All 28 Apex Legends Characters: Classes and Abilities

Apex Legends has 28 playable characters, called legends, split into five classes: Assault, Controller, Recon, Skirmisher and Support. Eight have been in the game since the February 2019 launch, and the newest is Axle, a Skirmisher added in Season 29 (Overclocked). Each legend has a passive, a tactical and an ultimate ability.

How many Apex Legends characters are there?

There are 28, according to EA’s own Legends guide, checked in October 2026 during Season 30 (Marked). Respawn used to add a new legend almost every season; lately the gaps are much longer. Sparrow arrived in Season 25, Axle in Season 29, and nothing in between.

Not all of them are free, though. Only some legends are unlocked on a new account. The rest you unlock as you play or buy, and the roster screen shows which ones you still need.

All Apex Legends characters by class

Here’s the full roster, grouped the way the game groups it, with the season each legend arrived. “Season 0” is the 2019 launch roster.

Skirmisher is the biggest class with seven legends; Controller is the smallest with four. Why so lopsided? Respawn has never said. Funny enough, EA’s guide files Octane under the Preseason, but he actually joined with Season 1 in March 2019, a month after launch, so that’s the date we show.

What do the five classes do?

Each class adds a shared perk on top of the legend’s own kit. These perks only apply in core modes such as Ranked and Unranked Battle Royale, not in every limited-time mode.

In practice, the class matters as much as the abilities when you build a squad. A trio with no Recon has to guess where the next fight is; a trio with no Support loses every long fight where someone goes down (and in Ranked, someone always goes down).

Who is the newest Apex Legends character?

Axle, a Skirmisher who arrived with Season 29 in May 2026. Her kit is all about sliding (fitting, for a season called Overclocked).

• Passive, Drift: more control while sliding.
• Tactical, Nitro Gate: a gate you drop in front of you that launches you into a high-speed slide. Teammates and enemies can use it too.
• Ultimate, Kickstart: an enemy-seeking drone that can open an ambush or stall a squad.

Before Axle, the newest legend was Sparrow (Season 25), a Recon with a double jump, tracker darts and the Stinger Bolt arrow. Two new legends in a year and a half. That’s a slow pace by Apex standards, honestly.

Which legends changed recently?

Season 30, Marked, started on August 4, 2026 and was built around Bloodhound. Respawn’s patch notes say Bloodhound had the lowest pick rate from Gold upward (rough for a launch legend), so the legend got a new ultimate, Allfather’s Cloak, which cloaks anyone in its radius for up to twelve seconds after they leave it. Loba and Rampart got buffs in the same patch, and Valkyrie was toned down after several seasons near the top of the pick charts.

The next big change is on the Ranked side. Respawn announced on October 20, 2026 that Season 31, starting in November, adds a legend ban system to every match with Diamond or higher players. Why does that matter for a character list? Because a one-trick on a banned legend will need a backup pick, probably from the same class.

Which legend should a beginner pick?

Pick by class first, not by hype. It saves a lot of frustration. Thing is, tier lists for Apex change every patch and depend on your rank, while the class role stays the same.

Support legends like Lifeline or Gibraltar forgive mistakes: your revives are faster and you heal on the move. Assault legends such as Bangalore give you simple tools that work on any map, and her smoke is easy to use well. Recon legends reward people who like calling shots for the squad. Skirmishers (Octane, Wraith, Pathfinder) are the most fun to move with, but they punish bad positioning the hardest. If you also play hero shooters, our Overwatch 2 ranks guide and the Marvel Rivals tier list show how other games handle roles. More Apex Legends characters coverage lives in our Apex Legends articles.

FAQ

How many characters are in Apex Legends?

Apex Legends has 28 playable legends as of Season 30 (Marked) in 2026. They are split into five classes: Assault, Controller, Recon, Skirmisher and Support.

Who is the newest Apex Legends character?

Axle is the newest legend. She is a Skirmisher who arrived in Season 29 (Overclocked) in May 2026, with the Drift passive, the Nitro Gate tactical and the Kickstart drone ultimate.

Which legends were in the game at launch?

Eight legends were available at the February 2019 launch: Bangalore, Bloodhound, Caustic, Gibraltar, Lifeline, Mirage, Pathfinder and Wraith. Octane followed in Season 1.

Which class has the most legends?

Skirmisher has the most, with seven legends: Octane, Pathfinder, Wraith, Revenant, Horizon, Alter and Axle. Controller has the fewest, with four.

Do class perks work in every mode?

No. EA says legend class perks are only active in core modes of Apex Legends, such as Ranked and Unranked Battle Royale.

Is Apex Legends adding legend bans?

Yes. Respawn announced that Season 31, starting in November 2026, adds a legend ban system to matches with Diamond or higher players.