Apex Legends Season 31 reworks Crypto and adds Akimbo Wingman and Strongholds

EA and Respawn Entertainment have detailed Apex Legends Season 31, titled Cipher, with Crypto receiving a substantial rework alongside the introduction of Akimbo Wingman revolvers and a new Strongholds loot system.

The season also brings buffs for Revenant and Lifeline, Legend Bans for higher-ranked matches and a new Mythic Volt skin. EA describes Cipher as shifting more of the battle royale toward information gathering and riskier decisions around high-value loot.

Crypto’s Surveillance Drone will now operate using batteries rather than a traditional cooldown. Players can pick it up and redeploy it without waiting through a long recharge, while the new Sentry Mode automatically tags enemies that enter its field of view.

His EMP Ultimate has also been simplified so it can be deployed with a button press. Respawn says the changes are intended to move Crypto away from passive drone use and toward a more aggressive intelligence-gathering role during fights.

Cipher introduces an Akimbo version of the Wingman, allowing players to carry one of the powerful revolvers in each hand. EA describes the setup as combining the Wingman’s precision with increased firepower, although complete weapon statistics and balance details have not yet been published.

The season’s new Mythic weapon is the Cryptic Core Volt SMG. Its design uses a nanite theme connected to Crypto and includes a pixel-art PALS assistant, while Exotic Shards can be used to change its appearance through different retro-style cartridges.

Strongholds are being introduced as a higher-risk evolution of Care Packages. Squads that raid one can obtain crate weapons, corrupted attachments and EVO, but opening the structure takes time and activates an alarm that alerts nearby opponents.

Each Stronghold provides cover and Hardlight defenses around the loot area, giving squads a chance to hold their position while the vault opens. Other teams can instead wait nearby and attack after someone else triggers the alarm, turning each Stronghold into a potential late-match ambush point.

Revenant receives a shorter Ultimate cooldown and faster Tactical, while new upgrades can extend his Ultimate after knocks or refresh Shadow Pounce under specific conditions. Lifeline gets a shorter D.O.C. cooldown, self-healing while gliding and upgrades covering revives, mobility and her Ultimate.

Ranked matches at Diamond and above will also introduce Legend Bans. Every player casts one vote, with heavily voted Legends becoming more likely to be removed from that match rather than the most-voted character being automatically banned.

EA has also confirmed that Season 32 will bring a major Kings Canyon overhaul in early 2027. Cipher therefore serves as another step in Respawn’s broader roadmap, combining a major Legend rework with new weapon, loot and Ranked systems before the next map update arrives.