Apex Legends' latest update has the potential to turn the game’s fortunes around, but it’s got more than a few kinks. One of these issues surrounds a series of nerfs that have severely weakened one ofApex Legends' most beloved characters.
Apex Legendshas been going through tough timesrecently, with 2024 marking a particularly rocky year. The game went through a massive controversy regarding planned battle pass changes, and its growth hasn’t been up to EA’s standards. Moreover, many big creators in theApexcommunity, such as HisWattson, have been immensely critical of the game’s decline, citing a lack of innovation and support against widespread issues such as bugs, matchmaking problems, and cheating. Respawn has been making a noticeable effort to address these issues, which many have applauded, but problems like over-monetization and content stagnation remain as bugbears for the community.
Pathfinder’s Controversial Nerf In Apex Legends Explained
The last updateto hitApex Legends, despite some hiccups, has had some handy upsides. In particular, the mid-season patch has made some big changes to undersupported Legends like Loba and Mirage, in addition to some great skins and a new hopup—proving Respawn’s willingness to make big changes. However, despite some of these changes being well received, one character’s gotten the short end of the stick. Pathfinder, a beloved movement Legend, has been nerfed through the floor—the latest in a series of successive nerfs. While it’s important that one character doesn’t dominate pick-rate as much as Pathfinder has, those who main the Legend are less than amused.
Pathfinder’s Season 23 Nerfs
DespiteApex Legends' season of support, with Season 23 delivering massive buffs to Support Legends, Pathfinder has maintained his high place in the pick-rate. Therefore, Respawn decided to knock the cheerful MRVN down a peg, attaching a flat 30-second cooldown to his grapple ability. Not only is the cooldown a whole 30 seconds, it’s no longer variable, meaning even short grapples (or misfired grapples) will incur a long cooldown.
That’s not the only wayApexhas nerfed Pathfinder with this patch, with his Insider Knowledge perk offering less of a benefit from care package scans. Moreover, Pathfinder’s Zipline Zen upgrade has also been greatly weakened; the ability will now only reduce damage by 25%, rather than 50%, when Pathfinder and his teammates are traveling down his Ult’s zipline. These are significant decreases, but the knock to his core mechanic is certainly the most devastating—and the effects have been immediate. Since the change was rolled out, Pathfinder’s pick-rate dropped 61.67%, though he still maintains a top spot.
Pathfinder’s Nerfs Were Unexpected
Pathfinder has always been incredibly popular, offering a movement playstyle that’s both thrilling and effective. The character has been buffed and nerfed greatly through the years, with his initial iteration on launch being hugely overpowered, leading to a series of massive nerfs. Pathfinder was eventually brought up to something of a happy medium and, besides some issues with his lacking passive, he’s not been the main target of player complaints for some time. Therefore, this nerf has blindsided manyApexplayers, most of whom didn’t mind the character’s current place in the meta.
Furthermore,Pathfinder has always had some key drawbacks, and these changes will only make them more dire. He’s always suffered from his large hitbox, with no Fortified perk to counter the issue. Moreover, his Passive has been a subject of constant mockery, feeling understated to many despite its efficacy—especially considering Legends like Revenant and Mad Maggie, who effectively have two Passives. These new nerfs likely won’t be completely debilitating for Pathfinder, but there’s little question that the changes are overkill in the game’s current climate.
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Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play* Hero shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier.Master an ever-growing roster of diverse legends, deep tactical squad play, and bold new innovations that go beyond the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Hero Shooter.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items.
