Highlights
- Apex Legends season 18 brings a major rework for Revenant, as well as the weapon meta.
- Changes to the weapon meta include a significant Charge Rifle rework, a nerf to SMGs, the Prowler going into Care Package Drops, and the return of Disruptor Rounds.
- Disruptor Rounds deal more damage to shields and can be equipped on the Alternator and Peacekeeper.
Apex Legends season 18 Resurrection is right around the corner, which means a ton of changes are coming to the game. Perhaps the biggest is the reworking of Revenant, with the Simulacrum Assassin now able to see when enemies have low health (in addition to his wall climbing and crouch speed) thanks to his passive, jump about as far as an Octane Jump Pad with his tactical, and summon a defensive wall of Shadows to charge enemies with his Ultimate. Those changes may be big enough, but if Apex Legends is anything, it's ambitious. Paired with this are some significant changes to the weapon meta.
Game ZXC recently attended a Respawn Entertainment panel for Apex Legends season 18, with lead weapons designer Eric Canavese detailing these changes. More are likely to be revealed in the launch patch notes, but for now, fans can expect a significant Charge Rifle rework, a general hit to SMGs this coming season, and the return of disruptor rounds. Furthermore, the Prowler with Selectfire will be going into the Care Package Drops, while the Hemlock Rifle is returning to ground loot with a general buff over its last on-ground stats.
The Charge Rifle Rework takes note of a couple of things in the meta, but fans shouldn't worry. While how it works has changed, it is still the most effective long-range sniper rifle in Apex Legends; the required skill level to use it effectively is just raised, however. It deals more damage the further away a target is, but must be charged to use. It also no longer has a hit scan and instead a projectile-based weapon.
Apex Legends S18 Weapon Changes
- Complete Charge Rifle Rework
- Removes hit scan and pre-beam laser
- Becomes a projectile-based weapon with bullet drop
- Adjusts all Handling Timings
- Players must hold the trigger to charge the rifle. If released early, the charge will fall off.
- Can equip weapon mags again.
- Base ammo count: 1
- Prowler goes into the Care Package with Selectfire
- Hemlock becomes a ground weapon (DMG and Recoil Buff from last on-ground stats)
- R-99 Nerfed
- More recoil
- The ammo count is being nerfed.
- All SMGs get a Strafe Speed and Headshot multiplier nerf
- Mastiff Blast Pattern tightened
- Disruptor Rounds are back. Can be equipped to the Alternator and Peacekeeper
- And MORE!
Many early adopters of Apex Legends may also remember the Disruptor Rounds, as they caused a reign of terror for how powerful they were in Season 2. They were brought back before and removed again, such is the nature of a live-service game, so it'll be interesting to see where they fit into the meta. Obviously, anyone with Disruptor Rounds will want to use its bonus damage on Shields to crack enemies and then swap to something with a little more punch for the body damage, but one significant change is the weapon availability. This season, Disruptor Rounds will be useable again on the Alternator but for the first time on the Peacekeeper, which will almost certainly raise its status in the meta.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen how these changes effective season 18 of Apex Legends, but it does seem Respawn is cooking with a few of the ideas presented here.
Apex Legends is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.