Apex Legends Season 31, titled Cipher, went live on November 3, 2026, as patch 3.23 | 1.000.138. EA published the full patch notes on November 2, detailing a Crypto rework built around a drone battery timer, a new Ranked Legend Banning system for Diamond and above, the Akimbo Wingman as the first new akimbo weapon since Season 22, and airdropped Stronghold structures that land mid-ring with high-tier loot. Weapon balance touches hit the Prowler, Nemesis, and the returning Hemlok Burst AR, while Lifeline and Revenant received cooldown buffs and Loba and Axle took nerfs.
Legend Banning and Ranked Entry Costs
Diamond+ Ranked matches now include a Legend Ban phase. Two Legends are banned per match. Each player may request one Legend to ban; a Legend’s share of total requests determines its probability of being selected in the first randomized pick. The system is designed to limit the dominance of a small group of Legends at high ranks without removing player choice entirely.
Entry-cost modifiers were also adjusted. Challenger match entry costs are reduced by 30% when a squad’s tier is at least two tiers below the lobby tier, making it cheaper for lower-ranked squads to enter harder lobbies. Conversely, Goliath entry costs increase by 50% when a squad’s tier is at least two tiers above the lobby tier, penalizing squads that consistently play below their skill level. Respawn outlined these changes alongside broader ranked plans in a Ranked Roadmap covering Seasons 31 and 32.
Ranked maps for Cipher are Storm Point, E-District (Night), and Broken Moon. E-District returns to its night-time setting after a recent rework had shifted it to daytime.
Crypto Rework: Battery Timer Replaces Infinite Drone
Crypto’s kit received the most substantial rework in the patch. The Surveillance Drone no longer lasts indefinitely. It now operates on a 25-second battery, after which it must be recalled—a process that takes 6 seconds. The drone’s scan is now 360 degrees rather than limited to the camera’s field of view, but it no longer scans loot bins or doors. Enemies marked by the drone remain visible for 8 seconds, with a 4-second cooldown between marks.
The EMP was also reworked. Without line of sight to an enemy, it deals 50 shield damage and applies a lighter slow. With line of sight, it deals full shield damage and a heavier slow. Crypto no longer damages himself with his own EMP.
Respawn’s developer note was direct about the motivation:
"Crypto is a very difficult Legend to play but a lot of the time he's camping in his drone instead of fighting with his team."
The battery system forces Crypto players to commit to drone windows and return to their body regularly, which should reduce the passive surveillance gameplay that made him frustrating to play against without rewarding the player using him.
Akimbo Wingman and Strongholds
The Akimbo Wingman is the first addition to the akimbo weapon system since it launched in Season 22. Base damage was reduced from 50 to 45, and the ammo type shifted from Sniper Ammo to Heavy Ammo—a significant change that puts it in competition with the Prowler, Nemesis, and other Heavy weapons for inventory space. In Akimbo mode, the headshot multiplier is 1.25x, producing 56 headshot damage.
Respawn explained the selection in the Designer’s Notes:
"We have been looking for a new addition to the akimbo system for some time now, and when presented with the front runners, Wingman just felt like the best candidate for the job!"
Strongholds are a new airdropped structure type. One Stronghold drops during Round 2 closing, in addition to the existing two Care Packages in Round 1 and one in Round 2. On landing, a Stronghold crushes and kills any player underneath it. Once deployed, it puts up to 4 indestructible barriers and 2 Hardlight frames. Inside: one Care Package Weapon, three Gold Guns, three Amps, and two Corrupted Attachments.
The design intent, per the Designer’s Notes, was to amplify the moment a high-value structure lands in the ring:
"We asked ourselves: What if we just double down on that moment? What does that look like?"
The kill-on-landing mechanic means positioning around the drop zone carries real risk, and the indestructible barriers create a defensible position that rewards the squad that arrives first.
Weapon and Legend Balance
The Hemlok Burst AR returns to the loot pool with 21 body damage and 29 head damage across Burst and Single fire modes. The Prowler lost its Selectfire mode and had recoil increased. The Nemesis received a vertical recoil increase. Together, these changes tighten the gap between the burst rifles and the full-auto options.
On the Legend side, Lifeline’s Tactical cooldown dropped from 25 seconds to 15 seconds, and D.O.C. now heals her while gliding. Revenant’s Tactical cooldown fell from 20 to 15 seconds, and his Ultimate cooldown was cut from 180 to 150 seconds. Both changes make these Legends more aggressive in sustained fights.
Loba moved in the opposite direction. Her Tactical cooldown increased from 25 to 30 seconds and her Ultimate from 120 to 150 seconds—a meaningful hit to her loot-gathering frequency in the mid and late game.
Axle received additional nerfs carried over from an October 1 hotfix. Sliding lateral control was reduced by 50% for the passive and 25% for Nitro Gate users. Nitro Gate initial push speed dropped from 700 to 650, and max drone chase time was cut from 10 to 8 seconds. The cumulative effect is a noticeable reduction in Axle’s ability to maintain speed and control during engagements.
What Changes for Players
Ranked Diamond+: Legend Banning means pre-game planning now includes anticipating which two Legends will be unavailable. If your main is heavily requested by opponents, expect it gone. Entry-cost changes reward squads playing at their actual tier and punish sandbagging.
Crypto mains: The 25-second battery is the defining constraint. Plan drone windows around fights rather than holding a permanent overwatch. The 6-second recall means you cannot instantly reposition—commit to a scan, mark targets, and get back in the fight. The 360-degree scan is a genuine buff once you adapt to the timer.
Everyone else: The Akimbo Wingman on Heavy ammo is worth testing early; the ammo-type change means it competes with your primary rather than sitting in a separate slot. Strongholds are a new mid-game objective worth contesting, but the kill-on-landing and indestructible barriers mean the first squad there holds a real advantage. Lifeline and Revenant are stronger picks this season; Loba and Axle are weaker ones.