Apex Legends: Cipher, arriving on November 3, will introduce a significant weapon change allowing players to dual-wield the powerful Wingman revolver. This new Akimbo Wingman option sacrifices some accuracy in exchange for increased damage output, a change that could significantly alter close-quarters combat.
The Wingman, a semi-automatic revolver that uses Sniper Ammo, has long been a potent weapon in the hands of skilled players, capable of securing kills with just two to four headshots depending on enemy armor. While its overall damage-per-second ranking has fluctuated, its effectiveness in accurate hands remains high across various ranges. The Akimbo variant is expected to encourage more aggressive, close-range engagements, drawing parallels to the brief period when the Akimbo Mozambique was dominant before receiving a swift nerf.
Beyond the new weapon configuration, the Cipher update features a rework for the Legend Crypto, now dubbed Crypto Rewired. His Surveillance Drone will transition from a cooldown-based ability to one that runs on batteries, allowing for quicker redeployment and a new Sentry Mode that automatically tags nearby enemies. Additionally, Crypto's EMP Ultimate will now be deployable with a single button press.
Cipher also introduces Strongholds, described by Respawn as an evolution of care packages. Players will need to raid these Strongholds to acquire valuable loot, including crate weapons, corrupted attachments, and EVO shield boosts. Alarms will sound to alert nearby enemies when a Stronghold is being accessed.
Several Legends are also receiving buffs. Revenant will benefit from a reduced Ultimate cooldown, faster Tactical ability, and new upgrades that allow him to extend his Ultimate with each knock or apply a Silence effect with his Shadow Pounce. Lifeline's changes include a reduced drone cooldown, the ability to self-heal while gliding, an Ultimate cooldown reduction, and improved flight mobility. Most notably, her revive shield will be reinstated.
In terms of competitive play, the update includes Ranked mode adjustments, specifically the introduction of Legend Bans in Diamond lobbies and above. Players in these tiers will vote to ban certain Legends, preventing them from being selected for the match.