If you’ve ever logged on to Apex Legends only to find none of your squadmates are online, you’ve almost certainly asked can you solo queue in Apex Legends at least once. I’ve been there too – sometimes you just want to jump into a match without coordinating times or dealing with teammates who don’t take fights seriously. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about solo queuing, from how the matchmaking works to the exact strategies I use to hit Masters every split playing almost exclusively alone.
Can You Solo Queue in Apex Legends for Casual and Ranked Play?
The short answer is yes, you absolutely can solo queue for almost every game mode in Apex Legends, with no level locks or hidden restrictions. Respawn lets you queue alone for permanent modes including Battle Royale, Ranked, and Mixtape, and you can even toggle the no-fill option if you want to play entirely alone without random teammates assigned to your squad. Even most limited-time modes support solo queue, with only a small handful of team-focused event modes requiring a full pre-made squad to join.
Most casual players don’t realize there are two distinct ways to solo queue: standard solo queue with random allies, and no-fill solo queue where you fight entire squads by yourself. Standard solo queue is the best pick for new players testing the waters alone, while no-fill is reserved for experienced players who want a much harder challenge. I’ve tested both across 3,000+ hours of play, and standard solo queue is easily the most accessible for 90% of players looking to play without friends. You also don’t have to worry about matchmaking penalties for solo queuing, even in high rank lobbies – the matchmaker treats solo players the same as any other participant, with no hidden MMR adjustments to make lobbies harder.
Biggest Pros and Cons of Solo Queuing in Apex Legends
Before you jump into your first solo queue match, it’s important to know what you’re signing up for. Solo queuing has massive benefits, but it also comes with unique frustrations you won’t deal with when playing with a pre-made squad. Most players who struggle with solo queuing don’t adjust their playstyle to account for these tradeoffs, leading to frustrating early losses that make them quit entirely. Here are the core pros and cons to weigh first:
- Pro: You have full control over every decision, from where you drop to which fights you take, no arguing with teammates over bad calls or missed pings
- Con: You can’t rely on coordinated plays with teammates, so you’ll often be outnumbered if your randoms leave early or make unplanned, overaggressive pushes
- Pro: You can play on your own schedule, no waiting for friends to log on or finish other matches before you can jump into a game
- Con: Matchmaking often pairs solo players against 3-stacks, especially in higher ranked lobbies, putting you at an inherent coordination disadvantage
- Pro: You’ll improve your individual mechanical skill much faster, since you can’t hide behind more skilled teammates to get wins or rank up
I personally love solo queuing because it lets me jump in for 30 minutes of play after work without coordinating with anyone, even if it means I have to work a little harder for those wins. The skill growth alone makes it worth it for anyone looking to get better at the game long term, even if you usually prefer playing with friends.
Pro Strategies to Win More Solo Queue Matches
Now that you know what you’re getting into, let’s talk about the exact strategies I use to carry solo queue lobbies consistently. The biggest mistake new solo players make is playing the same way they do with a pre-made squad, which almost never works with random teammates. Your first priority in every solo queue match should be staying alive long enough to get good loot, not chasing every fight you see on the map. I start every match by dropping slightly off hot zones, so I can get shields and a weapon before I have to fight anyone, and I only push fights if I know my teammates are nearby and ready to help.
Next, pick legends that are self-sufficient, no matter what your favorite playstyle is. For offensive players, Wraith or Octane are perfect because they have escape abilities that let you get out of bad fights if your teammates abandon you. For support players, Lifeline or Newcastle give you the ability to heal or revive yourself without relying on allies, which is a game changer when your randoms refuse to stop pushing to res you. For defensive players, Wattson or Caustic let you lock down buildings and hold positions even if your teammates are off looting instead of helping you hold the line.
Never assume your random teammates will follow your calls or have your back, even if they ping that they’re coming to help. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pushed a fight after a teammate pinged they were right there, only to find they’re looting a bin 100 meters away instead. Also, always carry extra shield cells and healing items, even if that means leaving some ammo behind. You won’t have a support teammate dropping heals for you most of the time, so being self-sufficient with supplies will save you in almost every tight spot.
When to Avoid Solo Queuing Altogether
Solo queuing is fun for most players most of the time, but there are some cases where you’re better off waiting for a friend to join you instead. If you’re trying to hit a big ranked milestone like Diamond or Masters in the last week of the split, solo queuing will make that much harder. Lobbies are full of sweaty 3-stacks grinding for their own ranked rewards at that point, and you’ll be at a big disadvantage without coordinated teammates who know how to play off each other’s abilities.
If you’re already tilted from a string of bad losses, solo queuing will almost always make that worse. Random teammates can make silly mistakes that feel personal when you’re already frustrated, leading to a cycle of worse play and more losses. I always step away for 30 minutes if I lose two matches in a row when solo queuing, just to reset my head before I jump back in. It saves me from wasting hours playing poorly when I’m too frustrated to make good decisions.
Also, if you’re trying to learn a brand new legend you’ve never played before, you might be better off testing them in Mixtape with friends first. Solo queue ranked lobbies are not the place to learn how to use Catalyst’s wall or Valkyrie’s ultimate, since a single bad ability use can cost you the entire match for your whole team. That said, if you’re playing casual and don’t care about losing, go wild – testing new legends in solo queue is a great way to learn their limits fast, as long as you’re not ruining the game for your teammates on purpose.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you solo queue in Apex Legends is a resounding yes, and it’s one of the most fun and rewarding ways to play the game if you adjust your expectations and playstyle. You don’t need a full squad of friends to climb ranks or get wins, and you’ll build far better individual skills playing alone than you will hiding behind better teammates. Next time you log on and no one’s around to play, give solo queue a shot – you might be surprised how well you do when you’re in full control of every play.