If you’ve ever watched an Apex player zip across World’s Edge, outrun a closing ring with seconds to spare, or pop a speed boost to clutch a 1v3 fight, you’ve probably seen how much of a blast Octane is to play. He’s one of the most popular legends in the game for a reason, with fast, high-octane (pun absolutely intended) gameplay that fits casual and ranked players alike. A ton of new players ask how do you get octane in Apex Legends, and the good news is it’s far simpler than you might think, even if you don’t want to spend real money on the game. I’ve been maining Octane for over 3 years across four different accounts, so I’ve walked through the unlock process more times than I can count, and I’ve got all the tips you need to not just unlock him, but play him well once he’s in your legend roster.
How Do You Get Octane in Apex Legends: 2 Legitimate Unlock Methods
There are only two official ways to unlock Octane permanently for your account, and both are easy to access no matter how long you’ve been playing. The first method is using Legend Tokens, the free in-game currency you earn every time you level up your account. All permanent legend unlocks cost 12,000 Legend Tokens, and you earn 600 tokens per level up, so you don’t have to grind for months to get enough. The second method is using Apex Coins, the paid in-game currency, which costs 750 coins (roughly $7.99 USD if you buy the smallest coin pack). You can also test Octane before you unlock him if he’s in the weekly free rotation, which cycles through 6 different legends every 7 days. The free rotation gives you full access to all of Octane's abilities so you can test his playstyle and make sure he’s a good fit for you before you spend tokens or coins to unlock him permanently. If you buy a special edition of Apex Legends that includes Octane, you’ll also get him added to your roster automatically, though that’s a less common path for most players.
Fastest Ways to Earn Legend Tokens for Octane
Most players choose to unlock Octane with free Legend Tokens instead of spending real money, and if you’re smart about your grind, you can earn the 12,000 tokens you need in as little as 2 to 3 days of regular play. The key is to prioritize activities that give you the most XP possible, since you only earn tokens when you level up your account. Here are my go-to tips for cutting your grind time in half:
- Play daily challenges first: Each day you log on, you get 3 new daily challenges that give 1,000 to 3,000 XP each. Knocking these out in your first hour of play gives you a huge XP boost right off the bat.
- Stick to trios or ranked lobbies: Longer matches with more kills, assists, and top 3 placements give far more XP than quick arena matches or battle royale games where you exit in the first 5 minutes.
- Activate battle pass XP boosts: If you own the current season’s battle pass, many tiers include 10% or 25% XP boosts that stack with friend party boosts, letting you level up twice as fast as normal.
If you play 2 to 3 hours a day and follow these tips, you’ll hit the 20 level ups you need for 12,000 tokens in no time. Don't waste Legend Tokens on banner frames or trackers if you’re saving for Octane, most of these cosmetic items are available for free in event passes later on, so you’re just throwing away tokens you could use for a new legend.
What to Do First After Unlocking Octane
Once you’ve unlocked Octane, don’t jump straight into a ranked lobby right away. Spend 10 to 15 minutes in the firing range first to get used to his abilities, since his playstyle is very different from slower legends like Gibraltar or Caustic. His passive, Swift Mend, heals 1 health per second whenever he’s not taking damage, so you don’t have to waste healing items if you only take a small amount of chip damage between fights. His tactical ability, Stim, costs 30 health to use but gives you a 30% speed boost for 6 seconds with no slowdown when you’re firing weapons. His ultimate, Jump Pad, launches you and your teammates 200 meters in the air, so you can reposition, escape bad fights, or ambush enemy teams from high ground. Always keep at least 1 syringe or med kit on you when playing Octane to make up for the health you lose from using Stim, especially if you like to push fights often. I also recommend testing the Jump Pad in the firing range first to get a feel for how far it launches you, so you don’t accidentally jump off the edge of the map in a real match.
Common Octane Mistakes to Avoid as a New Player
Octane might seem like a simple legend to play, but there are a ton of small mistakes new players make that cost them fights and matches. The most common mistake is spamming Stim for no reason. A lot of new players use Stim just to run a little faster to loot, but if you run into an enemy team right after, you’re already down 30 health, which puts you at a huge disadvantage before the fight even starts. Only use stim when you have a specific goal like outrunning the ring, chasing a low health enemy, or escaping a team that’s pushing you. Another common mistake is placing Jump Pads in open, obvious spots. If you put a Jump Pad right in the middle of a field, enemies can easily shoot you while you’re in the air, or even destroy the pad before you get a chance to use it. Always try to place Jump Pads behind cover so you can use it without getting picked off. You also need to remember that enemy teams can use your Jump Pad too. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a new Octane place a pad to escape a fight, only for the entire enemy team to follow them right up it. Shoot the pad once you're in the air to destroy it so enemies can’t chase you. Finally, don’t forget to use your passive to your advantage. If you take 10 or 20 damage from a stray bullet between fights, don’t waste a syringe, just hide for 10 seconds and you’ll heal back to full for free. That small advantage adds up over the course of a match, and can save you healing items for when you really need them.
At the end of the day, figuring out how do you get octane in Apex Legends is the easy part, learning to play him well takes a little practice, but it’s 100% worth the effort. He’s one of the most versatile, fun legends in the game, perfect for players who like fast-paced gameplay and don’t want to be stuck in one spot for too long. Whether you unlock him with free Legend Tokens after a few days of grinding, or spend a little cash to grab him immediately, you’ll have a blast zipping across the map and outplaying enemy teams. Give him a try next time you log on, you won’t regret picking one of the most iconic legends in Apex history.