Apex Legends Season 31: Cipher launched on November 3, 2026. The headline changes are a full Crypto rework, a dual-wield Akimbo Wingman, airdropped Strongholds packed with high-tier loot, and Legend bans in Diamond and higher ranked lobbies. Lifeline and Revenant got buffs, Loba got longer cooldowns, and the Hemlok, L-STAR and EVA-8 were reworked.
Updated November 7, 2026.
This guide summarises the official Cipher patch notes and EA's season overview in our own words, focusing on what actually changes how you play. For the full Apex picture, visit the Apex Legends hub.
When does Apex Legends Season 31 start and end?
Cipher went live on November 3, 2026. Respawn's 2026 roadmap places the season from November 2026 to January 2027, but an exact end date has not been announced. The ALGS Year 6 Championship in Sapporo is listed on the roadmap for January 28 to 31, 2027, and Season 32 is expected in early 2027 with a reworked Kings Canyon called Kings Canyon Evolved.
| Item | Season 31: Cipher |
|---|---|
| Start date | November 3, 2026 |
| End date | Not announced (roadmap window: to January 2027) |
| Reworked Legend | Crypto |
| New weapon mode | Akimbo Wingman (now Heavy ammo) |
| New loot event | Strongholds (airdrop at Round 2 closing) |
| Ranked change | Two vote-based Legend bans in Diamond and above |
| Map rotation | Storm Point, E-District Night, Broken Moon |
| Platforms | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC |
What changed with the Crypto rework?
Crypto is built to be more aggressive. His drone now runs on a battery with 25 seconds of use before it has to be recalled, and the recall takes 6 seconds, after which you can send it straight back out. The drone is faster, easier to fly and scans enemies in its line of sight across a 360-degree area, though it no longer scans loot bins or doors. Marks last 8 seconds and stay visible even if the drone is destroyed.
- His EMP ultimate fires with one button, both while flying and from the deployed drone.
- With line of sight, the EMP does full shield damage and a heavier slow. Without it, the EMP deals 50 damage and a lighter slow.
- His speed-boost passive is now part of the base kit, slightly reduced.
- New upgrades: Got Eyes On You (marks last 4 seconds longer) at level 2 and Charged Up (10 more seconds of battery) at level 3.
What is the Akimbo Wingman?
The Wingman now uses Heavy ammo instead of Sniper ammo, and its base damage dropped from 50 to 45. Pick up a second Wingman and you automatically go Akimbo. In Akimbo mode the guns fire alternately in quick bursts, the magazine is doubled and fire rate is slightly faster, but you get longer reloads and more recoil. The headshot multiplier in Akimbo is 1.25x.
How do Strongholds work?
A Stronghold is a locked bunker that drops into the match as Round 2 closes, crushing anything underneath it. It spawns with indestructible barriers and Hardlight cover. Teams capture it by being the only squad alive in its zone; progress is shared, does not decay and is faster with more teammates. The team that hits 100 percent opens the doors and every living member gets a Level Up. Inside: one Care Package weapon, three gold weapons, three amps and two corrupted attachments. Care Packages still drop too: two at the end of Round 1 and one at the end of Round 2.
Which Legends were buffed or nerfed?
- Lifeline (buff): D.O.C. drone cooldown cut from 25 to 15 seconds, she heals while gliding, and Revive Shield returns as a level 3 upgrade.
- Revenant (buff): tactical cooldown 20 to 15 seconds, ultimate 180 to 150 seconds, plus new upgrades that extend his ultimate on knocks and refresh his leap on marked enemies.
- Loba (nerf): tactical cooldown 25 to 30 seconds, ultimate 120 to 150 seconds.
- Axle: an October 1, 2026 hotfix reduced his slide and Nitro Gate lateral control and cut his ultimate knock-up.
What are the biggest weapon changes?
- Hemlok: the Elite variant and the automatic mode are gone. It is back to burst and single fire, with 21 body and 29 headshot damage.
- L-STAR: returns to floor loot with damage down from 21 to 19 and fewer shots before overheating.
- Akimbo Mozambique: now a Care Package weapon with 18 damage per pellet and a shield-healing hop-up.
- EVA-8: Double Tap is replaced by Disruptor Rounds.
- Peacekeeper: faster rate of fire. Nemesis and Prowler: more recoil.
What else is in the patch?
Respawn lists 99 quality-of-life map fixes focused on Storm Point, Olympus and World's Edge, a lighting rework for E-District Night, and more than 35 hiding spots removed. Install size drops by about 30 GB on most platforms. Mixtape runs from November 3, 2026 to January 5, 2027, and Wildcard draws Wild Cards at the start of Rounds 1, 2 and 3.
What does this mean for ranked?
Expect a stronger Crypto for team intel, more fights around the Round 2 Stronghold, and Legend bans that force Diamond+ players to have a backup pick. Our Apex Legends ranks explained guide covers the full RP rules, and our how to rank up in Apex Legends guide turns them into a plan.
Patches move fast. Respawn often ships hotfixes during a season, so check the official patch notes for the latest numbers. RankSurge is independent and is not affiliated with Electronic Arts or Respawn Entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
When did Apex Legends Season 31 start?
Season 31, called Cipher, went live on November 3, 2026. EA's official patch notes were published on November 2. Respawn's 2026 roadmap places the season between November 2026 and January 2027, but an exact end date has not been announced. The ALGS Year 6 Championship is listed on the roadmap for January 28 to 31, 2027, in Sapporo.
Is Crypto good after the rework?
Crypto is now built for faster, more aggressive intel. His drone runs on a 25-second battery, recalls in 6 seconds and can be redeployed straight away, and it marks enemies in line of sight for 8 seconds. His EMP fires with a single button. Early strength depends on how your squad uses the extra information, so test him in casual modes before relying on him in ranked.
How do you get the Akimbo Wingman?
There is no separate pickup. The Wingman now uses Heavy ammo, and if you loot a second Wingman you automatically switch to Akimbo mode. Akimbo doubles the magazine and fires the two guns in alternating bursts with a slightly faster fire rate. The trade-off is a longer reload and more recoil, and base damage per shot is now 45.
What is inside a Stronghold?
A captured Stronghold holds one Care Package weapon, three gold weapons, three amps and two corrupted attachments. It airdrops as Round 2 closes and opens only when one team holds the zone alone until capture reaches 100 percent. Every living member of the capturing team also gets a Level Up, which makes it a strong but risky target for squads that can control the area.
What maps are in rotation in Season 31?
Public matches and ranked both use Storm Point, E-District Night and Broken Moon at launch. Mixtape runs from November 3, 2026 to January 5, 2027 with Team Deathmatch, Control and Gun Run on rotating smaller maps. Wildcard uses District and Broken Moon until November 9, and the patch notes list Olympus, District and Broken Moon from December 1.