Apex Legends Character Guide: Who To Pick

Updated:

07 Sep 2020

Apex Legends classifies its characters into four classes—offensive, defensive, recon, and support. Legends are sorted into these categories based on their unique tactical, passive, and ultimate abilities. Depending on a player's playstyle, they may find they gravitate toward some legends more than others.

That said, the legends have a preferable playstyle of their own. Most offensive legends are used aggressively while defensive characters have a slower, more deliberate style. There are some exceptions to the rule where classes overlap, as in Bangalore's case, because she is considered such a well-rounded legend.

This guide gives a simplified breakdown of each legend's strengths and their class utility to make choosing the right character easier.

14. Loba

This high society thief is a support legend. However, Loba's tactical allows her to play more aggressively than the typical support. Her Jump Drive bracelet gives her the options of flanking, fleeing, or repositioning to strategic vantage points.

Character Playstyle:

Support

Aggressive

Flanker

Support Utility:

Provide valuable loot to team with Black Market ultimate.
Ping epic and legendary loot with Eye for Quality.

What’s Fun About Loba:

Surprise enemies by teleporting behind them and catching them off guard.
See valuable legendary and epic loot before anyone else.

Loba Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/loba

13. Octane

Octane's mobility is the star of the show. Aside from his speed, he does not offer a lot in terms of offensive and defensive tactics. He performs best as an aggressor due to his ability to cover distance thanks to his Stim and Launch Pad.

Character Playstyle:

Offensive

Aggressive

Mobile

Offense Utility:

Jump into battles with the Launch Pad or reposition team to a strategic vantage point.
Use Stim to enclose on enemies quickly.

What’s Fun About Octane:

Fly through the air on a Launch Pad.
Run faster than all legends.
Memorable quips.

Octane Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/octane

12. Mirage

Mirage is the trickster of the bunch and should be played accordingly. He is billed as an offensive legend. Use his holographic decoys to confuse enemies and infiltrate hostile territory with stealth and trickery. Mirage's Season 5 rework provided him with the ability to revive under a cloak of invisibility, improving his utility as a support.

Character Playstyle:

Offensive

Reviver

Evader

Offense Utility:

Deploy holographic decoys to distract or confuse enemies while pushing.
Use Life of the Party to sneakily flee battles to reposition or heal.

What’s Fun About Mirage:

Surprising an enemy with a perfect bamboozle.
Risky revives, allowing players to clutch otherwise un-clutchable moments.

Mirage Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/mirage

11. Bangalore

This professional soldier remains one of the most well-rounded legends in the Apex Games. Her abilities allow for aggressive maneuvers, defensive tactics, and strategic retreat. The Smoke Launcher tactical not only makes Bangalore more challenging to track but can be used to cover and revive knocked teammates.

Character Playstyle:

Offensive

Flexible

Strategic retreater

Offense Utility:

Double Time passive makes her more difficult to heat during a firefight.
Rolling Thunder deals considerable damage or can control enemy movement.

What’s Fun About Bangalore:

Creative use of the Smoke Launcher which can be deployed over large distances.
Double Time passive can work as an early warning detection for the well-trained eye.

Bangalore Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/bangalore

10. Rampart

Season 6's new defensive legend introduced some seriously heavy artillery to the Apex Games. Rampart's tactical, Amped Cover, deploys walls perfect for fortifying interior locations and other strategic positions. Sheila, her precious minigun, is ideal for dealing damage and keeping enemy teams at bay through sheer intimidation.

Character Playstyle:

Defensive

Fortifier

Push back enemies

Defense Utility:

Place Amped Cover for teammates.
Fortify interior locations and strategic positions.
Use Sheila to push enemies back.

What’s Fun About Rampart:

Innovative use of Amped Cover to control enemy movement.
The satisfaction from hitting enemies through Amped Cover with a 20% damage boost.
Spraying and praying with Sheila.

Rampart Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/rampart

9. Caustic

This mad scientist requires a slower, defensive playstyle. Use his Nox Gas Canisters to guard doorways and leave a breadcrumb trail to entrap unsuspecting enemies. His ability to see in gas and fortify buildings makes Caustic a solid choice for players that like holding down locations for long periods.

Caustic Playstyle:

Defensive

Trapper

Fortifier

Defense Utility:

Fortify and trap interior locations or other strategic positions.
Place Gas Canisters in front of doors to control enemy movement.

What’s Fun About Caustic:

Being a toxic player with the toxic trapper. Bait enemies into rooms filled with Gas Canisters for a deadly surprise.
Saving his ultimate for the last and smallest Ring.

Caustic Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/caustic

8. Revenant

Revenant's fast-crouch and ability to climb higher than other legends make him ideal for sneaky ambushes. His ultimate, Death Totem, gives him and his teammates the opportunity to push risky battles. Using Revenant's tactical is also particularly useful for silencing troublesome enemy abilities like Gibraltar's gun shield for a short amount of time.

Character Playstyle:

Offensive

Aggressive

Flanker

Offense Utility:

Flank enemy teams with the help of Stalker.
Push hostiles with Death Totem.
Silence enemy abilities, providing his team with an advantage.

What’s Fun About Revenant:

Climbing higher than any other legend.
Using his ultimate to retrieve teammate banners or recklessly push.
Downing enemies with Silence when an enemy is actually “one shot”.

Revenant Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/revenant

7. Pathfinder

Apex's optimistic robot is a recon legend often played aggressively thanks to his mobility-based abilities. Pathfinder's Grappling Hook and Zipline allow him to commander hard-to-reach vantage points or reposition his team in seconds. He will appeal to players who want to jump in and out of battles quickly and aren't afraid of heights.

Character Playstyle:

Recon

Mobile

Recon Utility:

Use Survey Beacons to locate the next Ring location.

What’s Fun About Pathfinder:

When not in cooldown, the Grappling Hook provides a height advantage in any battle.
Lighthearted, wholesome quips that balance out some of the more villainous legends.

Pathfinder Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/pathfinder

6. Gibraltar

Designed as a tank, Gibraltar can withstand more damage due to his mounted gun shield and fortification perk. Therefore, this bulky guy belongs in the front as the team's first line of defense. Drop his Dome of Protection to shield teammates in precarious situations.

Character Playstyle:

Defensive

Hold the line

Push them back

Defense Utility:

Eat more damage with Gun Shield and fortification perk.
Shield teammates with Dome of Protection during firefights.
Use Defensive Bombardment to damage enemies or push them back.

What’s Fun About Gibraltar:

Helping teammates up with a pat of the back with the fastest revive in the game while within the Dome of Protection.
Being a tank!

Gibraltar Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/makoa-gibraltar

5. Crypto

Crypto is a recon legend who saw big buffs in Season 6. He can now use Survey Beacons to locate the next Ring and revive teammates with his drone. Because Crypto is used to scout areas, he often engages in firefights from a distance. However, more aggressive playstyles are achieved by EMP blasting enemies before rushing a building or ongoing battle.

Character Playstyle:

Recon

Distance-based combat

Reviver

Recon Utility:

Use Survey Beacons to discover the next Ring location.
Scan banners to identify the number of nearby enemies.
Ping open doors, supply bins, and other environmental clues for teammates with the Surveillance Drone.

What’s Fun About Crypto:

Being able to accomplish just about anything remotely with his drone.
Destroying enemy shields simultaneously in a way that no other legend can.

Crypto Details:

http://https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/crypto

4. Wattson

Wattson has become one of the game's strongest defensive players, earning a spot on most competitive teams. Her Perimeter Fences are not only excellent for holding down buildings and chokepoints but slow intruders making them easy targets. The Interception Pylon is paramount to friendly defense and acts as a significant counter to Gibraltar and Bangalore's explosive ultimates.

Character Playstyle:

Defensive

Fortifying

Protection

Defense Utility:

Fortify interior locations and choke points with Perimeter Fences.
Place an Interception Pylon to protect teammates and traps from projectiles.

What’s Fun About Wattson:

Catching projectiles with the Interception Pylon, disrupting enemy tactics.
Placing Perimeter Fences at the top of ziplines for a sneaky surprise.

Wattson Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/wattson

3. Lifeline

Lifeline is a combat medic classified as a support legend. As the only true healer in the game, she is an essential component of any team. Lifeline is a good choice for players who like contributing loot and don't mind keeping an eye on their teammates' welfare during firefights.

Character Playstyle:

Support

Loot Supplier

Team Player

Support Utility:

Revive teammates with the D.O.C. Drone from behind the safety of a shield.
Drop care packages for teammates.
Heal friendlies with health drone.

What’s Fun About Lifeline:

Reviving teammates during a firefight.
Dropping a care package for strategic cover.

Lifeline Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/lifeline

2. Bloodhound

Bloodhound received some more buffs in Season 6, resulting in a significantly higher pick rate. They are a multifaceted legend adept at tracking enemies and revealing the Ring's next location to gain a positional advantage. Scanning enemies gives Bloodhound the upper hand when pushing.

Character Playstyle:

Recon

Tracker

Pusher

Recon Utility:

Highlight hidden enemies with Eye of the Allfather.
Ping environmental clues like footprints.
Use Survey Beacons to reveal the next Ring location.

What’s Fun About Bloodhound:

Eliciting fear in enemies with the Beast of the Hunt noise.
Being the Apex Game’s greatest detective.
Seeing through buildings to discover enemy hiding spots.

Bloodhound Details:

https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/about/characters/bloodhound

1. Wraith

One of the most popular legends, Wraith is a welcome addition to any team, although her abilities work well for players who tend to rely on their own skill rather than their teammates. She is best used for pushing teams first and dealing damage due to her ability to get out of sticky situations with Into The Void. Her ultimate, Dimensional Rift, can reposition teammates instantly, whether it's to flee or gain a positional advantage.