuously communicate with your two squad mates. Thus, using an optional, high-quality gaming headset is extremely useful and highly recommended!

Gaming headsets have a built-in microphone. They are available from a wide range of manufacturers. Some of the more popular gaming headsets used by top-ranked Apex Legends gamers come from companies like Logitech G (www.logitechg.com), HyperX (www.hyperxgaming.com/us/headsets), Razer (www.razer.com/gaming-headsets-and-audio), and Turtle Beach Corp. (www.turtlebeach.com). Shown here is a partial lineup of Logitech G headsets, which range in price from $59.99 (US) to $139.99 (US). These are compatible with PCs and all popular console-based gaming systems.

Before participating in matches, one of the first things you want to do upon installing Apex Legends is to access the game’s Settings menu and adjust the audio-related settings (shown here on a PC). Leave the Master Volume, Sound Effects Volume, and Dialogue Volume at 100 percent, but turn down the Music Volume (to 50 percent or lower, based on personal preference). Many top-ranked gamers turn off the game’s music altogether to avoid its distraction. If you’re using a gaming headset, also turn off the Subtitles and Convert Incoming Voice to Chat Text option.

The reaction time of your keyboard/mouse combo or controller also impacts your success when playing Apex Legends. For this reason, serious gamers often opt to upgrade their equipment to include a specialty gaming keyboard and mouse for their PC, and/or a more precision-oriented controller for their console-based gaming system.

These are optional purchases that you might want to make after you’ve played Apex Legends for a while, you’ve tweaked the game controls (in Settings), and you believe your gaming abilities will improve with higher-end equipment.

For some gamers, a keyboard/mouse combo offers the most precise and responsive control options, especially if you’re using a specialty gaming keyboard and mouse, such as those offered by Corsair (www.corsair.com), Logitech (www.logitechg.com), or Razer www.razer.com/gaming-keyboards). The Razer Huntsman Elite WR (2018) for the PC ($199.99) is shown here.

It’s also possible for PC gamers to connect an Xbox One controller to their PC and then use the controller alone (or in conjunction with their keyboard/mouse) to control everything in the game. A wireless or corded Xbox One controller can be used.

Several companies, including Razer (www.razer.com/gaming-keyboards), offer one-handed, reduced-sized gaming keyboards, which feature fewer keys than a traditional keyboard, making it easier to reach only the keys needed to play a specific game, such as Apex Legends.

The Razer Orbweaver Chroma, for example, is priced at $129.99 (US). In addition to awesome LED colored lighting effects, it offers 30 programmable keys (which includes 20 programable mechanical keys). Priced at $34.95, the Fist Wizard One-Handed Gaming Keyboard (https://groovythingstobuy.com/products/fist-wizard-one-handed-gaming-keyboard-1) is a less expensive alternative.

Microsoft offers a service that allows you to custom design a wireless or corded Xbox One controller. These controllers look different cosmetically but offer the same functionality as the controller that comes with the gaming system. The price varies, based on options you choose. Check out https://xboxdesignlab.xbox.com/en-us to learn more about this option.

Offering more precision than a standard console controller, several companies, such as SCUF Gaming (www.scufgaming.com), manufacture specialty Xbox One and PS4 controllers designed to cater to the needs of advanced gamers. The SCUF Impact controller for the PS4 ($139.95 US) is shown here.

Some believe these specialized controllers provide a slight advantage when playing Apex Legends because they offer added precision and better response time. Using one of these controllers is a matter of personal preference (based on your budget).

Xbox One or PS4 console-based gamers can use the standard wireless controllers that came bundled with their gaming system, or upgrade to more advanced controllers. It’s also possible to connect a gaming keyboard and mouse directly to a console-based system. The Turret for Xbox One gaming keyboard and mouse ($249.99 US) from Razer is shown here.

Regardless of the gaming hardware you’re using, memorize the controls for Apex Legends and keep practicing using those controls so you develop your muscle memory for the game. When you’re able to rely on your muscle memory, you’ll be able to react faster without having to think about which key or button to press to accomplish specific tasks.

If you have a slower Internet connection, you’ll benefit from reducing the display resolution of the game from the Settings menu, regardless of whether you’re playing Apex Legends on a PC (shown here) or console-based system.

From the Settings menu, highlight and select the Video submenu tab, and then adjust each option, based on the equipment you’re using and the level of detail you want to see. If you know you have a slower Internet connection and/or a lower-end computer, you’ll benefit from reducing the resolution and quality of the graphics generated by the game.

While the graphics won’t look as awesome in a lower resolution, the speed of the game and your Legend’s reaction time will improve.

All current model Windows PCs and console-based gaming systems have the ability to connect to the Internet via a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection or using a physical Ethernet cable that connects between your computer (or gaming console) and modem (or a router). A wired connection is sometimes more reliable and faster than a wireless connection, and the improved speed could positively impact your game play.

For computers that don’t have an Ethernet port built-in, an inexpensive Ethernet adapter can be purchased online or from popular consumer electronics stores. The Xbox One and PS4 both have Ethernet ports built into the systems, but a standard Ethernet cable (they come in many different lengths) needs to be purchased separately.

If you notice your Internet slows down, this will often cause Apex Legends to glitch during game play. When this happens, especially during an intense firefight or at the wrong moment, you could find your Legend dying for no good reason.

Apex Legends requires gamers to juggle a wide range of tasks simultaneously, making this much more than a straightforward first-person shooter. The top 10 challenges you’ll need to contend with during every match include:

1. Choosing the best Legend based on your unique and personal gaming style and experience.

2. Creating a nicely balanced squad, so the special abilities and strengths of each Legend complement each other. With eight different Legends to choose from, there are many different possible combinations when selecting your three-person squad.

3. Working as a cohesive team. This means staying in constant communication with your squad mates, working together both offensively and defensively, and using the game’s Ping feature (which will be explained later) when appropriate. The focus of “Section 7—Strategies for Working and Communicating with Your Squad,” is on how to effectively work with your squad mates during a match.

4. Safely exploring Kings Canyon while taking advantage of the terrain you’re in and avoiding the unique challenges and obstacles offered in each area.

5. Finding, acquiring, managing, and using your soldier’s arsenal of weapons, weapon attachments, and ammo. This not only requires you to locate and grab weapons and related components (while stockpiling compatible ammo), it also means knowing which weapon to use based on your current situation. “Section 6—Building and Using Your Arsenal,” explains the different types of weapons and weapon attachments available and how to best use them.

6. Collecting and properly using loot items and Health/Shield replenishment items.

7. Protecting your Legend using the best collection of armor.

8. Keeping you Legend and your squad mates healthy and alive during a match.

9. Knowing how and when to use your Legend’s special abilities.

10. Managing your Legend’s inventory. This requires you to acquire everything you’ll need, based on the situations you anticipate encountering, and dropping weapons, weapon attachments, loot items, and ammo, for example, that you no longer need, don’t want, or that are just taking up valuable inventory space.

11. Being successful during each match has a cumulative impact on your Player Level, which increases by accruing XP (Experience Points). By leveling up, you’ll be able to unlock and earn various types of rewards, such as Apex Packs and Legend Tokens. Real money can also be spent on cosmetic upgrades to your soldier, but these have zero impact on their in-game capabilities.

XP is earned by achieving kills, injuring (knocking) enemies, remaining alive as long as possible during matches, Reviving or Respawning squad mates, and for achieving specific other tasks.

As with any game in the battle royale genre, the game’s publisher periodically releases updates that can introduce new locations within Kings Canyon; entirely new arenas; additional weapons, weapon attachments, loot items, armor, and health items; new Legends; and exciting new game play elements and challenges.

To stay up-to-date on the latest additions to Apex Legends, be sure to visit the game’s official News webpage (www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/news). Also, consider following the official Apex Legends Twitter and Instagram accounts (@PlayApex), plus check out the other online-based resources listed within “Section 10—Apex Legends Resources.”

From the Lobby screen within the game, click or select the News icon to quickly discover what’s new within Apex Legends. Of course, you always want to ensure you have the latest version of the game installed onto your PC, PS4, or Xbox One. Each time you load the game, it will automatically check to see if an update is available and required.

This unofficial strategy guide will help you develop a better understanding of the game, plus teach you hundreds of proven strategies that’ll help you stay alive longer, kill more enemies, and ultimately win more matches.

SECTION 1

OVERVIEW OF APEX LEGENDS