Apex Legends is a free-to-play† Battle Royale shooter. You play as a Legend and fight against other teams in the Apex Games.

Who are the Legends?

Legends are the playable characters in Apex Legends. When you start playing Apex Legends, three Legends are unlocked: Bangalore, Lifeline, and Wraith.

You can unlock four more Legends (Bloodhound, Gibraltar, Pathfinder, and one more of your choice) by completing the Welcome Pass.

Who’s the best Apex Legend?

No Legend is the best. Legends are equally matched in the Ring, but they belong to different classes with different strengths and weaknesses. To play at your best, find a class and a Legend that matches your playstyle.

• Learn more about classes and specific Legends in our guide.
• Check out our Apex Legends guide to guns and weapons.

How to unlock Legends

You can unlock or get new Legends in the store. You need 12,000 Legend Tokens to unlock a new Legend or 750 Apex Coins to get one. The only way to get Legend Tokens is by leveling up.

Apex Legends game modes

There are six main game modes you can choose from.

• Training: learn at your own pace with basic training.
• Bot Royale: Play against bots. You can play alone, join a squad of bots, or play in a premade squad with friends.
• Battle Royale: Compete to be the last squad or player standing on the map. Play in pairs, groups of three, or queue to be a solo player.
  • Duos: 30 squads of two players.
  • Trios: 20 squads of three players.
  • Duos and Trios can be played Solo by unchecking Fill Teammates above the Ready button.
  • Ranked: Match with players of a similar skill level, climb the ladder, and earn rewards based on performance. You need to be Level 50 or higher to access it.
• Firing range: a practice area where you can test out weapons, ammo, and new Legends.
• Mixtape: A rotating playlist of some of the fan-favorite modes. Modes rotate every hour.
• Private Match: Invite up to 60 players and five observers to a standard game. Private Match requires cross-play and doesn’t earn you XP or other progression.

Here’s what you need to know as an Apex Legends beginner.

Need help picking the best settings for your game on PC? Check out our guide for PC players.

1. Learn the best way to drop.

The drop is one of the most important tactical moments in the game. Your squad’s Jumpmaster controls the speed and direction of the drop, and they choose where you’ll land. Here are some Jumpmaster tips.

• For your first few rounds, stay near the Jumpmaster when they launch until they get close to the ground. This way, you can learn the map and avoid setting your team up for trouble.
• If you’re chosen as the Jumpmaster in one of your earlier rounds, Relinquish it to pass it to someone else who knows the map better.
• Once you’re ready to be the Jumpmaster, make sure to watch for enemies landing in similar areas. The colorful smoke trails behind your enemies will show you where they’re landing.
• Change course if you see enemy units landing near you, or ping a suggestion to your Jumpmaster.
• Try to land at a specific landmark on the map. These areas usually hold a lot of loot and Supply Bins so you can stock up on weapons, ammo, and more. Without a weapon, all you can do is punch, which makes you an easy target for enemies.
• When you drop, points of interest on the map will show the arsenals located there. You’ll be able to see the ammo type of each arsenal, and that arsenal will include weapons that match. If you like to play with a certain type of ammo or weapon, try landing at an arsenal that matches.
• Try to land at a location where nobody else is going. You can do this by choosing a target further away. If you land somewhere empty, you’ll have a better chance of getting loot without a fight.
  • When lots of players land at the same location, it’s called a hot drop. You’re more likely to get killed early if you land in a location where lots of players are.

2. Communicate with your squad.

Apex Legends has an efficient ping system that lets you share important information quickly without needing to type or use a microphone. To access the ping system, hold down the mouse wheel on PC or the right bumper on console.

Use ping to:

• alert your team to enemy positions
• tell your team about loot locations
• guide your team in your direction.

3. Fill up your inventory and swap it often.

While you play, keep stocking up on loot from the ground, Supply Bins, or eliminated player bins. Look out for:

• weapons and matching ammo
  • Remember, your ammo has to match the type of weapon you have. Pick up ammo that matches your weapon’s color.
• weapon attachments
• shield cells and shield batteries which restore your shields
• syringes and med kits that restore your health
• bigger backpacks that let you pick up even more items.

These will help keep you prepared and safe from incoming damage, enhance your performance, and recover your health as you go.

For more info on items and match terms, check out our guide of key Apex Legends terms.

4. Keep your health up and shield charged.

Always make sure you stock up on:

• med kits to restore health
• shield cells to restore your shields
• a knockdown shield to protect yourself and block damage for a temporary amount of time.
  • Remember, you can only use knockdown shields when you’re knocked down. You can use them to help your teammates revive you.

If you’re knocked out and don’t get revived in time, you can respawn until round 4 of the Ring closing if one of your squadmates is in play. There’s a timer that shows when you’ll respawn near a safe teammate.

5. Learn to move fast.

Apex Legends is a fast-moving game, and you want to be able to get around the map as quickly as possible.

Make sure to:

• holster your weapon while running, especially if it’s to get into the Ring
• slide down any hills or declines
• sprint, not walk
• use launch pads and zip lines to get around the map faster.

6. Always have grenades on hand.

If you’re following tip #3, your inventory should already be bursting at the seams, but make sure you always have at least one grenade on hand.

Grenades can be used strategically to:

• get enemies out of cover
• deal damage from afar
• buy time if you need to retreat or gain high ground.

7. Stick with your squad and stay in the Ring.

While it can be tempting to wander off and explore all there is to see on the map, stick as close to your squad as possible. This prevents other teams from ambushing you in a location where you won’t be able to ping for help.

If you fall behind, check the map to find your team and use a Zip Up Balloon to jet pack closer to them. This is also effective if the Ring is closing in and you’re too far away to sprint there.

8. Who’s the best Apex Legend for beginners?

If you’re a beginner, focus on playing two or three of your favorites to get the hang of their abilities and hone your skills. This also ensures that if another player chooses the Legend you want, you have a few other go-to options you’re familiar with.

Not sure who to pick? These are our picks for the best Legends to play as a beginner:

• Bangalore
• Conduit
• Fuse
• Lifeline
• Pathfinder.

Ready to try out different Legends? Find out more about the Legends and their abilities.

• Keep an eye on @EAHelp and @PlayApex for the latest game updates.
• Check out the Apex Legends boards on EA Forums to get help from other players and chat with the community.
• Check out the accessibility options for Apex Legends.
• Subscribe to EA Help on YouTube for video walkthroughs and guides.

†Applicable platform account and platform subscription (sold separately) may be required. Persistent internet connection and EA account required. Age restrictions apply. Includes in-game purchases.