After a lengthy content drought, the next Apex Legends Collection Event is here. Titled Genesis, this new Collection Event will bring a batch of brand-new beautiful skins, a new Heirloom, the return of fan-favourite maps and points-of-interest, and some much-needed balance adjustments.

Cosmetics and limited-time modes are all nice and fun, but it’s the balance adjustments that will impact your gameplay long term. Buffs and nerfs can completely change which legends and weapons are viable for the foreseeable future. Are you ready to find out what changes are coming to your favourite legends and guns? 

All Incoming Legend Buffs

Revenant

• Slightly slimmed-down Revenant’s hitbox (specifically his midsection, arms, and upper legs).
• Stalker climb height significantly increased (Still not unlimited).
• Silence duration decreased from 20 seconds to 15 seconds.
• Reduced the duration of death protection by 5 seconds while using the Death Totem.

It’s about time Revenant gets a much-needed buff. Revenant’s Stalker Passive ability allows him to climb higher. This was a fine ability back when Revenant was released, but it has since been made obsolete with the release of legends like Horizon and Valkyrie.

With the release of the Genesis Collection Event, Revenant’s overall power should climb to new heights - literally. The nightmarish simulacrum has had his climb height significantly increased. Combined with his largely silent movement, Revenant should now be able to sneak attack enemies from many unexpected angles. Look out for Revenant scaling the skyscrapers of Capital City.

But that’s not the only buff Revenant will be getting. Despite his slender appearance, Revenant actually has one of the largest hitboxes in the game. Revenant is taller than both Gibraltar and Caustic. Revenant’s girthy hitbox makes him an easy target in gunfights. The Genesis Collection Event update will slim Revenant down, allowing him to better compete in 1v1 gunfights.

To offset Revenant’s new buffs, the rest of his kit will receive a couple of minor nerfs. Revenant’s Tactical ability will have its silence duration decreased from 20 seconds to 15 seconds and the death protection provided by his Ultimate ability will be reduced by five seconds. Overall though, these changes give Revenant a sizable buff that will hopefully bolster his previously low pick rate.

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Wattson

• Wattson can now place more than one Nessie on the map at a time with her Epic emote.

Sorry Wattson mains, this buff is a bit of a troll job on Respawn’s part. Despite the community’s consistent outcry for a Wattson buff, the developers hold firm that one is unneeded. According to the data, Wattson is in a good spot.

But there’s still hope. Daniel Klein, the game’s lead balance designer, said that the team is exploring ways to buff Wattson’s “fun level” while keeping her true power intact. 

All Incoming Legend Nerfs

Octane

• Launch Pad cooldown increased from 60 seconds to 90 seconds.

Season 8’s Octane buff launched the high-speed daredevil to the forefront of the game’s meta. The remastered Launch Pad made Octane extremely viable and a joy to play. So much so, that Octane took the throne as Apex’s most popular legend.

The developers tried to tone Octane down with a nerf to his Stim Tactical, but that had little to no impact on his pick rate. Now, the balance team plans to hit his Ultimate. Octane players will have to wait a little while longer before deploying Launch Pads.

Lifeline

• Increased hitbox size, mostly in the legs and waist.

To the surprise of many, Lifeline has actually gotten stronger despite the removal of her Res Shield Passive at the beginning of Season 9: Legacy. The buffs Lifeline received to compensate for the loss of her Rez Shield has ended up making her more powerful overall.

Apex’s balance team found that Lifeline excels in gunfights not because of her abilities, but due to her small hitbox. With the removal of the Low Profile Passive, Lifeline is a 1v1 machine. The developers hope this nerf will balance out Lifeline’s slaying power but still allow her to thrive in the medic role.

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Bloodhound

• Eye of the Allfather scan revealed time decreased from 4 seconds to 3 seconds.
• Beast of the Hunt duration decreased from 35 seconds to 30 seconds. Time can still be added by downing enemies.

Bloodhound has been a dominant pick in both casual and competitive play for many seasons now. Through this time, Bloodhound has received no real nerfs. In fact, they have only been made stronger. The Genesis Collection Event update will include a small nerf to Bloodhound’s Tactical and Ultimate abilities.

All Incoming Weapon Buffs

P2020

• Increased Fire Rate from 6.25 -> 7.0 
• Increased Base Ammo from 12 -> 14
• Increased Lvl 1 Mag from 14 -> 16
• Increased Lvl 2 Mag from 16 -> 18
• Increased Lvl 3 and Lvl 4 Mag from 18 -> 21

The P2020 will receive significant buffs across the board. Since Apex’s initial release, the P2020 and the Mozambique have been in a tight race for the title of the worst weapon in the game. With the removal of Hammerpoint rounds, both of these guns were made even worse. 

The P2020 clearly needed some love. These buffs will hopefully make the P2020 a more reliable weapon to get stuck with early in a match.

30-30 Repeater

• Slightly increased projectile speed
• Reduced charge time from 0.5s -> 0.35s

Longbow 

• Damage increased from 55 -> 60

Both the 30-30 Repeater and the Longbow have been in need of desperate attention. These two semi-automatic marksman guns simply can’t compete with weapons of the same class in their current state.  

Why would anyone ever use the Longbow or the 30-30 Repeater when a Bocek Bow, Charge Rifle, G7 Scout, or even the Wingman perform superiorly in the same role? These buffs aim to bring the 30-30 Repeater and Longbow to a level that rivals other long-range weapons of the same class.

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All Incoming Weapon Nerfs

Spitfire

• Increased Hip Fire spread

The Spitfire has continued to overperform ever since it received an arguably unnecessary damage buff back in Season 8. The Spitfire is particularly deadly at close ranges where players can hold down the trigger and spray the LMG’s large magazine to their heart’s content. 

The Genesis Collection Event update will hit the Spitfire where it hurts the most - an increase to the hip fire spread.

There’s some serious hype surrounding the Genesis Collection Event. After all, we’ve been in a content drought for the entirety of the Summer season.

The Genesis Collection Event will bring with it new skins (plus a new Heirloom), the return of OG Kings Canyon and World’s Edge, and some long-overdue balance adjustments. Apex Legends players can dive into the new Collection Event beginning on June 29.