Apex Legends: Cipher launches November 3 with reworked Crypto, Akimbo Wingman and Strongholds

Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts have confirmed the details of Apex Legends: Cipher, the free-to-play battle royale’s 31st season. The season launches on November 3, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC (EA App, Epic Games Store and Steam). Full patch notes arrive on November 2.

The centerpiece of Apex Legends: Cipher is the Crypto rework, dubbed “Crypto Rewired.” According to Respawn, the goal is to move the character away from “drone camping” and turn him into an aggressive intel gatherer who stays with his squad. In the season’s story, the change comes from a firmware upgrade by Crypto’s sister, Mila.

What changes for Crypto

  • Battery-powered drone: the Surveillance Drone now runs on a 25-second battery and recalls itself when it runs out, replacing the old cooldown system. It can be picked up and redeployed, and the time to recover it after destruction has been reduced.
  • Sentry Mode: the drone automatically marks enemies, creating an icon visible through walls for 8 seconds. The mark persists even if the drone is destroyed or recalled. Scanning now covers a 360-degree radius.
  • One-button EMP: the Ultimate can be fired with a single button press, even with the drone stowed. Damage and slow vary with line of sight: without direct sight, the EMP deals 50 shield damage and a slight slow; with line of sight, it deals full shield damage and a stronger slow.
  • New upgrades: the move-speed boost toward teammates (Ally.MoveTo()) joins the base kit. New upgrades include a 12-second mark and Charged Up, which adds 10 seconds to the drone battery.

Strongholds: the new mid-match objective

In Apex Legends: Cipher, Strongholds are a new type of air drop, described by Respawn as the evolution of Care Packages. One Stronghold drops per match, in addition to regular Care Packages. Once it lands, it stays locked: the squad must capture and hold the area around it to open the prize, while enemies can contest the capture. Inside are Care Package weaponry, Gold Guns and other rare loot, plus EVO for the whole squad. Opening one takes time and sets off an alarm nearby squads can hear — and the structure spawns with dynamic cover and Hardlight to defend the spot.

Akimbo Wingman and other highlights

  • Akimbo Wingman: the classic revolver gains a dual-wield option, the first new akimbo weapon since Season 22. Each trigger pull fires both revolvers in sequence, in a burst (“pop-pop”), trading some accuracy for bigger damage.
  • Lifeline: heals with D.O.C. while gliding, Tactical cooldown integrated into the base kit, and new upgrades that bring back the revive shield and cut the Ultimate cooldown by 60 seconds.
  • Revenant: Tactical 5 seconds faster, Ultimate cooldown reduced by 30 seconds with the 35-second cap removed — each knock adds 5 seconds. New upgrades extend the Ultimate, silence enemies on landing from the leap, and refresh the Tactical when marking a low-health enemy.
  • Ranked: Diamond and above lobbies gain Legend bans: each player votes for one Legend, and the more votes it receives, the higher the chance it is banned in the match.
  • Weapons: the Prowler and Nemesis get nerfs to curb usage and win rates. The Hemlok Burst AR returns, while the Elite Hemlok will be vaulted. District returns to nighttime.
  • Cosmetics: the Mythic Volt SMG “Cryptic Core,” with a look reprogrammable via Exotic Shards, and seasonal skins for Crypto, Wraith, Gibraltar, Revenant and Horizon in the season packs.

There is no new Legend in Apex Legends: Cipher: Respawn already previewed that the next major map update, Kings Canyon Evolved, arrives in Season 32 in early 2027. The sources consulted do not detail a battle pass with tiers or pricing for Cipher — watch for a separate Respawn announcement before launch.

Image credit: official image released by Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment in the Cipher season designer’s notes, showing Crypto holding two Wingman revolvers.

Related coverage on Geekiki: Apex Legends Street Fighter 6: Hadouken event arrives September 22.

Sources

Transparency: this article was produced with the help of artificial intelligence, cross-checked against public posts and internet sources, and verified against the original sources listed below. For full details, consult the original sources.

Muse