Apex Legends has one of the most diverse rosters of any hero shooter out there, with Legends that cover all types of play-styles. If players prefer a more supportive role, then Lifeline and Loba are great options. If a player leans more towards an offensive play-style, then there's a plethora of diverse and unique Legends to choose from; ranging from Bangalore's more strategic abilities, to Revenant's rush and go tactics. Every type of player is catered for in Apex Legends, but not all of its heroes are made equal.
Since his first introduction all the way back in Season 3, Crypto has been widely viewed as one of the most redundant characters in the game. With extremely lackluster abilities that hardly assist teammates, and certainly don't help Crypto himself, this Legend is rarely seen in a match. For the last two years now, fans have been desperate for a buff to Crypto's abilities, or something that would finally make him a worthwhile character. Well, Season 12 brings with it some new character updates, and Crypto is finally receiving his buff, but it's a little too late.
The Changes Being Made To Crypto In Season 12
One of Crypto's most glaring issues is his main drone abilities. Before Season 12, Crypto players would be forced to manually take control of their drone after sending it out, leaving them entirely defenseless, and unable to push an attack themselves, only being able to provide an aerial view of the battlefield for their teammates.
Season 12's update does seek to rectify this inherent issue with Crypto. As of Season 12, Crypto will be able to throw his drone up, and allow it to travel in a straight line automatically. This removes the need to manually pilot the drone, and allows the drone to mark enemies automatically, giving Crypto players the ability to assist their teammates in a push.
Additionally, Crypto can also throw his drone against a wall, attaching it to the surface and allowing it to act as a form of surveillance camera. This could be used pretty effectively by players who prefer to set up camp inside a building with multiple entrances or angles, as the stationary drone camera can be used to detect incoming threats.
Despite these changes and additions, Crypto can still use his drone in its original function, being able to pilot it around the field manually. This Crypto buff is definitely a step forward, giving the character that had practically no worth some additional abilities that drastically increases their helpfulness on the battlefield. However, while these changes are a good start, they're still not enough to make Crypto a viable Legend.
Why These Changes Still Aren't Enough
While Crypto's new abilities may seem like a great change, they're actually quite shallow. Crypto's new drone ability, where he sends it off automatically in a straight line, doesn't really give the player that much of an advantage. The speed that the drone moves at, and the short distance it can travel before stopping, leads this ability to be fairly weak.
When compared to Bloodhound's Scan ability, Crypto's automatic drone seems pretty pointless. While Bloodhound's Scan reveals enemies in a wide arc in an instant, Crypto's drone only spots enemies directly in its path, and does so at an incredibly slow rate. Similarly, with the general fast pace of any given Apex Legends match, it seems unlikely that a player will want to spend their time surveilling their surroundings using a static camera that's been thrown on the wall.
These changes are certainly beneficial for Crypto players, but they only serve to highlight his redundancy even more. The simple fact is that there are 19 other Legends to choose from that are all more useful, and enjoyable to play as. Crypto just can't offer the same functionality as his rivals.
Apex Legends is available for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.