Apex Legends Season 21: Upheaval is about to introduce the primary new Legend to hitch the Apex Video games in 2024, however it additionally options a lot of different large modifications, like a much-needed makeover for the Damaged Moon map, the long-awaited return of Solos Mode, and a few stunning new Legend buffs and nerfs.
We have got the inside track on every thing from the season’s launch date to Alter’s capacity set and particulars on Damaged Moon’s revamp. Maintain studying for a better take a look at every thing you could know earlier than you dive into Apex Legends Season 21: Upheaval.
When does Season 21 start?
Apex Legends Season 21: Upheaval goes reside on Tuesday, Could 7 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET.
Who’s Season 21’s new Legend?
Season 21’s debut Legend is Alter, a mysterious, dimension-hopping new character who Respawn describes as a “villain.”
What we do know is that she was skilled in fight by a secretive group, and seems to have a historical past as an interdimensional murderer. In her episode of Tales From The Outlands, Alter may be seen telling a collection of more and more exaggerated lies and half-truths when requested who she is.
“Alter is from one other dimension, though which dimension is form of arduous to say–she’s not essentially the most dependable narrator with regards to her previous as a result of she’s going to solely let others know what she desires them to know,” Alter narrative lead Jaclyn Seto stated throughout Season 21 previews. “Positively take what she says with a grain of salt, though in the event you look arduous sufficient, you would possibly discover some bits of reality in her phrases. On the whole, her previous is no matter it must be. Not solely can she use it as a instrument to govern others, however she is aware of that information is energy. Solely she is aware of what her previous is, and she or he’s unwilling to offer anybody the ability to know these particulars about her.”
There may be one verifiable reality about Alter’s background, nevertheless: She’s fluent in Cantonese.
“We did not have any characters with a Chinese language background, so I jumped on the likelihood to jot down one,” Seto stated. “It is any developer’s dream to have the ability to create a personality that shares their similar background. [Alter] positively grew up in her tradition, and you may positively see her show that throughout the recreation.”
Alter’s episode of Tales From The Outlands reveals her holding a photograph of Horizon and her son, Newton, which has raised questions on what kind of connection the 2 Legends could share.. However Seto says Alter would not have a relationship with Horizon a lot as she has a “fixation” on her. “There are gonna be some actually world-shattering occasions that stem from this fascination [with Horizon].”
Regardless of understanding little or no about who she is, we do know what she’s able to. Alter has the next in-game talents:
- Tactical: Void Passage–Create a portal passageway via a floor
- Passive: Present From The Rift–Remotely work together with a deathbox to say one merchandise (can’t be armor).
- Final: Void Nexus–Create a regroup level that each one allies can remotely work together with to open a part tunnel again to that location.
Solos Mode is returning
Season 21’s gameplay trailer confirmed that Solos Mode is returning to Apex Legends–despite Respawn beforehand stating that the mode was gone for good. Solos will exchange Duos Mode for the primary six weeks of Season 21.
“Solos will run as a six-week takeover of Duos for the primary half of the season,” Apex Legends occasions lead Mike Button defined throughout previews. “We’re excited to offer everybody an prolonged time period to expertise this new tackle Solos, and for us to have the ability to acquire extra suggestions over the course of an extended run. With rising demand from gamers and a need on the [development] workforce to discover the idea once more with every thing we have realized for the reason that mode’s final look in 2019, Upheaval appeared like the proper time to reintroduce a Solos expertise to Apex.”
The brand new model of Solos Mode will embrace some options that weren’t included in earlier iterations of the mode, like fully-kitted weapons and a brand new merchandise referred to as a Respawn Token, which provides gamers a second likelihood to get again within the recreation in the event that they’re killed.
Damaged Moon is getting a facelift
Damaged Moon’s centerpiece POI, Promenade, is being changed by a brand new POI referred to as Quarantine Zone in Season 21. Respawn has shared that its primary objectives with the map revamp are addressing loot deserts and making squad rotations a bit smoother. Mutated foliage and a brand new skybox are among the many aesthetic modifications to the map, meant to mirror the modifications occurring on the moon after a current collision with the stasis internet satellite tv for pc severely broken it and despatched a complete chunk of the moon itself floating off into house. Throughout the cleanup course of, some “unknown alien eggs” have been found, so the Quarantine Zone POI was created to comprise any potential menace the eggs could pose.
“Bushes are wrapped up for cover, spray stations may be discovered all through [the map], which are supposed to maintain every thing as sterile as attainable, and in the event you actually wanna take in all the small print, you will discover some samples tucked away in some chilly storage containers,” lead degree designer Steve Younger stated of the lore behind the aesthetic modifications to the map. “Damaged Moon feels actually distinctive now, it is received tremendous brilliant colours and simply an overabundance of alien vegetation. It is actually cool.”
Legend buffs & nerfs
One of many largest modifications to Legend talents is the transforming of Newcastle‘s Citadel Wall final capacity. Builders noticed that Newcastle gamers continuously teamed up with Wattson gamers, utilizing Newcastle’s Citadel Wall to dam bullets, and inserting considered one of Wattson’s Interception Pylon’s to dam grenades. For Season 21, Respawn determined to offer Newcastle’s Citadel Wall the power to dam grenades and bullets.
“You can nonetheless get a [Gibraltar Defensive Bombardment] or a Bangalore [Rolling Thunder] strike in from above, and you possibly can nonetheless get different talents or grenades in from the edges or from above or from the again,” Apex Legends steadiness designer John Larson advised GameSpot. “It is simply if you’re dealing with the [Castle] Wall, you will be unable to sneak a [grenade] via or in.”
“It is one thing we had been desirous to do to assist the [Castle] Wall succeed more–even earlier than watching scrims–but I coincidentally had been watching scrims and [Northeption] has a workforce that had been experimenting [and] they’re nonetheless operating Newcastle/Wattson,” Larson added. “It is like, ‘Oh, that’d be good if they may release an entire legend decide to allow them to do the factor that Newcastle ought to simply be capable to do.'”
Catalyst and Crypto are getting some love this season, too, whereas Legends like Bloodhound, Fuse, and Octane are getting a number of minor tweaks as properly, although we cannot have the small print on these modifications till Respawn releases the Upheaval patch notes.