Apex Legends Patch Notes: Pros Affected by Shadow Society Changes
Apex Legends’ Shadow Society Event is currently underway, featuring exclusive skins, cosmetic items, limited-time modes, and mid-season balancing changes. While the event brings several updates, it seems that professional players are the ones most impacted by these changes.
Competitive Meta Shift?
The recent meta changes in Apex Legends may have a significant impact on the competitive scene. Legends like Bangalore and Bloodhound appear to be the most affected. Bangalore’s Smoke Launcher no longer deals damage, and the smoke duration has been reduced from 18 seconds to 11 seconds. These adjustments significantly weaken Bangalore’s kit. On the other hand, Bloodhound’s tactical cooldown reduction has been moved to level three upgrades, raising concerns about their viability in the meta.
With Bangalore potentially fading from the competitive meta, Seer might make a comeback with his recent buffs. Recent changes include decreasing the Focus of Attention activation delay from 1.4 seconds to 1.2 seconds, making Seer a viable choice for high-level play.
Overpowered Care Package Weapons
Respawn Entertainment has made some adjustments to Care Package weapons. The EVA-8 and Wingman have received buffs to encourage more players to use them in close and mid-range combat. The EVA-8 now has improved handling and a tightened blast pattern. The Wingman, although it can no longer equip the Digital Threat, now has the option to use other optics. Additionally, both weapons have had their ammo reserves decreased. In the first round of packages, Care Package weapons will be replaced by Gold Weapons, making the game more balanced.
Equalizing the Playing Field with the Shadow Society Patch
The Shadow Society patch aims to balance the playing field in Apex Legends by introducing changes to several legends. Caustic’s gas slow effect now only affects the first damage tick for two seconds, while his gas damage has been increased. Bangalore’s Smoke Launcher no longer deals damage, and the smoke duration has been reduced by seven seconds. Bloodhound’s tactical cooldown reduction has been moved to level three upgrades. Wraith’s ultimate cooldown has been decreased from 180 seconds to 120 seconds with a level two upgrade. Lifeline’s care package now includes an EVO Cache, Gold Knockdown Shield, and Backpack. Seer has received buffs to his base tactical and the Focus of Attention activation delay. These changes may shift the meta and introduce new legend compositions.
Impact on Casual Players
Revenant and Conduit have received significant nerfs in the Shadow Society patch. Revenant’s tactical no longer refreshes upon knocking an opponent, and his tactical cooldown no longer shortens during his ultimate. Conduit’s cooldown has been increased, and the regen interruption delay has been extended. These changes aim to reduce the strength of the Revenant-Conduit composition, which has been dominating casual play. Additionally, legends like Fuse and Octane have received buffs to their explosive damage, while multiple legends now have abilities similar to Bangalore’s Double Time, creating aggressive and high-speed gameplay.
Overall, the Shadow Society event brings significant changes to the Apex Legends meta, impacting both professional and casual players. These adjustments aim to create a more balanced and dynamic gameplay experience.