Now that Apex Legends Season 17 is in full swing, it’s time to start sorting out which Legends are the best and which are the worst for casual players based on the buffs and nerfs that have been introduced. We have consulted our Pro players and Challenger circuit competitors to answer that question, all so we could put it together for you.

This is going to be the first of two tier lists, with this one being aimed at the casual Apex Legends player base. We will be working from the bottom and moving up, so in this case, we are indeed saving the best for last.

D Tier

Mirage

After a recent change that upgraded Mirage to filling out the support class, he now has far more useful utility than his days as a skirmisher. This is enhanced even more given that the support class gives every player on the team the ability to craft banners, and not just the support Legend themselves.

That being said, MIrage is still average at best. He’s good if you’re good, but his abilities are not helping you in the ways that just about every other Legend does. Sincere apologies to the Mirage mains out there, but we’re hating.

Crypto

Though he does have some solid abilities, Crypto is still not worthwhile for casual players. He requires high coordination and teamwork, which isn’t something you can achieve with random teammates. His ability to scan the survey beacons is great, but in most pub and low-ranked matches, there simply won’t be anyone alive to make use of that information anyway.

Revenant

There aren’t many new things we can say about Rev, as his rumored rework has not yet appeared. In the current state, he lacks anything to offer you as a player. He’s bad to play, and frankly, he’s unhealthy for the game in this current form. To make a good effort as Rev, much like Crypto, you need team coordination which makes him much worse for casual players.

C Tier

Fuse

Fuse is a bit situational, and many casual players struggle with his kit due to its high risk versus reward factor. Every single ability of Fuse’s could potentially blow up in his face, killing him, which happens quite often. If you can find grenades and you’re finding yourself in close-quarters team battles, Fuse can be pretty powerful but aside from that, he’s really quite average.

Lifeline

We have to admit that Respawn has done a good job of bringing power to Lifeline through buffs and the class system. That being said, a Legend that fundamentally only shines when you are dying or taking a ton of damage will never be a great pick. Lifeline’s care package improvements have helped a lot but she’s a very negative Legend that lacks aggressive options.

Mad Maggie

This is a Legend that has tried so hard to be a strong pick, but there is just something about her that continues to make her very situational. Maggie’s passive ability is fine, except that shotguns suck. Her drill is fine, except that people don’t really play indoors. Her ball is okay, but rotating is easier on other Legends. The best use of the ball is in very specific close-range situations, or to contain certain Legends.

The problem for Mad Maggie is that people just don’t play the Legends that she counters. She’s at least fun to play, but fighting on her boost pads can be off-putting until you adjust to her extra speed.

Newcastle

Similar to Lifeline, Newcastle is a very negative Legend. He excels in those really sweaty games where the cover he can provide can allow you to make a play or survive some difficult situations, but we’re just not seeing those outside of ALGS or some extremely rare end-games. The majority of the time, Newcastle feels weak to use. His revive passive is the best part of his kit, as his ability to move a player who has been downed is powerful and can prevent a player from getting thirsted or instantly re-knocked.

Wattson

If you have a discerning eye, you may be noticing a theme here for casual players. The defensive Legends just don’t offer much to the player at the casual level. Wattson is great at holding down a position and letting you level up those evo shield armors without wasting heals, however, when do you find yourself in need of this in the average pub or low-level game? It’s not that Wattson is bad at what she does, and she is popular with the Pro players for a good reason, the problem is that what she does is bad for the average player.

B Tier

Ash

Ash is here in the B Tier, but she has just clawed in as a result of a wide array of buffs that she had recently received. The improvements to tether have made the biggest impact, as it is a much more useful and quick-acting ability now. The old version of tether was hilariously slow, and you could outrun it or avoid it easily. Her portal feels a bit short for the size of some of the maps, and it still requires some coordination and team play to really excel. That being said, it does still have some selfish benefits in certain situations.

Caustic

Though we did shove most of the defensive Legends into the C Tier, Caustic’s gas does enough damage to warrant his placement here. The nox gas grenade ultimate singlehandedly elevates him up a tier because of the huge and devastating impact that it can have in a variety of combat situations. His gas traps can also be aggressively placed, thanks to the fact that you can throw them. Blocking doors with them is also quite satisfying, for the Caustic player at least.

Rampart

This Legend has recently seen an increase in use within the Apex Legends esports world, as several teams are starting to use her. She’s been on a bit of a journey in Apex as a whole. On release, and for the first few seasons they were really bad, but then Respawn began to slowly increase her power bit by bit.

The biggest change for Rampart was her ability to use Shiela from the hip, instead of needing to place it down. As a result, Rampart has become quite dynamic and has a range of situations where she can be pretty useful. Did you know that the second you place her wall down, it begins blocking damage? That can allow you to wall off incoming grenades and bang ults within a split second’s notice.

Vantage

Vantage is decent, and, pardon the pun, she has flown under the radar in recent seasons. Her sniper is great in the right hands, but her echo relocation does leave you a bit underwhelmed. The best use case for Vantage is really maximizing the information she can give you. Scan those survey beacons, identify what Legends different teams have and where the solo and duo players are on the map. After that, chase them down relentlessly, because aggression is your friend on this Legend.

Bloodhound

So far, the new white raven mechanic is certainly taking some time to get used to. The lack of ability to spam scans in your ultimate is always going to bring Bloodhound down from its peak some seasons ago, but any information always is useful. Plus, the scan ability coupled with the tracking via the raven is still strong, especially in those annoying pub games with three squads left zone two.

Gibraltar

Packed with a solid combination of offensive and defensive power, Gibraltar is a flexible legend. His bubble is an especially strong ability, and combining this with a good shotgun can simplify a fight. The bubble works to isolate players and allows you to take on easy battles. With that being said, Gibby can be unforgiving to play, with his massive hitbox making you an easy target which is going to mostly hurt casual players. That’s the only thing holding him back on this tier list.

Horizon

The recent nerfs have forced us to re-evaluate Horizon as a Legend. She’s no longer capable of sucking players through any object or surface with her black hole before dropping a ton of grenades on the heads of those trapped inside. She can no longer ascend to great heights and one clip someone with some death from above action. Now, she’s all about positioning and mobility. She is great if you’re looking to take height, as well as moving around the map and taking angles. Black hole is still strong, it’s just nowhere near as broken as it once was.

A Tier

Catalyst

Coming into Season 17 with a huge buff, Catalyst is in a good spot. Her dark veil wall can no longer be countered by a Seer ult, meaning it now blocks all scans as everyone had assumed it would when she was originally released. Catalyst now provides some great flexibility, with her kit being useful for both pushing and escaping. You can play in a building with her abilities, or move around out in the open. Taking control of doors is very underused, especially mid-engagement. This Legend truly offers something positive for virtually every situation.

Pathfinder

Last season’s Pathfinder buffs have really made a huge difference, and now as a result he feels much more viable to play, while still being as fun as ever. His zipline is a genuine rotational tool now, especially against casual opponents who are less likely to be able to snipe you off of the line. Pathfinder’s grapple fits those criteria of simultaneously being an aggressive and defensive power, as you can grapple onto your opponents or zip away to safety.

Seer

You may not want to hear it, but Seer is still good. With the insane amount of information that he provides, how could he not be? Between his ability to never be ratted on, canceling heals and nearly having built-in wallhacks for every battle if you’re running a gold helmet or stacking ult accelerants, he really is powerful in the hands of players of every caliber. There are still a large number of players who dislike Seer due to what he offers, but he’s still good and we simply cannot deny his A Tier placement.

Ballistic

The newest addition to Apex Legends, Ballistic has hit the battlefield with huge playability. He’s both fun to play, but also fun to play with on a team, which is a great bonus. His ultimate ability is insane, and when it is combined with a strong sling weapon you are absolutely deadly. His smart pistol tactical isn’t as powerful as some had though, as it does take some effort to get locked on, but that’s about the only thing keeping him out of becoming a total nightmare everyone else.

Valkyrie

It has been a long while since Valk has flown anywhere below the S Tier section, so you may be wondering what took her down a peg. It’s the new evac towers! Though they’re not as good as her skyward dive by any stretch of the imagination, they still remove a number of situations from the game that you would have otherwise needed her. Don’t get us wrong, Valkyrie is still a strong pick, as her movement, aggression, and escape abilities continue to make her a very well-rounded Legend.

Loba

Arguably one of the most underrated Legends by the casual player base, Loba offers a ton to any team she is playing with. She has all of the support buffs that we mentioned earlier, but the black market takes her to another level. For starters, Loba helps you find what you need, and with casual players often having a favorite weapon or two, she speeds up their path to getting geared.

Next, she’s the best option for reviving teammates, as you can drop her black market down, gear up and then vanish before the players who heard your rest have time to get to you. Her bracelet ability has improved a lot as well, which provides Loba with a great boost to her mobility.

S Tier

Octane

This one may come as a big shock for some of you, but when it comes to casual play, Octane is one of the best Legends there is. All three of the S Tier legends are here because we believe they’re the best Legends for new players to pick up and learn.

First, Octane is so much fun to play. You’re tearing around the map with a good amount of offensive and defensive powers, such as his pad and stim abilities, which can be used for both chasing and fleeing. Players in the lower skill levels are far less likely to land shots on a mid-air Octane, making the pad a strong choice. He’s fairly simple and easy to learn, which reduces the margin for error with new users.

Wraith

An absolute classic pick, Wraith is this high on the list because she’s simple to understand while also being fun to play. Those two factors alone make her great for casual players. Her kit may lean more defensively, but her portal is a powerful ability that she can use to rotate and move around the map. You can also use it aggressively, and unlike Octane’s pad, you can come back if things get too hectic.

It is worth remembering that her phase can be tracked visually, so keep that in mind as you’re about to emerge from it. Try not to sit out in the open afterward, as you could still be punished. Overall, Wraith’s kit is extremely strong, and her small hitboxes solidify her ranking.

Bangalore

Regardless of the skill level, Bangalore is the undisputed best Legend in all of Apex right now. Her abilities all rest in that sweet spot of having both offensive and defensive output, and above that, she’s just plain fun to play with. The assault class that Bangalore is in, remains to be far and away the most powerful too. If you are on Bangalore and have a digital threat scope, it’s good game for anyone or anything that gets in your way. Deploy those smokes, whip out the digi threat, and punish accordingly.