Apex Legends

Apex Expectations, Legendary Failures: I Love This Game

From complete learners to top-tier cheaters, no matter how bad you think you are at Apex, there is always someone worse. But no matter how good you think you are, there is always someone better. Some people profess to absolutely despise this game but refuse to stop playing it.

After playing on and off for several seasons, I decided it is a game worthy of a write up. I love Apex Legends. It is my go-to for quick FPS action after Battlefield 4. It has a massive cast of characters with diverse abilities. These legends are utilized by players for either brilliant team synergy or pure, selfish gains. There is a lot to unpack.

Honestly, I watch this game more than I play it now because spectating is way less stressful. The exact feature that makes Apex amazing is also what makes it incredibly toxic: the random band of strangers who end up in your lobby.

The Constant Infighting: "I Don't Even Know You, Bro"

The fighting starts before you even drop. A toxic verbal abuser in your chat might be Platinum, you might be Bronze, and personally, I don’t care if my rank is Clay or Wood. They are quick to check your profile to compare points and insult their teammates. The obsession with points and ranking up is exhausting, especially since 99% of players are not competing in the ALGS. They play this game like their life depends on it. Between the obsession and the constant cheaters, finishing a novel in a month is more relaxing than a stressful day of Apex. Some of these people have deep issues. Mute, block, and repeat.

The Squad Archetypes: How to Keep Your Sanity

To enjoy Apex and not resort to endless rants, you have to understand some of the randoms you are queuing with. It is not just the game itself; player psychology is a major factor. Below is a personal observation of the types you will meet:

• The Kids: They think like children, pull childish moves, and some have serious potty mouths. When they actually listen, take cover, and play as a team, the game lasts longer. They love fully kitted weapons and will gladly trade your life for a mythic P2020. Some are highly skilled, but they are still kids with little to zero coordination. Don't argue with them or curse them out; they often regurgitate toxicity they hear from adults.
• The Older Gamers: Young at heart gamers who have been playing other games for decades. Their pace is slow to average, making for a beautifully low stress match. Some seem reasonable when they are not raging and cursing.
• The Newbies: Being unskilled is not a crime, and I love to play with this crew. They are willing to fall back or retreat if necessary and some apologize if the team loses. I always assure them the game is meant to be enjoyed. However, they are more likely to bail on the team if the fight gets heated, making them easy to wrangle before they escape. They try to rat alone, usually on Vantage and Valkyrie, but ultimately lose anyway.
• The Casuals: They log in for a few days every season, prioritize communication, strategy, and sweating for wins. It is a mixed crew of bad and good players, so you take the good with the bad. They always whine and complain about game changes when losing and are highly likely to rage quit.
• The Laid Back Squads: They range from unskilled to highly skilled, and they are another favorite category of mine. They are usually regulars who love to snipe from a distance, hug the ring, gatekeep enemy teams, and avoid close fights until the final squads. Or, sometimes they just go with the flow and chase you to the ends of the map.
• Team Toxic: Not to be confused with "Team Caustic". These are individuals whose own friends cannot stand them, so they queue solo to spread vitriol. They scream slurs and death threats over nothing. Whether they are drunks or on something else, I never engage. I mute them, or troll the worst ones by never reviving them while they scream obscenities into the void. Sipping coffee or some fizz while they unravel is surprisingly soothing. Mute and block them, report to respawn if you have the time. A few have been banned for their toxicity.
• Team Solo: Selfish players who abuse high mobility legends like Octane, Horizon, or Revenant. They push multiple teams with zero accuracy, complain about "carrying" while getting revived for the 10th time, and will jump into hot zones just to run away and save their own hinds. Some may be good and fast, but they lack team dynamics and can ruin your games. They seem addicted to rushing back to the lobby, it makes no sense.
• The Silent Carry: They don't say a word or ping loots, and they seem completely lost. Usually Horizon players for the most part. Then a fight breaks out, and they casually drop 1,000 damage and wipe two squads while you are still trying to reload your Alternator.
• The Micro Managers: They treat a casual pub match like it is the ALGS finals. They scream directions, tell you exactly which rock to stand behind, and have a literal meltdown if you pick up a syringe they wanted. The worst part is that some are absolutely terrible at this game. I can't wait to be rid of these players and have been tempted to forfeit the game a few times. If you mute them, they might ditch you, they like to hear themselves talk.
• The DJ Randoms: The players who leave their mic open just to broadcast their entire household. You get a background symphony of barking dogs, smoke detector low-battery chirps, screaming parents, and terrible music. It is hard to hear enemy footsteps until it is too late. They love mic chats. Mute them early to enjoy the game.
• The Solo Dropper: Refuses to land with the squad. They spread out, land right next to a full enemy team, and get immediately subdued. Then they expect you to pull off a 3v2 hat trick with no loot. If they occasionally wipe a squad, the glory goes straight to their head, making you wonder if they are using cheats.
• The Loot Goblin: (Very Selfish) Gets furious because you opened the same loot bin and grabbed an item first (A hop up or high tier item). They will trash talk, sabotage the match, and accuse you of stealing "their" points, when they get downed they scream "one shot! one shot! one shot!" Suddenly, you are useful to them.
• The Impatient Pusher: Loots all the fully kitted gear, runs a mile ahead, engages a full squad alone, get's owned and hands the enemy all your premium loot. They do this while incessantly pinging "Enemy over here!" Third parties hear the noise and arrive, leaving you to face 6 or more players at once. This single playstyle ruins hours of gameplay daily.
• The Ping Spammer: The second they get knocked, they turn the ping button into a morse code machine. Ping-ping-ping-ping! You cannot hear enemy footsteps because of their pings of desperation. The newbies i get but the stubborn overachievers who don't know how to take cover are insufferable, you end up losing the game while struggling to defend and revive them with a pushing team. Some players ditch and run then try for a revive or respawn.

That said, this game is incredibly fun to play and very versatile. Try different legends for a completely different experience. Never limit yourself to just a few weapons, try them all. Remember when the Mozambique used to be the most awful weapon in existence, way worse than the original P2020? Just adjust your playstyle and hope for good teammates, or bring your own crew if solo queue is not enforced. If all else fails, it is back to the lobby for a fast requeue and you are right back at it again.

Nostalgia & Final Thoughts

My absolute highlight was Seasons 1 through 10. The legends were few and the Bunker was a literal toxic trap. I slept good at night knowing some players will never go to the Bunker again. If the ring permitted, my squad would spend the entire game inside the Bunker on Kings Canyon, menacing players with gas traps, pylons, and smoke. Death boxes piled up everywhere. We never had to leave; enemy looters brought the goods straight to us. You just had to pray the opposing Caustic wasn't better than you because they could waltz through your noxious gas back then.

The game has evolved significantly since those days, at season 29 as of this writing, I am now more of a spectator than a player. In a nutshell, Apex Legends is one of the greatest FPS games and the best Battle Royale I have ever played. Just be prepared to run into great gamers and very troubled people alike. I have more to say about this interesting game, but I've made my point. I'll update this post as the seasons progress or something new pops up.

Over to You

I'm sure you have your own opinion on this game. Do you rage? Do you rant? Which player archetype do you run into the most? Do you miss the golden days of the Kings Canyon or do you prefer the modern map rotations?

P.S: Falling off the map on Olympus never gets old. A special shoutout to Storm Point for making me run a marathon just to find a single enemy team and to Team Caustic, Keep Trapping Legends!