So, Respawn finally did it. They went and touched almost everything in the game. If you've hopped into a match recently and felt like you’re dying in half the time it used to take, you aren't imagining things. The Apex Season 24 patch notes, officially titled "Takeover," are basically a giant neon sign saying "speed and violence."
Gone are the days of the "spongy" late-game fights where everyone had 225 HP and a purple helmet. This season is a total reset of the combat loop. Honestly, it's the biggest shift we’ve seen since the EVO shield overhaul.
The Armor and Helmet Meta Just Got Deleted
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. You can't find White, Blue, or Purple helmets on the floor anymore. They’re just... gone. This means headshots actually hurt again. In previous seasons, a purple helmet would shave off 50% of that extra headshot damage. Now? You're taking the full brunt of it unless you find a high-tier Mythic helmet.
The armor system also saw a massive ceiling drop. You can't just farm damage to get Red Armor anymore. The absolute cap for standard EVO progression is now Purple (100 HP).
Wait, what about Red Armor?
You can still get it, but it’s restricted to Mythic Bins and late-game Care Packages. It comes attached to a new Red Helmet that gives you 125 shield HP, but here’s the kicker: it provides zero headshot reduction. You’re tanky, but your head is still a grape waiting to be popped.🔗 Read more: Fuga Quest Jujutsu Infinite: How to Actually Unlock Sukuna's Fire Arrow
Assault Class is the New King
If you play Bangalore, Fuse, or Mad Maggie, you just got a massive promotion. The Assault Class perks were completely reworked to reward aggression.
There’s a new perk called Battle Surge. Basically, when an Assault legend or their teammate cracks an enemy’s shield, the whole squad gets a temporary speed boost and faster reload speeds. It even highlights the cracked enemy. It’s designed to end fights fast. No more poking for five minutes; you crack 'em, you push 'em, it’s over.
Every. Single. Gun. Got. Buffed.
I’m not kidding. Check the Apex Season 24 patch notes and you’ll see a list of buffs that looks like a Christmas wish list. Respawn decided that if they were lowering the armor cap, they might as well make the guns hit harder too.
The R-301 is back to 14 damage per bullet. The Flatline is chunking people. Even the P2020 got a bump to 24 damage. Here is a quick look at the most jarring changes:
- Havoc (Care Package): It’s a monster. 21 damage per hit and the Beam Shot now does 70 damage.
- Wingman: Damage is up to 48, but the mag size is tiny (starts at 5). It feels like a high-stakes poker game every time you pull the trigger.
- Peacekeeper (Care Package): This thing is terrifying. It has piercing pellets now. If two enemies are lined up, you hit both of them for 50% damage on the second guy.
- Snipers: They didn't touch the body damage much, but headshot multipliers were cranked up. A Longbow headshot is now a 108-damage disaster for the person receiving it.
The goal here was clearly to lower the "Time to Kill" (TTK). They want the game to feel more like a traditional shooter and less like a resource-management sim where you're just swapping batteries for ten minutes.
Legend Reworks: Ash and Ballistic Finally Shine
Ash has been "kinda mid" for a long time. Season 24 fixes that by leaning into her identity as a relentless chaser. Her Greedy Snare was moved to Level 2 upgrades, and she got a new Dual Breach ultimate perk that helps her stay mobile.
Ballistic also got the love he desperately needed. His Sling weapon now upgrades with his EVO level automatically. If you're Level 3, your sling gun is Gold. Simple. His Whistler tactical now has two charges, and the overheat reaction is slower, making it way more oppressive in 1v1s.
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Small Quality of Life Tweaks That Matter
- Crawl Speed: You move way faster when you're knocked. It’s actually possible to reach cover now instead of just slowly wiggling while a Wraith finishes you.
- Med Stacks: Cells and Syringes now stack to 6. This saves so much backpack space for grenades, which, let's be honest, is what we all really want.
- POI Indicators: When you’re in the dropship, the names of locations pop up on your HUD in 3D space. It makes landing much less confusing for newer players or those who haven't memorized every corner of Storm Point.
What You Should Do First
- Drop the "Poke" Habit: With the Battle Surge perk and lower armor, staying back and sniping is less effective than ever. If you crack a shield, your team needs to capitalize on that speed boost immediately.
- Hunt for Mythic Bins: Since Red Armor is locked behind these, they are the most contested spots on the map. Treat them like the old Hot Drops.
- Respect the Snipers: Without helmets to protect you, standing still for even a second is a death sentence. Keep moving.
The Apex Season 24 patch notes represent a fundamental shift in how the game plays. It’s faster, it’s meaner, and it rewards the "first shot wins" mentality more than any season before it. Get in there and get used to the new TTK before the veterans leave you in the dust.