Apex Legends Season 20 (Breakout) dropped earlier this week to celebrate the game’s fifth year since launch.
The update introduced huge changes to how Legends work, a new Limited Time Mode (LTM), changes to the crafting system, and much more.
Legend changes
The game has introduced improvements to passive, tactical, and ultimate abilities to reward players for engaging with different game mechanics.
Primarily, all body armour has been removed from the ground loot. Instead, players spawn with ‘shield cores’, which level up as you deal damage or engage with other game mechanics.
Once you level up to blue shields, you can choose from one of two perks for your Legend. For example, level two Octane gets a 25 per cent damage reduction from using his ‘Stim’ tactical or a -25 per cent damage reduction from explosives.
This happens again when you level up from blue to purple armour. This is the final upgrade level, and Octane gets either another ultimate ability charge or the ability to change directions mid-jump-pad launch.
After this, you can level up your shield to red but won’t get a Legend perk.
Team EVO points can also be collected by wiping an enemy squad, reviving your downed squad mates, and engaging with EVO harvesters.
The developers said these changes were introduced to “allow players to go deeper with legend mastery and flexibility”
New Limited Time Mode (LTM)
The new LTM, Straight Shot, is a simplified battle royale designed to reduce the time spent looting and speed up matchtime.
Ten teams of three spawn directly on top of separate points of interest (POIs) rather than skydiving from the dropship. Weapons are fully kitted at different levels, reducing the time spent looking for attachments.
In this mode, you don’t have to rejoin the lobby to queue for the next game. You and your squadmates simply click the prompted button on the death screen and get placed in the matchmaking queue.
Changes to the crafting system
Crafting materials, which were added in Season 6, have been removed. Replicators (crafting machines) now fall from the sky during the game, and each player can only use individual replicators once.
Their crafting menu has been streamlined, only offering banner cards for expired teammates, ammo for equipped weapons, and big heals (med-kit or shield battery).
Map changes
Every map has undergone cosmetic changes in the form of banners and balloons to celebrate five years since its release.
The removal of crafting materials has also prompted changes to Rampart’s Big Maude POI on the World’s Edge map.
Rather than purchasing weapons with crafting materials, players can now dispense weapons for free, although it takes some time.
Other changes
Performance mode has been added for PS5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. This allows players to play at 120Hz at the expense of graphics.
This long-awaited change has been received negatively. Many players have found the graphics much poorer and not in line with similar games that can run at 120Hz.
There have also been several tweaks to weapons and Legend abilities to balance the game.
The complete list of changes can be found in the patch notes.
Featured Image Credit: Electronic Arts
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