Exciting Changes Coming to Weapons in Apex Legends Season 21
In a press conference ahead of the season, Respawn unveiled the balancing changes set to take place in Apex Legends season 21. The most significant change involves the Wingman being removed from the care package and replaced by the Devotion. This move is said to harken back to the Devotion’s powerful state in season four.
The Demise of Digital Threat and Other Weapon Adjustments
One of the notable changes includes the removal of the Digital Threat attachment. Once a dominant force in the meta, especially when paired with characters like Bangalore, the Digital Threat’s influence dwindled with recent adjustments to SMGs and the Wingman. The decision to remove it was made to improve gameplay experience overall.
Despite the disappointment for fans of running shotguns or RE-45s through smokes, characters like Bloodhound will benefit from the adjustments by retaining their ability to see through smoke.
Impacts of the Wingman and Devotion Swap
The change in positioning for the Wingman and Devotion is expected to spark debate among players. With the Wingman losing the ability to equip extended mags and experiencing hipfire and Skullpiercer nerfs, its combat effectiveness in close quarters will be altered. On the other hand, the Devotion is set to receive buffs as it transitions into a care package weapon, reminiscent of its past iterations in earlier seasons.
Game designer John Larson emphasized that the changes aim to address player frustrations without compromising the identity of either weapon. Players can expect a shift in the dynamics of weapon usage in the upcoming season.
Enhancements to Long-Range Weaponry and Beyond
Further adjustments include improvements to the Longbow, which will now feature a Purple barrel stabilizer by default to make up for the loss of the Skullpiercer. Its aim down sights speed and ballistics have also been fine-tuned to carve out a distinct role for the weapon in the Apex Legends arsenal.
While short-range weapon dynamics may see minimal changes, the tweaks to long-range arms offer a fresh perspective for players to explore in Apex Legends season 21, set to launch on May 7.