Apex Legends removes digi threat from crafter to combat the "can't see sh*t" meta

Apex Legends digital threat optic while ADSing with Wingman pistol

Apex Legends digital threat optic while ADSing with Wingman pistol

Respawn Entertainment is moving the Apex Legends Digi Threat attachment in the battle royale game’s latest season.

The Digital Threat Optic is a weapon attachment that fans of Apex Legends have been using ever since the game first came out. We've seen its favour only increase with the rise of Bangalore meta, especially after the September 2023 ALGS championships saw the smoke grenade assault legend reign supreme in pick rates.

Bangalore has always been a solid choice, for new players and veterans of Respawn's infamous battle royale. Her tactical ability, which allows her to throw a smoke grenade to evade a fight, reposition, or cut off the line of sight to enemies, has been a staple ever since the game was released. But with this ability, comes the need for the digital threat optic.

The digital threat can be attached to any pistol, SMG, or shotgun in the game, so it's perfect for the mid-range to close-range fights that Bangalore excels at. It's both a perfect counter to Bangalore's smokes, but it also aids Bangalore players themselves to navigate their own tactical ability and take out enemies without giving them a chance to get their surroundings. However, with Season 19: Ignite just around the corner, Respawn is keen to alleviate some of the "can't see sh*t" meta and so the digital threat optic has been completely removed from the crafting rotation.

Balance Game Designer for Apex Legends, John Larson, explained that the legendary status of the digital threat was somewhat nullified by the fact it could so easily be crafted. This is why the developers wanted to give some agency back to the gold weapon attachment, and actually make it feel as rare as it's meant to be. It will still be available as ground loot, but removing it from the crafting rotation will hopefully work to counteract the Bangalore meta.

The crafting rotation for Season 19 seems to have been looked at with quite a lot of care and attention this time around, which has made players particularly excited for the new season. Meta changes are always quite a contentious talking point, but these changes sound well-thought-out and enough to start really shaking things up.

With a brand new legend, Conduit, hot-dropping into the fray on October 31st, as well as cross-progression finally appearing in Apex Legends, fans are in for a treat this Halloween. We look forward to seeing how the new season plays, but for now, be sure to check out our weapons tier list and legends tier list, to get on top of where the meta currently stands.