Apex Legends' 15th season, Eclipse, brings with it a new playable legend. Tressa Crystal Smith, AKA Catalyst, is a defensive legend that joined the Apex Games so that she could support herself after losing her job on the Cleo Recovery Council. The council was shut down after The Syndicate announced that Cleo would be the latest setting of the Apex Games. Nowwidely known as the Broken Moon map, Cleo is the fifth playground that houses the popular bloodsport.
Though Catalyst may be classified as a defensive legend, her abilities have elements from other legend classes that make her more versatile. Her malleable ferrofluid can erect and fortify structures, but it can also provide Catalyst and her allies with reconnaissance and offensive advantages. Though she may not provide aid in the same way support legends do, players who frequent defensive, recon, and offensive legends will find the value of Catalyst inApex Legends.
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A Malleable Trap
Catalyst’s role as a defensive legendmeans that she excels at fortifying areas. Her Piercing Spikes tactical ability lets her throw out a mat of ferrofluid spikes that slows and deals a small amount of damage to enemies. 2 charges are initially available to players, with each charge taking 20 seconds to refill. Catalyst can set down 3 Piercing Spikes in the world at a given time. In the middle of each Piercing Spikes trap is a faintly glowing glob of ferrofluid that acts as the core. Players can shoot the 300 HP core to destroy the trap, allowing them to pass through unscathed. Piercing Spikes last forever until they are destroyed or retrieved by the Catalyst that placed them.
There are a few things players should keep in mind when dealing with Piercing Spikes andCatalyst’s other ferrofluid abilities. All Catalysts, regardless of their affiliation, are immune to ferrofluid attacks and effects. This includes Piecing Spikes' damage and slow debuff as well as the slow and blind effects from Catalyst’s ultimate, Dark Veil. Players should also be wary of Piercing Spikes' hidden ability to detect nearby enemies. Piercing Spikes are generally smooth and flat but become rigid and pointy when enemies are close to them. This lets Catalyst squads know the general locations of enemies without giving away their own positions. Smart players can use Piercing Spikes to create ambushes in enclosed spaces and late-game rings.
Building Back What Was Broken
Catalyst’s Barricade passive ability lets her utilize the environment to her advantage. Interacting with up to 2 of the many doors found inApex Legends' maps will allow Catalyst to reinforce them, thereby denying access to everyone but Catalyst and her squad. Reinforced doors require 4 melee attacks to break down as opposed to the normal 2 hits. Alternatively, players can also usevaluable throwables like Frag Grenades or Arc Starsto break down the door immediately. Legend abilities also work their intended magic on barricaded doors. Fuse’s Knuckle Clusters are a great counter to Catalyst’s Barricade as is Crypto’s Surveillance Drone, which can simply open doors without having to knock them down.
Even if the doors on the maps have been destroyed, Catalyst can still interact with the doorways to create a ferrofluid door that is automatically barricaded. Opening the ferrofluid door destroys it, however, and Catalyst will need to interact with the doorway once again to build it back up. Considering how oftenfights inApex Legendstend to involve door stand-offswith opposing players standing on either side of a door, Catalyst’s Barricade passive buys her squad just enough time to counterattack, heal up, or run away.
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A Shadowy Offense
Dark Veil is Catalyst’s final ability and the ultimate foil toApex Legends' numerous wallhack characters. By raising a wall of ferrofluid in a straight 55-meter line in front of her, Catalyst can effectively block player sightlines for a short amount of time. Dark Veil isn’t solid, and bullets, grenades, abilities, and even legends can pass through it. Enemy legends that aren’t also playing Catalyst who pass through will be in for a tough time, however, as Dark Veil temporarily stuns and blinds them to a point that they are extremely easy to pick off.
Dark Veil’s interactions with scans deserve special mention. While the ability blocks scans that try to see through the ferrofluid wall, it doesn’t prevent preemptive scans. For example, a Bloodhound that successfully uses their Eye of The Allfather on an enemy before they go through the Dark Veil will still be able to see the enemy once they are on the other side. Abilities such asMad Maggie’s Warlord’s Ireand Fuse’s The Motherlode also can’t be countered by Dark Veil as their scans come from projectiles rather than players.
While Dark Veil’s main use is to create a wall that players will think twice before going through, it can also be used as a great offensive tool that lets Catalyst squads push other teams.Weapons without a Digital Threat opticcannot see through Dark Veil, making it a great way to sneak up on a sniping squad that is camped in a building. Dark Veil can also be used in a pinch as it provides cover and a way to gain the upper hand on enemies in tough situations.
Catalyst’s true capabilities haven’t fully been discovered yet.Apex Legends' newest season hasn’t been out for a weekafter all, and players are still figuring out where she fits in the legend meta. Once the other maps are available and more people have had time to play her, Catalyst will slowly fall into her place inApex Legends. As it stands, however, Catalyst has more than enough utility to satisfy those who play her.
Apex Legendsis available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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