Apex Legends: Cipher launches on 3 November with Crypto and Ranked changes

Crypto takes a more mobile intelligence role

One of Cipher’s central changes concerns Crypto’s abilities. His Surveillance Drone will use a battery-based system instead of a conventional cooldown. According to EA’s announcement, this will allow the drone to be recalled and redeployed more flexibly. The new Sentry Mode will mark enemies entering its field of view, supporting the squad’s information gathering.

Crypto’s EMP Ultimate will also be deployable with a single button. The developer aims to move the character away from passively waiting behind a drone and towards providing intelligence while accompanying his squad’s movement. The balance between gathering information and directly joining a fight is therefore being reworked.

Akimbo Wingman and Strongholds

Wingman revolvers can be dual-wielded in the new season. Akimbo Wingman provides a different way to use the weapon and forms part of Cipher’s firepower changes. The announcement does not provide every damage value or balance detail, so its effect in matches will need to be considered alongside the update notes.

Strongholds are described as a higher-risk evolution of care packages. Squads can obtain crate weapons, special attachments and EVO, but opening a Stronghold takes time and triggers an alarm revealing the location to nearby opponents. High-value loot therefore comes with the risk of attracting attention.

Strongholds also contain cover and Hardlight, helping squads defend the location while securing rewards. Players will need to consider the opening time and potential pressure from nearby teams as well as the loot itself.

Revenant, Lifeline and Ranked matches

Revenant changes include a shorter Ultimate cooldown, faster tactical use and new upgrades supporting aggressive play. Lifeline changes include a reduced D.O.C. cooldown, self-healing while gliding, a shield during revives and improved mobility. Together, these changes update both attacking and support roles.

Legend Bans will apply to Diamond lobbies and above in Ranked. Each player votes once to ban a character; receiving more votes increases the chance that a Legend will be banned in that match. Team choices may consequently face different restrictions from one match to another.

Apex Legends: Cipher launches on 3 November for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. PC distribution includes the EA App, Epic Games Store and Steam. These details come from the pre-season announcement; final values and any further adjustments will appear in the developer’s update notes.