Although it remains to be seen how they impact other maps, several of the announced weapon balance changes forApex Legendsseason 11 seem geared withnew map Storm Pointin mind. That doesn’t mean these changes aren’t beneficial to Kings Canyon, World’s Edge, or Olympus, but that they may very well be most felt on Storm Point.
Storm Point is the largestApex Legendsmap to date, with a strong emphasis on verticality, stronger rotations, and more loot. Because of this, whereas other maps often see more short-to-mid-range firefights, Storm Point is the perfect host of long-range firefights with tall buildings and a very obvious canopy of woods for protection down below. Even the water areas seem designed with this in mind, and that’s whyApex Legendsseason 11 is redefining shotguns and snipers.
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Apex Legends Season 11 Shotgun Nerfs and Buffs
Without a doubt, many have felt the sting of a strong EVA-8 user when they are using a purple shotgun bolt. The damage and control of short-term battlefields with the EVA is strong, and so developer Respawn Entertainment decided it needed a nerf. In fact, it’s nerfed to pre-season 8 levels inApex Legendsby slowing its fire rate slightly and buffing the other shotguns in one way or another.
This choice comes in conjunction with the Peacekeeper andMastiff shotgun inApex Legendsas well. The Mastiff is getting a new hop-up known as the Dual Shell (which can be used by the 30-30 Repeater as well). Essentially, it means players load two ammo shells at once, cutting its reload time in half. These changes are the most prominent but are made with one goal in mind: providing more reasons one player may take aPeacekeeper over an EVA-8 or a Mastiff over either.
While the changes to the EVA-8 may sound gut-wrenching, it’s to providea stronger meta inApex Legendsamong the shotgunsthemselves. It remains to be seen how well this comes into long-term and competitive play, but it’s a strong attempt to level out the shotguns.
Apex Legends Season 11: Snipers, Marksman Weapons, Oh My!
As aforementioned, Storm Point is the biggest map yet with a strong emphasis on verticality. In other words, it’s a strong set-up for sniper use. Snipers are strong in terms of long-range combat in otherApex Legendsmaps, sure, but it feels as if Storm Point was designed with a versatile style of combat in mind. Short-range, mid-range, and long-range combat are all as viable as the next in Storm Point, and that required a few changes to marksman weapons and sniper rifles.
Beyond how Storm Point leans into strong combat designs itself, the most notable are the Care Package changes and the tweaks with the G7 Scout and Triple-Take. Care Packages now spawn with weapons at a higher rate, 50% in the early game and 100% in the endgame. This means that players will see more Krabers and G7 Scouts—which has been placed in theCare Package, replacing the Triple Take—on each map, if most deadly on Storm Point.
To account for these changes,the Kraberis getting a slight nerf and the Care Package G7 is getting a buff and double-tap back. With a higher rate for these weapons, as well as the various marksmen and sniper rifles available as ground loot inApex Legends, Storm Point may very well redefine short and long-range combat. Other maps will certainly feel the effects of these changes too, but it’s Storm Point that will likely receive the most benefit. Either way, fans should expect an all-new meta when on Storm Point afterApex Legendsseason 11 launches.
Apex Legendsis available on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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