Season 9 of Apex Legends will be introducing some big changes to the weapon sandbox by adding in two new Hop-Ups and taking away Skullpiercer Rifling. Both new Hop-Ups in Apex Legends focus on improving certain the 30-30 Repeater, the Sentinel, and the new Bocek Compound Bow.
These changes will come with Season 9 and the massive Legacy update for Apex Legends which will also add the new Arenas mode on May 4. Like the Bocek Bow, the Repeater and Sentinel were also added to the weapon sandbox in previous seasons, although both have proven to be difficult to due to their strict roles and the need for accuracy.
The new Apex Legends Legacy gameplay trailer shows off the two new Hop-Ups for the Bocek Bow – Shatter Caps and Deadeye’s Tempo – and how they work. Shatter Caps turns each arrow into a short-range shotgun spread pattern, making the bow far more useful at close range. Meanwhile Deadeye’s Tempo increases the Bow’s draw speed when fired at the optimal rate. Both Hop-Ups can be used simultaneously on the Bow as well, making a fully-kitted version very deadly in the right hands.
An article from Dexerto goes into further detail and explains that Shatter Cap arrows split into six lower-damage projectiles that can be very deadly in close quarters. Shatter Caps is also compatible with Season 8’s 30-30 Repeater rifle too. Additionally, Deadeye’s Tempo also works on the Sentinel sniper rifle, which helps to increase its rate of fire. Dexerto also confirmed on Twitter that the Skullpiercer Rifling Hop-Up for the Longbow and Wingman would be going away.
While there is no clear information yet, presumably, Shatter Caps can be toggled on or off make the Repeater and Bocek Bow more versatile, much in the same way the Triple Take’s intrinsic Precision Choke Hop-Up works. Meanwhile Deadeye’s Tempo appears to be a passive improvement for the Sentinel and Bow much like Hammerpoint Rounds for the Mozambique which will get a small buff next season.
With the heavy ammo Prowler SMG still in care packages, there is a noticeable lack of true close-range weapons available, so the Repeater with Shatter Caps should help to fill this gap somewhat. The removal of Skullpiercer also evens the playing field for these medium and long-range weapons as the Longbow and Wingman no longer stand out as lethal headshot weapons. The Sentinel will also make for a much more appealing long-range choice once the Triple Take heads into care packages.
While the Bocek Bow appears to be powerful and is certainly a unique weapon, its utility compared to other weapons in the Apex Legends armory seems a bit limited. With its ideal range apparently being medium range, the bow seems to occupy a very similar role to the 30-30 Repeater. Moreover, the fact that the bow requires its own ammo type means it is even more specialized and cannot be easily swapped for a different weapon using the same ammo type.
Apex Legends is available now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: Dexerto