Summary
Following the release of the mid-season update forApex Legends, players are unhappy with nerfs made to Pathfinder, specifically his grapple ability. While this massive patch for Season 23 ofApex Legendslooked to make some Legends, such as Mirage and Loba, more viable in matches, some players think the nerfs to Pathfinder went too far.
On January 7, Respawn Entertainment launched themid-season update for Season 23 ofApex Legends, bringing substantial alterations to the battle royale. While the change list was extensive, several Legends received potentially game-changing buffs. For example, Mirage’s kit was reworked with new level 2 upgrades and a buff to his Tactical. In addition, Loba and Alter were shown some love in the mid-season update, with the developers making major improvements to their Ultimates, among other things. However, not every Legend received positive changes, as Pathfinder was hit with some nerfs as the developers attempted to reign in the power of his kit.
Unfortunately, the nerfs toPathfinder inApex Legendshave not been well received by the game’s community. In a post from Reddit user paradoxally sharing the patch notes, fans discussed their frustration with the Pathfinder changes. Specifically, players were unhappy with the increase to the Grappling Hook cooldown. According to the patch notes, Pathfinder’s cooldown on his Tactical is now 30 seconds. This was a big nerf for the character as the ability previously used to be variable, with the cooldown being potentially much shorter based on the grapple travel distance. In addition to his Grappling Hook, changes were made to his Insider Knowledge ability and Zipline Zen upgrade.
Apex Legends Players Think Pathfinder’s Grapple Cooldown Should Have Remained the Same
Pathfinder’s Grappling Hook has gone through various iterations over the years. For example, thecooldown for Pathfinder’s Tactical ability was 35 secondsa few years ago. In addition, it is worth noting that the ability did not always have a variable cooldown. Nevertheless, this recent change in Season 23 could make using the Legend much less satisfying in matches, considering how pivotal his Grappling Hook can be to his gameplay, both for entering and exiting skirmishes.
It will be interesting to see how these recent changes to Pathfinder impact his pick rate in Season 23 ofApex Legends. So far, the Legend has been one of the most popular characters in the game, withApex Legends Statusrevealing him to have a 14.6% pick rate. Impressively, this is only second to Lifeline at 18.2%, and she received a rework to her kit at the start of the season and enjoyedimprovements to the Support class inApex Legends.
While Pathfinder could drop somewhat in popularity thanks to these recent nerfs, there is always the possibility that Respawn could release a future patch to adjust the Legend based on player feedback. Hopefully, the developer will be able to continue to update the game to provide an enjoyable experience for those playing in Season 23.
Apex Legends
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Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play* Hero shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier.Master an ever-growing roster of diverse legends, deep tactical squad play, and bold new innovations that go beyond the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Hero Shooter.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items.
