Apex Legends Season 31 has a name, a date and a very clear theme. Respawn's Cipher season starts on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and the October 30 Designer's Notes lay out the meta plan behind it: a full refresh of Crypto, the first new akimbo weapon since the system arrived in Season 22, a brand new air drop called the Stronghold, and a round of Legend and weapon tuning that touches Lifeline, Revenant, Loba, the Prowler and the Nemesis.
The full patch notes are not out yet. Respawn says those drop on Monday, November 2, the day before launch. What we have right now is the official season announcement from October 29 and the Designer's Notes from October 30, which explain what is changing and why. That is plenty to start planning your main, your ranked pocket picks and your loadouts. Everything below is pulled from those two Respawn posts and the official Cipher season page. Where Respawn has not given a number yet, I say so instead of guessing.
When Does Apex Legends Season 31 Start?
Season 31: Cipher launches on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Respawn's Designer's Notes close by pointing players to "the full Patch Notes dropping on November 2nd, 2026 ahead of season launch on November 3rd, 2026."
Respawn has not posted a launch hour in these articles, so keep an eye on the official Apex Legends social accounts on the morning of the 3rd. Your Season 30 battle pass and ranked split wrap when the new season goes live, so if you still have levels to push or a rank to lock in, this weekend and Monday are your last real windows.
Cipher ships on every platform Apex is on today: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC through the EA app, Steam and Epic.
The Big Picture: What Respawn Is Trying to Do
The Designer's Notes open with a fairly confident read on the game's health. Respawn says it is "in a strong place for balance" coming off Season 30: Marked, that no Legend is "far and away higher than others in pick rate," and that the single most picked team comp is back under 1% of all ranked comps after the Axle nerfs.
So Cipher is not a panic patch. It is a season built around three ideas:
- Give the mid game a reliable loot moment after last season's loot rework, through Strongholds.
- Freshen up a low pick rate Legend whose play pattern frustrated teammates, which is Crypto.
- Nudge a few outliers in both directions, buffing Lifeline and Revenant while trimming Loba and two popular weapons.
Crypto Rework: From Drone Camper to Aggressive Recon
Crypto is the headline Legend this season, and Respawn is blunt about why. The Designer's Notes say people love having a good Crypto on the team, but when he is "just camping in their drone and aren't in the fight when they need them, it causes a lot of frustration." He has also had a very low pick rate for multiple seasons.
The official season post frames it in lore terms: a firmware upgrade from his sister Mila shifts Crypto from passive intel to aggressive intel gathering. In practice it is a kit that wants you out of the drone fast and back with your squad.
Passive
The popular Ally.MoveTo() upgrade, which gave Crypto extra speed when running toward teammates, is now part of his base kit. Respawn's reasoning is simple: even though he should spend less time in the drone, he still needs a quick way to rejoin the team after a scout.
Tactical: the battery drone
This is the core change. Crypto's drone now has a 25 second battery. When the battery runs out, the drone recalls automatically. Respawn says the recall time is a bit longer so there is some downtime before you redeploy.
Other drone changes from the notes:
- The drone comes back faster after it is destroyed.
- Getting into the drone is quicker.
- The scan zone is now a 360 degree radius instead of only where the drone is looking.
- The drone no longer scans doors and loot bins, to cut down on visual clutter.
- Base drone handling is more responsive, and in exchange the drone is more visible to enemies.
Ultimate: the one button EMP
The EMP mostly works the same, with two meaningful changes. First, there are now three ways to fire it:
- Drone stowed, Ultimate ready: press Ultimate once to deploy the drone and fire the EMP in one go.
- Drone already out: press Ultimate to trigger the EMP on that drone.
- Piloting the drone: press Ultimate on PC, or the weapon swap button on console.
Upgrades
Since Ally.MoveTo() moved into the base kit, its slot is now an upgrade that extends enemy marks to 12 seconds. Hackathon, which sped up drone recharge, is gone because the base timing got faster. It is replaced by Charged Up, which adds 10 seconds to the drone battery.
How Crypto should play in Cipher
The new loop looks like this: park the drone at an angle the enemy has to cross, let Sentry Mode tag them, then fight with your squad while the marks are up. Eight seconds of wallhack style marks is a big window for a third party push or a ring rotation read. If you take the 12 second upgrade, those marks become a real team cooldown.
The line of sight rule on the EMP is the skill check. A blind EMP through a wall is now a softer poke. A drone sitting where it can see the whole stack is a fight starter. If you used to play Crypto as a remote scanner who never fired his gun, the 25 second battery is going to feel tight. If you always wished he played more like a recon Legend who actually fights, this is the version for you.
Akimbo Wingman: The First Burst Akimbo Gun
The second headline is the Akimbo Wingman. Respawn notes this is the first new akimbo weapon since the akimbo system was added in Season 22, and that Wingman beat out other candidates (with a joke that Akimbo Spitfires "were tempting for a moment there").
The design goal was to keep the Wingman's high skill, mid range poke identity while making it less intimidating so more players actually pick it up. The answer is a new firing style. Akimbo Wingman is the first burst akimbo gun in Apex: one trigger pull fires both revolvers one after the other, a "pop-pop... pop-pop" rhythm in Respawn's words.
What this likely means for you in practice:
- Your timing matters more than spraying. Each pull is a two shot package, so treat it like a burst rifle when you pace your shots.
- It should still reward headshots and mid range peeks, since Respawn specifically kept that identity.
- Exact damage, magazine size and attachment rules are not in the Designer's Notes. Wait for the November 2 patch notes before you lock in a loadout plan.
Strongholds: A Bigger, Louder Care Package
Strongholds are a new type of air drop. One Stronghold drops each match, in addition to the normal Care Packages.
Here is how Respawn describes the flow:
- The Stronghold falls into the map much like a Care Package.
- When it lands it is locked and inaccessible.
- To open it, your team has to capture and hold the area around it.
- Enemies can contest the capture and try to steal the loot.
- When it lands it deploys dynamic cover around itself. The season post adds that Strongholds spawn with cover and Hardlight to help defenders.
- Opening it takes time and trips an alarm that tells everyone nearby where you are.
Respawn's pitch is that the Care Package moment is iconic, so it asked "What if we just double down on that moment?" It also says Strongholds are meant to restore a reliable mid game loot spike that some players missed after the Season 30 loot rework, but in a way that is "healthier and more sustainable for the game."
Should you take the Stronghold?
The official site sums up the choice nicely: plan your heist and take the loot, or hang back and let another squad ring the dinner bell. A few practical thoughts:
- Ring position decides a lot. Respawn says terrain and ring position at drop time shape how each Stronghold plays. One deep in the next zone is a much better hold than one you have to abandon.
- Bring a team that can hold space. Capture and hold rewards Legends who can fortify or deny an area.
- Third parties are the real threat. The alarm is a broadcast. If you are not ready to fight twice, consider waiting for someone else to open it and then collapsing on them.
- Crypto fits this perfectly. A Sentry drone watching the approach to a Stronghold is exactly the kind of play the rework is pushing.
Lifeline Buffs
Respawn says Lifeline's pick rate drops off significantly the higher you go in ranked. The Cipher buffs bring back pieces of older kits and add quality of life.
- Passive: Lifeline now gets her Tactical healing while gliding. The logic is that she is holding D.O.C. to glide anyway.
- Tactical: the Tactical Cooldown upgrade (10 seconds off her Tactical) is now part of her base kit, so healing comes up faster for you and your team.
- Improved Gliding gets better handling plus a longer duration.
- BattPack (+1 battery slots) is removed and replaced by Enhanced Radio (increased assign distance), which moves down from Level 3.
- New Level 3 options: Revive Shield, which brings back her old shield that protects the teammate she is reviving, and Ultimate Cooldown, which cuts 60 seconds off her Ultimate.
Revenant Buffs
Revenant's popularity fell as Axle and Pathfinder rose, and Respawn says one of his biggest problems was that his upgrades "weren't very interesting and weren't offering a meaningful choice." Most of this buff is new upgrades.
- Tactical: cooldown down by 5 seconds, with faster attack and charge time. These used to be the Tactical Cooldown and Agile Assassin upgrades and are now baked in.
- Ultimate: cooldown down by 30 seconds. The cap that stopped the Ultimate timer going above 35 seconds is gone, so knocks always add 5 seconds while it is active.
- Every Lasting: replaces the Ultimate cooldown upgrade. Each knock while the Ultimate is active extends it by 10 seconds.
- Silence: replaces the Tactical Cooldown upgrade. Landing from Revenant's Tactical leap triggers an area pulse that silences enemies hit for 4 seconds.
- No Escape: replaces Agile Assassin. Your Tactical refreshes when your passive, Assassin's Instinct, marks a low health enemy.
Loba and Axle Nerfs
Loba's recent buffs made her a very popular pick, so Respawn is slowing her ability cadence:
- Tactical cooldown: 25 seconds to 30 seconds.
- Ultimate cooldown: 120 seconds to 150 seconds, which adds back the 30 seconds removed in her buff.
Weapon Changes: Prowler and Nemesis Nerfs, Hemlok Swap
Respawn says the weapon meta moved a lot in Season 30: the Prowler rose, the R-99 fell and the Nemesis slowly climbed. Both the Prowler and the Nemesis have been climbing in usage and win rate all season, so both get nerfs to bring them in line. Exact numbers are not in the Designer's Notes and should land with the November 2 patch notes.
The bigger loadout change is the Hemlok. The Elite Hemlok (the Hemlok Breach AR) is being vaulted after staying popular since its 28.1 release, and the Hemlok Burst AR is back. Respawn openly expects this season to "shake up the weapon landscape," with Akimbo Wingman added and two meta weapons cooled off.
If your current kit is Prowler plus Nemesis, expect to feel the difference. It is a good week to practice with the classic burst Hemlok again before ranked resets your patience.
Ranked: Legend Bans in Diamond and Above
Cipher adds Legend Bans in Diamond lobbies and above. Each player gets one vote to ban a Legend. The more votes a Legend gets, the greater the chance that Legend is banned for that match. Respawn's advice: have a Plan B, maybe a Plan C.
This matters a lot for one trick players in high ranked. If your main is a popular pick, expect to lose them in some matches and have a second and third Legend you are comfortable on. Respawn also says a Major Ranked Update is coming in Season 32, with a "brand new look and feel" for ranked, and more details later.
Cryptic Core Mythic and Cosmetics
The season's new Mythic is the Cryptic Core, a Volt SMG skin themed around Crypto. Respawn describes a hive mind of nanites in Crypto's colors with a built in PALS assistant drawn in low resolution pixel art. You can retheme it with Exotic Shards, and each retheme swaps in a new retro game cartridge style and color scheme.
Cryptic Core is a possible drop from Cipher Seasonal Packs, available all season and not offered in every region. Those packs also include new seasonal skins for Crypto, Wraith, Gibraltar, Revenant and Horizon. The Cipher Premium Battle Pass Split 1 follows a nanite tech theme.
Road Ahead: Kings Canyon Evolved in Season 32
Respawn used the season launch to check in on its 2026 to 2027 roadmap. The Major Map Update planned for Season 32 is Kings Canyon Evolved, described as a completely reworked map with new, remixed and touched up POIs, arriving in early 2027. Together with the Season 32 ranked update, that makes Cipher the last season before a fairly big shake up.
Prep Checklist Before November 3
- Finish any Season 30 battle pass levels and ranked goals you care about.
- Pick a backup and a third Legend if you play Diamond or higher, because Legend Bans are coming.
- If you want to try new Crypto, warm up on movement and team fighting, not long drone sessions.
- Read the full patch notes on November 2 for Prowler, Nemesis, Akimbo Wingman and Hemlok numbers.
- Plan a Stronghold call with your squad: who holds, who watches rotations, who grabs the loot.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Apex Legends Season 31 start?
Apex Legends Season 31: Cipher starts on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Respawn says the full patch notes will be published the day before, on Monday, November 2, 2026. Respawn has not listed an exact launch hour in its Cipher posts, so check the official Apex Legends social channels on launch morning.
What is the Crypto rework in Season 31?
Crypto's drone now runs on a 25 second battery and recalls automatically when it is empty, comes back faster after being destroyed, scans in a 360 degree radius and can mark enemies for 8 seconds through walls. His EMP can be fired with a single press, and it only deals full shield damage and the bigger slow when the drone has line of sight. The Ally.MoveTo() speed boost toward teammates is now part of his base kit.
What is the Akimbo Wingman?
The Akimbo Wingman is a new dual wield version of the Wingman revolver and the first new akimbo weapon since Season 22. It is a burst weapon: each trigger pull fires both revolvers one after the other. Respawn designed it to keep the Wingman's mid range poke feel while being easier to pick up. Detailed stats should arrive with the November 2 patch notes.
What are Strongholds in Apex Legends?
Strongholds are a new air drop that falls once per match alongside regular Care Packages. They land locked, deploy cover around themselves, and your squad has to capture and hold the area to open them. Opening one triggers an alarm, so nearby teams know where you are. Inside you can find Care Package weapons, Gold Guns, corrupted attachments, EVO for the squad and other rare loot.
Is the Hemlok leaving Apex Legends?
The Elite Hemlok, also called the Hemlok Breach AR, is being vaulted in Season 31. The classic Hemlok Burst AR returns in its place. Respawn said the Breach AR stayed very popular since its 28.1 release, but it was time to rotate it out alongside the arrival of Akimbo Wingman.
What are Legend Bans in ranked?
In Diamond lobbies and above, every player votes to ban one Legend before the match. The more votes a Legend gets, the higher the chance they are banned for that match. It means high ranked players should be comfortable on more than one Legend in Season 31.
Which Legends got nerfed in Season 31?
Loba is the main Legend nerf in Cipher. Her Tactical cooldown goes from 25 to 30 seconds and her Ultimate cooldown goes from 120 to 150 seconds. The Designer's Notes also recap the Axle nerfs from the October 1 hotfix, which are already in the game. On the weapon side, the Prowler and Nemesis are getting nerfed.
What is coming in Apex Legends Season 32?
Respawn confirmed that the Season 32 Major Map Update is Kings Canyon Evolved, a completely reworked version of the map with new, remixed and refreshed POIs, due in early 2027. A Major Ranked Update is also planned for Season 32, with more details promised later.
