What are the meta changes from the Space Hunt event patch notes in Apex Legends?

Apex Legends released the patch notes last week for the launch of the new Space Hunt event as part of Season 22, Shockwave. The update will go live on Tuesday, September 17 at 10 AM PST. With the patch comes plenty of balance changes and updates to both legends and weapons, which ultimately shifts the meta. I’ll be diving deep into the patch notes for a detailed analysis of the current meta, and how the new meta will potentially look.

TL:DR

• OG legends still S+ tier for comp and pubs
• Valkyrie is getting mad buffs
• Akimbos are OP & nerfed

What was the meta at ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series)?

Naturally, with Split 2 of ALGS coming to a close last week, we have more than enough data to provide a clear reflection of the meta in Apex Legends.

What is the Legend meta in Apex Legends?

Split 1 of Season 22 saw the patch considerably shift the legend meta, with certain legends rising to the top, such as:

1. Bangalore (S+)

Has become the go-to rotation player. Slightly overpowered with passive (Double Time) gaining them 30% movement speed when fired at.

2. Crypto (A)

Buffs to drone handling and the ability to go invisible when controlling his drone had seen a sudden spike in his pick-rate.

3. Wattson (A)

Flexible, well-balanced and plays well with Crypto and Newcastle. Buffed with 25% extra shields while in the zone, rewarding early rotation as a Controller legend.

4. Newcastle (A)

With Castle Wall being buffed and its resistance to Crypto’s EMP.. Additionally, the res shield offers protection in firefights and can be powered-up with gold knockdown shields to res teammates with half their health.

5. Pathfinder (B)

The prodigal bot is back! Has seen an increase due to his great rotation capability and his ability to claim the high ground..

6. Fuse (B)

With the passive ability to see the next zone/circle, Fuse now offers recon capabilities to support rotation play.

What is the legend meta in pubs in Apex Legends?

With a lot less strategy required for pubs, players usually opt for different legends. However, I have seen a trend develop between competitive and casual play — with a few exceptions.

One of the exceptions is Revenant. The new map (E-District) offers a lot more buildings for Revenant to scale and gain the high ground, and that could be the biggest reason behind his regained popularity.

What is the weapon meta in Apex Legends?

The introduction of the Akimbo hop-up has turned both competitive and casual loadouts on their heads. However, the weapon meta has remained relatively consistent (bar the Volt and Mastiff — a result of slight nerfs and buffs).

Although the Havoc received a nerf for the start of Season 22, it still remains a popular choice. One thing to consider is the apparent lack of energy ammo currently, making it difficult to hold fights for too long.

This is where the Hemlok starts to shine. With an abundance of heavy ammo to be found across the map, and no nerfs in sight, the Hemlok is a no-brainer.

How will the new patch change the legend meta?

The biggest meta change I see coming is with Valkyrie. When evac towers were introduced, Valkyrie’s relevance steadily declined over the following 16 months. Now, reborn as a Recon legend (formerly a Skirmisher legend), Valkyrie will gain many buffs that’ll put her right back into the conversation. Valkyrie’s buffs include:

• Jetpack refuel delay decreased by 50%.
• Jetpack refuel delay timer added to UI.
• Gains Threat Vision while jetpacking until feet hit the ground/zipline.
• Tactical:
  • Move-slow stun duration increased by 50%. 
  • Missile explosion radius increased by 20%. 
  • Min. attack range decreased by 25% (can hit closer enemies). 
  • Max. missile travel time now 4s from 4.5s.
  • Missiles shot increased by 7 ( 18 to 25).
• Reduced tactical cooldown by 5s
• Aerial Expert perk removed
• Increased HUD highlighting range by 40m for Ultimate.

How will the patch change the weapon meta in Apex?

Players can’t hide from the fact that the Mozambique (Akimbo) is OP. There, I said it! Placing it on gold rotation is a welcome solution, which does change the meta slightly. Apart from that, I don’t see the meta changing drastically for the upcoming split with no notable weapon nerfs or buffs. Weapon nerfs for the patch are as follows:

• Gold weapon rotation: Mozambique (Akimbo) — P2020 Akimbo — EVA-8 — Flatline — G7 Scout.
• Havoc — removed turbocharger slot (and from the loot pool).
• Reduced spawn rate of gun shield generator.

Final thoughts

Overall, the patch addresses two key aspects very well: impressively buffing one of my favorite legends — Valkyrie — as well as balancing the OP Mozambique (Akimbo) by placing it on gold rotation. For the detailed patch notes, you can visit the official Apex Legends site. 

See you in the arena, Legends!