Apex Legends community split over major Arc Star changes
Apex Legends’ players are reacting to the Arc Star nerf detailed in the Raiders Collection Event patch notes, with some being confused about the change.
Respawn has officially announced the Apex Legends Collection Event for Season 11 titled “Raiders.” As well as brand new Pirate-themed cosmetics, Wattson’s Heirloom, and the return of Winter Express, the game will also be receiving some changes.
These changes were detailed in the Raiders Collection Event patch notes and some have been questioning the decision to nerf the Arc Star Ordnance.
Arc Stars have always been a very useful and strong tool in Apex Legends. As well as being able to stick enemies with them, doing collective stick and detonation damage, they are also useful for damaging enemies who are holding a position.
It seems the devs have recognized their strength and decided to introduce some changes. As of December 7, the Arc Star will officially take on the following updates:
Apex Legends Arc Star changes
On Stick
- Base stick damage lowered from 30 -> 10
- Shield Damage Multiplier increased from x3 -> x4 (stick on shielded enemy will now max out at 40 instead of 90)
- Sticking an enemy now applies a slow debuff (reverting Legacy update change)
Non-Sticks
- Slow duration is now driven by distance to the center of Arc Star detonation
The last time the devs brought changes to the Arc Star they removed the slow effect. It seems they will be reverting this change, bringing back the slow debuff but subsequently nerfing the overall potential damage.
- Read more: All Apex Legends voice actors in Season 11
The Arc Star will now do 10 damage on stick to an enemy without shield and 40 to an enemy with shield. Reddit user JuiceEeEeE361 had a few things to say about this change in their recent post, asking “why the hell did they nerf Arc Stars?”
A player in the comments also disagrees with the change, stating that they “would rather an Arc Star just f***ing decapitate me than slow me for longer than it does already.”
Respawn’s reasoning behind the change is because they felt the Arc Stars excelled in “a lot of areas.” They wanted to make them “less effective at area denial” and also make it more obvious when players were stuck with one.
It seems the community is split about the decision, as many comments are actually justifying the change: “It’s still really huge its just not an instant game over if you’re stuck, also the explosions slow being scaled with proximity makes so much sense.”
One user even mentioned how the change will benefit competitive Apex: “This has been a big issue in comp. It’s basically a pocket Kraber.”
We’ll have to wait for the update to see just how much this change will affect the Arc Star. For now, check out the most popular Legends in Season 11.
Image Credits: Respawn Entertainment