Apex Legends split its growing roster into four different classes: Offensive, Defensive, Support, and Recon. Respawn Entertainment expanded that division with the release of season 16, redefining both bloated roles (such as the broad Offensive category) and least-populated legend types (such as Support, which only encompassed Lifeline and Loba).
With season 16, Apex Legends now has two new classes that address some flaws from the previous version. For example, Valkyrie's Recon-Offensive hybrid kit included two new classes.
Season 16 of Apex Legends will feature all new classes.
According to legendary designer Devan McGuire, assault legends are "all about combat utility and initiation." These characters can use their abilities to deceive opponents into bad combat actions and can initiate an engagement with their abilities to gain a fight.
- Bangalore
- Revenant
- Fuse
- Ash
- Mad Maggie
Skirmisher legends emphasize combat mobility and flanking, allowing them to engage in a unique manner—and with a quick escape in the event an engagement goes south. According to McGuire, they are excellent flankers, they play well and escape the situation as quickly as possible.
- Wraith
- Pathfinder
- Mirage
- Octane
- Horizon
- Valkyrie
The roster of Recon legends hasn't changed much in season 16, though Valk has remained firmly among the Skirmisher legends. Recon characters continue to exploit their skills to help their opponents and to communicate their knowledge.
- Bloodhound
- Crypto
- Seer
- Vantage
Mcuire said controllers are mainly concerned with area setup and control. They are able to "set down their abilities in the world to control their positioning and force adversaries to fight on their turf," and are adept at holding zones. Before season 16, only a few names from the defensive category have moved around in the revamped system.
- Caustic
- Wattson
- Rampart
- Catalyst
Apex's support class was the most sparse, with only Lifeline and Loba on the cast. Season 16 reimagined what it meant to be a support legend, renaming two old names.
According to McGuire, support legends have an innately more team-oriented focus that's encouraged by their abilities. They look for opportunities to protect, recover, or resupply their squads to stay in the game.
- Gibraltar
- Lifeline
- Loba
- Newcastle