Crypto’s addition in Apex Legends’ season three was a big moment for the game. The character represented a fundamentally different type of legend than the ones that came before him.
Crypto was technically the second recon legend introduced to Apex (Pathfinder was originally a support character), and his entire kit rotates around the use of his surveillance drone. The drone takes a while to get used to, though. In a fast-paced game like Apex, sitting idly while you fly around a robot feels odd at first. But once a player figures out his kit, Crypto can serve as one of the best picks for a team, especially on large maps like World’s Edge and Storm Point.
Here are a few tips and tricks to playing Crypto.
Tactical: Surveillance Drone
For his tactical ability, Crypto sends out his drone, which allows him to fly his extra set of eyes around the map. The drone’s range is limited, however, so players won’t be able to fly it too far away from where Crypto is. Players can throw the drone forward without entering drone mode by pressing the tactical button once or immediately enter drone mode by holding down the tactical button.
The drone can then be summoned back or left in the skies. It’ll hover wherever Crypto leaves it and he can reenter the drone if he remains within range. The drone will locate and highlight any enemies in its surrounding area if it’s in the sky, but it can be shot down by enemies. Crypto’s drone makes a loud sound while flying around and can be heard by nearby enemies, so teams will be aware of your presence in the general area while using it.
Additionally, the drone serves as an extra limb for Crypto. It can be used to hack doors or pick up fallen teammates’ banners. Even better, the robot doesn’t take damage from the circle, so Crypto won’t have to risk saving teammates outside of the ring and can instead send his drone in his place. Finally, Crypto can respawn teammates at respawn beacons with his drone, with the respawn beginning instantly upon interacting with the beacon, as opposed to having to hold the interaction button down for a period of time like all other legends.
Despite the drone’s benefits to the team, it leaves its user vulnerable, so players will need to make sure they enter drone mode from a safe spot behind cover. Crypto players will also want to make sure that they don’t use their drone at the wrong time. If the rest of the squad rotates or runs into an enemy team, Crypto may fall behind if he’s still in drone mode, leaving the team to fend for themselves.
The surveillance drone is both Crypto’s greatest asset and his biggest weakness, since it can do so much but leaves him stationary and vulnerable while its activated. Above all else, making the most out of Crypto’s drone requires good team coordination, so if you’re playing Crypto, you’ll want to make sure you’re communicating with your teammates.
Passive: Neurolink
Neurolink allows Crypto’s allies to see targets marked by the Surveillance Drone. Enemies within 30 meters of Crypto’s position are highlighted in a bright orange outline, which can be seen through walls by Crypto’s teammates.
This ability greatly helps players in teamfights. And if Crypto can position his drone above the surrounding area before a fight breaks out, his team will surely have the upper hand.
As a recon legend, Crypto also has the ability to scan survey beacons to see the next ring location. He can do this himself like all other legends, with the scan occurring after a brief animation, but he can also scan beacons with his drone instantly, without an animation.
Ultimate: Drone EMP
Once Crypto sends out his drone, he can then have it set off an EMP blast to slow enemies in a radius, deal 50 shield damage, and disable any nearby traps. The EMP only works from his drone, however. So if the drone is shot down, Crypto has to wait until it respawns before setting off another EMP.
The Surveillance Expert can use his ultimate while in drone mode or by hitting Z outside of the drone. The EMP blast has a slight delay before going off, so enemies have time to exit the zone and dodge the blast. While in drone mode, however, Crypto can move his drone forward to keep up with fleeing opponents.
The EMP works best in close quarters, such as a building that’s been fortified by a Wattson or Caustic. While the drone can be destroyed before the blast goes off, it also works through walls, meaning an easy way to ensure the drone not being destroyed before the EMP can detonate on a team inside of a building is to simply place the drone on the other side of a wall or a roof.
