Apex Legends Game Modes: Solo, Duos, Trios, Ranked & LTMs 2026

Q: Does Apex Legends have solo mode?

No, Apex Legends does not have a permanent solo mode. Solo has appeared as a limited-time mode during events. You can queue for Trios/Duos as a solo player with random teammates.

Q: Does Apex Legends have duos?

Yes, Duos is a permanent mode added in Season 3. 30 duos compete in battle royale with the same gameplay as Trios but with 2-player squads.

Q: Does Apex Legends have skill-based matchmaking?

Yes, SBMM is used in all casual modes based on hidden MMR. Ranked uses a separate RP-based system.

Permanent Game Modes

Apex Legends features several permanent game modes that are always available. Here's a breakdown of each:

Core

Trios (Battle Royale)

Squad size: 3 players | Map: Rotating season map | Players per match: 60 (20 squads)

The flagship mode of Apex Legends. 20 squads of 3 drop onto a large map, loot weapons and gear, and fight to be the last squad standing. The ring shrinks over time, forcing teams into closer encounters. This is the mode where Apex's team-based mechanics (respawns, abilities, pings) shine the most.

Core

Duos (Battle Royale)

Squad size: 2 players | Map: Rotating season map | Players per match: 60 (30 duos)

Added in Season 3 (February 2020) due to popular demand. Same battle royale gameplay as Trios, but with 2-player squads instead of 3. This mode is great for players who prefer a more intimate team dynamic or who don't have a third player. Duos generally has a slightly faster pace and more aggressive gameplay due to smaller squads.

Competitive

Ranked Leagues

Squad size: 3 (Ranked Trios) or 2 (Ranked Duos) | Map: Ranked map | Players: 60

The competitive ranked mode where players earn Ranked Points (RP) for placements and kills. Ranks range from Bronze (lowest) to Apex Predator (top 750 players per platform). Ranked features stricter matchmaking, entry costs, and a more competitive environment. Ranked splits occur mid-season, with map and rank resets. See the Ranked Mode section below for full details.

Does Apex Legends Have Solo Mode?

No, Apex Legends does not currently have a permanent solo mode. The game is fundamentally designed around squad-based gameplay, and Respawn Entertainment has stated that solo mode doesn't align with their vision for the game.

However, solo mode has appeared as a limited-time mode (LTM) in the past:

Iron Crown Solo Event (Season 2, August 2019)

The first and most notable solo mode event. 60 players dropped solo with no teammates, no revives, and no respawns. This event was controversial due to its expensive cosmetic pricing but was popular gameplay-wise.

Other Solo LTM Appearances

Solo mode has occasionally returned during anniversary events and special celebrations. These are typically short-lived (1-2 weeks) and announced via the official Apex Legends social media channels.

Want to play solo? You can queue for Trios or Duos as a solo player — you'll be matched with random teammates. While not true solo, this is the closest permanent option. Alternatively, you can choose not to cooperate with your random teammates (not recommended, as it hurts your team). Keep an eye on the official @PlayApex Twitter for announcements about limited-time solo modes.

Ranked Mode Explained

Ranked Leagues is Apex Legends' competitive mode. Here's everything you need to know:

Rank Tiers

Rank	RP Required	Perks
Bronze	0 RP	Starting rank, no entry cost
Silver	1,000 RP	Entry cost: 12 RP
Gold	3,000 RP	Entry cost: 24 RP, ranked badge
Platinum	5,400 RP	Entry cost: 36 RP, ranked charm
Diamond	8,200 RP	Entry cost: 48 RP, dive trail
Master	11,400 RP	Entry cost: 60 RP, exclusive rewards
Apex Predator	Top 750 players (per platform)	Highest rank, exclusive badge/trail/charm

How to Earn RP

✓Placement: Earn RP based on your squad's final placement (more RP for higher placements)
✓Kills/Assists: Earn RP for kills and assists (capped at 6 kills per match for RP purposes)
✓Entry cost: Each match costs RP to enter (varies by rank), which you must earn back through placement/kills
✓RP floor: You can't lose more RP than the entry cost per match (no demotion below tier floor in most ranks)

Ranked Splits

Each ranked season is divided into two splits (approximately 6 weeks each). At the mid-season split:

•Your RP is soft-reseted (you drop down 1.5 tiers from your current rank)
•The ranked map changes to a different map
•Your highest rank achieved is still recorded for end-of-season rewards
•End-of-season rewards are based on your highest rank across both splits

Limited-Time Modes (LTMs)

Apex Legends regularly features limited-time modes during events and celebrations. Here are some of the most popular LTMs that have appeared:

LTM Name	Description	First Appeared
Solo	60 players, no teams, last one standing	Season 2 (Iron Crown)
Control	9v9 objective-based mode, capture zones, infinite respawns	Season 12 (Anniversary)
Gun Run	3v3v3 arena mode, cycle through weapons by getting kills	Season 10 (Emergence)
Arenas	3v3 round-based mode, buy weapons between rounds (was permanent, now LTM)	Season 9 (Legacy)
Shadow Royale	Halloween-themed, eliminated players become shadows that can hunt living players	Season 6 (Aftermarket)
Winter Express	Holiday-themed, capture the moving train, respawn enabled	Season 3 (Holo-Day Bash)
Flashpoint	No healing items, heal in designated flashpoint zones	Season 8 (Mayhem)
Third-Person Mode	Battle royale played in third-person perspective	Various anniversaries
Team Deathmatch (TDM)	6v6 kill-based mode, respawn enabled, fixed loadouts	Season 16 (Revelry)

LTM schedule: LTMs typically run for 1-2 weeks during collection events or seasonal celebrations. Check the in-game "Modes" tab or the official Apex Legends social media for current and upcoming LTM schedules. Some LTMs (like Control and Team Deathmatch) have become more permanent fixtures in the "Mixtape" playlist rotation.

Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM)

Yes, Apex Legends uses skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in all casual game modes (Trios and Duos). This means the game tries to match you with and against players of similar skill level, based on factors like your kill/death ratio, win rate, average placement, and recent performance.

SBMM is designed to create fairer matches and prevent new players from being matched against experienced veterans. However, it's a controversial topic in the community — some players feel SBMM makes casual matches too sweaty/competitive, while others appreciate the fairer matchmaking.

How SBMM Works

•The game uses a hidden MMR (Matchmaking Rating) for each player, calculated from your match history
•Factors include: kill/death ratio, average damage per match, win rate, placement, and recent performance trend
•In squad modes, the game uses the average MMR of the squad (with some weighting toward the highest-rated player)
•SBMM is separate from Ranked mode — your casual MMR doesn't affect your ranked RP and vice versa
•Respawn has stated that SBMM is constantly being tuned and adjusted based on player feedback and data

Smurfing: Some players create alternate accounts (called "smurfs") with low MMR to play against less skilled players. This is against the spirit of SBMM and may result in account penalties. Respawn has implemented measures to detect and penalize smurfing, including faster MMR adjustment for new accounts that perform well above their current skill bracket.

FAQ

Does Apex Legends have solo mode?+

No, Apex Legends does not have a permanent solo mode. The game is designed around squad-based gameplay (Trios and Duos). However, solo mode has appeared as a limited-time mode (LTM) during special events, most notably the Iron Crown event in Season 2. You can queue for Trios/Duos as a solo player and be matched with random teammates. Keep an eye on official announcements for future solo LTM appearances.

Can you play solos in Apex Legends?+

There is no permanent solo playlist, but you can play solo by queuing for Trios or Duos without inviting friends — you'll be matched with random teammates. If you want to truly play alone (without cooperating), you can choose not to work with your random squad, but this is not recommended as it negatively impacts your teammates. True solo mode (60 individual players) has only been available during limited-time events.

Does Apex Legends have duos?+

Yes, Duos is a permanent game mode in Apex Legends. It was added in Season 3 (February 2020) due to popular demand. In Duos, 30 squads of 2 players compete to be the last duo standing. The gameplay is identical to Trios but with smaller squads, resulting in a slightly faster pace and more aggressive encounters. Ranked Duos is also available alongside Ranked Trios.

Are there squads in Apex Legends?+

Yes, squads (3-player teams) are the core of Apex Legends. The default and flagship mode is Trios, where 20 squads of 3 compete in a battle royale. You can squad up with friends or be matched with random teammates. The game's mechanics (respawn system, legend abilities, ping system) are all designed around squad-based teamwork. Duos (2-player squads) is also available as a permanent mode.

Does Apex Legends have skill-based matchmaking?+

Yes, Apex Legends uses skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in all casual game modes (Trios and Duos). The game uses a hidden MMR (Matchmaking Rating) based on your performance (kill/death ratio, win rate, average placement, recent performance) to match you with and against players of similar skill. SBMM is designed to create fairer matches but is controversial in the community. Ranked mode uses a separate RP-based ranking system, not the same MMR as casual modes.

What is the Mixtape playlist in Apex Legends?+

Mixtape is a permanent playlist introduced in Season 16 (Revelry) that rotates between three non-battle-royale modes: Team Deathmatch (TDM), Control, and Gun Run. These modes feature shorter matches, infinite respawns, and more focused combat. Mixtape is great for players who want a break from battle royale or want to practice gunplay in a more relaxed environment. The mode rotates every few hours, and you can select which modes you want to queue for.

Apex Legends Game Modes Guide