Apex Legends is a free-to-play hero battle royale from Respawn Entertainment, published by EA and now in Season 30: Marked. Up to 60 players drop in as 20 squads of three, loot gear and fight inside a shrinking ring. You win by being the last squad alive, crowned the Apex Champions.
What is Apex Legends?
Apex Legends is a free-to-play hero shooter in the battle royale genre. Squads drop onto a large map, scavenge weapons and gear, and fight until one team is left. What sets it apart is the cast of Legends: each character has a passive perk, a tactical ability and an ultimate, so your squad's picks shape how you fight and move.
It is made by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. It launched on February 4, 2019, and has run in seasons ever since. As of October 2026 the current season is Season 30, called Marked, which started on August 4, 2026, with ranked Split 2 beginning on September 15.
| Fact | Apex Legends (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Respawn Entertainment |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Release | February 4, 2019 |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2, with cross-play |
| Price | Free-to-play; money is spent on cosmetics and the battle pass |
| Genre | Hero-based battle royale shooter |
| Current season | Season 30: Marked (from August 4, 2026) |
| Map rotation | World's Edge, Storm Point and E-District in Season 30 |
What is the objective of Apex Legends?
The goal in Apex is to be the last squad alive. A standard match puts up to 60 players on the map, normally as 20 squads of three. Everyone jumps from a dropship, lands, grabs loot and then has to keep moving inside a ring that closes in over time. Anyone caught outside the ring takes damage.
Over the course of a match, the objective breaks down into three jobs: get geared up without dying early, rotate into the next ring before it closes, and win the fights that matter near the end. The surviving team is crowned the Apex Champions. Your downed teammates can be revived, and a fully eliminated teammate can often be brought back if you collect their banner and take it to a respawn beacon, so a squad is never truly out until all three are gone.
Over a whole season, the bigger objectives are levelling your account, working through the battle pass and, if you enjoy competition, climbing the ranked ladder.
How do you win a match in Apex Legends?
Here is how you win in the modes most beginners will meet. Limited-time modes come and go, so check the playlist screen for what is live this week.
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Royale (Trios) | Squads of 3, up to 60 players | Be the last squad standing as the ring closes |
| Battle Royale (Duos) | Teams of 2 | Be the last duo standing |
| Ranked | Squads of 3, 20 squads | There is still one champion squad, but your rank depends on Ranked Points from placement, kills and assists |
| Mixtape (when available) | Small teams | Rotating Team Deathmatch, Control and Gun Run; each has its own score or objective to reach first |
In battle royale, survival is the win condition. Kills help you get there, but a team that plays the ring well and avoids needless fights often outlasts a team with more eliminations.
How does ranked or progression work?
Ranked runs from Rookie through Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond to Master, and Apex Predator is the top 750 Master players on each platform. Every tier above Rookie has four divisions. Each ranked match costs Ranked Points (RP) to enter, and you earn RP back from placement, kills, assists and bonuses. A finish in the top half of the lobby gets your entry cost back.
Brand-new accounts under level 20 must finish the three sets of Road to Ranked challenges before the ranked playlist opens. Outside ranked, progression is your account level and the seasonal battle pass.
For the numbers, read Apex Legends ranks explained for every tier and RP cost, and Apex ranked tips for Season 30 for how to gain RP. All of our Apex posts live in the Apex Legends guides hub.
Beginner tips to win more
- Land away from the crowd. Hot drops end many beginner matches in the first minute. A quieter landing spot lets you gear up before you fight.
- Move with the ring early. Rotating as soon as the next zone shows up beats running through open ground at the last second.
- Stay close to your squad. Apex is built for three. Being near your teammates means faster revives and fights you can actually win.
- Ping everything. The ping system lets you mark enemies, loot and destinations without a microphone, which makes solo queue far smoother.
- Pick a simple Legend and stick with it. Learning one character's abilities well is better than switching every match.
- Know when to leave a fight. If a fight drags on, another squad is probably on its way. Finish it fast or back off.
- Grab your teammates' banners. A respawn beacon can bring back eliminated teammates, so do not give up on a match early.
- Warm up in the Firing Range. A few minutes of aiming practice before you queue is cheap and helps.
How can Boosting Games help with Apex Legends?
Boosting Games sells fixed-price Apex Legends services, all listed in the Apex Legends services collection. Prices below are starting prices as of October 2026, and the exact price for your option shows before checkout.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Apex Legends Ranked Unlock (Level 50) | Account levels up to the ranked unlock point | From $19 |
| Apex Legends Battle Pass Levels | Battle pass levels for the current season | From $12 |
| Apex Legends Damage & Kill Badges | Damage and kill badges | From $9 |
| Apex Legends Badge Hunter Bundle | A bundle of badges | From $79 |
Honest risk note: EA tells players never to share their login, and it calls third-party battle pass, levelling and badge boosting unauthorised and a risk to your account and progress. Piloted orders, where a booster signs in to your account, carry the most risk. Duo or self-play orders, where you keep your login, carry less, and coaching carries none. Read our account safety notice before you order. We never sell accounts, Apex Coins, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Apex Legends
Pick a service, see the exact price before you pay, and follow progress on your private order page.
See Apex Legends servicesAsk Boost Up AIThe Apex Legends boosting page has rank boost prices and options, and how it works walks through an order step by step. You can ask Boost Up AI which service fits your goal, or compare other titles in every game explained.
Related reading: Apex Legends Ranks Explained: Every Tier, RP Cost and Split, Apex Ranked Tips: How to Gain More RP in Season 30, What is Fortnite and how do you win? and What is PUBG and how do you win?
Apex Legends FAQ
Is Apex Legends free to play?
Yes. Apex Legends is free to download and play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2. EA makes money from optional cosmetics and the seasonal battle pass, which add skins and other visual rewards rather than stronger weapons. You need an EA account to play, and cross-play lets you queue with friends on other platforms.
How many players are in an Apex Legends match?
A standard battle royale match holds up to 60 players, usually split into 20 squads of three. Duos uses teams of two instead. Ranked also uses 20 squads, and your placement is measured against those 20 teams. Limited-time modes and Mixtape playlists can use smaller teams and different rules, so check the playlist before you queue.
How do you win in Apex Legends?
You win by being the last squad still alive when everyone else has been eliminated. The ring shrinks over the match and damages anyone outside it, which forces teams together. Kills help, but surviving matters most, and downed or eliminated teammates can be revived or respawned, so a squad stays in the game until all three players are out.
How long is a match of Apex Legends?
There is no fixed length. A match runs until one squad is left, and the closing ring sets the pace, so a game you survive to the end lasts much longer than one where you are knocked out right after landing. Respawn does not publish an official match time, and it varies with the map, the lobby and how quickly teams fight each other.
When can I play ranked in Apex Legends?
Players under account level 20 must complete all three sets of Road to Ranked challenges before ranked opens. Players who had ranked access before that system arrived keep it. Each ranked match costs Ranked Points to enter, so it is worth getting comfortable in normal matches first; your casual trios results also help set your starting rank.
Which Legend is best for beginners?
There is no single best pick, but beginners do well with a Legend whose abilities are easy to use and help the team, such as one that scans for enemies or one that heals or shields allies. Season 30 buffed Bloodhound, Loba and Rampart. Choose one Legend, learn their kit properly and stick with it before trying others.
Sources: EA: Apex Legends Marked patch notes, EA Help: How Apex Legends ranked works, EA Help: Play by the rules, Wikipedia: Apex Legends.