We’ve all been there: you log on for a quick Apex session after a long day, and none of your regular squadmates are online. You don’t feel like dealing with randoms who will drop you in the middle of a hot zone and leave you for dead 30 seconds into the match, so you start wondering: can you play solo Apex Legends? The short answer is yes, even if Respawn hasn’t added a permanent solo queue to the game right now. Thousands of players queue solo every day, and with the right strategy, you can not only survive matches alone but even pick up wins and improve your overall skill faster than you would playing with a squad. I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing solo Apex over the last few years, and these tips come directly from my own experience winning matches without teammates.
Can You Play Solo Apex Legends Officially? A Breakdown of Queue Options
Respawn tested a permanent solo queue back in 2019, but removed it after a few months because of balance issues that broke the core team-based loop of the game. That doesn’t mean you can’t play solo, though, because the devs added a dedicated feature for players who want to queue alone without ruining matches for random teammates. The no-fill queue setting is the easiest way to play solo without intentionally ditching random teammates. All you have to do is go to your queue settings before you start searching for a match, toggle the “fill squadmates” option off, and the game will place you in a duos or trios match with no teammates assigned to you.
You can also occasionally play dedicated solo matches during limited time events. Respawn runs solo-only LTMs every few seasons, usually tied to big event releases like the Anniversary Collection or Halloween event. These modes adjust legend abilities to be more balanced for 1v1 fights, so they’re a great place to start if you’re new to solo play and don’t want to go up against full squads right away. If you don’t want to wait for an LTM, the no-fill queue works in both public and ranked matches, though we don’t recommend solo ranked for most players.
Some players choose to queue for regular trios and then drop away from their random teammates to play solo, but this is generally frowned on by the community. You’re forcing two other players to play at a disadvantage for no reason, so sticking to the no-fill queue is the more respectful choice if you want to play alone.
Pros and Cons of Playing Apex Legends Solo
Solo play isn’t for everyone, and it’s important to weigh the benefits and downsides before you jump into a match. Solo play is one of the fastest ways to improve your individual aim and movement skills, because you can’t rely on teammates to carry you through fights. Every win, every kill, and every close call is entirely your own, so you’ll learn your strengths and weaknesses a lot faster than you would playing with a squad. You also get full control over every decision: you pick the drop spot, you choose which fights to take, you keep all the best loot for yourself, and you never have to argue with a teammate about wasting a Phoenix Kit when you only have 20 health left.
There are pretty big downsides too, of course. The biggest risk of solo play is getting caught out by coordinated squads that can focus fire you in seconds. If you run into a team of three that’s sticking together and communicating, you’ll almost always lose unless you catch them completely off guard. You also don’t get a second chance if you get knocked: there’s no teammate to revive you or use a respawn beacon, so one bad fight means you’re back to the lobby immediately. You also have to carry all your own supplies, so you’ll have less inventory space for extra ammo, grenades, or attachments than you would when playing with a squad.
For me, the tradeoff is worth it when I’m in the mood to play casually without talking to anyone. I don’t have to worry about letting a squad down if I make a mistake, and I can take matches at my own pace instead of rushing to keep up with teammates who want to fight every person they see. But if I’m trying to grind ranked or complete squad-specific challenges, I’ll always queue with friends instead of playing solo.
Essential Tips for Winning Solo Apex Legends Matches
Playing solo requires a completely different strategy than playing with a squad. You can’t rush hot zones or pick fights with every team you see, because you don’t have backup if things go wrong. These are the tips I’ve picked up after hundreds of solo matches that will help you survive longer and pick up more wins:
- Pick high-mobility legends first: Wraith, Octane, and Pathfinder let you reposition fast if you run into full squads, and their escape abilities can get you out of bad fights you can’t win alone. Avoid slow, support-focused legends like Newcastle or Lifeline, because their abilities are designed to help squads, not individual players.
- Land in low-traffic loot spots first: Skip hot zones like Fragment East or Capitol City, and pick smaller, less crowded areas to gear up without fighting three squads in the first two minutes. You can always move toward the center of the map later once you have a full shield and decent weapons.
- Avoid unnecessary fights early on: Unless you’re 100% sure you can take an enemy down fast and get out before other teams show up, hold back and focus on looting and getting to the safe zone first. Most solo wins come from picking your battles carefully, not getting as many kills as possible.
Always carry at least 6 shield cells and 4 syringes when playing solo, because you don’t have a teammate to share supplies with if you run out mid-fight. You should also leave at least one inventory slot open for a golden shield or high-tier attachment you find later, so you don’t have to drop supplies in the middle of a fight to pick up better gear. Pay extra attention to audio cues too: you don’t have a squad to call out enemy footsteps or reload sounds for you, so wearing headphones and listening carefully will give you a huge advantage over players who only rely on visual cues.
Third partying fights between two full squads is the easiest way to get kills and loot without risking too much of your own health. Wait until both teams are low on health and shields, then push in and take out the remaining players. You’ll get all their loot, and you won’t have to use up too many of your own heals to win the fight. Just make sure you have an escape route planned in case one of the squads still has a full team left when you push.
When Should You Avoid Playing Solo Apex Legends?
Solo play is a lot of fun, but it’s not the right choice for every situation. Solo play is not recommended for ranked matches unless you're already at a Platinum or higher skill level. Ranked squads are almost always coordinated, and they’ll focus fire you as soon as they realize you’re alone. I’ve tried solo ranked a handful of times, and I lost more than 300 RP in one sitting before I gave up and went back to public matches. You might be able to make it work if you’re extremely skilled, but for most players, solo ranked is just a waste of RP.
You should also avoid solo play if you’re brand new to Apex Legends. The learning curve for the game is already steep, and playing solo means you won’t have more experienced teammates to teach you map locations, legend abilities, or loot spawns. You’ll probably get wiped dozens of times before you even get a chance to learn the basics, which can be really discouraging. Stick to queuing with friends or friendly randoms for your first 20 or 30 matches, then try solo play once you’re comfortable with the core mechanics.
If you’re trying to complete squad-specific challenges, like reviving teammates 10 times or getting assists with your legend’s ultimate ability, solo play won’t help you finish those. You also won’t be able to unlock legend-specific badges that require squad play, like the 20 kill badge with Lifeline, which requires you to revive teammates during matches. Save solo play for days when you just want to relax and practice your skills, and queue with a squad when you’re working on specific challenges or ranked goals.
At the end of the day, can you play solo Apex Legends? Absolutely, and it’s a ton of fun if you’re in the mood to play by your own rules and improve your individual skills. It’s not for everyone, and you’ll definitely have some frustrating matches where you get jumped by three players at once, but the feeling of pulling off a 1v3 win is unbeatable. Follow the tips we covered, pick the right legend, and don’t be afraid to run from fights you can’t win, and you’ll be racking up solo kills in no time. Even if you don’t win right away, you’ll notice your aim and movement getting better after just a few solo matches, which will make you a better squad player too when you do queue with friends later.