https://stayclose.social/ShannanMacintosh/ Latest updates from Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/8864/how-to-play-as-revenant-in-apex-legends/ Revenant has access to one of the most powerful skills in simply click the up coming webpage entire game. Silence is an extremely potent ability denying skill that can turn the tide of battle in one smart play. This makes the already deadly assassin one of the most powerful legends in the entire ros

Take for example the legend Gibraltar, this character is a functional "tank" style character. Equipped with a powerful shield when firing down his iron sites, Gibraltar is an extremely durable character who can cover himself and his teammates. Coupled with his powerful bubble shield, Gibraltar is the first line of defense for his teammates and a useful support character for a sq


Whether you prefer to be a healer, a tactical genius, or a frontrunner, there is a character for you. Apex Legends is currently being streamed and played by many people across the world, spreading the Apex fever to other gamers. Even top streamer and esports player Ninja has played the game, immediately spiking its popularity. But how do you know who to p


Revenant’s most important skill in Apex Legends gameplay would have to be Silence (Tactical) . With this skill, he throws a projectile that deals a bit of damage as well as disables all the abilities of the targets it hits for 15 seconds . This leaves opponents vulnerable, which makes it easy for Revenant and his team to finish them with powerful weaponry such as Apex Legends LM


After rebelling against his creators, Kaleb - now Revenant - swore to find whoever did this to him, and eventually wished for true death. When he realized that the only way to "kill" himself was to destroy his hidden "real" head, Revenant entered the Apex Games to gather as much information as he could regarding this object


Revenant's crouching ability allows the assassin to maintain his normal walk speed even when crouching. This may sound like an insignificant skill but it allows for some powerful in-game application. Revenant's rapid crouch speed allows him to cover a large amount of distance silently. Crouch walking in this game prevents an enemy player from hearing your footsteps and is essential for stealth-oriented success. This makes Revenant's archetype as an assassin-style character incredibly easy to incorporate in his gamep


Respawn changed what a battle royale game could be. Gameplay details only added to the allure. The decision to include respawn beacons gave players additional in-game play time, which created new opportunities to bond with characters. The three-player format forces players to use character abilities in tandem with one another. A ping system lets these fictitious personalities communicate via voice lines, which further fosters player relationships with the lege


Given the cutthroat nature of battle royale games like Apex Legends , players only have one shot to score the championship - forcing more careful plays and tactical risks. This isn’t the case with Revenant , whose silencing abilities are coupled with a guaranteed second life that can give his team an edge even in the direst of situations. However, with February 2023 marking a major change in most Apex Legends characters, Revenant players who underestimate their foes are rendered obsolete with their changed abilit


This climbing ability allows Revenant the ability to attack enemy squads in unpredictable manners. He can approach an enemy team from a seemingly safe position and combined with his silent but rapid crouch speed makes a new character a silent and deadly foe. The combination of these two abilities makes Revenant a deadly combination of a silent assassin and a versatile mobility character. Making hiding from the killer a near impossibil


The Geth is a mysterious entity that was generally considered to be an enemy for the longest time before Legion showed up, that is. This character showed a side of the Geth that had yet to be explored in the Mass Effect seri


The newly released character of Apex Legends _ is the deadly assassin, Revenant. Revenant provides avid _Apex players with a stealth-oriented playstyle that reinforces elusive players to find even more success in the game. The titular character for Apex's season 4, Revenant is both an aesthetically appealing design while providing some meta shifting gameplay implications to the Online landscape. The character's breadth of abilities will surely be optimized by top players and will serve as an excellent offensive/support hybrid for competitive and casual players al


As players begin to learn and master the newly released character there will certainly be a plentiful amount of defeats and deaths. The character's kit is relatively complex and is one that, if not mastered, can lead to some embarrassing and frustrating losses. However, there is no better time to learn a new character than now and even the most frustrating losses can serve as a learning tool for players learning a new character. When picking up Revenant it is important that aspiring players understand his relative strengths and weaknesses. He is a very technical legend and is one that will require a firm understanding of game mechanics to excel with. This guide will provide aspiring players a foundation to build upon as they master the newly released assas
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/8864/how-to-play-as-revenant-in-apex-legends/ Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:53:29 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/8857/in-defense-of-skill-based-matchmaking-in-apex-legends/ While the gameplay of Apex Legends allows players to approach vast battlefields in a wide variety of stealthy means, Revenant is built to stalk foes without fancy mechanics. Players who love crouch-based surprises in their FPS gameplay would immediately love Revenant on the get-go, with his silencing and extra life mechanics simply offering icing to the cake. Stealth lovers who feel inclined to play Revenant should consider the following things before choosing this charac


Since Apex Legends debuted just over a year ago, PUBG has undergone several new map additions. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: Blackout also saw some updates, though few of them worthy of significant discussion beyond the game's core players. Fortnite had a black hole that put it front and center for a short time before the game tapered off and out of the broader public consciousness once again. But few things get gaming Twitter talking as much as an Apex Legends character reveal trai


This isn’t literally a finisher, but rather, a workaround for knockdown shields. True, it’s generally best to leave knocked enemies be while you finish their teammates. However, they will always give away your position. And you might actually need their armor in tough situations, like a Third Party’s attack. So, here’s a little tip for finishing them off quickly—a knocked enemy cannot turn as quickly as you strafe. Slide to the left, convincing them to point their shield at you, then promptly slide to the right. Unless they drop their shield altogether, they won’t turn quickly enough to stop your bullets. Fooling them into turning the wrong way, trying to anticipate your movement, consistently wo


Tasked with a unique challenge, Respawn team set out to develop these heroes. At this point, it could have been enough to develop a generic backstory that brought everyone together or even to simply leave it undefined. After all, at the time, people weren’t looking for stories within the battle royale sett


SBMM needs to exist because if the top one percent of players spend more than 300 times as much time in the game than any player in the bottom 10 percent, then in a true random system, the low-tier players will consistently be matched in lobbies with these top one percent players who play the game 300 times as much as the no


If Tinder’s not working out, there’s OKCupid, JDate, Farmers Only or whatever niche site is hot right now. To find a duo partner, on the other hand, a person is limited to a smattering of random Discords and game-specific sites. Initially, you know very little about the person you could be squadding up with. Maybe they’re cool and your relationship will morph into something special. But also, maybe they’ll rage and break their computer the first time they l

The reality is that current SBMM format affects only negatively impacts a minority of players, even if they’re the most active ones. Unfortunately, unbalanced matchmaking will cause less-skilled players to complain the game is "too hard" and play something e


To think about it another way, the average household income sinks significantly if you take out a handful of billionaires that skew the data set. Using made-up numbers again, assume that if you include them, an "average" income across a given country is $500,000 dollars. But the vast majority of people make much less than that. Take the billionaires out, and the average income starts to look more like $50,


Force enemies into gunfights: Since Revenant’s toolkit is built precisely to destabilize enemy forces through skill silences and revives, well-timed attacks can force enemies into extremely disadvantageous gunfights. This is especially useful in small spaces, as Revenant’s Silence (Tactical) can render mobility Legends (Wraith, Ash, etc.) or even trackers (Bloodhound, Seer, etc.) useless and unable to get the jump on Rev’s t


Top apex legends Gameplay Legends players are making impassioned pleas for game developer Respawn to do away will skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). From their perspectives, it’s not fair that public matches feel as competitive — if not more competitive — than ranked games . This is indeed problematic, as ranked exists specifically so top players can compete at a top-tier level. Players who play public matches shouldn’t be subject to the same level of competitive p


Death Totem (Ultimate): Revenant releases a Death Totem that can give its users the means to fight death. The first time a teammate gets downed or killed while using a Death Totem will have them reappear in the Totem’s spawn point, practically giving them a second l


In team games, competitive players form squads based on a variety of factors. These include things like play styles, players' individual strengths, communication and the all-around ability to tolerate one anot


None of these battle royale games drew upon "hero shooter" model that Overwatch had popularized. Overwatch is purely a team game. To succeed, individual players must combine their unique abilities to make decisions that benefit the team as a whole. And, because heroes’ abilities to support one another are integral to team success, Activision Blizzard had learned to leverage characters' backstories into social media content such as alternate reality games (ARG) and cinemagra
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/8857/in-defense-of-skill-based-matchmaking-in-apex-legends/ Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:23:31 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/8850/apex-legends-and-the-role-of-stories-in-battle-royale-games/ This isn’t the game’s first Season 4 teaser — who could forget Forge's untimely death or Revenant’s role in a brutal bloodbath ? — but it’s players’ first look at what they can expect when they drop into Worlds Edge after the season beg


Players’ interest in these characters is a direct result of the care that the Respawn puts into developing them. Whether it’s Wraith’s forgotten past, Bloodhound’s mystique or Mirage’s use of humor to hide his insecurities, fans develop deep attachments to these multi-dimensional characters. These bonds inspire further creativity as the characters become the subjects of memes, fan art and cosp

Whether you prefer to be a healer, a tactical genius, or a frontrunner, there is a character for you. Apex Legends is currently being streamed and played by many people across the world, spreading the Apex fever to other gamers. Even top streamer and esports player Ninja has played the game, immediately spiking its popularity. But how do you know who to p


Climbing buff is ridiculous: Revenant’s climbing speed gets buffed in that he can climb up to eight (8) stories tall, which is 6-times higher than the ordinary Legend. This means he can climb shorter walls much fas


Pathfinder, as hinted in his name, is all about maneuverability. His grappling hook and zip line mean he can get anywhere he wants fast. The zip line ability is a huge help for the squad as anyone can use your zipline, meaning your entire team can get into the perfect spot for att


ENTPs are devil's advocate types who love to get into others' heads and outmaneuver them in battle. Their leadership qualities are to be admired and their innovative thought can create interesting solutions. It is for these reasons that the perfect counterpart for them is the trickster Mir


ISTPs are all about getting their hands dirty, inventing things, and then improving on them. One of Bangalore's strengths is her smoke bomb which allows her to engage or disengage her enemies when she wants. This means that ISTPs can allow their love of trial and error to take over and create the perfect attack p


Her voices occur when someone is aiming at her, letting Wraith know when she is about to be under fire. The portal is an excellent way out for both you and your teammates, something INTPs will be very interested


None of these battle royale games drew upon "hero shooter" model that Overwatch had popularized. Overwatch is purely a team game. To succeed, individual players must combine their unique abilities to make decisions that benefit the team as a whole. And, because heroes’ abilities to support one another are integral to team success, Activision Blizzard had learned to leverage characters' backstories into social media content such as alternate reality games (ARG) and cinemagra


Finally, Bloodhound's "Beast of the Hunt" increases his speed while allowing him to see through smoke and gasses alongside buffing his other abilities. The recent buff to this ultimate allows Bloodhound to use this move for a longer duration and gets it faster. This ability alone can turn the tides of bat


One of the biggest battle royale first-person shooters on the market, Apex Legends _ provides its players a fast-paced character-oriented shooter. _Apex allows players a complicated blend of tactical decision making and rapidly fast first-person action. It rewards a player's individual skill as much as it encourages team play and combination. Unlike its contemporaries Apex has an incredibly fast game speed, it allows very little time to think but rather forces a reaction. It's a title that forces prior knowledge of a situation rather than a reactive style of play. Apex is one of the most interesting battle royale style games and is one that should be cherished for its individual identity and unique blend of gen


It also shows a quick flash of a MRVN billboard. This is interesting because Hammond Robotics created such robots. The image seems to reinforce the idea that MRVNs like Pathfinder are designed to be eternally optimistic, despite the truth of the circumstan


The beloved game, Portal 2, features two of the best robots in gaming history: ATLAS and P-Body. Also referred to as Blue and Orange, ATLAS and P-Body were created by the artificial intelligence GLaDOS. She creates these two obtuse robots to test the facility humans failed to fin


The commercial teases a weapon rack, which is a new feature in the game. For the time being, it seems a new point of interest called Survey Camp will be the only place with weapon racks. They're meant to make it attractive to drop at an otherwise quiet landing area, according to Jason McCord , the Design Director on Apex Legends tracker character Legen


Mirage likes to mess with his opponents; sending out decoys and using cloaks to hide are part and parcel of his strategy. While his decoys are not perfect, they are great for figuring out where ranged enemies are hiding. Mirage also has an excellent sense of humor and a magnetic personality, which ENTPs can relate
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/8850/apex-legends-and-the-role-of-stories-in-battle-royale-games/ Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:32:20 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/6639/apex-legends-revenant-starter-guide-new-character-for-season-4/ Overwatch is full of robots and Bastion is not the only playable one. The reason Bastion makes this list apart from the others is because Bastion has the most personality and the most interesting backstory from the others. Bastion was a front-line automaton before he was lost in the middle of a forest. Over time, the killer robot lost its programm


Updated January 7, linked resource site 2025, by Ritwik Mitra: The idea of interacting with or controlling robots is something that many video games play around with. Players love interacting with advanced AIs in physical bodies who either help the protagonist or stand in their way, leading to some memorable gameplay moments featuring these artificial characters. The best video game robots stand out because of how iconic and well-written they are, becoming an integral part of any video game they're featured


Whether as a new, paired weapon or a hop-up modification for existing weapons (with the Mozambique being a frequent suggestion), dual-wielding has been a feature players have petitioned for over a considerable length of t


Even then, it's hilarious to see GLaDOS reject morality, going so far as to wipe the emotional part of her memory when she starts experiencing human emotions. It's a small yet memorable moment that cements why players consider GLaDOS to be one of the best parts of Portal


Claptrap or CL4P-TP, was created by the Hyperion with a zealous personality. He frequently discusses his loneliness such as the time players attend his birthday party and no one else shows up. The little guy is a bit disappointed but manages to have a good time. It is so bizarre why no one would show up to his party even though pizza and music were pres


As players begin to learn and master the newly released character there will certainly be a plentiful amount of defeats and deaths. The character's kit is relatively complex and is one that, if not mastered, can lead to some embarrassing and frustrating losses. However, there is no better time to learn a new character than now and even the most frustrating losses can serve as a learning tool for players learning a new character. When picking up Revenant it is important that aspiring players understand his relative strengths and weaknesses. He is a very technical legend and is one that will require a firm understanding of game mechanics to excel with. This guide will provide aspiring players a foundation to build upon as they master the newly released assas


_ Apex Legends _ recently introduced a Firing Range where I can apply these tactics. Typically, I’ll spend 20-30 minutes at the start of each session exploring recoil patterns or experimenting with different sensitivities. Once I’ve tired of that, I’ll then head into games with dedication to specific weapons or weapon clas


In each of these games, players' characters enter the game on decidedly equal footing, making it a static test of pure skill in a PvP environment. At the time, this could have been considered a hallmark of a battle royale g


Arguably the hardest aspects of Apex to master is its roster of Legends. Each character has a very distinct style of play which requires a firm knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses. Trying to excel at playing this title without understanding how your character operates is an easy way to lose a game fast. You are not only a liability for your team but also impeding your own growth in the popular title. This guide will present the general strengths and weaknesses of each of the Legends in Apex Leg


Since Apex Legends debuted just over a year ago, PUBG has undergone several new map additions. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: Blackout also saw some updates, though few of them worthy of significant discussion beyond the game's core players. Fortnite had a black hole that put it front and center for a short time before the game tapered off and out of the broader public consciousness once again. But few things get gaming Twitter talking as much as an Apex Legends character reveal trai


Respawn's done really well when it comes to rolling out awesome new characters to choose from, so hopes here are pretty high. Leaks and rumors abound, with one potential candidate being "Revenant," who might actually be the spooky game master of the Halloween Shadowfall event. Other possibilities include " Reckoner, " with an interesting set of shield-stealing and damaging abilities, and a mysterious newcomer referred to as "Lo


This section is dedicated to in-game tactics to improve gameplay. He covers aim optimization and movement strategies, as well as more basic concepts like high-ground advantages and peeking tactics. Clearly, every one of my random squad mates read this chapter, as they love to drop in the elevated platforms at Train Yard and do nothing but peek until someone one-shot knocks them with a Longbow from across the


Likely one of the most decried and frequently debated adjustments that Respawn's made to the Apex formula is introducing skill-based matchmaking (or SBMM) to the casual, everyday "Play Apex" mode of p
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/6639/apex-legends-revenant-starter-guide-new-character-for-season-4/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:44:32 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/6631/apex-legends-5-things-we-want-in-season-4-5-things-we-can-lose/

Apex Legends is the result of careful balance tweaks from the masterfully made Titanfall 2 , combined with typical gameplay systems all come to expect from a Battle Royale . But that is selling this game short. The inclusion of unique character abilities and squads helps this BR title stand above the r


There’s so much to unpack in this series that Destiny lore expert Byf suggested focusing on a single character’s story would be a better way to explore this deep, impactful narrative. That works for us, as long the one who gets his own show is the Hunter Vanguard we lost in Forsaken , Cayde-6 (press F to pay respec


Rumors of a PVE mode for Apex Legends have been lurking in the fan community for some time now, and players are quick to leap at any obscure leak or unused code that might imply as much being on the hori


Since a certain early December update went live, players across the board have reported a bug that deprives them of the visual throwing arc used for aiming grenade tosses. Since a single, well-placed throwable can change the entire course of a fight, it's likely needless to point out that this bug has been squarely blamed for many los


If EA intended to segment audiences with these two supposedly distinct titles, it proves they don’t understand crossover audiences. Think of Switch players who played both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Fortnite . Think about someone like DrLupo, a former Destiny player who now primarily plays Fortnite and dabbles in World of Warcraft Class


Regardless, the third person nature of Garden Warfare perfectly encapsulates the silly and straight fun nature of the tower defense game it is based on. This game has great balance, tons of content, and is fitting for any gamer young or old. New or experienced gamers alike will get something out of this chaotic shoo


The internet is full of rumors of a live-action Legend of Zelda project on Netflix, but the majority of those appear to be based on speculation and rumors that turned out to be false . The most recent rumor claimed Castlevania producer Adi Shankar would be helming the series , but the project in question was acutally one based on Devil May C


Respawn Entertainment is the king of creating likable and interesting robot characters. This list will reveal that later on, but the first of their robots to show up on this list is Pathfinder. Pathfinder is a cheery and friendly robot. His ability in Apex Legends explains the exact reason as to why he is named Pathfin


Not only can we envision Overwatch as a Netflix TV show, but we view it as its own universe like Marvel 's. As Disney+ is already set to release four shows based on Marvel characters in 2021 and has several more on its slate, there’s no reason the Overwatch characters couldn’t provide the framework for an intertwined series of characters whose lives intersect. Building on the cinematics that made fans fall in love with Overwatch ’s characters, a series of TV shows could explore these characters and their roles in depth. To that end, Overwatch ’s dramatic interpretation of the role of artificial intelligence in the future is worthy of exploration as the dangers of AI begin to manifest in modern soci


Even after being nerfed, the Charge Rifle is easily one of the strongest and often abused weapons in the game right now. We don't necessarily want to leave it behind entirely, but given the way most players seem to regard it at the moment, https://Apexherozone.com/posts/apex-legends-original-legends-still-dominate-after-six-years/ it still clearly needs some balanc


Prior to an era of Netflix deals and streaming opportunties, actress Felicia Day helmed a Dragon Age webseries , which recieved mixed reviews . But now that people are consuming media in new ways, it could be worth it to try again on a bigger scale with seasoned fantasy genre writers and bigger budg


The Call of Duty games generally showcase immersive and intruging storytelling. The Modern Warfare series is, as a whole, clever and unpredictable, giving players the types of moments that cause their stomachs to sink or that bring tears to their eyes. Black Ops does this as well, doing so with creative weaponry that allows for diversity in gamep


Her touching storytelling and effectiveness in combat make 2B a blast to control, with players getting to know more about this character if they decide to uncover every ending this game has. By the end of this emotional adventure, fans will consider Nier: Automata to be one of the best action games they've played with some memorable video game robots leading the cha
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/6631/apex-legends-5-things-we-want-in-season-4-5-things-we-can-lose/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:19:23 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/6614/in-defense-of-skill-based-matchmaking-in-apex-legends/ The game hosts 12 unique legends each with their own individual abilities and skills. Each character has a varying style of optimal play and becoming familiar with your favorite character skills will improve your style of play dramatica


Video games can take people to imaginary places and bring creatures, animals, and characters to life. They also give us the opportunity to explore concepts that are not possible in reality, such as rob


It also shows a quick flash of a MRVN billboard. This is interesting because Hammond Robotics created such robots. The image seems to reinforce the idea that MRVNs like Pathfinder are designed to be eternally optimistic, despite the truth of the circumstan


Apex Legends made a powerful debut Q1 of 2019, EA opting for a bold "no marketing" tactic. Embodying the trends of 2019 by building on the popular battle royale genre, Apex Legends released on Windows, PS4, and Xbox One for free. Streamers contributed to the game’s success, but players stuck around due to the unique incorporation of ability-based heroes and a wonderfully addicting set of movement mechanics. Apex barely edges this one out due to Respawn’s slow-moving developmental support, but the fact that competitives and casuals alike have stuck around is a testament to the game’s impressive fundament


HK-47 is a character that most people absolutely adore, with his snarky and quick-witted replies being one of the best parts of this character. The idea of a robot harboring such a deep personality is something that could only be pulled off in the Star Wars unive


Based on my Xbox data, it appears the top one percent of players still put in almost double the time of even those in the 98th percentile. Theoretically, the 98th percentile has spent half as much time in the game and would therefore still not be quite as good as the top one perc


Finally, Respawn Entertainment's best robot creation is the big, bad titan himself, BT-7274. BT is a vanguard class titan developed by the Militia after the Battle of Demeter. Vanguard class titans can copy other titan classes, which is why he has access to so many classes within the campaign. Jack Cooper, is his pilot and the two develop a close bond throughout the g

At the new incarnation of Geyser, which looks far more desolate than before, Revenant shows off the new bolt-action sniper rifle. Called the Sentinel, it purportedly has some type of charge mechanic, though it will be hard to understand how it differs from a weapon such as the Charge Rifle until players can test it on their

Silence (Tactical): Thanks to Revenant’s special tech, he can throw a device that acts as a weak grenade. Aside from damaging enemies, this disables all the abilities of enemies caught in the blast for a durat


Players who want to maximize Revenant to his full potential should pay attention to how this update reworks the rest of his sworn enemies. As an ability-canceler, Revenant needs to learn exactly how he can incapacitate his opponents in order to get the upper hand. And as Revenant, getting the upper hand almost always means jumping the gun on them - but how can players make this hap


2019 provided gamers with a ton of memorable and fun titles that will likely continue to thrive in the coming years. While we are certainly an eclectic group of writers with different tastes and #1 picks, it was Resident Evil 2 that was mentioned most in our lists, earning the title out TheGamer's Game of the Year for 2


Given the cutthroat nature of battle royale games like Apex Legends , players only have one shot to score the championship - forcing more careful plays and tactical risks. This isn’t the case with Revenant , whose silencing alter abilities 2025 are coupled with a guaranteed second life that can give his team an edge even in the direst of situations. However, with February 2023 marking a major change in most Apex Legends characters, Revenant players who underestimate their foes are rendered obsolete with their changed abilit


One of the most popular titles within the battle royale style of games, **Apex Legends ** provides a rapid style of gameplay that is unrivaled in its speed and intensity. The game takes inspiration from the cult classic Titanfall providing players with a breadth of movement options. Apex combines these movement options with a hero style shooter similar to the likes of Overwatch. Each legend providing a unique and differing playstyle than their peers. This encourages a variety of different styles in which aspiring Apex players can develop and master while maintaining a sense of identity and individuality through their character archet


This year has been a boon for the medium, and frankly, it's hard to pick just five games that I fell in love with (sorry, Pokemon !) But from top-notch fighters to tripped-out techno-thrillers, from RPG masterpieces to ornate remakes, one game edges everything out. __ Resident Evil 2 is not just a stellar remake, it's a master-class in game design - a brilliant case of how to do literally everything right, then somehow go beyond that. It's a sumptuous visual feast held together by tense, responsive gameplay that understands how to maintain what makes classic survival horror while being accessible to contemporary audiences. It's a game literally anyone can enjoy - unless you're a bit squeamish - and the best entry of the franchise to d
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/6614/in-defense-of-skill-based-matchmaking-in-apex-legends/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:34:22 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/6601/why-finding-a-duos-mode-partner-is-harder-than-finding-a-date/ Revenant's final ability is his powerful ultimate, Death Totem. This allows his squad a finite amount of "immortality" as it only allows for their health to be depleted and when it would be completely depleted they will be teleported to the location of the to


A good Lifeline will prevent any of her teammates from going down. Her ability to cast a bubble shield around anyone who she is reviving on top of her multiple ally healing drone. Her ultimate allows for a support-oriented care package to drop, providing her teammates with shield, health and shield pa


Revenant is able to crouch walk faster and climb higher than any other character in the cast. This makes him a silent and deadly assassin throughout a match's course. On top of his ability denying grenade and his Death totem ultimate, he also provides some essential team fight util


_ Apex Legends _ recently introduced a Firing Range where I can apply these tactics. Typically, I’ll spend 20-30 minutes at the start of each session exploring recoil patterns or experimenting with different sensitivities. Once I’ve tired of that, I’ll then head into games with dedication to specific weapons or weapon clas


When I learned Tyler " Ninja " Blevins wrote a book about how to improve gameplay, I was interested to see if his tips would actually help me get better at Apex Legends . For a fee amounting to less than two months of Mixer subs, I downloaded Ninja: Get Good: My Ultimate Guide to Gaming for Kin

When it comes to squads of three or more, a team can still perform well if one player makes a mistake or simply isn’t as good as the others. Further, teammates can work with one another to diffuse tension when it arises. While teammates aren’t always perfect, the team dynamic does a great service in helping to hide these individual fl


Her ability to place powerful electrical gates can turn even the most simple of buildings into a fortress. On top of her shield restoring and ordnance destroying ultimate, Wattson is one of the true defensive characters in the g


This climbing ability allows Revenant the ability to attack enemy squads in unpredictable manners. He can approach Apexherozone.com published an article enemy team from a seemingly safe position and combined with his silent but rapid crouch speed makes a new character a silent and deadly foe. The combination of these two abilities makes Revenant a deadly combination of a silent assassin and a versatile mobility character. Making hiding from the killer a near impossibil


Taking Ninja’s advice, I’ve tried different strategies: Dropping hot every game, carrying shotguns only, consistently playing a single specific character (which is, by the way, something he also recommends to maximize your success with that character). Spoiler alert: I die a ton! It's tough to win a sniper fight with dual EVA-8s. But ultimately, this helped me learn how to better use these weap


Even then, it's hilarious to see GLaDOS reject morality, going so far as to wipe the emotional part of her memory when she starts experiencing human emotions. It's a small yet memorable moment that cements why players consider GLaDOS to be one of the best parts of Portal


In this chapter, Ninja offers tips on pimping a stream to make it seem more professional. Recently, TheGamer invited me to do some product reviews. With a green screen backdrop, a nice LED light and more desktop space due to a wireless mouse option, I felt so good about my setup that I'm now convinced I'm the next Ninja (have you seen the header image on this stor


Ninja also impresses how important it is to advertise the stream. I haven’t been the best at this, but when I do it, I definitely get more engagement. Turns out it's hard for people to find your stream if they don't even know you stream. W


A duo partner also has to be someone with whom you have a compatible play style — and that's a tough thing to find. In order to succeed, both players need to be about the same skill level or, at the very least, have skills that complement one anot


Many people will celebrate Valentine’s Day with new loves or longtime partners, while others will lament the fact that they can’t get a date at all. But in my experience, finding a date for Valentine’s Day is a feat far less difficult than finding the perfect duo part


Finally, Respawn Entertainment's best robot creation is the big, bad titan himself, BT-7274. BT is a vanguard class titan developed by the Militia after the Battle of Demeter. Vanguard class titans can copy other titan classes, which is why he has access to so many classes within the campaign. Jack Cooper, is his pilot and the two develop a close bond throughout the g

Using his drone, Crypto can mark the enemy locations for his teammate. Hiding from Crypto is almost impossible given the vast range of his drones and the small size of the ability. Coupled with the EMP ability connected to the drone, it makes Crypto a versatile and oppressive character in the right ha
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/6601/why-finding-a-duos-mode-partner-is-harder-than-finding-a-date/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:14:48 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/6560/i-followed-the-tips-in-ninja’s-get-good-and-got-gooder/ Perhaps surprisingly, applying all this advice made a positive impact on my gameplay. While _ Apex Legends _ ’ new map and changes to skill-based matchmaking may have also contributed to these improvements, I noticed the changes started happening around the time I started using these strateg


As an extra, additional bonus, this weekend will be a special Bonus Scoring Weekend. There will be 500 points of challenges available and those can be completed from 10:00 AM PT January 17 until 10:00 AM PT on January


I’m prepared to continue searching for that elusive perfect duo partner. I just want someone who likes long walks on the beach (of Geyser in World’s Edge), enjoys watching movies (as long as they're character reveal trailers) and loves to travel (as long as it's by dropsh


Her ultimate ability "rolling thunder" is a powerful airstrike which operates as a power area denial style move. Forcing enemy teams inside of buildings its an excellent tool to prevent enemies from approaching your team or using a common choke po


A duo partner also has to be someone with whom you have a compatible play style — and that's a tough thing to find. In order to succeed, both players need to be about the same skill level or, at the very least, have skills that complement one anot


His arsenal of "decoy" special moves makes facing a good Mirage a hassle. His ability to cast a decoy towards an area is a good way to reveal an enemy's location. On top of his invisibility ability, he is an excellent character for those who prefer a "spy" charac

_ Apex Legends _ recently introduced a Firing Range where I can apply these tactics. Typically, I’ll spend 20-30 minutes at the start of each session exploring recoil patterns or experimenting with different sensitivities. Once I’ve tired of that, I’ll then head into games with dedication to specific weapons or weapon clas


Revenant is able to crouch walk faster and climb higher than any other character in the cast. This makes him a silent and deadly assassin throughout a match's course. On top of his ability denying grenade and his Death totem ultimate, he also provides some essential team fight util


This year has been a boon for the medium, and frankly, it's hard to pick just five games that I fell in love with (sorry, Pokemon !) But from top-notch fighters to tripped-out techno-thrillers, from RPG masterpieces to ornate remakes, one game edges everything out. __ Resident Evil 2 is not just a stellar remake, it's a master-class in game design - a brilliant case of how to do literally everything right, then somehow go beyond that. It's a sumptuous visual feast held together by tense, responsive gameplay that understands how to maintain what makes classic survival horror while being accessible to contemporary audiences. It's a game literally anyone can enjoy - unless you're a bit squeamish - and the best entry of the franchise to d


Pathfinder's grappling hook provides the robot with a high skill ceiling in its application. You can use it to evade, to charge or for positioning, whichever way you find a use for it, it is an incredible ability. On top of his Ultimate being a powerful tool for squad positional advantage, Pathfinder is an excellent choice for https://apexherozone.Com any t


The first chapter, "Gear Up," is about investing in the right gear. Unfortunately, it's primarily limited to a discussion of PC gaming gear. Given that I'm an Xbox girl in a PC world, I initially found it about as helpful as a Mozambique without a hop


If Tinder’s not working out, there’s OKCupid, JDate, Farmers Only or whatever niche site is hot right now. To find a duo partner, on the other hand, a person is limited to a smattering of random Discords and game-specific sites. Initially, you know very little about the person you could be squadding up with. Maybe they’re cool and your relationship will morph into something special. But also, maybe they’ll rage and break their computer the first time they l


Bangalore has three special abilities. The first being her passive ability "double time" this move allows her to run faster while she is being shot at. This makes her an incredible evasive character or even a solid choice to press enemy te


The game hosts 12 unique legends each with their own individual abilities and skills. Each character has a varying style of optimal play and becoming familiar with your favorite character skills will improve your style of play dramatica


Many people will celebrate Valentine’s Day with new loves or longtime partners, while others will lament the fact that they can’t get a date at all. But in my experience, finding a date for Valentine’s Day is a feat far less difficult than finding the perfect duo part


Your random Tinder date may eventually block you, but it’s unlikely they’ll ever scream at you to save them and then, once you’ve revived them, let you die and teabag your death box and send you a message telling you they hope you die in a f
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/6560/i-followed-the-tips-in-ninja’s-get-good-and-got-gooder/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:58:33 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/6559/i-followed-the-tips-in-ninja’s-get-good-and-got-gooder/ Perhaps surprisingly, applying all this advice made a positive impact on my gameplay. While _ Apex Legends _ ’ new map and changes to skill-based matchmaking may have also contributed to these improvements, I noticed the changes started happening around the time I started using these strateg


As an extra, additional bonus, this weekend will be a special Bonus Scoring Weekend. There will be 500 points of challenges available and those can be completed from 10:00 AM PT January 17 until 10:00 AM PT on January


I’m prepared to continue searching for that elusive perfect duo partner. I just want someone who likes long walks on the beach (of Geyser in World’s Edge), enjoys watching movies (as long as they're character reveal trailers) and loves to travel (as long as it's by dropsh


Her ultimate ability "rolling thunder" is a powerful airstrike which operates as a power area denial style move. Forcing enemy teams inside of buildings its an excellent tool to prevent enemies from approaching your team or using a common choke po


A duo partner also has to be someone with whom you have a compatible play style — and that's a tough thing to find. In order to succeed, both players need to be about the same skill level or, at the very least, have skills that complement one anot


His arsenal of "decoy" special moves makes facing a good Mirage a hassle. His ability to cast a decoy towards an area is a good way to reveal an enemy's location. On top of his invisibility ability, he is an excellent character for those who prefer a "spy" charac


_ Apex Legends _ recently introduced a Firing Range where I can apply these tactics. Typically, I’ll spend 20-30 minutes at the start of each session exploring recoil patterns or experimenting with different sensitivities. Once I’ve tired of that, I’ll then head into games with dedication to specific weapons or https://apexherozone.Com weapon clas


Revenant is able to crouch walk faster and climb higher than any other character in the cast. This makes him a silent and deadly assassin throughout a match's course. On top of his ability denying grenade and his Death totem ultimate, he also provides some essential team fight util


This year has been a boon for the medium, and frankly, it's hard to pick just five games that I fell in love with (sorry, Pokemon !) But from top-notch fighters to tripped-out techno-thrillers, from RPG masterpieces to ornate remakes, one game edges everything out. __ Resident Evil 2 is not just a stellar remake, it's a master-class in game design - a brilliant case of how to do literally everything right, then somehow go beyond that. It's a sumptuous visual feast held together by tense, responsive gameplay that understands how to maintain what makes classic survival horror while being accessible to contemporary audiences. It's a game literally anyone can enjoy - unless you're a bit squeamish - and the best entry of the franchise to d


Pathfinder's grappling hook provides the robot with a high skill ceiling in its application. You can use it to evade, to charge or for positioning, whichever way you find a use for it, it is an incredible ability. On top of his Ultimate being a powerful tool for squad positional advantage, Pathfinder is an excellent choice for any t


The first chapter, "Gear Up," is about investing in the right gear. Unfortunately, it's primarily limited to a discussion of PC gaming gear. Given that I'm an Xbox girl in a PC world, I initially found it about as helpful as a Mozambique without a hop


If Tinder’s not working out, there’s OKCupid, JDate, Farmers Only or whatever niche site is hot right now. To find a duo partner, on the other hand, a person is limited to a smattering of random Discords and game-specific sites. Initially, you know very little about the person you could be squadding up with. Maybe they’re cool and your relationship will morph into something special. But also, maybe they’ll rage and break their computer the first time they l

Bangalore has three special abilities. The first being her passive ability "double time" this move allows her to run faster while she is being shot at. This makes her an incredible evasive character or even a solid choice to press enemy te


The game hosts 12 unique legends each with their own individual abilities and skills. Each character has a varying style of optimal play and becoming familiar with your favorite character skills will improve your style of play dramatica


Many people will celebrate Valentine’s Day with new loves or longtime partners, while others will lament the fact that they can’t get a date at all. But in my experience, finding a date for Valentine’s Day is a feat far less difficult than finding the perfect duo part


Your random Tinder date may eventually block you, but it’s unlikely they’ll ever scream at you to save them and then, once you’ve revived them, let you die and teabag your death box and send you a message telling you they hope you die in a f
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/6559/i-followed-the-tips-in-ninja’s-get-good-and-got-gooder/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:58:28 +0000 Shannan Macintosh https://stayclose.social/blog/6548/ea-killed-anthem-by-launching-apex-legends-the-same-month/ At the new incarnation of Geyser, which looks far more desolate than before, Revenant shows off the new bolt-action sniper rifle. Called the Sentinel, it purportedly has some type of charge mechanic, though it will be hard to understand how it differs from a weapon such as the Charge Rifle until players can test it on their


Although Lifeline heals more quickly, including downed teammates, her shield is a beacon to the enemy. It signals a squad to push on you, because two-thirds of your team is occupied. However, these characteristics can be used to your advantage in a pinch. Firstly, you can use the whirring sound of D.O.C. as bait to suggest that you need healing when you don’t. The same goes for Lifeline’s shield, luring the enemy to attack, when you’re actually ready to defend. But trickiest of all, you can use Lifeline’s shield as a literal shield in close-quarters combat. Begin to revive a teammate just while the enemy is shooting, then release and fire back. Repeat as necessary, and it might just save you. These tactics are especially handy when both teammates are d


It also shows a quick flash of a MRVN billboard. This is interesting because Hammond Robotics created such robots. The image seems to reinforce the idea that MRVNs like Pathfinder are designed to be eternally optimistic, despite the truth of the circumstan


Apex Legends is one of many in the Battle Royale trend, but it has truly found its stride. After establishing refreshing traits like the ping system and faster gameplay, there has been a satisfying increase in content over time. EA account sync has similarly improved Battlefront II in this way. Respawn even started off the new year with an event that cycles multiple Limited-Time Modes every two d


For simplicity's sake, let’s say Apex Legends has a player base of 1,000 players, ranging from somewhat active to very active. Ten players comprise the top 1 percent and 990 people would comprise the other 99 perc


Given the holiday’s emphasis on coupledom, it makes sense that these games would seize this opportunity to host duos events. While it’s obvious that most people who are going to partner up in these modes aren’t actually couples, it provides a fun take on the collective obsession with couple


Apex Legends was poised to immediately garner a large fanbase due to its status as a free-to-play game. Anthem , on the other hand, had a higher barrier to entry as it cost at least $60 to download and play. This alone should have led someone at the top to question whether the games would hinder one another's succ


When your carefully-crafted duo team inevitably loses, there’s no blaming the random third player that was part of your team. The second that one player makes a risky move that gets them killed, the blame game beg


One of the most popular titles within the battle royale style of games, **Apex Legends ** provides a rapid style of gameplay that is unrivaled in its speed and intensity. The game takes inspiration from the cult classic Titanfall providing players with a breadth of movement options. Apex combines these movement options with a hero style shooter similar to the likes of Overwatch. Each legend providing a unique and differing playstyle than their peers. This encourages a variety of different styles in which aspiring Apex players can develop and master while maintaining a sense of identity and individuality through their character archet


The thing is, Anthem isn’t a terrible game. It certainly isn’t the best, but there are plenty of objectively bad games with dedicated audiences. If the masses hadn’t been so mesmerized by Apex Legends ' launch, Anthem may have had a chance to find its footing within the streamer commun


As mentioned, the firing range is an essential place to improve at the battle royale giant. In this mode, players are provided ever weapon, equipable item and secondary weapon in the game. Becoming familiar with each of these weapons will make a novice player into an exp


Just after the trailer introduces the totem, Revenant shoots some kind of grenade out of his arm. From the gameplay video alone, it’s hard to tell how, exactly, this will work. However, it appears his grenade tactical ability may have some kind of arc or stun charge, which manifests as the orange glowing ball in the image be


Based on my Xbox data, it appears the top one percent of players still put in almost double the time of even those in the 98th percentile. Theoretically, the 98th percentile has spent half as much time in the game and would therefore still not be quite as good as the top one perc

Portal’s Chell had the right idea—now make GLaDOS proud. Obviously, Wraith’s ability to phase while she extends a portal is highly useful for crossing dangerous terrain. Your entire squad can escape the sharpest eyes of a sniper. However, Wraith’s portal is also useful for downed teammates. Instead of defending another knocked teammate who tried to be a lone wolf, offer them a portal to saf
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/6548/ea-killed-anthem-by-launching-apex-legends-the-same-month/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:41:34 +0000 Shannan Macintosh