Season 13 of Apex Legends is here. Saviors introduces a new character, map updates, and heavy changes to ranked play that’ll have Apex players eager to keep growing and dominating.
Battles move quickly in Apex, and you need to be able to absorb each season’s changes to stay at the top of your game. That’s why we’ve put together this list of key updates in Season 13. Read on to learn how to stay tournament-ready, then test your skills in the PlayStation Tournaments Master Circuit for your chance at a share of $10,000 in cash prizing, and more.
What’s New in Apex Legends Season 13
New Legend: Newcastle
Apex’s newest character is Newcastle, a Legend with an emphasis on defense and protecting teammates. Newcastle’s reveal trailer heralds him as the “protector of the weak,” and his abilities do not disappoint.
Newcastle brings along multiple ways to fortify your team’s position, including:
Mobile Shield (Tactical Ability) that players launch as a controllable drone. The drone creates an energy barrier that protects characters while stationary or moving. This way, teammates can keep doing damage or retreat to safety and heal.
Retrieve the Wounded (Passive Ability) that allows you to protect and drag downed teammates toward you to be revived with a Revive Shield.
Castle Wall (Ultimate Ability) immediately generates a castle-like wall fortification at a location of the player’s choosing.
With surprising speed and range, Newcastle isn’t simply a static gargoyle-like figure that defends from one spot. Players can be relatively nimble and utilize him to keep teammates safe and prepare for an overwhelming offense.
Updates to Ranked Play
Apex has “reloaded” its Ranked Play to better adapt to the way people currently play the game. It’s a significant overhaul designed to reflect individual skill levels more accurately while rewarding the team as a whole.
While there are many changes to the ranked system, a few large factors stand out:
- Firstly, players are now susceptible to tier demotion. Players will be protected from demotion for three games before the process kicks in. Respawn is hoping that implementing stronger demotion rules will lead to a more authentic representation of skill. Bluntly put: If you can’t hang, you’ll eventually be demoted to a tier that’s more consistent with your gameplay level.
- Secondly, RP will be distributed to all members of the team when somebody gets a kill. The game wants to reward good teamplay as well as individual skill. The assist timer is also increased from 10 to 15 seconds to make it easier for players to earn assists. The timer will also refresh when a player is revived. Read more about the changes to Ranked Play.
Storm Point Map Update
Storm Point has gotten more mysterious, particularly with the arrival of Downed Beast, a beached sea creature also serving as a POI and new loot location. Senior Level Designer Keith Jensen explains, “With this being the first map update to Storm Point, our goal was to add new content and improve map features while not subtracting anything.” Storm Point is more exciting than ever, with places to climb and items to find.
You also have IMC Armories that pop up from the sand and are filled with guns and other goodies. Players can grab these items if they’re willing to be automatically locked inside the Armories for 60 seconds and fight their way out.
Battle Pass Updates
Last, but not least, the Saviors Battle Pass includes skins, loading screens, voice items, banners, and more. The Premium Pass includes more exclusive goodies and rare items, including those for Fuse, Bloodhound, Pathfinder, Mad Maggie, and Newcastle.
Play Saviors in PlayStation Tournaments
Enjoy the best that Apex Legends Season 13 offers by testing your skills in the Apex Legends Master Circuit competition. Players of any background can sign up for free to win their share of $10,000 in cash prizing, PS5 consoles, and more. Join the competition here.
*At the time of this writing, the season has been updated with patch 1.97, which includes updates to ranked rewards, IMC Armories, and various bugs.