As we embark on the fifth year of the Apex Legends journey, the game continues to evolve with each update. With the upcoming Season 20: Breakout, Respawn is set to introduce significant overhauls to core aspects, promising to grab players’ attention. So, let’s dive into the changes coming in Apex Legends Season 20, launching on February 13th.
To address the most pressing question first: No, Season 20 won’t introduce a new legend, map, or weapon. However, Respawn is unveiling substantial updates that will shape the game’s future. These include a legends upgrade system, enhanced EVO Shields, a revamped ranked mode, the introduction of a new Thunderdome map, and more.
New Legend Upgrades System
After five years, Respawn is set to enhance the core gameplay of legends in Apex Legends with perks. Introducing Legend Upgrades, this in-match progression system is slated to debut in Season 20. It will be linked to your EVO Shield tier, allowing you to unlock perks as your shield advances.
Upon upgrading to blue armor and later to purple armor, you’ll face two decision points. Each legend will offer four unique perks for you to choose from, enabling you to tailor your upgrades to suit your gameplay needs. It’s worth noting that perk progression will reset at the end of each match.
According to the official blog post, “Legend Upgrades and Armor will only impact Battle Royale modes. In the upcoming season, Mixtape modes will retain Body Shields and won’t feature any upgrades.”
For a detailed explanation of the new Legend Upgrades system in Apex Legends Season 20, check out the linked guide.
Evo Shields Reworked: Cores?
In Season 20 of Apex Legends, Respawn has made significant changes to how shields work, as they are now tied to the Legends Upgrades system. Body shields have been removed from floor loot, and all players start with a white EVO armor that can be leveled up through combat and non-combat methods such as EVO Harvesters and Caches.
Additionally, the Body Shield item has been replaced with Shield Cores, which can be picked up from enemies’ death boxes to replenish your shields. This change also affects how armor is swapped in the game. Shield Cores introduce an “Overcharge” mechanic, detailed in a dedicated guide covering changes to the EVO Shield in Apex Legend Season 20. Don’t miss out on this guide to learn all about it.
Ranked Revamped, Again!
Another season of Apex Legends means another round of ranked changes. Over recent seasons, Respawn has tested various updates to the ranked mode, such as provisional matches, promo trials in Season 19, and the removal of splits.
In Season 20, Apex Legends is scaling back its experimental changes and reverting to proven ranked adjustments. LP has been replaced by RP (Ranked Points), allowing “players to earn bonuses for kills, match placement, and outperforming higher-ranked squads, known as the Challenger bonus“, according to the official press release.
A new “Top 5 Streak” bonus has been introduced, and the total RP calculation has been simplified. Additionally, at the start of the next season, all players will be reset to 1 RP and will need to begin their ranked progression from scratch. Ranked splits are also making a return, with players being demoted by six divisions.
The updates continue with changes to matchmaking, which will now consider your RP instead of a hidden MMR. This means you’ll be matched with players closer to your rank. Additionally, the entry point for ranked has been lowered to Level 20, allowing new players to join their friends and dive into ranked matches.
Provisional matches and promo trials have been discontinued for the time being. The entry costs for each rank have also been revised. Overall, these changes sound promising, and I’m excited to dive into ranked play next season!
Additionally, be sure to explore the Breakout rewards tracker, where you can claim the Heat Sink Flatline recolor for free. There are plenty of other free rewards waiting, so be sure not to miss out!
Replicator Crafting Changes
Respawn is implementing a major overhaul of the Replicator, also known as the crafter, in Apex Legends for Season 20. With the introduction of Shield Cores, the shield upgrade option in the crafter is being removed. This change, coupled with the absence of shields on the ground, allows for a more diverse loot pool, accommodating additional weapons and attachments.
The most significant change is that players will no longer need to collect crafting materials to use the replicator. Instead, each replicator will be limited to one use per player. Once a replicator is used, it will be exhausted for that player, requiring them to find another replicator to craft additional items.
In Season 20, the replicator will only offer four items: Heals, Batteries, Ammo, and Respawn Banners.
Legend & Weapon Balances
Legend Changes
- Respawn has announced a nerf for the Conduit tactical, Radiant Transfer, in Apex Legends. However, no specific details about the nerf were provided.
Weapon Changes
- The Wingman has returned as floor loot, as seen in the Game Informer feature.
- Respawn has confirmed that digital threat optics can no longer be equipped on SMGs like the R-99 and Volt. They can now only be used on shotguns and pistols.
- Respawn has also confirmed that the Hemlok Burst AR and 30-30 Repeater will be nerfed.
We are eagerly awaiting the official patch notes for more details on legend balance changes. Stay tuned for updates.
New Mixtape Map: Thunderdome
Apex Legends Season 20 introduces a unique approach to Mixtape maps. Instead of repurposing existing popular POIs, Respawn has created a brand-new custom Mixtape map called Thunderdome.
Thunderdome, a homage to King’s Canyon, is making a comeback in Apex Legends Season 20. This new custom Mixtape map will be available in all three Mixtape modes – Control, Gun Run, and TDM. Its standout feature is a floating arena with a live audience, possibly inspired by The Finals. Explore the different areas of Thunderdome to get a feel for its unique design.
120Hz Support on Consoles
Finally, the long-awaited upgrade has arrived! Season 20 of Apex Legends brings the option for players on current-gen consoles, such as PS5 and Xbox Series X, to enable 120Hz performance mode. Additionally, the team is introducing support for haptics and adaptive triggers, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
New LTM + 5th Anniversary Event
To commemorate the fifth anniversary of Apex Legends, Respawn is introducing a new limited-time mode (LTM) called “Straight Shot.” Designed to offer a fast-paced and exhilarating combat experience, “this mode aims to get players into the action more quickly“, according to the developers.
In the Straight Shot LTM, only 10 squads (30 players instead of the usual 60 in a standard Battle Royale match) will drop into predetermined Points of Interest (POIs) on a smaller section of the maps. One notable difference in this mode is the absence of a jumpmaster. Instead, each squad will be dropped directly into a random POI, along with one other team.
Another significant change is related to looting. In the Straight Shot LTM, players will no longer need to search for attachments, as fully-kitted weapons (white, blue, purple, or golden) will spawn on the floor. Additionally, the final ring will close in half the usual time, approximately 10 minutes.
A standout feature of the Straight Shot LTM is the ability to re-queue into the next match directly from the spectator screen. This allows players to watch their killer in action or observe the match while waiting for the next one to start.
Furthermore, Apex Legends Season 20 will introduce the fifth-anniversary collection event. Players can earn 150 Heirloom Shards by purchasing 24 limited-time cosmetics. Additionally, all maps in rotation, including Olympus, World’s Edge, and Storm Point, will be decorated with colorful balloons, graffiti, and other celebratory elements.
Clubs Retire; Tags Take Over
[UPDATE | February 5, 9:40 PM] – According to the official blog post, Apex Legends is phasing out Clubs in favor of “Tags” starting from Season 20. These tags, similar to the club name, consist of 3-4 alphanumeric characters and will be displayed before your username.
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