As we hit the halfway mark of Season 23 in Apex Legends, Respawn Entertainment has dropped some juicy details about their mid-season update, set to go live on January 7. The update promises to shake things up with some notable buffs for characters like Mirage, Alter, and Loba, and a slew of other tweaks that fans are eagerly awaiting.
This season has already seen its fair share of limited-time events, and now Respawn is gearing up for the Astral Anomaly event. This event will reintroduce the launch royale LTM, giving players a nostalgic trip back to the game’s early days. But there’s a twist—this time you’ll experience it on a variety of maps including World’s Edge and Olympus, among others, along with the fan-favorite Kings Canyon. On top of that, the event brings fresh cosmetics and substantial balance changes across the board.
Ahead of Astral Anomaly, Respawn has unveiled an extensive list of patch notes. There are sweeping changes that promise to alter gameplay significantly. Mirage, for example, gets a handy enhancement to his Passive ability, allowing him to heal while cloaked. Additionally, his upgraded skills now help scan enemies who shoot his decoys and let him interact with various game features across all classes.
Loba players will notice she starts matches almost ready to unleash her Ultimate, letting her team raid her Black Market without delay. They’ve also tweaked her kit, enhancing her escape capabilities and adjusting some of her abilities for better strategic movement. Alter, meanwhile, finds her Ultimate and level 3 upgrades beefed up, enabling multiple Void Nexuses. Unsurprisingly, not all changes are buffs—some characters like Pathfinder will see a slight bump in cooldowns and nerfs to certain abilities.
Weapon-wise, fans can expect a stronger Peacekeeper and a lighter hitting Mastiff. The Charge Rifle gets a bit of an overhaul with increased magazine size and enhanced options like the Select Fire attachment, making it more versatile. The RE-45 also receives a bit more firepower to make it a viable choice in diverse combat scenarios. Gold weapons circulating this update include the Charge Rifle, Prowler PDW, and several others.
These changes are meant to enhance strategic play—features like granting the whole team EVO upon opening a Care Package, alongside new attachments that boost EVO and ultimate charge, could pivot your gameplay approach. It remains to be seen how these new dynamics will play out in the volatile landscape of Apex Legends as the season continues.
Respawn’s patch notes also detail additional updates and fixes across Legends, weapons, and even matchmaking systems to ensure smoother matches and fairer tier placements. With these tweaks, the mid-season update positions Apex Legends for an exciting finish to Season 23.
As always, player feedback is key, so hop into the game and explore how these myriad changes impact your playstyle. It’s a thrilling time for Apex Legends, with opportunities to flex new strategies and showcase some cool new cosmetics as you strive for that number one spot.
