Apex 1.88 Patch Notes (New Legend, New Mode, & More) – Official

Apex update 1.88 (Defiance Update) released on PS4, PC, and Xbox One players. According to the official Apex 1.88 patch notes, the latest update added a new legend (Mad Maggie), a brand new, 9v9 limited-time mode with Control, and much more. Apart from this, today’s Apex version 1.88 also includes the first map update to Olympus, a thrilling new Battle Pass, a new Ranked season, and more.

Previously, a big update added a long list of changes and quality of life improvements and fixes.

Unfortunately, players are facing various bugs with the game. Today’s Apex version 1.88 will fix a few of these issues. Read more details below.

What is new in today’s Apex Update 1.88? – February 7, 2022

NEW LEGEND – Mad Maggie

Mad Maggie, cutthroat warlord and the Outlands’ meanest mad-lass, is back and she’s coming into the Apex Games like a wrecking ball with an offensive playstyle. With enhanced shotgun proficiency, the ability to dislodge enemies behind cover, and a crushing Ultimate, aggressive players are going to love playing as Mad Maggie.

Passive: Warlord’s Ire
Temporarily highlight enemies you’ve damaged. No movement speed penalty when wielding Shotguns.

Tactical: Riot Drill
Fire a drill that attaches to an obstacle and burns enemies on the other side.

Wrecking Ball
Throw a ball that releases speed-boosting pads and detonates near enemies.

What is fixed in today’s Apex Patch 1.88?

LEGENDS BALANCE

Crypto

Drone View HUD and other Quality of Life updates:

  • Added gamestate (e.g. Ring information, round timers), minimap, killfeed, team status, , and ping information to the Drone’s HUD.
  • Repurposed the Drone HUD’s old Crypto health/shield presentation into displaying the health of the Drone itself.
  • Survey Beacon markers are now displayed in-world while piloting the Drone (same as when controlling Crypto himself).

Neurolinkchanges:

  • Increased the Neurolink detection FOV from 160 -> 240 degrees.
  • Neurolink detection is now disabled while the Drone is being recalled.

Surveillance Dronechanges:

  • The deployment of the Drone has received a rework:
    • Pressing the Tactical button causes Crypto to send the Drone flying in a straight line in the direction of Crypto’s view for a few seconds.
    • If thrown to a wall (or other geo), the Drone will hit the wall and re-orient itself so that it’s facing away from the wall.
    • Crypto no longer immediately accesses Drone View after deploying his Drone in this way.
    • Pressing and holding the [Tactical] button will launch the Drone forward in the same way, but then Crypto will immediately access Drone View.
  • Reduced Drone health from 60 -> 50.
  • The HUD marker for the Drone has been tweaked to increase visibility.
  • The HUD marker for the Drone is now always displayed on-screen while the Drone is deployed (instead of only when the Drone was off-screen.

Dev Note

Crypto has been off the grid in terms of pick rate. The goal of these changes was to make his kit more accessible and engaging. With a new deployment option, we lowered drone health to prevent reckless drone deploy. Crypto is still a methodical, calculating legend, and manually piloting Hack should still be the primary way to access macro-level recon. The drone view HUD updates should help here as well. Crypto’s never been weak per se; we’re cognizant of his strengths at high-level play and will be keeping an eye on his usage and performance.

Caustic

Nox Gas Trapsare now destroyable after detonation

  • 150hp
  • Detonated traps will expire at 11s (instead of 12.5s)
  • Gas effects linger for two seconds after barrel destruction or expiration (gas particles still linger a bit longer as they dissipate)

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT BALANCE

Supply Drop Rotation

The Alternator SMG returns to the ground loot this season and taking its place is the powerful mid-range energy Volt SMG.

Alternator SMG

  • Removed disruptor rounds hop-up

Volt SMG

  • Damage increased from 15 to 17
  • Max mag size increased from 28 to 30

Hop Ups

Kinetic Feeder – Triple Take & Peacekeeper

Sliding with the Triple Take or Peacekeeper significantly speeds up choke time and automatically reloads rounds.

Hammerpoint Rounds – P2020, Mozambique & RE-45

  • P2020
    • +50% unshielded damage
  • Mozambique
    • +35% unshielded damage
  • RE-45
    • +35% unshielded damage

Shatter Caps – 30-30 Repeater & Bocek Bow

  • Passively affects hip-fire for both weapons
    • ADS remains precision shot
  • No longer able to toggle on/off
  • 30-30 pellet damage reduced from 8 to 7
  • Bow pellet damage reduced 12 to 11

Triple Take

  • Removing projectile growth from bullets
  • Damage reduced from 23 to 21 per bullet

Dev Note

The Triple Take’s return to floor loot has been really positive, but it’s proving to be a bit ahead of the pack with its ranged performance. We’re eliminating the bullet growth it retained from its days as a sniper to pull it in line with other Marksman rifles.

VK-47 Flatline

  • Damage reduced from 19 to 18 per bullet

Rampage LMG (Hotfix)

  • Rampage damage reduced from 28 to 26
  • Reduced number of shots during the Revved state from ~40 to ~34

Dev Note

On January 13, 2022 we implemented a hotfix to the Rampage and Sentinel infinite charge bug. We took that opportunity to get out a Rampage nerf early. Noting these changes here for anyone who missed our earlier messaging.

Fully Kitted Rotation

  • Added: RE-45, Triple Take, Peacekeeper, Prowler, Havoc
  • Removed: Mastiff, 30-30 Repeater, R-301, CAR, Longbow

Weapons in Crafting

  • VK-47 Flatline and Longbow DMR are now craftable for 30 mats at any crafting station.
  • Weapons in crafting can not be found on the ground.
  • Crafted weapons come with no attachments and two boxes of ammo

Crafting

  • Medkit price lowered from 20 to 15
  • Kinetic Feeder added to crafting rotation

BUG FIXES AND QUALITY OF LIFE

  • Addressed a bug where multiple Legends were missing voice lines when pinging a caged flyer.
  • Fix for Booster Loader where ammo counter would remain highlighted when switching from a low ammo Hemlok or Wingman to another weapon.
  • Replicator Fixed an issue where where an item could become stuck inside after crafting with a full inventory.
  • Fixed an error that would tell players to come back in a decade when matchmaking.
  • Fixed an issue where of lighting issues in some areas on Olympus.
  • Fixed an issue where where Mirage Ultimate Decoys could get stuck on surfaces raised slightly off the ground.
  • Arenas: Fixed an issue where where Crypto’s Drone charges could be used multiple times with single Drone.
  • Arenas: Fixed an issue where where trying to charge a Rampage or Sentinel Rifle as the round starts results in the charge being cancelled when the round starts.
  • Crypto’s Drone Fixed an issue where where it wouldn’t show friendly nameplates.
  • Fixed an issue where where players were able to use melee on incline surfaces to get speed boost while sliding.
  • Fixed an issue where where revving up a Rampage LMG while removing extended mag causes the revved up bar to appear forever.
  • Fixed an issue where where the timer for charging the Sentinel and Rampage was not showing the correct time left for animation.
  • Fixed cases when specific Legendary Horizon skins would block part of screen when ADSing with a Prowler + 1x holo scope.
  • Addressed a bug where weapon challenges would not show progress in the after match summary.
  • Fixed a bug where Charging up the Sentinel required 2 cells instead of 1 when wearing a golden armor.
  • Reduced L-STAR impact vfx.
  • Fixed a bug for cases where players could get a jump boost from deathboxes that are in the vicinity of Horizon’s Gravity Lift after it’s been used.
  • Reticle Color Customization – Limiting values to 0-255 to avoid exploits.
  • Reticle Color Customization – improved inconsistency in UI color when ADSing with different sniper scopes.
  • Reticle Customization Fixed an issue where where rapidly adjusting the lighting bar can result in a performance drop on other platforms and a crash on Switch.
  • Based on feedback, we’ve adjusted the in-world icon for Ash’s passive to be smaller and closer to the ground.
  • When Ash’s tactical hits an object it cannot stick to, it should now bounce off instead of destroying itself (tactical cooldown will not be refunded anymore)
  • Improved the targeting experience for Ash’s ultimate by preferring locations that are farther away
  • Audio Fixed an issue where where R-99 gun fire SFX persists when spectator changes to another player while R-99 is fired.
  • Storm Point: Fixed cases where players were unable to shoot through the chain-link fences at Antenna.
  • Storm Point: Fixed an issue where where players could get stuck inside the map by using Valk’s Ultimate on Command Center.
  • Storm Point: Based feedback we’ve adjusted Final Round Rings so they don’t end in areas with no cover or populated by Prowler Dens.
  • Storm Point: Fixed an issue where where a player could be launched by a Gravity Cannon while below it.
  • World’s Edge: Changed Fragment from high-tier to mid-tier loot. This happened in the 11.1 update, but was inadvertently omitted from those patch notes.
  • World’s Edge: Fixed an issue with Loba’s ultimate where it would not tell you items inside the panels at Trials were locked (though the alarm got triggered as normal).
  • Fixed an issue where where Gibby’s arm would be missing during Pathfinder’s “Iron Haymaker” finisher.
  • Fixed an issue where where the Entire map hears audio if a player cancels beacon scan.
  • Addressed a bug where Valk’s “Cloud Marauder” Legend skin had darker hands in 1P versus what’s shown in the Lobby and in other 1P skins.
  • Fixed an issue where where Players hit by Seer tactical just as they enter crafting could lose certain functionality.
  • Addressed a bug where Caustic barrels that are still being deployed (mid-throw) were not being deleted after Caustic dies.
  • Addressed a bug where sometimes Wattson’s Interceptor Pylon would heal for less than intended.
  • Fixed an issue where where a crash could occur when players accept join club requests by clicking the approval button twice.
  • Fixed a bug where moving through Wraith’s portal could feel choppy when placed in the air via Gravity Cannons.
  • Fixed a bug where stocks didn’t drop from wildlife on Storm Point
  • Improved wildlife combat versus vehicles.
  • Improved wildlife interactions versus electrical abilities making stunning wildlife with Wattson’s fences and Ash’s tactical more reliable
  • Gave a slight increase to high tier consumable drops on all wildlife.
  • Added the ability to see your teammate survival item while the inventory is open.

Fixing some weird rules in how assists and kills are determined and properly rewarded.

  • Quitting players can no longer deny kills & assists
  • Reviving no longer resets damage history

PRIVATE MATCH UPDATES

  • Observer: Added a toggle to disable kill feed while in free cam.
  • Observer: Fixed ring visibility on mini map.
  • Observer: Fixed kill calculations for the Status & Stats screen.
  • Fixed Stats Summary generation for team slots with default names.
  • Disabled Club features in Private Match.
  • Added unique player ID’s to Post-Game API (same ID’s seen in the Real-Time API).
  • Real-Time API changes:
    • Added “weaponSwitched” event. Shows the current item equipped by the player.
    • Added player names for events squadEliminated and matchStateEnd.
    • Added teammate names for observerSwitched event.
    • Fix for items appearing as “Unrecognized”.
    • Fix for characterSelected event not populating with all players.

Download free Apex patch 1.88 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson mainly writes about game-related news and updates. He is a passionate gamer, music lover, and traveler.
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