Not only was Apex Legends revealed today as a free-to-play battle royale first-person shooter, its servers also went live during the announcement, allowing eager players to jump right in as one of eight available characters.
In bringing the battle royale experience to the Titanfall universe, Respawn Entertainment has taken inspiration not just from the dominant titles in the genre, but also hero shooters when it comes to its roster. Thus, Apex Legends puts players into the shoes of eight distinct Legends, all with their own abilities.
Who are the playable characters in Apex Legends' roster?
Bangalore
Bangalore was born into a military family, serving in the IMC Armed Forces alongisde her parents and four older brothers. An exceptional soldier from the start, after her squad was ambushed during a mission in the Outlands, Bangalore entered the Apex Games in order to raise money to return back home. Her Smoke Launcher tactical ability fires a canister that creates a smoke wall on impact; her Double Time passive increases her sprinting speed while being shot at; her ultimate ability, Rolling Thunder, calls in an artillery strike that slowly creeps across the map.
Bloodhound
One of the greatest game hunters in the Frontier, Bloodhound has managed to keep all personal details about them a secret. Their Eye of the Allfather tactical ability briefly reveals hidden enemies, traps and clues throughout structures in front of them. Their Tracker passive ability lets them see footprints left behind by passing foes, while their ultimate, Beast of the Hunt, allows Bloodhound to move faster while highlighting enemies.
Caustic
Caustic was previously known as Alexander Nox, a scientist working for the Frontier’s biggest manufacturer of pesticide gases. His employer didn’t take too kindly with him experimenting with toxic gas on living subjects, which ended with a confrontation and the lab in flames. in Apex Legends, his tactical ability, Nox Gas Trap, drops canisters that release toxic gas when shot or otherwise triggered by enemies. His Nox Vision passive lets him see enemies through the gas while, as an ultimate, the Nox Gas Grenade covers a large area in gas.
Gibraltar
Makoa Gibraltar was born into a family of search and rescue volunteers. After his father lost an arm while saving him and his boyfriend from a mudslide they got stuck in after stealing their father’s motorcycle, he never forgot the sacrifice, dedicating his life to protecting others. In Apex Legends, his tactical ability, Dome of Protection, lets him drop a dome on the ground that blocks attacks for 15 seconds. Gun Shield passively deploys a gun shield while he’s aiming down sights. Lastly, his ultimate ability, Defensive Strike, calls in a concentrated mortar strike at a location of his choice.
Lifeline
When Ajay Che found out that she was the child of war profiteers, she enlisted in the humanitarian Frontier Corps, joining the Apex Games to fund the organization with her winnings. Lifeline’s tactical ability, D.O.C. Heal Drone, allows her to deploy a drone that heals allies overtime. Her passive ability, Combat Medic, lets her revive allies faster while protected by a shield wall, alongside using healing items 25% faster. Lastly, her Care Package ultimate calls in a drop pot filled with high-quality defensive gear.
Mirage
Always seeking to stand out, Elliott Witt took the illusion-creating Holo-Pilot technology his mother introduced him to quite seriously. In Apex Legends, his tactical ability, Psyche Out, sends out a decoy of him to confuse and distract foes. The Encore! passive automatically spawns a decoy and cloaks Mirage when he’s knocked down. His ultimate, Vanishing Act, spawns an entire team of decoys for enemies to focus on while he cloaks, fading away from view.
Octane
In line to inherit Silva Pharmaceuticals and the associated fortune, Octavio Silva didn’t lack much in life. That, however, didn’t stop him from being bored all the time, which saw him engaging in recording death-defying stunts and posting the holovids for all to see. After an attempt to launch himself using a grenade ended up with the loss of his legs, he called upon Ajay Che to replace them with bionic ones, which saw him enter the Apex Games. In Apex Legends, his tactical ability, Stim, lets him move 30% faster for 6 seconds at the cost of health. Swift Mend passively heals him when not under fire, while his ultimate, Launch Pad, deploys a jump pad that sends teammates flying through the air.
Pathfinder
A MRVN (Mobile Robotic Versatile eNtity) specializing in scouting and surveying locations, Pathfinder found himself in an abandoned laboratory when booting up, with not one clue as to who is creator was or why he was created. An enthusiastic participant in the Apex Games, his tactical ability, Grappling Hook, lets him grapple onto objects to get to places that are out of reach. His passive ability, Insider Knowledge, lets him scan a survey beacon to reveal the ring’s next location. Lastly, his ultimate, Zipline Gun, brings some utility to the table, creating a zipline that can be used by everybody.
Wraith
Wraith is easily set apart from others through her ability to “execute swift and deadly attacks and manipulate spacetime by opening rifts in the fabric of reality”. After waking up in an IMC Detention Facility for the Mentally Ill, she began following the distant voice she heard in her head, which gave her control over her abilities. In search of her identity, Wraith is seeking the research facilities underneath the Apex Games arenas. Her tactical ability, Into the Void, allows for quick repositioning while making her immune to damage. The Voices from the Void passive warns her when danger is near, while her ultimate, Dimensional Rift, links two locations with portals for one whole minute. The portals can be used by Wraith’s team.
