Apex Legends 24.1 Update: Major Legend, Weapon, and Ranked Changes

The Apex Legends 24.1 mid-season patch brings a fresh limited-time event, impactful legend tweaks, and refined ranked mechanics. Dive into the detailed patch notes below.

Kicking off with the Beast Mode Event, this three-week spectacle introduces unique game modes, exclusive cosmetics, and the debut of the Power Sword melee weapon. Alongside this, expect notable Skirmisher class updates, weapon performance adjustments, and a revamped ranked reset system.

A standout feature is the Power Sword Royale LTM, where players can grab an energy-charged sword for powerful melee strikes and protective shielding when aiming. The return of Solos mode with a Respawn Token twist and a wild April Fool’s LTM keep the excitement alive throughout the event.

Skirmisher Legends gain refreshed perks, boosting their agility and resilience during fights. Alter gets a tactical and ultimate overhaul, enhancing her team synergy, while Ranked mode adopts a tiered reset approach, starting players at the base of their prior rank tier for a fairer split launch.

Apex Legends 24.1 Patch Notes Breakdown

BALANCE UPDATES

Gold Weapon Rotation

• P2020, Prowler PDW, Volt SMG, Devotion, G7 Scout

Heat Shields

• Damage now applies when any dome section touches the ring (previously only the core).

• Damage scales up based on ring distance from the core.

  
  

  Dev Notes: These tweaks address odd Heat Shield behaviors near the ring, ensuring smoother, more reliable use.

AMMO & ATTACHMENTS

Accelerated Weapons

• Accelerator Hop-Up removed from: CAR SMG, G7 Scout, Nemesis Burst AR.

• Added to: P2020, Volt SMG, Wingman.

• Lasers: All tiers see improved effectiveness.

WEAPONS

ARNemesis Burst AR

• Charge depletion extended to 8s (from 6s).

• Delay before charge depletion raised to 8s (from 6s).

• Enhanced barrel performance across tiers.

  
  

  Dev Notes: Losing the Accelerator Hop-Up prompted quality-of-life buffs to keep Nemesis competitive and user-friendly.

LMGDevotion LMG

• Early recoil intensity softened for initial shots.

  
  

  L-STAR EMG

• Reverse Hipfire feature eliminated.

  
  

  Dev Notes: The L-STAR’s dominance needed toning down; removing reverse hipfire balances it in close quarters, spotlighting SMGs.

MARKSMAN30-30 Repeater

• ADS Charged shot damage up to 65 (from 58).

• ADS Charged Headshot damage up to 104 (from 93).

  
  

  Dev Notes: Boosting charge shot damage rewards deliberate, tactical playstyles.

  
  

  G7 Scout

• Damage bumped to 36 (from 35).

• Headshot damage raised to 58 (from 56).

• Fire rate slightly increased.

  
  

  Dev Notes: Adjustments offset the Accelerator Hop-Up loss, keeping the Scout viable.

PISTOLP2020

• Laser scaling normalized to match other weapons.

  
  

  Dev Notes: P2020’s hipfire edge is now its core strength, with laser performance standardized.

  
  

  Wingman

• Boost Loader Hop-Up no longer compatible.

SHOTGUNEVA-8

• Blast pattern widened.

SMGAlternator SMG

• Mag size increased: Base 20 (was 19), White 24 (was 23), Blue 27 (was 26), Purple/Gold 29 (was 28).

  
  

  C.A.R. SMG

• Mag size increased: Base 20 (was 19), White 23 (was 22), Blue 25 (was 24), Purple/Gold 28 (was 27).

  
  

  R-99 SMG

• Mag size increased: Base 18 (was 17), White 21 (was 20), Blue 24 (was 23), Purple/Gold 27 (was 26).

  
  

  Volt SMG

• Mag size increased: Base 20 (was 19), White 22 (was 21), Blue 24 (was 23), Purple/Gold 27 (was 26).

  
  

  Dev Notes: Extra ammo across SMGs offers more forgiveness in intense firefights, bridging the gap with shotguns and LMGs.

LEGENDS

Skirmisher Perks

• Trailblazer: Sprinting toward a Skirmisher ally (20m+ away) grants a speed boost.

• Charged Knock: Knocking an enemy adds an ability charge and 50 HP regen. Charge lasts 30s or until used; applies to Tactical (except Octane, who gets an Ultimate charge). HP regen heals health first, then shields, but stops if damaged.

  
  

  Dev Notes: These perks turn Skirmishers’ mobility into team assets, encouraging aggressive play with rewards for success.

Ash

• Void Breach: Ultimate cooldown up to 2min 30s (from 2min).

  
  

  Dev Notes: A slight ultimate nerf balances Ash against new Skirmisher perks.

Alter

• Void Passage: Now has two charges; portal depth up to 30m (from 20m); cooldown down to 20s (from 30s); includes health bars on enemies and longer Void Siphon ropes (45m from ceilings, 20m from walls).

• Void Nexus: Reusable with a 30s per-player cooldown; two can exist simultaneously; allies can be summoned manually with movement and knockdown shield use.

• Gift from the Rift: Grabs banners from Death Boxes.

• Upgrades: New Level 2 options (Support or Recon perks); new Level 3 buffs (speed/reload boosts or extended scans).

  
  

  Dev Notes: Alter’s kit gains flexibility and team utility, with upgrades tailoring her to diverse playstyles.

Pathfinder

• Upgrades: Level 3 now reduces Tactical cooldown by 10s.

  
  

  Dev Notes: A simple swap for the retired Death Grapple perk.

Horizon

• Upgrades: New Level 3 options: shield regen on soft landings or extra combat resources.

  
  

  Dev Notes: Horizon’s tweaks enhance her escape or combat prowess.

Wraith

• Into the Void: Cooldown down to 20s (from 25s); activation time cut to 0.8s (from 1.25s); manual exit option added.

• Dimensional Rift: Cooldown down to 2min 30s (from 3min); faster speed ramp-up.

  
  

  Dev Notes: Wraith regains her classic edge with quicker, more controllable abilities.

Revenant

• Shadow Pounce: Faster activation and 20s cooldown (from 25s).

• Forged Shadows: Ultimate shield HP up by 25.

• Upgrades: New options extend low-health tracking or halve Pounce times.

  
  

  Dev Notes: Buffs restore Revenant’s aggressive flair.

MAPS & MODES

• Pubs & Ranked: E-District, King’s Canyon, Storm Point.

• Power Sword Trios LTM (March 25-April 14, 2025): Features the Power Sword with energy slashes and defensive buffs.

• Solos LTM (April 8-14, 2025): 30-player matches with Respawn Tokens.

RANKED

• Split Reset: Players reset to the lowest division of their prior tier (e.g., Gold IV starts at 5750 RP).

  
  

  Dev Notes: This tiered reset ensures fairer matchmaking.

Key Takeaways from Apex Legends 24.1

The Apex Legends 24.1 update delivers a dynamic mix of fresh content and refined mechanics. The Beast Mode Event and Power Sword add thrilling variety, while Skirmisher buffs and Alter’s rework enhance team play. Weapon tweaks, like SMG mag boosts and Nemesis adjustments, keep combat balanced. The tiered ranked reset promises a more equitable competitive scene. With Solos and chaotic LTMs rounding out the patch, players have plenty to explore through May 2025, making this a pivotal update for both casual and ranked enthusiasts.