What is Apex Legends?
Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale-hero shooter developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. Released on February 4, 2019, the game is set in the Titanfall universe and features squads of players using unique characters called "Legends," each with their own special abilities and playstyles.
Unlike traditional battle royales, Apex Legends emphasizes team-based gameplay with its innovative ping system, character abilities, and respawn mechanics. The game is available on PC (Steam and Origin), PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, with full cross-platform play and cross-progression support.
System Requirements
Before you download, make sure your PC meets the minimum or recommended system requirements for Apex Legends.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | 64-bit Windows 7 | 64-bit Windows 10 / 11 |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-6300 3.8GHz / AMD FX-4350 4.2GHz | Intel Core i5-3570K / Ryzen 5 CPU |
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB (16 GB recommended for smooth play) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 / AMD Radeon HD 7730 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 |
| VRAM | 1 GB | 4 GB+ |
| Storage | ~70 GB available (SSD recommended) | ~100 GB available (SSD strongly recommended) |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 or 12 |
| Network | Broadband internet connection | Stable broadband (wired recommended) |
Download Size & Installation
One of the most common questions new players ask is: how many GB is Apex Legends? The answer depends on your platform and the current season, but here's a general breakdown:
PC (Steam / Origin)
~65-80 GB initial download. Installed size grows with each season update. Initial download may require additional temporary space during installation.
PlayStation 4 / 5
~60-75 GB. PS5 version features enhanced graphics and faster load times. May require a PlayStation Plus subscription for online multiplayer.
Xbox One / Series X/S
~60-75 GB. Xbox Series X/S version supports 120Hz and enhanced visuals. Xbox Live Gold may be required for multiplayer.
Nintendo Switch
~25-30 GB (cloud-assisted version). Features crossplay with other platforms but runs at lower resolution and framerate.
How to Install Apex Legends
- 1.PC (Steam): Go to the Apex Legends Steam page, click "Play Game," and follow the installation prompts.
- 2.PC (EA App / Origin): Download the EA App, search for Apex Legends, and click "Download."
- 3.Console: Search for "Apex Legends" in your platform's store (PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or Nintendo eShop) and select "Download."
- 4.Create an EA Account: You'll need an EA account to play. Create one for free during the first launch or at ea.com.
Basic Gameplay Mechanics
Understanding these core mechanics will help you get started and avoid common beginner mistakes.
1. The Drop
Each match begins with your squad dropping from a dropship onto the map. One player is designated as the Jumpmaster and controls when and where the squad drops. You can decline to be Jumpmaster by pressing the prompted button. Choose a landing spot based on your squad's skill level — high-tier loot areas have more competition, while edge areas are safer but may have less loot.
2. Looting & Inventory
After landing, quickly loot weapons, ammo, shields, and healing items. Your inventory has limited slots — manage it wisely. Priority items: a weapon (any weapon!), ammo for your weapon, shield cells/batteries, and med kits/syringes. Higher-tier shields (white → blue → purple → gold → red) provide more protection. Always swap to a better shield when you find one.
3. The Ping System
Apex Legends revolutionized battle royale communication with its ping system. Even without a microphone, you can communicate effectively by pinging:
- Location: Tap ping to mark a location for your squad
- Enemies: Ping an enemy to alert your team (hold ping wheel for "enemy spotted")
- Loot: Ping weapons/items to share their location and quality
- Directions: Use the ping wheel to suggest where to go next
- Responses: Teammates can respond to pings with "yes," "no," or "coming"
4. Combat & Shields
Combat in Apex Legends is fast-paced and relies on both gun skill and ability usage. Key combat mechanics:
- Shields first: Damage goes to shields before health. Shield cells restore 25 shield, batteries restore 100%
- Armor swaps: You can instantly swap to a spare shield in your inventory — keep a fully charged spare for fights
- Finisher moves: Downed enemies can be finished for an instant shield recharge, but it leaves you vulnerable
- Headshots: Headshots deal increased damage — aim for the head when possible
- Movement: Never stand still in a fight. Slide, strafe, and use cover to avoid damage
5. The Ring & Revives
The ring (playable area) shrinks over time, dealing damage outside its boundary. Stay inside the ring and rotate early to avoid being caught outside. When a teammate is downed, you have a limited time to revive them (90 seconds default). If they die, grab their banner and take it to a Respawn Beacon to bring them back — this unique mechanic keeps teams in the game longer than other battle royales.
Best Legends for Beginners
With 25+ legends to choose from, picking the right one as a beginner can be overwhelming. These legends have forgiving abilities and straightforward playstyles that help new players learn the game.
Bangalore
Class: AssaultAbilities: Smoke Launcher (tactical) — fire smoke canisters to cover movement or escapes; Rolling Thunder (ultimate) — call in an artillery strike; Double Time (passive) — move faster when taking fire.
Why beginners love her: Smoke provides easy cover for retreats and repositioning. Double Time helps you escape dangerous situations. Her ultimate is straightforward and effective for area denial.
Lifeline
Class: SupportAbilities: D.O.C. Heal Drone (tactical) — deploy a drone that heals nearby teammates; Care Package (ultimate) — call in a supply drop with defensive gear; Combat Revive (passive) — revive teammates faster with a shield.
Why beginners love her: The heal drone provides sustain without needing to use healing items. Faster revives help keep your squad alive. Her care package can provide high-tier loot early in the game.
Gibraltar
Class: SupportAbilities: Dome of Protection (tactical) — throw a shield dome that blocks incoming fire; Defensive Bombardment (ultimate) — call in a mortar strike; Gun Shield (passive) — aiming down sights deploys a shield that absorbs damage.
Why beginners love him: The dome shield is one of the most powerful defensive abilities in the game — use it for revives, healing, or blocking enemy fire. The gun shield gives you an advantage in aim duels. He's a forgiving tank that helps you survive mistakes.
Bloodhound
Class: ReconAbilities: Eye of the Allfather (tactical) — scan a room for enemies and traps; Beast of the Hunt (ultimate) — enhance senses to see enemy footprints and move faster; Tracker (passive) — see enemy footprints and clues.
Why beginners love them: Scanning helps you find enemies and avoid ambushes. The tracker passive teaches you to read enemy movements. Beast of the Hunt gives you a significant advantage in tracking downed or fleeing enemies.
Top 10 Tips to Get Better at Apex Legends
These tips will accelerate your learning curve and help you win more fights.
Master Movement
Movement is everything in Apex. Learn to slide (crouch while running), strafe (move side to side while shooting), and use zip lines. Advanced movement like wall bounces and super glides come later, but basic sliding and strafing will immediately improve your survivability.
Use the Firing Range
Before jumping into matches, spend 10-15 minutes in the Firing Range. Practice with different weapons, learn recoil patterns, and test attachments. The Firing Range is also a great place to warm up before playing — aim training before matches significantly improves your performance.
Stick With Your Squad
Apex is a team game. Never wander off alone — you'll get third-partied and eliminated quickly. Stay within 20-30 meters of your teammates, communicate with pings, and focus fire on the same enemy. A coordinated squad of average players will beat a squad of uncoordinated good players every time.
Manage Your Shields and Healing
Always carry at least 4-6 shield cells, 1-2 shield batteries, and some syringes/med kits. Start healing as soon as you take damage and have a safe moment. Keep a fully charged spare shield in your inventory for instant swaps during fights. Never fight with broken shields if you can avoid it.
Learn Weapon Recoil Patterns
Each weapon in Apex has a unique recoil pattern. Start with easy-to-control weapons like the R-301, Flatline, or Volt SMG. Practice pulling down slightly while firing to counteract vertical recoil. As you improve, you can learn to compensate for horizontal recoil as well. Check our weapons guide for recoil tips.
Ping Everything
Get in the habit of pinging constantly — enemies, loot, locations, directions. Even if you have a microphone, pings provide precise visual information that voice chat can't match. Ping enemies as soon as you see them, ping good loot for your teammates, and ping where you're going next.
Rotate Early and Smart
Don't wait until the ring is closing to move. Plan your rotations early and use cover, zip lines, and balloons to move safely. Avoid open areas where you can be third-partied. When rotating, have one player watch the rear for pursuers. Good positioning and rotations win more games than raw gun skill.
Don't Be Afraid to Disengage
Not every fight is worth taking. If you're at a disadvantage (low shields, bad positioning, outnumbered), use smoke, Gibraltar's dome, or other abilities to disengage and reposition. Chasing kills is one of the most common beginner mistakes — live to fight another day when the odds aren't in your favor.
Use Your Legend Abilities
Many beginners forget to use their legend abilities. Tactical abilities have relatively short cooldowns — use them frequently for scouting, repositioning, or combat advantages. Ultimate abilities charge over time and through kills/damage — don't save them for the "perfect moment" that never comes. Use them when they can turn a fight in your favor.
Review Your Deaths
After you die, take a moment to think about what went wrong. Did you push a fight you shouldn't have? Were you caught out of position? Did you forget to use your abilities? Learning from your mistakes is the fastest way to improve. Watch the kill cam to see how your opponent beat you — you can learn a lot from better players.