When Respawn Entertainment releases a shooter, you pay attention. When it releases a surprise battle royale game weeks before a huge February of releases, you sit up and take notice. This is Apex Legends, a free-to-play contender to Fortnite‘s crown. Set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends takes place after the Frontier Wars that saw the IMC invest so heavily in those giant mechs. Now, you’ve got to use the guns lying around to battle in the Apex Games. Who are the competitors? Glad you asked. Here are the eight starting legends you can choose from when you play Apex Legends.
It’s worth noting that two of the legends (Mirage and Caustic) aren’t available for free with the base game. Characters run a little over $10 in “Apex Coins.” Alternatively, you can purchase them with an in-game currency that you rack up at a reasonable rate. The six remaining free legends all have a good variety of abilities that should suit your playstyle while you earn the other fighters.
As for additional legends, EA has already announced a Battle Pass-style system for Apex Legends. Between that and the Overwatch cosmetic loot you can earn whenever you level up, there’s plenty to keep you diving onto the battlefield.
For those who’d rather be piloting titans than earning chicken dinners, don’t fret. EA has promised that an additional premium Titanfall experience would be part of their 2019 lineup. The publisher didn’t say what it would be and promised it would be a “twist” on the franchise, but it’s at least good to know that there is life in this cult-adjacent franchise. For those intrigued by Apex Legends but new to Titanfall, the Titanfall 2 story campaign comes highly recommended. See why everyone was initially bummed that BT and the rest of his robot pals aren’t in Apex Legends. At least, they’re not in it for now…
Apex Legends Roster
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Welcome to the Frontier | The Legends of Apex Legends
In the years following the corporate wars depicted in Titanfall, a new breed of legend is born. The wastes of the Frontier see a bloody conflict brew. These are the legendary warriors of Apex Legends the new battle royale smash hit by Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts. -
Bangalore
Anita Williams served in the IMC Armed Forces alongside her entire family, so you know that she's ready for a fight. Her tactical Smoke Launcher and Double Time sprinting ability give her an edge against unprepared foes. When it's charged, her sky cracking Rolling Thunder airstrike finishes the job. -
Bloodhound
A game hunter of the Outlands, the mysterious Bloodhound is secretive to the core. They can identify nearby enemies with the Eye of the Allfather and track them using footprints and bloodstains. Their Beast of the Hunt gives them enhanced speed to close the distance on their prey. -
Caustic
A self-righteous former scientist with delusions of grandeur, Alexander Nox battles uses toxic bombs of his own design. He can see through his traps and launch clusters of them with his ultimate. If Caustic doesn't want you in a room, you're not getting in. -
Gibralter
The son of two search and rescue workers, Makoa Gibraltar excels at extracting teammates from dangerous situations. He shields himself when aiming down sights and can throw a bubble shield to protect everyone else. When needed, he has a Defensive Bombardment to root out camping foes. -
Lifeline
The child of wealthy war profiteers, Ajay Che enlisted in the Frontier Corps to protect communities in need. Her healing drone offers a health buff to teammates, and she can revive them faster if they're downed. Her ultimate is a Care Package filled with high-quality defensive loot. -
Mirage
The youngest of four brothers, Elliott Witt was always looking to be the center of attention. Utilizing Holo-Pilot tech, the Legend known as Mirage makes countless clone distractions to confuse his foes on the battlefield. Whether he's knocked down or storming a stronghold, he'll be flanked by five other versions of himself. It's quite the ego boost. -
Pathfinder
An abandoned robot without a home, Pathfinder fights in the Apex Games in order to hopefully draw the attention of his creator. Designed with scouting in mind, he's always friendly. He can zip around the arena with a grappling hook and create ziplines across large gaps for his teammates. -
Wraith
After awakening in a detention facility with no memory of her past, Wraith began to hear voices in her head. They drove her to madness, but not before teaching her a few tricks about her latent interdimensional abilities. The voices warn her of nearby enemies, and she can pop in and out of battle to avoid incoming fire. -
Time Keeps On Tickin'
Because of the passage of time, the legends of Apex Legends have a different skillset. They're not Titan pilots, so they don't get to call in massive mechs. Also, they can't wallrun, although they do have a pretty impressive downhill slide. These movement quirks affect the entire roster, but who knows what could change down the line.