Apex Legends Season 26: A guide to the massive changes to ranked play

Respawn has updated ranked play significantly in Season 26, and competitive Apex on the regular level may never be the same again. Between changes to RP and the addition of individual drop zones for squads, you’ll find that Apex Legends has undergone massive changes.

If you’re ready to dive into ranked play in Season 26, then here’s a guide for what to expect in the latest Apex update.

Season 26 introduced many changes to how ranked matches of Apex Legends are played. Below, we’ve laid out the basics about how the competitive mode has changed this August.

There were multiple major changes to ranked play released on August 6 alongside Season 26. First off, your drop spot is now randomly assigned for ranked squads. This means there will be a limited number of players at each POI, so the whole lobby can’t start at the same location.

Though enemies can invade your zone, you’ll usually have ample time to drop and loot before encountering other players. Competitive players will have to adapt to Drop Zones to be successful. On the flip side, personalised Drop Zones provide a much easier experience for casual players transitioning into ranked.

A developer note in the Season 26 patch notes further explains why drop zones have been updated:

“Ranked matches should allow you to get into the match before it’s over—bad drops can ruin that and lose you RP. Drop Zones means that all players will land at relatively the same time and have a shot at survival without waiting for the Dropship to unload. Contested drops are still possible, but limited and manageable: no more will half the lobby drop on the same POI. You’ll get the best chance at loot in your assigned Drop Zone, but efficient looting is still important in case enemies invade.”

Multiple figures for RP have been reworked in Season 26. Additionally, a challenger bonus has been implemented that offers extra points for defeating players who are a higher tier than your account.

We’ve laid out all of the changes below, straight from the official patch notes.

In the long term, the randomly assigned drop spots could be a key mechanic in Apex esports. Seeing how everyday players adapt to the new Drop Zones could help Respawn develop further balancing changes for professional tournaments, as the latest changes offer every team a fair shot at surviving past the first circle.

Squads receiving private Drop Zones will also keep each match interesting for the entirety of a session, as previously, many teams would drop at the same location, causing dozens of players to be eliminated early. The new Challenger Bonus may even give lower-tier players the incentive they need to become more aggressive. New incentives to play aggressively should change the attitude of the entire competitive community in Apex Legends.

One thing’s for sure in the latest season of Apex: every team has an even chance of achieving greatness, likely motivating more players to try their hand at ranked play. Plus, introducing auras that reflect your rank in Season 26 is also a great motivator.

Competitive Apex is getting the attention it deserves in Season 26, as Respawn tests out new ways to increase fairness within each match. Personalised Drop Zones could be the key we need to motivate casual fans into trying ranked, potentially increasing the esports community over time.

If Apex Legends is to remain one of the biggest names in FPS esports for another decade, then Respawn needs to listen to player feedback and adapt as necessary. Luckily, it looks like Apex is heading in the right direction as we get closer to 2026.