Apex Legends Cipher Update Adds Akimbo Wingman and Revives Lifeline Shield

The next major update for Apex Legends, titled Cipher, is set to launch on November 3, and it is packing some significant changes to the game’s meta. According to an IGN report, the headline feature is the introduction of the Akimbo Wingman, a new weapon style that allows players to dual-wield the notorious semi-automatic revolver.

Akimbo Wingman and Gameplay Shifts

While the Wingman has historically been a high-skill weapon often used for long-range precision, the new Akimbo option encourages a more aggressive, close-quarters playstyle. The dual-wield version sacrifices some of the weapon’s signature accuracy in exchange for significantly increased damage potential. As noted by IGN, this shift could radically alter the Wingman’s effectiveness, which has recently struggled to crack the top tier in terms of DPS rankings.

Crypto Rework and New Objectives

Beyond the weaponry, the Cipher update delivers a major rework for Crypto titled “Crypto Rewired.” The character is shifting away from being a stationary drone operator, with his Surveillance Drone now operating on a battery system rather than a cooldown, allowing for faster redeployment. The drone also gains a new “Sentry Mode” to automatically tag enemies, and Crypto can now trigger his EMP Ultimate with a single button press.

Additionally, Respawn is introducing “Strongholds,” described as the evolution of standard care packages. Squads must raid these locations to extract high-tier loot like crate weapons and corrupted attachments. This process involves risk, as an alarm will alert nearby enemy teams to the location of the players attempting the raid.

Legend Balancing and Ranked Changes

Character balance is also getting a shakeup. Lifeline is seeing a major utility boost, highlighted by the return of her classic revive shield, along with improved flight mobility and a reduced drone cooldown. Revenant is also receiving buffs, including a shorter cooldown on his Ultimate—which can now be extended via knocks—and the ability to Silence players using his Shadow Pounce ability.

For competitive players, the update introduces Legend Bans in Diamond and higher Ranked lobbies. Players will now have the ability to vote on which Legends should be prohibited from selection for the duration of a match.

Why it matters

The Cipher update represents a substantial shift in how matches play out, from the way teams engage in combat to how they manage map objectives. The addition of the Akimbo Wingman and the return of Lifeline’s shield are expected to dramatically impact the current meta, likely forcing players to adjust their loadouts and team compositions.

For players, the introduction of the vote-to-ban system in high-level Ranked matches adds a new layer of strategy and potential frustration, depending on which meta Legends become unavailable. With the changes to Crypto and the addition of raid-based Strongholds, the game is clearly pushing toward a faster, more aggressive flow. Players should watch how these adjustments affect encounter pacing on November 3.