Apex Legends Season 21: Upheaval is ready to introduce the primary new Legend to affix the Apex Video games in 2024, but it surely additionally options various different huge adjustments, 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 the news on all the things from the season’s launch date to Alter’s potential set and particulars on Damaged Moon’s revamp. Maintain studying for a more in-depth have a look at all the things you must know earlier than you dive into Apex Legends Season 21: Upheaval.
When does Season 21 start?
Apex Legends Season 21: Upheaval goes dwell 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 might 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 sort of arduous to say–she’s not essentially the most dependable narrator relating to her previous as a result of she’s going to solely let others know what she needs them to know,” Alter narrative lead Jaclyn Seto stated throughout Season 21 previews. “Undoubtedly take what she says with a grain of salt, though in case you look arduous sufficient, you may discover some bits of reality in her phrases. Typically, her previous is no matter it must be. Not solely can she use it as a instrument to control others, however she is aware of that information is energy. Solely she is aware of what her previous is, and he or she’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 put in writing 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 will positively see her show that throughout the sport.”
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 might 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 by way of a floor
- Passive: Reward From The Rift–Remotely work together with a deathbox to assert 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 frame to expertise this new tackle Solos, and for us to have the ability to gather extra suggestions over the course of an extended run. With rising demand from gamers and a need on the [development] crew to discover the idea once more with all the things we have realized because the 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 embody 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 sport 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 predominant targets 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 adjustments to the map, meant to mirror the adjustments occurring on the moon after a current collision with the stasis web satellite tv for pc severely broken it and despatched a complete chunk of the moon itself floating off into house. In the course of the cleanup course of, some “unknown alien eggs” have been found, so the Quarantine Zone POI was created to include any potential risk the eggs might pose.
“Bushes are wrapped up for defense, spray stations might be discovered all through [the map], which are supposed to maintain all the things as sterile as attainable, and in case you actually wanna absorb all the main points, you will discover some samples tucked away in some chilly storage containers,” lead stage designer Steve Younger stated of the lore behind the aesthetic adjustments to the map. “Damaged Moon feels actually distinctive now, it is received tremendous vibrant colours and simply an overabundance of alien flowers. It is actually cool.”
Legend buffs & nerfs
One of many largest adjustments to Legend talents is the remodeling of Newcastle’s Fort Wall final potential. Builders noticed that Newcastle gamers steadily teamed up with Wattson gamers, utilizing Newcastle’s Fort Wall to dam bullets, and putting certainly one of Wattson’s Interception Pylon’s to dam grenades. For Season 21, Respawn determined to offer Newcastle’s Fort Wall the power to dam grenades and bullets.
“You possibly 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 stability designer John Larson advised GameSpot. “It is simply if you’re dealing with the [Castle] Wall, you will be unable to sneak a [grenade] by way of 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 crew that had been experimenting [and] they’re nonetheless working Newcastle/Wattson,” Larson added. “It is like, ‘Oh, that’d be good if they may unlock 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 just a few minor tweaks as effectively, although we can’t have the main points on these adjustments till Respawn releases the Upheaval patch notes.