The Apex Legends Solo mode is almost over, but Respawn has hinted that, if it's popular enough, they may keep it around for good! Until now, Apex has only had modes that included teams of three, so playing a solo version really shakes things up. Just about everything plays out differently, from the Ring, to the loot, and to the fights themselves. You'll need to approach Apex Solo much different than you do every other mode, so here are ten tips to get you started on your way:
10 LEGEND SELECTION
First off, keep in mind your choice of Legend affects you and you alone, now. No longer is a Legend that supports the team well going to be necessarily viable; that's not to say any Legend is useless in Solo Mode, because it's perfectly possible to win with any of them, but some of them are a bit more viable than others. Wraith, for example, just isn't going to be as big of a boon in Solo as she is in Squads; after all, there are no teammates to use her Portals. Mirage, however, is a fantastic choice for Solo's; his ability to get enemies looking the wrong way is invaluable when fighting a single person, and being able to turn invisible with his Ultimate makes getting into tight Ring's quite a bit easier.
9 SIXTY DIFFERENT TEAMS
In Solo Mode, there are effectively sixty different teams, as opposed to twenty. Not only does this lower your chance to score a higher placement, but it also means that people are probably going to be scattered around the map much more evenly. Your route to the next Ring is probably going to require a blood sacrifice; just do your best to ensure that sacrifice isn't you.
8 FIGHTS BRING MORE FIGHTS
Which leads well into this point: fight's almost always lead to more fights in Apex, but in Solo Mode, this is even truer. Again, there are three times the amount of individual teams in Solo, which means every fight is going to bring a much more chaotic and confusing scenario running at you.
Instead of a team of three on their way, you may get three individual players all coming from different directions, making it a very difficult situation to maneuver.
7 KNOW WHEN TO CUT YOUR LOSSES
So, make sure to know when to cut your losses. Not every loot-box is worth investigating in Solo Mode, especially if it's a fight that just ended. Sure, occasionally you have time for a quick look. But, the longer you sit there with your head in a menu, the longer an enemy has to get some easy shots on a stationary target. Sometimes, the best move is to kill someone and just move on.
6 AMBUSH WHILE THE ENEMY LOOTS A FRESH KILL
Or, you could always be that person who gets the easy shot on a stationary target. If you hear a nearby fight or happen to have front row seats to one, it's usually worth waiting to see how it plays out before you rush into the fray. Let one enemy finish off the other, and then go in for the kill. The enemy will either be hurt and healing, looting, or both, which makes it the perfect time to get an easy kill.
5 FASTER RINGS
One of the biggest differences between Apex Solo and the normal modes is the Ring. The first Ring is visible while you're choosing where to drop, and each subsequent Ring has less time before it starts moving than they typically do. This keeps you moving almost constantly in Solo Mode, unless you've gotten lucky and the Ring is zeroing in on your location.
If you drop into an area far away from the Ring, keep in mind that you won't have an incredible amount of time to loot before you need to start hoofing it away from the ever-encroaching orange.
4 LAND FAR FROM RING FOR AN EASY START
That being said, if you're looking for a bit of a calmer beginning to the match, landing far from the opening Ring is a pretty solid move. You'll likely have a pretty wide loot-area to yourself, and quite the weapon selection to choose from.
This does mean you'll probably get into a fight with the Ring hot on your heels a little bit later, but at least it will be a fight that you're geared for, as opposed to having to fight with whatever happens to be nearby the moment you land.
3 FIGHTS PLAY OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY
Fights tend to play out extraordinarily differently in Solo Mode. There's no one to watch anybody else's back; if you're stuck needing to heal, you'd better hope that no one is rushing you. Being aggressive pays off very well in Solo's when you do end up having to fight someone. If you've hurt them more than they have you, there is absolutely no reason not to press that engagement. Don't give them time to heal and even the odds.
2 BE VIGILANT
If Solo Mode, you're not going to have three sets of eyes all looking out for enemies; you'll only have your own. If you don't want to be ambushed, keep a sharp eye out for enemies, even ones that aren't very close yet. It's also pretty important to make sure you're listening for any footsteps nearby. People tend to play a bit sneakier in Solo's, and the only sign of someone nearby might be the quietest little sound.
1 YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED TO FIGHT
This isn't exclusive to Solo Mode, but it's still crucially important: just because you see somebody doesn't mean you need to fight them. That's not to say you should play like a coward, but a simple cost/benefit thought process before moving into action can keep you out of dangerous situations that were unnecessary to even engage in anyways. If you're set up in a good spot and someone runs by... sometimes the best move is to just let them go on their way.