In most games, glitches are patched out quickly. In Apex Legends, sometimes they become core mechanics. Over the years, Respawn has shown a rare willingness to embrace the chaotic beauty of unintended gameplay—turning accidents into some of the most beloved features in the game.
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest glitches-turned-features in Apex history and how they’ve helped shape the game’s identity, especially when it comes to Movement.
Wall Bouncing: The OG Accidental Tech
Originally, mantling in Apex was designed to be smooth and reactive—you could cancel it, look around, and Control your motion. But that flexibility led to the accidental creation of wall bouncing.
Slide into a wall, press jump right before you mantle, and you’ll launch backward at an angle. It’s clean, fast, and was never supposed to exist. Despite that, Respawn started showcasing wall bounces in official trailers, subtly endorsing the move. Now, it’s a movement staple.
Super Jumping: A Zipline Glitch That Stuck
Another classic unintended mechanic is the super jump—a tech where Players zip up and instantly jump again to launch into the air. Like wall bouncing, this wasn’t in the original design doc. But once players figured it out, Respawn didn’t just allow it—they started animating it in their marketing materials.
Tap Strafing: A Controversial Glitch Made Canon
Possibly the most hotly debated glitch in Apex’s history, tap strafing allows keyboard and mouse players to make impossible mid-air turns by binding forward movement to their scroll wheel.
It’s not supported on Controller, it wasn’t intended, and Respawn even tried to remove it—until the backlash forced them to pivot. Their solution? Add a form of tap strafing into the gameitself, via the Octane red jump pad perk, which lets you make sharp mid-air directional shifts after launching. While not as versatile as true tap strafing, it’s a nod to the original glitch and the movement community that popularized it.
Mad Maggie’s Fireball Perk: Inspired by a Bug
When Mad Maggie launched, players quickly discovered that her Wrecking Ball counted as a world object—meaning you could shoot a drill into it to turn it into a mobile fireball.
It didn’t last long as a bug, but Respawn remembered. Later, they introduced the Fireball perk, giving Maggie the official ability to turn her ult into a flame-spewing juggernaut. It even leaves thermite trails behind, making the once-bugged interaction a fully integrated feature.
Moving While Looting: A “Bug” That Defines Apex
Arguably the most shocking “glitch” to make it into the game is something everyone does: moving while looting.
According to Respawn developer John Larson, this was never intended. Originally, players were supposed to be stationary while looting death boxes—but the looting system’s flexibility led to players being able to strafe, bunny-hop, and even shield swap mid-combat.
Respawn admitted it was a bug, but due to its popularity and massive gameplay implications, they left it in. It’s now part of what makes Apex’s combat so fast and reactive.
Titanfall’s Grenade Boosting Returns With the EPG
Back in Titanfall 2, players figured out you could use grenade knockback to rocket yourself around the map. That same trick returned to Apex with the introduction of the EPG weapon.
Though limited-time, the EPG included a feature where players could shoot it at their feet for a mini speed boost. In “EPG Extreme” mode, Respawn even reduced self-damage further, encouraging players to bounce around the map like it was Titanfall again.
It’s a love letter to movement fans and a testament to Respawn’s flexibility with “unintended” mechanics.
Crypto’s Off the Grid: A Joke Becomes Real
Sometimes community memes turn into gameplay. Crypto’s Off the Grid perk—originally a fan joke about Crypto being invisible—is now a real in-game perk. These little nods show how much Respawn watches and responds to their player base, even through the bugs and memes.
Bugs That Make Apex Better
Apex’s identity is tightly wrapped around its movement system, and much of that stems from bugs that Respawn chose to embrace rather than erase. It’s a rare trait in live service games, and it’s a huge reason why Apex stands apart from its competitors.
While most studios rush to eliminate exploits, Respawn takes a more experimental, player-first approach. They let the community explore the limits of the engine—and if it’s fun, it often stays.
If you’ve ever wall-bounced, tap-strafed, super jumped, or shield-swapped mid-fight, you’ve benefited from what was once a mistake.
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Source: Grrt
Frequently Asked Questions
Was wall bouncing intended in Apex Legends?
No, wall bouncing is a side effect of the mantle system and was never meant to be a feature.
What is tap strafing and is it still in the game?
Tap strafing is a rapid directional shift that can only be done on mouse and keyboard. It’s still in the game, and Respawn even added a limited version of it as an Octane perk.
Can you still move while looting in Apex?
Yes, although originally a bug, Respawn chose to keep moving while looting as a permanent feature.
What was the Maggie fireball glitch?
Players could shoot Mad Maggie’s drill into her Wrecking Ball, creating a moving fireball. This inspired her later “Fireball” perk.
Is the EPG coming back?
Respawn has systems in place for limited-time weapons, and movement fans hope to see the EPG—and its explosive mobility—return soon.
