Respawn Entertainment gives Apex Legends’ Crypto a Season 12 rework

Apex Legends Season 12: Defiance patch notes are here, giving us our first look at the long-awaited Crypto rework. Crypto has been a niche pick for several seasons now due to his slow and often static playstyle, causing players to clamor for a buff or rework of some kind.

In response, Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment reworked the Surveillance Drone at the core of his kit. It made some major quality of life changes to make him “more accessible and engaging,” according to the patch notes. Here are all the Crypto changes you can expect in Season 12 at 1 p.m. ET on Feb. 8.

Crypto Drone HUD changes

The main quality of life update coming to Crypto’s Surveillance Drone is that more information is being added to the HUD while the player is controlling it. Now you can keep an eye on gamestate information such as the Ring position and round timers, as well as minimap, kill feed, team status and ping information. Seeing Crypto’s health in the bottom left now takes priority, with the Drone’s health displayed next to it.

Additionally, Survey Beacon markers are now displayed in-world while in Drone view, which allows Crypto to use his status as a Recon Legend to its full potential.

From an outside perspective, the Drone marker on the HUD now has increased visibility. It is also now always displayed, as opposed to only displayed when the Drone was off screen.

Crypto Drone rework

The biggest changes coming to Crypto’s kit all have to do with his Tactical Ability, the Surveillance Drone at the heart of his kit.

The way Crypto deploys his Drone has received a rework. Pressing the Tactical button will now cause Crypto to throw the Drone in a straight line. This means that he will not enter Drone view immediately upon deploying it, as he did previously. If the Drone hits a wall while being thrown, it will hit the wall and automatically turn so that it is facing away from it.

This change will allow Crypto to be more dynamic and continue moving even while deploying his Drone; something that previously immobilized him immediately. If you do still need to enter Drone view as soon as you deploy it, however, you can also hold down the Tactical button to launch the Drone and immediately pilot it.

Neurolink, Crypto’s passive ability that allows him and teammates to see enemies detected by the Drone within 30 meters, has been buffed slightly. The detection field of view (FOV) has been increased from 160 to 240 degrees. It is also now disabled when the Drone is being recalled.

To compensate for the new possibilities in Crypto’s playstyle, the Drone’s health has been reduced from 60 to 50, making it easier to shut down during an EMP.

Along with the Crypto rework, Apex Legends Season 12: Defiance will bring with it a new Legend, a new game mode and third anniversary celebration rewards. Season 12 is set to be released worldwide at 1 p.m. ET on Feb. 8.