Apex Legends’ Wildcard Mode Is Pure Mayhem—But Some Legends Are Left Behind
Apex Legends has just dropped its new Wildcard Mode, and it’s shaking up the battle royale experience in some big ways. Instead of introducing a new Legend this season, Respawn Entertainment is putting the spotlight on a faster, more chaotic game mode that promises less downtime and more non-stop action. But while Wildcard Mode is packed with fresh features, it’s also exposing some Legends as less useful than ever before.
- What’s new in Apex Legends’ Wildcard Mode
- How Legend-stacking changes the game
- Which Legends are thriving—and which are struggling
- Upcoming Wildcards and what to expect
Wildcard Mode: Fast-Paced and Full of Surprises
In Wildcard Mode, everything is turned up a notch. The matches start with a smaller ring, and only 30 players drop in—half the usual number. This means you’re almost always in the thick of battle, with barely a moment to catch your breath. Plus, there’s an auto-looting system, so you won’t have to waste time grabbing gear or risk getting caught looting a Death Box. Respawn Beacons are gone, too. Now, if you get knocked out, you’ll automatically respawn as long as one squadmate is still standing. All of these changes are designed to keep the action going, and they definitely succeed.
Legend-Stacking: Everyone Can Play Their Favorite
One of the biggest changes is Legend-stacking. For the first time, everyone on your squad can play the same Legend if they want. Three Ashes? No problem. A trio of Mirages? Go for it. This opens up lots of fun combos, but it also makes it very clear which Legends are built for chaos—and which ones just can’t keep up.
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Some Legends Shine, Others Struggle
The fast pace and constant fighting mean some Legends are just more effective than others. For example, Caustic is a powerhouse—imagine facing a whole squad dropping Gas Traps everywhere in a tiny ring! Bangalore is another strong pick, using smoke and explosives to dominate cramped spaces.
On the flip side, Legends like Wattson, Wraith, Crypto, and Loba are having a tough time. Wattson’s fences aren’t as useful when you can’t stay put. Wraith’s tactical ability takes too long to activate, so you’re often down before you can phase away. As one player put it, Wraith’s tactical is “totally useless” in Wildcard Mode. Crypto’s drone leaves him vulnerable for too long, and Loba’s Black Market is almost pointless now that auto-loot does the heavy lifting.
Wildcard Items Are Coming Soon
Interestingly, Wildcard Mode is just getting started. The mode gets its name from a new feature coming soon: Wildcards. These are special items you’ll be able to craft at Replicators, giving your Legend wild (but temporary) abilities. During previews, Respawn showed off one example—wall-running, straight out of Titanfall. If you want a sneak peek at other cool ideas Respawn could borrow, check out this feature list from Apex Legends Mobile.
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Looking Forward
Respawn says they launched Wildcard Mode without Wildcards to let players “experience the core version of Wildcard before we start adding in new gameplay elements and events.” So, there’s more chaos on the horizon. The big question is whether players will have time to use these new abilities in the heat of battle—especially if they take as long to activate as some current Legend abilities.
For now, Wildcard Mode is a fast, fun twist on Apex Legends, even if it leaves some Legends in the dust. If you’re looking for non-stop action and don’t mind a little chaos, this mode is definitely worth jumping into.
