Players of Apex Legends interested in a more straightforward approach to the battle royale may appreciate the capabilities of Bangalore. Unlike other Legends, Bangalore is capable of controlling combat situations courtesy of her toolkit, possessing the ability to create smokescreens and call forth tactical ordinances to turn the tide of battle to her favor.
With Apex Legends overhauling major components of its gameplay in February 2023’s Season 16: Revelry, newcomers, vets, and returnees to the game might be curious as to what Bangalore can offer players. These changes are more important than ever for a straightforward combatant like Bangalore, especially since her toolkit is less about complicated mechanics and more about giving players an extremely offensive playstyle. Now classified as an Assault Legend, Bangalore players can be more tactically-inclined to become as aggressive as they need to secure victory. Rewritten by Rhenn Taguiam.
Bangalore: Military Specialist
Before Bangalore entered into the Apex Games, she first served in the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation’s Military division, as with the rest of her siblings. When the IMC was attacked by members of the Frontier Militia, Bangalore - then Anita Williams - and her brother Jackson were the only survivors, courtesy of the ship IMS Hestia.
However, it’s during their voyage in yet another Hestia ship, the IMS Hestia 2, that the siblings were unfortunately split apart. With no idea about the fate of her sibling, Anita entered the Apex Games and used her military training to dominate the competition. And when she finally reunited with her brother, who also entered the Games as the Legend Newcastle, Bangalore had to come to terms with her dream of earning enough in the Games to get back home or to accompany her brother in his new life.
Why Use Bangalore: Familiarity In Offense
Versus other characters in Apex Legends, Bangalore brings a familiarity to the hero battle royale - especially for FPS enthusiasts. Her kit that gives her immediate access to a smokescreen and a tactical ordinance can give players Call of Duty Killstreak flashbacks, making Bangalore an ideal Apex Legends solo character for players who want gameplay similar to traditional FPS.
- Works with all skill levels: As one of the first Legends immediately unlocked in the game, Bangalore has an accessible kit built to accommodate almost all skill levels. Newcomers to the game can use her skills to be more familiar with the battle royale’s combat mechanics, while vets can use Bangalore for a dependable toolkit.
- Go for offense: Players who want to have a more aggressive combat style in their Apex Legends matches can depend on Bangalore for offensive-leaning plays. Her smokescreen and her speed buff passive makes her an ideal unit for extremely quick firefights.
- Works with any team configuration: Unlike other Legends who usually need to mesh with other teammates to maximize their capabilities, Bangalore’s all-in-one toolkit allows her to work on her own or as the primary aggressor of any team.
The Basics Of Bangalore: Straightforward Offense
Unlike most Legends in Apex Legends, Bangalore’s toolkit is perhaps the most straightforward for players. Instead of juggling complicated Skills, players can simply smoke their way inside and outside of combat or even end conflicts with a massive tactical ordnance - giving her a kit extremely compatible with powerful weapons such as an Apex Legends Assault Rifle. For a quick overview, here’s what to expect in Bangalore’s kit:
- Double Time (Passive): When Bangalore takes fire, she gets a buff that boosts her sprinting speed, allowing her to get into and out of combat situations much faster than others.
- Smoke Launcher (Tactical): Bangalore whips out a Smoke Launcher that launches a Smoke Canister that explodes into a smoke wall. Players can use this to conceal themselves or force enemies to navigate throughout a cloud of smoke.
- Rolling Thunder (Ultimate): When prompted, Bangalore throws a flare that calls forth an artillery strike to her immediate position. Various small missiles land in front of her that slowly detonate.
Passive: Double Time
Similar to a military personnel who can adjust to any combat situation, Bangalore’s Double Time (Passive) gives her a speed boost whenever she’s hit. This transforms her into a speed devil, practically encouraging her to either get into combat or escape - useful with Apex Legends SMGs and close-ranged weapons.
- Properties: Double Time gives Bangalore a 30-percent speed boost two (2) seconds after activation.
- Stackable speed boost: One of the best properties of Double Time is how it stacks, meaning Bangalore can keep herself in danger in order to continuously get her speed boosts. Not only that, the ability also triggers even when enemies miss Bangalore. Players who can dodge hits can capitalize on the near-hit trigger of this ability.
- Transform into an alarm: Bangalore’s Double Time is reactive, meaning it responds to enemy engagements and not the player’s. This in turn implies that players can detect whenever an enemy tries to engage with them, giving them the opportunity to either run or face danger.
Tactical: Smoke Launcher
One of the best abilities in the game, Smoke Launcher (Tactical) gives Bangalore the opportunity to equip her Smoke Launcher and fire a canister that releases smoke. This blankets the immediate area with a smokescreen she can use to her advantage. She can even go guns blazing with Apex Legends LMGs and enemies inside wouldn’t immediately notice.
- Properties: This ability has two (2) charges, with both being recoverable after 33 seconds. The smokescreen takes 23 seconds to evaporate. Hitting an enemy with this ability deals 10 Damage. This also disables aim assist for controllers.
- Multiple uses increase versatility: The smokescreen from the Smoke Launcher interacts with the game in numerous ways. For instance, Bangalore can equip the Smoke Launcher on one hand and use the other hand for actions such as firing and reloading. Depending on where it’s fired, the smokescreen can hide Bangalore and her allies or distract enemies by clouding them.
- Note item interactions: The smokescreen interacts with various abilities differently, which can be useful or detrimental to Bangalore. For instance, threat highlighters render the smoke useless, and Interception Pylons (Wattson) can shoot them down. Likewise, throwing explosives and even activating Nox Gas Grenades (Caustic) can make the smokescreen more distracting.
Ultimate: Rolling Thunder
One of the most devastating abilities Bangalore can offer the battle royale game has to be Rolling Thunder (Ultimate). With this Ultimate, Bangalore calls forth a tactical missile strike to her general direction, slowly detonating after reaching the ground. This can deal massive damage and wipe out entire parties who aren’t careful, allowing Bangalore with even the most mundane of Apex Legends Pistols to become a threat.
- Properties: After Bangalore throws a flare, various missiles land on the ground in a 6x6 square in front of her. Missiles reach a maximum distance of 70-meters and activate after six (6) seconds. When activated, each missile deals 40 Damage and slows down opponents. Allies aren’t damaged but are instead slowed down.
- Timing is key for maximum damage: The most ideal time of throwing Rolling Thunder is during ambushes, engagements, or even as cover to escape. It’s always wise to throw Rolling Thunder between the player and their enemies. Offensively, Rolling Thunder is best activated after downing an enemy, as this forces the enemy to either flee or risk a 3v2 in the middle of a bloodbath.
- Pair with other grenades: Despite the damage Rolling Thunder offers, it’s not extremely effective due to its lag time. The six-second activation gives enemies room to hide. In turn, it’s ideal for players to throw in some explosives to finish off enemies hiding behind cover.
Bangalore Gameplay: Hyper-Aggressive Play
Considering the nature of Bangalore’s toolkit, players who use her shouldn’t hesitate engaging on pure offense. When utilized properly, her skillset allows Bangalore to not only enter and exit combat quickly, but also allow her to persistently mow down one enemy squad after another with her abilities. At its core, players can maximize Bangalore’s kit when doing hyper-aggressive play with Apex Legends teammates in these manners:
- Perfect with scanners: Bangalore is best paired with Legends such as Bloodhound and Crypto for their scanning prowess. Whenever they spot an enemy nearby, Bangalore can prepare her toolkit for a smooth ambush to catch enemies off-guard and eliminate them with ruthless efficiency.
- Speed is key with Double Time: When Bangalore is hit or almost hit, she triggers Double Time, essentially allowing her to sprint much faster. With speed being an integral component in the game, Double Time gives Bangalore the necessary room to recuperate and prepare for a counter-attack. When attacked, make sure that Double Time is triggered and players head to the closest cover. Triggering Double Time a second time allows them to either head straight to the enemy or straight for the exit.
- Dictate the flow of combat with the Smoke Launcher: When Bangalore uses her Smoke Launcher (Tactical), she can practically dictate the flow of combat. For instance, Bangalore can either launch a smokescreen to hide her exit, or release it to the enemy’s direction to block their field of vision and zoom in for the ambush.
- Deny access to exits with Rolling Thunder: The slow explosion of Rolling Thunder (Ultimate) isn’t just a nerf, but rather an area denial option. When thrown to the direction the enemy team is facing, Rolling Thunder traps enemies and forces them to choose - turn back and face Bangalore, or gamble their exit with AOE explosions.
Assault Class: Weapon Mastery
Compared to the other Legends, Bangalore has the toolkit capable of utilizing weapons in Apex Legends gameplay to their most optimal potential. Aside from Bangalore’s Skills giving her a balance of offensive and defensive options, her classification as a member of the Assault Class ensures her weapons are in tip-top shape. Here are things to expect with Bangalore as she enters Season 16: Revelry in 2023:
- Weapon Supply Bins - Secret Compartment: Bangalore is capable of accessing the Smart Compartments of Weapon Supply Bins, allowing her to obtain the four (4) Smart Loot attachments of at least the Rare Tier. One (1) of these loots will always be an optic. If there’s no one in the team with a weapon, opening the compartment instead gives a weapon with two (2) attachments.
- Ammo Changes Per Stack: Bangalore can carry one more stack of Light, Heavy, and Energy Ammo, and reduced extra stacks for Shotgun and Sniper Ammo.
Loadout Recommendations
Given how Bangalore’s toolkit focuses on extreme aggression, it can greatly help players using her to have weapons that deal as much damage as possible. Weapons to accompany Bangalore should always take into account how her smokescreen and missile barrage can be an entry-point into all ranges of combat, making it important to have Apex Legends armaments that accommodate any situations:
- R-301 Carbine (Assault Rifle): The quintessential AR of the game is a practical choice for Bangalore mains, especially considering how its decent handling and firing rate make it practical for almost any ranged setup. This is useful for Bangalore who wants to transition between attacking enemies from afar and then confusing them with a smokescreen before going into melee.
- Devotion (LMG): While the Spitfire is the more popular LMG option in the game, the Devotion and its Energy Ammo usage helps Bangalore have a smoother time in combat due to the lack of strong recoil. This allows Bangalore to get the jump on enemies in long-range while still becoming extremely deadly with the Devotion’s continuous fire (with the Turbocharger) in close range.
- Mastiff (Shotgun): Contrary to other Shotguns, the Mastiff Shotgun releases pellets in a horizontal fashion, making it deadly against enemies who like to stay together. This transforms Bangalore’s smokescreens into a nightmare, especially since a shot from this weapon can catch hit an enemy’s center mass and potentially graze the opponent’s other teammates within proximity.
Apex Legends is currently playable in the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch.