June 2019 - last edited June 2019 by EA_David
Hey everyone! I'm Sean Slayback, the principal weapons designer on Apex Legends at Respawn. The weapons team and I are excited to share some info about weapons in Season 2, so let's get into it!
New Weapon: The L-STAR Arrives
This season we're introducing the L-STAR, a rare and powerful LMG. This weapon fires large, high-damage plasma projectiles at a fast cyclic rate. The L-STAR is joining the Mastiff and Kraber in airdrop packages, and quite frankly, it's a beast.
The L-STAR's unique projectiles are much larger than those fired by other weapons in Apex. Players need to lead targets more at range to compensate for the L-STAR's slower projectiles, but on the flip side, they don't have to aim quite as precisely to get good effect on target.
All this plasma-fueled power comes at a price: the L-STAR will overheat if players hold the trigger down too long. When the L-STAR overheats, its lens breaks and needs to be replaced, which takes some time. Expert players learn to feather the trigger with short/medium bursts, taking short breaks to let the weapon cool down.
The L-STAR only spawns in airdrops (like the Mastiff and the Kraber), and comes with a limited ammo supply that can't be refilled.
Get out there, hunt some airdrops, and let us know what you think of our newest high-tech addition to the Armory.
New Hop-Ups!
This season, we wanted to bring up the low end of the power curve a little, increase situational viability for lesser-used weapons, and create more interplay between weapons. So, we created a couple of new hop-ups:
Disruptor Rounds
Hammerpoint Rounds
Ideally players will consider one of these hopped-up small arms for weapon-swap tactics, and sometimes carry them unironically into endgame situations.
New Attachments: Energy Mags
Energy Mag attachments have been added for the Havoc, Devotion, and Triple Take, adding more loot gameplay and power curve depth. Like the other magazine attachments, Energy Mags increase ammo capacity (at all levels) and reduce reload time (at level 2 and above).
Power Up
We buffed some less-popular weapons to make them more powerful within their designed roles. Look out for buffs to the Flatline, P2020, Alternator, and Triple Take, with specific details outlined in our S2 patch notes.
Arc Star: Spikes & Sticks
Since launch, the Arc Star has seemed "spikey" to us. (To us, this means that the gameplay and personality are good, but it can sometimes feel unfair to use or fight against.) We did a few targeted tweaks:
- Increased ignition delay from 2.5 to 2.8
- Sticking a full health player will now down them
- Players at the edge of the explosion no longer get their shields completely shredded
Gold Weapons
Players can look forward to finding a totally new set of gold weapons in Kings Canyon for the start of season 2. Look out for the final list in the Season 2 patch notes.
Ammo Stack Sizes
Apex players need to strike a fine balance between loading their backpacks with ammo, and holding other items for emergency or utility purposes. In a couple cases, we felt the stack sizes weren't well-balanced, so we tweaked:
Airdrop Weapons
Airdrop packages now use different loot tables for different phases of the game (early/ mid/ late). For example, players will find more Krabers in early and mid-game airdrops, while endgame airdrops should spawn more Mastiffs.
And, of course, these loot tables now include the L-STAR plasma LMG!
Season 2 Starts July 2!
Beyond the changes mentioned here, the weapon team still has a few tweaks up our sleeves for Season 2, so look out for our patch notes when the season starts on July 2!
And as always, from the entire Apex Legends team, thanks for playing.
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June 2019 - last edited June 2019
Update looks good but this hop up:
Hammerpoint Rounds
Why only unshileded damage ? that means only for hotzone drop then when everybody still no shield, otherwise, no difference than before?
Basically this hop up only usefull for few seconds of the game, after that back to useless gun shooting rubber bullets, pow pow pow....
Unless you make super strong like 50-60 damage without shield, I won't touch this gun at all, just like before.
Even then, why should I ? You shred enemy shield then you change to Mozambie & P2020 to finish ?? Sounds funny.
June 2019
I’m cool with everything else, but Extended Energy Mags? ArE U JoKinG
June 2019
Nice, some much needed changes.
June 2019
@asukojo wrote:
Update looks good but this hop up:
Hammerpoint Rounds
- Increased unshielded damage ???
- compatibility: P2020, Mozambique
Why only unshileded damage ? that means only for hotzone drop then when everybody still no shield, otherwise, no difference than before?
Basically this hop up only usefull for few seconds of the game, after that back to useless gun shooting rubber bullets, pow pow pow....
Unless you make super strong like 50-60 damage without shield, I won't touch this gun at all, just like before.
Even then, why should I ? You shred enemy shield then you change to Mozambie & P2020 to finish ?? Sounds funny.
Ideally players will consider one of these hopped-up small arms for weapon-swap tactics, and sometimes carry them unironically into endgame situations.
I personally can't wait to combine an R-301 with my Mozambique for that game ending kill shot! Even if you drop into a hotzone that doesn't guarantee Hammerpoint Rounds will be there for your P2020 and Mozambique. This should give you more options though when you can't decide what you really want as your secondary weapon as you get closer towards the end of the game. You go from never carrying a P2020 & Mozambique to inserting it into a meta weapon combos.
In a situation where two of your squad members focus fire on another player, having that third squad member use one of these weapons could make for some fast kills.
Do you think these changes make those weapons more viable now?
June 2019
Maybe "weapon-swap tactics" means you'll be able to switch more quickly to some weapons? Maybe "weapon-swap tactics" could be part of the new hop-ups or even what that new inventory slot is for?
Well if the Triple Take - which I use a lot anyway - gets a buff then I'll definitely be using it with a P2020 and the hop-up. Sounds fantastic to me! :eahigh_file:
June 2019 - last edited June 2019
L-Star: Cool
New hop-ups: Meh? Maybe neat? Probably just annoying to have drop tables diluted by more items only used by specific guns?
Energy Mags: Good for the Triple Take, the Havoc & Devotion probably don't need the help, will hold judgement until I see whether you decreased their baseline magazine size to compensate?
"Power Up": This is what I'm most interested in, and while I suppose it makes sense we can't see the meat and potatoes until it's ready, the details on this are kinda what I'm looking for.
Arc stars: Timer/radius nerfs probably deserved, what's this about stuck = down, though? Did you mean an unshielded person? Cause if not - that's way too good.
Gold Weapons: Alright, cool
Ammo stack sizes: Sounds good
Airdrop Weapons: Okay, sounds reasonable
Waiting for July 2, then.
June 2019 - last edited June 2019
@EA_Blueberryreally? what is there to play for now????? coulda put SOMETHING in there to play for until july 2nd?? that is if your level 100 ..Cya in 2 weeks game is nothing now
June 2019 - last edited June 2019
Edit; I was a big meanie with my reply, booboo fixed now!
June 2019
@Huntinwabits wrote:
@EA_Blueberry really? what is there to play for now????? coulda put SOMETHING in there to play for until july 2nd?? Cya in 2 weeks game is nothing now
Well, time sure can fly by real fast. Possibly drop some loot too.