Apex Legends Season 17 Key Takeaways
- Apex Legends Season 17, called Arsenal, will go live on Tuesday, May 9th.
- Ballistic, a new legend, will be introduced with Season 17
- Worlds Edge will receive a major overhaul, including 2 new POIs
A new Weapons Mastery system will be introduced with Apex Legends Season 17
Table of Contents
Get ready, Legends! Apex Legends Season 17: Arsenal is just around the corner, and it’s bringing a host of game-changing updates to keep you on the edge of your seat. The Portal is here to give you a comprehensive overview of what’s in store, from the introduction of the new Legend, Ballistic, to the reworked Ranked System, the innovative Weapon Mastery feature, and the massive overhaul of World’s Edge. Prepare to dive into a new era of Apex, where tactical gameplay and thrilling battles await!
Looking for a group to tackle Apex Legends Season 17 with? Make sure to download the Z League app and take advantage of the newly improved LFG feature! More details here!
Apex Legends Season 17 Release Date & Time
Apex Legends Season 17 will go live on Tuesday, May 9th
While a specific time has not been confirmed, previous updates have launched around 1PM ET. Historically, the May season of Apex Legends ends sometime in August
World’s Edge Updates
Apex Legends Season 17 is giving World’s Edge a much-needed facelift, with Fragment East and West receiving a new Point of Interest called the Monument – the Museum of Apex Legends. This museum exhibits the history of the Apex Games and features a bunker-like structure with sniper nests accessible via ziplines. The Warehouse from Fragment has been relocated to where Lava City once was, now named Stacks.
The lava across the map has been raised, allowing players to traverse it without falling into chasms. For example, the lava beneath Harvester has been raised, and a new center section with additional loot has been added. A new vault has been added to Skyhook, and Trials has been changed to improve loot health. The map rotations for Season 17 include World’s Edge, Kings Canyon, and Olympus.
Mirage’s party boat, Mirage a Trois, is now a permanent feature, but only in World’s Edge.
Apex Legends Season 17 introduces the Evac Tower, a mobile redeploy that can be set anywhere on the map to create a redeploy balloon for your team. However, the tower is not permanent, can be destroyed, and is visible to anyone in the area when deployed.
New Legend: Ballistic
Apex Legends Season 17 is set to bring a game-changing new Legend to the roster – Ballistic. As an Assault Legend, Ballistic boasts a unique skillset that will undoubtedly impact the game’s dynamics. Let’s delve into the details of Ballistic’s abilities and how they will alter gameplay.
Ballistic’s abilities are designed to enhance the firepower of both himself and his teammates, while also disrupting enemy tactics. Here’s a breakdown of his kit:
- Passive: Sling Ballistic can carry a third weapon in his inventory without attachments, giving him an edge in versatility and allowing him to adapt to various combat situations.
- Tactical: Whistler This ability allows Ballistic to shoot a smart ammo projectile at an enemy, applying a weapon overheat debuff. The affected enemy’s HUD will display an indicator showing the number of shots they can fire before the gun overheats, forcing them to pause firing for a short cool-down animation. Whistler can lock onto an enemy but can be dodged if the line of sight is broken. If Whistler misses, it remains on the floor or surface and will deal 5 damage if an enemy runs into it. Whistler deals 20 damage on hit and an additional 30 damage if the enemy overheats their weapon.
- Ultimate: Tempest Ballistic’s ultimate ability, Tempest, provides an area of effect buff to him and his nearby teammates. This buff grants unlimited ammo, faster movement speed, and quicker reloads. Additionally, Tempest temporarily upgrades his third weapon (the one without attachments) to a gold, fully-kitted weapon for the duration of the ultimate. Tempest has a charge time of around 3 minutes and lasts for 30 seconds. If a kill is secured while buffed, the ultimate’s duration is extended for all teammates, similar to Bloodhound’s ultimate.
Ballistic’s abilities make him a formidable addition to the Apex Legends roster. His ability to carry a third weapon and provide valuable buffs to his team will undoubtedly impact gameplay strategies. Ballistic’s disruptive tactical ability, Whistler, can also hinder enemies and create new opportunities for his squad to secure kills. This new Legend is sure to shake up the battlefield in Season 17.
Changes to Ranked
Apex Legends Season 17 introduces significant changes to the Ranked System, aiming to improve matchmaking and entry costs for players. The new system will require players to complete placement matches and will feature Ladder Points instead of Ranked Points. Let’s dive into the details of these changes and what they mean for ranked play.
Placement Matches: In Season 17, players will need to complete ten placement matches to receive an initial rank. Unlike Overwatch’s placement system, which relies on wins or losses, Apex Legends will use a hidden MMR (Matchmaking Rating) to determine your skill level. This approach aims to place players in a rank that will be enjoyable for them to climb from and progress through.
Ladder Points and No More Splits: Season 17 replaces Ranked Points with Ladder Points, emphasizing the idea of climbing the ladder through the ranks. The season will no longer be divided into splits, and instead, each season will be a full ranked season.
Uniform LP Entry Costs: Regardless of your rank, the entry cost for ranked matches will now be a flat 35 LP. This change simplifies the system and ensures that players at all levels have the same LP cost to enter ranked matches. Kill Points (KP) will remain the same, with individual and team KP still being a significant factor in your overall score.
Weapon Mastery
Weapon Mastery is a new long-term progression system being introduced with Apex Legends Season 17 that encourages players to learn about the strengths and character of all weapons. Players can progress weapon levels by using them in any game mode, with levels being account-wide and not resetting with seasons. Earning weapon mastery rewards includes weapon-specific badges, lifetime performance trackers, Legendary weapon mastery banner frames, and a guaranteed Legendary skin for each weapon.
Every 20 levels, a weapon trial will become available for players to test their skills with that particular weapon. Completing these trials will grant you rewards, such as weapon trackers, banner frames, and even Legendary skins. Once you reach level 100 for a weapon and complete all five trials, you’ll “master” that weapon and unlock the final rewards – including the guaranteed Legendary skin.
Recommended Apex Legends Streamers
iiTzTimmy
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/iiTzTimmy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/iiTzTimmy
iiTzTimmy is another top Apex Legends streamer who showcases incredible gameplay and consistent high-level performances. His Twitch and YouTube channels feature both casual and competitive matches, as well as tips and tricks for mastering various Legends. iiTzTimmy’s friendly demeanor and positive attitude make his streams an enjoyable experience for viewers, while his extensive knowledge of the game helps players learn new strategies and tactics to level up their own gameplay.
NICKMERCS
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/nickmercs
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NICKMERCS
NICKMERCS is a prominent content creator and streamer who has made a name for himself with his exceptional skills in various games, including Apex Legends. His Twitch and YouTube channels showcase high-level gameplay, as well as informative guides and entertaining commentary. NICKMERCS’ charismatic and energetic personality adds an extra layer of entertainment to his content, making his streams not only informative but also genuinely enjoyable to watch. He often collaborates with other well-known streamers and competitive players, offering a diverse range of content for viewers to enjoy.
Apex Legends Season 17 is shaping up to be an exciting and transformative season, packed with a wide array of features and improvements that will undoubtedly keep players engaged and entertained. With the introduction of the new Assault Legend, Ballistic, the game is poised to witness a shift in the competitive landscape, offering new strategic possibilities and opportunities for players to explore.
The Weapon Mastery system brings an additional layer of depth and customization to the game, providing players with a chance to showcase their dedication and expertise with their favorite weapons. Meanwhile, the Ranked System overhaul promises to create a more balanced and enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels, encouraging progression and fostering a sense of accomplishment.
The substantial reworks to World’s Edge and the introduction of new game mechanics, such as the Evac Tower, demonstrate the developers’ commitment to keeping the game fresh and engaging. These changes, along with the map rotations, are sure to keep players on their toes and eager to explore new strategies and tactics.
As we look forward to the upcoming season, it’s clear that the Apex Legends community has much to be excited about. Apex Legends Season 17 is a testament to the game’s continued growth and evolution, with a focus on enhancing the player experience and fostering a thriving competitive scene.
