A lot of folks come to me asking how they can get good at ranked and get that precious dive trail. Well, I'm here to tell you exactly what to do in order to do well in this game. These ideas, bullet points, and explanations are fool proof and unassailable. I've lived (and very rarely ever die) by these guidelines for years and find myself atop the pile of ranked very consistently. Follow them closely, and you too can be an Apex Predator like me.
Behavior: If you see or hear any kind of hom*ophobia, sexism, bullying, or any kind of behavior like this, DO report them using the system. Fire and foremost the best thing that can be done for the Apex community is reporting and removing those toxic elements from the community so that its a welcoming place for everyone, regardless of skill level or dedication. It starts with you, the player, to call this out and shape the community.
Inputs: First, the gulf between controller and KB+M is at this point too large to ignore, especially at the higher level of play. Sometimes you're just going to get clipped at close range and it will have less to do with your ability to hit your shots and more to do with the very prevalent aim assist the enemy has. Keep engagements a bit further away if you can to prevent this. Report anyone that gets close with a shotgun or R99 in order to maintain a better player pool in these scenarios, Gameplay Sabotage. If they are on console using a controller in a PC lobby, also take the above appropriate action. Furthermore, if anyone is using a controller or console player and critiques any other players aim in or out of game, do the needful as well. Many players only have ever played on controller and have no concept of un-assisted aim and thus should be removed from that kind of consideration.
Classes: Mix up the classes at legend select screen. Doubling up the classes simply needlessly reduces the amout of EVO you can gain and can be the difference between life or death in a close fight. If you see someone has picked a class you were going to go, do your duty and change over to something else useful, even if its just the passive like scanning crates or being able to craft banners. Report anyone that doesn't do this for Gameplay Sabotage, there is a class and EVO system for a reason.
Dropping: Hot dropping is incredibly stupid in ranked. So many games are lost immediately upon the drop from an unfocused jump master its not even funny. Even if you're the best shot in the world, you're essentially putting your team on a roullette wheel in terms of the aforementioned close-range controller roller, but also whether you'll even get a gun or not. Why do this? Why potentially waste your team mates' time by dropping them in between other people like that? 100% 360 no scope accuracy counts for absolutely nothing if you don't have a gun, and the 2 other enemy teams are meleeing you to death, or you DO get a gun and its not something useful for that situation. Hot dropping takes the choice of winning the game out of your teams hand and into RNG. Save that for non ranked games or private lobbies.
If you DO find yourself in a hot drop because others peel in, STAY TOGETHER. Running off as a wraith or octane or revenant is essentially throwing when even your mere presence can stop your team from being focus fired. Remember, 2 melee's from two of you is 120 damage if you never get a gun. Thats way better than dashing off, getting that sweet gun, turning around and ope, your team mates are down because they had to fight alone, then YOU get melted cuz there are more of them than you. Peeling off is a lot less important on a drop if it means staying together with crappy guns than splitting off and throwing the dice on a separate 1v1's or 1v2's. If someone hot drops intentionally and rages that someone didn't split off when there are 9 enemies around, report them. Gameplay Sabotage. You came to play Ranked, not gamble on the gun obtaining roulette wheel.
Equipment: Similar to above, if you see a piece of gear, even if you hate the guts of your team mates, dislike their class selection, whatever: You're there to win a ranked game. Share the equipment. If your team mate has no gun, and you have two, and you're in a fight, drop one for them. If they are rolling snipper or marksman, give them the scope, its far better for them to have a useable long range gun than a fancy 3x on your Havoc. If you have a support class and you see a gold knockdown shield, ping it, don't even pick it up unless its specifically to bring to a team mate. Its a waste of everyones time if you do withhold items and can earn a report for Gameplay Sabotage and selfish play.
Also in relation to this point and the below point: remember if you ping an item and then take off, your team mate now has to run all the way over or back, often alone, if you keep moving on. Thats a great way to split up a party and get yourself down a person out of selfish play. See above actions that should be taken for selfish play. Pick it up and bring it or stay back to provide overwatch as they loot the item.
Movement: Loba, Revenant, Pathfinder, etc. Remember: Not everyone else can zip up a wall in a few seconds like you can. If you're in a firefight or chasing a team or some such, you are literally splitting up your team if you hop up to different areas that others can't reach. At high level play, people notice this. They see you bracelet over to chase that battery-poppin Bangalore and will immediately pounce the rest of your team. Use these abilities in conjuction with your team, not to secure yourself some extra goodies or loot that bin just a little bit faster. I have lost track of the number of times a Loba was just gonna scoot up and get those bins first with her bracelet and ope, another team was there and no one can help you. Its worth it to move a bit slower as a team than to move faster as an individual in many instances in ranked. If a team mate or two insists on face tanking everything and hard charging in, leaving team mates behind, there are fewer text book examples of Gameplay Sabotage.
The Ring, looting, and POI's: Don't ignore the ring. Saying its "only ring 1" is some absolute rookie behavior and is ripe for a Gameplay Sabotage charge. It isn't about how much damage the ring does, its about where it places you for the next fight. What good is your team for the next fight if all of you are breathlessly popping syringes to ensure you can get to the next ring before it moves?
Half the game is about positioning and being able to take on a fight before aiming and quick movement enters the equation. Its often better to disengage from a fight or even miss out on some loot if it means you can be into position for the next ring sooner and shoot those folks trying to hustle in after you. It may not feel good to leave behind those team wipes or death boxes, but when they are in a much worse position and likely eliminatd themselves, you'll be glad as your RP value tics slowly upward as the ring gets smaller. Similarly, do not push teams into a closing ring, you never know who is lurking waiting to take on a bone headed move like that. You might get that team wipe, but now you gotta hustle back to your buddies alone and fully dependant on a medkit now, sabotaging your teams chances.
Lastly, going to different POI's late in a ring cycle can also set you up for failure. You may have picked your prime drop point clean and need more loot, but pushing away out of the ring will let more savvy teams take over where you just came from and shoot you as you return, thanking you for all the extra loot you brough them. Loot TOWARDS the ring, not out of it, otherwise be prepared to get ambushed or find yourself constantly playing a game of catch-up because you wanted go get that last bin at the cost of an extra 800 meters of running. This is often fatal on maps like Broken Moon and absolutely gameplay sabotage of your team. Get inside the ring with mid loot and let the deparate players bring YOU the high tier loot they went for. If you played it right, you'll have some time to pick their boxes clean at the inside edge of the just-closed ring rather than hustling in and having to move again without a chance to lot.
Abilities and Legends: Use them to help your team, not just for yourself. Badly placed or used abilities are the epitome of Gameplay Sabotage and reduces everyones enjoyment and competativeness of Apex. For all of these COMMUNICATION is going to be the best underlying application when considering them.
Here is a quick and easy run down:
Alter: Put down your ult where its safe and remember your tactical goes BOTH ways. Trying to chase that kill alone can put you inside a building ALONE, getting you knocked and the ability for the enemy to come out and ambush YOUR team. Thats a fine way to sabotage your team. You can use Alter's ult while downed, so do it.
Ash: Your ult charges faster than you think, put it in places your entire team can use it. Not just you and the nearby person. Otherwise your'e just splitting - and sabotaging - your team.
Ballistic: Your ult charges faster than you think and can be a life saver for your team mates. Any engagement that goes down without your ult active is essentially sabotaging the team.
Bangalore: Smoke is useful for running away, approaching through open areas, repositioning, or obsuring recovery. Smoking an enemy so THEY can approach under cover or reposition is actively helping the enemy team. Thats Gameplay Sabotage if I've ever heard it. Use your smoke tactically, not as a fun whimsical thing to fire at enemies for fun. Your ult slows down your team too, use it to make space, not to make noise.
Bloodhound: Scanning and not getting enemy teams gives away your position and class. Absolutely sabotage, so keep it tight with those tac uses.
Catalyst: Your wall is extremely powerful for crossing open area and charges relatively quickly. Your team should never struggle to get through an area without your assistance in some way. Your wall reinforcement can be key as well to the succes of a team. A Catalyst in a fight with abilities off cooldown is a Catalyst Sabotaging Gameplay. Don't let that be you.
Caustic: Use your traps to not necessarily block doors but to allow enemies to come inside and BREATHE IT IN while blocking their movement forward. This will do more to disrupt their ability to pressure you than blocking a door your team may need to use. Remember if you see your teams gas, you know the enemy isn't there. Go get in it and pressure the enemy more. If its enemy gas, just hold your breath, no problem. Caustic is the best boy though, and is actually incapable of sabotaging his team.
Conduit: Point your face at your team and boost their shields in a fight. Do not just use it for yourself or before anyone takes any damage, thats just wasting a very powerful ability and is actively sabotaging your team. The Jammers are KEY but have a long wind up and wind down, so get them out early if you see an enemy go down to prevent enemy movement to flank you or pick them up. A passive Conduit is an empty battery, so lock it in.
Crypto: Use the drone to get intel, scan antennae, res your teamies, and cover your flanks. Your drone doesn't have to be fancifully placed, just available to EMP the enemy and cover areas. EMPing a bunch of equipment can be more useful than hitting an enemy team with it, so remember that. If a Crypto dies with an active undeployed drone, that is necessarly a Gameplay Sabotage moment and you should take appropriate action.
Fuse: Your ult is almost always up. Use it early, use it often. Its less about melting the enemy, and more about controlling where they can and can't go. Your team mates, if they are paying attention, will recognize this and use it as a No-Go zone so they can flank effectively. Use your knuckl to hit downed enemies, it the best way to press the assault. Free grenades are strong, but remember, your teamies can body block your shots, causing them to bounce into your face or away from the enemy. If this happens, call it out for the sabotage it is and take the right steps.
Gibralter: Your dome shield is extremely powerful, but remember it also functions as a No-Go zone. Putting it down so only you can hit a syringe is a waste. Use it for your team or to res your buddies as you res faster in the dome than outside of it. If you find the shield is blocking your team from shooting the enemy and is only a hindrance, be sure to get the reports going for gameplay sabotage on the offending Gibby.
Horizon: Remember your tactical is extremely useful, but entire fights can be done around it. Using it just to boost yourself is a great way to split your team and sabotage a victory. Be mindful of how it can help you reposition or block door ways from enemies. Your ult destroys doors, remember that too and be sure to shout it out to teamies.
Lifeline: IMMEDIATELY as soon as a teamie goes down, res them. No question. Its better to res a teamie and take a shot, than to avoid all shots and have the teamie die. Ressing the teamie creates a timer on the fight against the enemy as your team cannot be eliminated as long as someone is being res'd.Trying to be a hero and wipe everyone yourself is sabotage.
Loba: Selecting this character is inherently considered Gameplay Sabotage unless a few criteria are met. The bracelet is an ESCAPE ability, not an engagement one. Treat it as such, not as a toy. Your shop can be used by enemies and is intended to be used by your entire team. Not just you. Closing up shop immediately upon everyone buying is mandatory, and putting it down split away from others is just putting that shop up for the enemy. Seeing as most do not do this, selecting this character is inherently reportable in ranked at this time.
Mad Maggie: Don't be afraid to use your ball to charge into the enemy, its a great way to engage a fight or in bad cases,run away. Not using the drill on the enemy is sabotage though, so make sure you're constantly pressing the attack.
Mirage: Similar to lifeline, you need to be ressing as soon as possible and bamboozlin' to the max. Not properly disengaging and crafting your teammates is considered to be gameplay sabotage, so keep your head on a swivel when playing this legend.
Newcastle: Same as lifeline with the added caveate that his ult moves you way way further than you think. If anyone on your team has a shield break, you should be putting that wall up on them immediately if you're not ressing someone else. Do not sabotage your team by not pulling them out of harms way as soon as possible. Don't forget, your tactical can be moved too!
Octane: Put your pad down for teamies to use them to engage or disengage, not to get to a bin first or for you to get to a new POI alone. Octane has the ability to be an extremely powerful flanker and team mobility player. However, too many are in Sabotage mode where they themselve want to go fast and chide the others for not having that stim pack or have the first crack at loot. Don't let that Octane be you.
Pathfinder: Look where you're putting your ult before firing it. In ranked folks will just wait for your ult to set up then shoot you off of it. Often you're the key to getting out of a ring, so use your abilities as such, not to get a cheap piece of loot or for self serving means. Its actively gameplay sabotage to zip line only yourself up with a tactical and forcing the rest of the team to use stairs in a time sensitive situation.
Rampart: Cover up, cover often. Excellent way to buy time for your team to set up or reposition if necessary. If you're ever in a fight near doors and you have Sheila available, there should be no doors in that area as a good Rampart controlls the battlefield and a bad one is actively sabotaging by not using their abilities.
Revenant: Similar to Pathfinder, with the further caveat that choosing this legend is in itself an act of Sabotage that needs to be worked out of rather than into. Use rarely.
Seer: Your ult is off cooldown so use it often. Even if the enemy isn't in it, it can be a useful visual guide to where they are NOT and you can move appropriately. Generally its considered a minimum among us high level players for a Seer to hit 80% of their tactical charges. Missing too many tac charges can be a form of sabotage as you give away your teams position and should be treated as such. Lead your shots.
Valkyrie: Same as Revenent and Pathfinder, though this is doubled if you hurt yourself with the missile swarm. Thats some rookie gameplay and as such, toxic and sabotage. Further caveat: Valk can see where folks are dropping straight off the jump, any hot drop with this legend is sabotage. Use rarely.
Vantage: Don't be afraid to use your snipper riffle often, though it does give away YOUR position. Its a great way to pressure a team as the rest of your squad gets into position. Call out the shield and squad status as often as you can, remember you can do this without anything equipped! Same for Echo, use that lil guy often to change position! Her ult is very strong and has such a huge hit box and aim-assit that its often considered intentional to miss shots with it. If you see a Vantage missing ult snipper shots, that is sure sign of sabotage.
Wattson: Get that ult early, get it up often in a fight. This can be the make or break for an entire fight! Your walls can be great ways to slow down an enemy, but remember, they won't STOP them. Don't treat them as foolproof barriers the way a Catalyst or even Caustic defended area may be. If a Wattson ever goes down without deploying her ult, that is a clear sign of sabotage though, and should be acted upon by the community.
Wraith: Just don't choose this legend. Similar to Revenant, inherently a gameplay sabotage pick and often provides no utility to their team. Report on sight.
There is your Ranked guide, feel free to leave any questions or concerns in the comments below or reach out to me directly if you want to learn more ways to become an Apex Predator and show this community the best way forward!
