apex legends season 26 has already brought its fair share of surprises, from unexpected legend pick rate changes to rare weapon animations. One of the biggest stories, however, revolves around Wildcard mode and a controversial update Respawn was forced to revert after heavy player backlash.
Wildcard stat tracking controversy and reversal
Wildcard mode quickly became a fan favorite thanks to its unique revival mechanic and fast-paced matches. Initially, kills and damage from the mode counted toward overall account stats, but Respawn pushed an update removing that tracking. While badges like 4K damage and 20-kill achievements could still be earned, many felt the removal made the mode less rewarding.
The community reaction was overwhelmingly negative. Polls showed over 80% of Players wanted kills in Wildcard to count, and social media lit up with criticism. Players argued the change made no sense, especially since stat inflation has been possible in other limited modes in the past.
Respawn eventually responded, reverting the change and restoring full stat tracking for Wildcard. According to the developers, the original intent was toavoid skewing KDA due to the mode’s high respawn rate, but they acknowledged this didn’t meet player expectations. The fix came just before the weekend, allowing fans to jump back into Wildcard without losing progression.
Bangalore and Caustic dominate while Wattson falls off
Beyond Wildcard, the current legend meta has seen major shifts. Bangalore’s mini rework, which introduced electrified smoke capable of destroying deployables through walls, has made her one of the most powerful picks this season. This change, combined with Caustic’s defensive strength after his own rework, has pushed Wattson out of the spotlight.
Wattson’s pick rate has dropped from around 8% to just 1.8%, with many players calling Caustic a strictly better defensive option. His gas now removes mobility charges from legends like Ash and Sparrow, further solidifying his anti-Movement role. While Bangalore’s dominance has been blamed for much of Wattson’s decline, Caustic’s versatility has arguably played an equal part.
Some hope remains for Wattson fans, as her pick rate has seen a small rise recently while Bangalore’s numbers dip slightly. Still, many believe Respawn needs to revisit the balance of electrified smoke, especially its ability to destroy defenses through walls.
New weapon animations discovered
Season 26 also introduced new select animations for all legends in Wildcard mode. In addition, a rare one-handed Peacekeeper cocking animation has been spotted in the firing range, replacing the usual spin animation. The animation appears inconsistent, suggesting it might be a hidden rare or newly added feature.
Meanwhile, players are still searching for the EVA-8 inspect animation that Respawn accidentally teased nearly a year ago in a reactive recolor preview. Despite multiple updates, it has yet to appear in-game.
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Source: Grrt
Frequently asked questions
What happened with Wildcard stat tracking?
Respawn briefly removed stat tracking for kills and damage in Wildcard mode but restored it after player backlash.
Why is Wattson’s pick rate dropping?
Bangalore’s electrified smoke and Caustic’s strong defensive kit have overshadowed Wattson, making her a less appealing pick.
What is the new Peacekeeper animation?
A rare one-handed cocking animation has been spotted, replacing the standard spin animation under certain conditions.
Has the EVA-8 inspect animation been added yet?
No, the animation teased in a past reactive recolor preview is still missing from the game.
