If you’ve ever loaded into Apex Legends only to get gunned down before you even pick up a single weapon, or watched your squad wipe 30 seconds into a match, you’re not alone. I remember my first 10 matches, I didn’t get a single knock and left every game frustrated that I couldn’t keep up with more experienced players. Thousands of new players jump into the free-to-play battle royale every day, and most are asking the same question: how do you play Apex Legends well enough to at least make it to the final circle? The good news is you don’t need thousands of hours of FPS experience to hold your own, as long as you nail the core basics first. We’ve put together this guide based on hundreds of hours of play, from bronze to predator rank, to break down exactly what you need to focus on as a new player.
Core Rules to Know When Learning How Do You Play Apex Legends
Apex shares some basic traits with other battle royales, but it has enough unique mechanics that even experienced COD or Fortnite players can get tripped up at first. Matches have 60 total players split into 20 three-person squads, and the last squad standing takes the win. The circle closes in on the map at set intervals, and you take increasing damage if you get caught outside of it. Unlike many other battle royales though, movement is far faster and more flexible, and team play is non-negotiable if you want to win consistently.
There are a handful of rules new players almost always miss their first few weeks of play, and learning these first will save you dozens of frustrating losses:
- Pings are more important than voice chat – you can mark enemies, loot, locations, and even warn teammates of danger without saying a word, so use them constantly even if you have a mic.
- You can respawn eliminated teammates – as long as you grab their banner within 90 seconds of their death, you can bring them back at any respawn beacon on the map, fully kitted with whatever gear you give them.
- Armor values stack with evo shield progress – every damage you deal to enemies levels up your evo shield, giving you extra health without needing to find higher tier armor on the map.
- There is no fall damage – you can jump off the tallest cliffs or zip lines without taking a single point of damage, so don’t be afraid to reposition quickly to get away from a bad fight.
The pace of Apex is far faster than most other battle royales, so you don’t want to spend 10 minutes looting a single area before you engage in fights. Most matches last 15 to 20 minutes total, and you’ll usually run into your first squad within the first 3 minutes of landing. I’ve won multiple matches with random teammates who never spoke a word, just using pings to coordinate pushes and rotations, so don’t sleep on that feature.
Choosing Your First Legend for Consistent Play
As you learn how do you play Apex Legends, you’ll find that the right legend pick can make even your worst matches feel less frustrating. Each legend has a passive, tactical, and ultimate ability, and there are more than 20 to choose from as of now, but you don’t need to memorize all of them right away. Stick to 2 or 3 easy-to-use legends first, and you’ll build confidence much faster than if you bounce between every new legend that drops.
For absolute beginners, Bloodhound is the best first pick by far. Their tactical ability scans a small area and highlights all enemies through walls for you and your squad, which eliminates the common new player struggle of not being able to spot opponents before they shoot you. Their passive also lets you track enemy footprints and recent activity, so you can tell if a squad has been through an area recently. Their ultimate ability speeds up your movement and highlights all enemies on the map, perfect for pushing a weakened squad or escaping a bad fight.
If you prefer a more supportive role, Gibraltar is another great beginner option. He has a built-in shield that activates when you aim down sights, blocking 75% of incoming damage, and his tactical ability drops a large dome shield that blocks all incoming and outgoing fire for 12 seconds. That dome shield is a game-changer for reviving teammates or healing up in the middle of a fight, and most squads will be happy to have a Gibraltar on their team. Avoid flashy picks like Wraith or Octane when you first start; their abilities require precise timing and game sense that most new players don’t have yet, and you’ll end up dying more often than if you picked a simpler legend.
Looting and Combat Basics to Stay Alive Longer
One of the biggest hurdles when figuring out how do you play Apex Legends is balancing looting time with combat readiness. New players often waste 5 minutes picking up every random item they see, only to get caught by a squad with no healing items left because their inventory is full of useless attachments for guns they don’t even use. You only need to carry 2 to 3 stacks of ammo per weapon, 4 to 6 shield cells, 2 to 4 syringes, and 2 phoenix kits if you can find them. Any extra space can be used for grenade or extra healing items to share with your squad.
Stick to low-recoil weapons like the R-301 or CAR SMG when you first start, that way you don’t have to struggle with hard-to-control recoil while you’re learning to aim. These guns are viable at every rank, even in professional play, so you don’t have to worry about them being “beginner guns” that won’t work as you get better. Always prioritize attachments that reduce recoil or increase reload speed first, as those will make the biggest difference in your combat performance.
When you get into a fight, always aim for the head first. Headshots deal double damage, so even a common R-301 can knock a fully armored enemy in 3 shots if all hit the head. Never stand out in the open while firing; always have a piece of cover nearby you can duck behind if you take too much damage. I see new players make this mistake all the time, they get overexcited after getting one knock and run into a building alone, only to get wiped by the rest of the squad waiting around the corner. Never push a squad alone, even if you think they’re all low on health.
Team Play Rules That Will Double Your Win Rate
Apex is designed to be a team game, and you will almost never win a 1v3 fight as a new player, no matter how good your aim is. Even top predators rarely win 1v3s against equally skilled opponents, so sticking with your squad is the single most important thing you can do to win more matches. Don’t run 100 meters ahead of your team when rotating to the next circle, and don’t land on the other side of the map from your squad just because you saw a good loot spot. You’ll get far better loot by taking out a squad with your team than you will looting an empty area alone.
Call out enemy positions even if you think your team already sees them – it’s better to repeat information than to have a teammate get surprised from an angle they didn’t check. If you knock an enemy, don’t immediately run to loot their box; make sure the rest of their squad is eliminated first, or you’ll get caught mid-loot by their teammates. If a teammate gets knocked, don’t run directly into a hail of gunfire to revive them; first put down a smoke or dome shield to block enemy line of sight, or push the enemy squad first to eliminate the threat.
Share loot with your squad whenever you can. If you find a gold armor that you don’t need, ping it for a teammate who is still using white or blue armor. If you have extra shield cells, drop them for a teammate who just got revived and has no healing items. Squads that work together and share resources win far more matches than squads where every player is only looking out for themselves. I’ve won matches where our entire squad had white armor for half the game, just because we communicated well and stuck together the entire time.
At the end of the day, learning how do you play Apex Legends well is all about practicing the basics over and over, instead of trying to pull off fancy trick shots or advanced movement right away. You will lose a lot of matches when you first start, that's normal for every player, even the ones at the highest rank. Focus on one small improvement each match, whether that's using more pings, hitting more headshots, or sticking closer to your team, and you'll start seeing wins before you know it. If you get frustrated, take a short break, then jump back in – the best part of Apex is that no two matches ever feel the same.