Video Games
How to play Apex Legends
Survive a fast battle royale by combining movement, weapons, and each Legend's abilities.
QUICK ANSWER
How do you play Apex Legends?
Land with your squad and collect weapons, armor, and supplies. Stay inside the shrinking safe zone. Use pings and abilities to coordinate fights and rotations. Be the final surviving squad to win.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Apex Legends a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for players who learn best by practicing the core controls before taking on advanced objectives; the listed 1–3 squad-player range and 15–25 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide focuses on the current beginner gameplay loop rather than update-specific exploits. Controls, menus, balance, and available modes can differ by platform and patch. For Apex Legends, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
QUICK VIDEO GUIDE
Learn Apex Legends in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Apex Legends before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Complete training and test several Legends.
Learn the ping system, healing items, armor, and inventory.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Land with your squad and collect weapons, armor, and supplies.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Land with your squad and collect weapons, armor, and supplies.
Scoring and winning
Be the final surviving squad to win.
Common dispute to prevent
Landing far away from the squad. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to survive a fast battle royale by combining movement, weapons, and each Legend's abilities. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
Apex Legends on a supported device and internet access. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Complete training and test several Legends.
- Learn the ping system, healing items, armor, and inventory.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Land with your squad and collect weapons, armor, and supplies.
- Stay inside the shrinking safe zone.
- Use pings and abilities to coordinate fights and rotations.
- Be the final surviving squad to win.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Apex Legends begins this way: Land with your squad and collect weapons, armor, and supplies. Next, stay inside the shrinking safe zone. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: be the final surviving squad to win.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Survive a fast battle royale by combining movement, weapons, and each Legend's abilities.
- The final step explains when play stops: Be the final surviving squad to win.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: Yes, with optional cosmetic purchases.
Useful variations
- Use the tutorial, training area, or easiest suitable mode until movement and the main action feel comfortable.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 15–25 min is the normal planning range for Apex Legends.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Stay close enough to help teammates.
Beginner strategies
- Stay close enough to help teammates.
- Carry weapons suited to different distances.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Landing far away from the squad.
- Looting for too long while the safe zone closes.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Is Apex Legends free?
Yes, with optional cosmetic purchases.
Do teammates return after elimination?
A teammate can sometimes collect your banner and respawn you.
Related video games guides
Official instructions for your edition or the game publisher’s current documentation take priority over this summary. If you spot a factual error or an important edition difference, please tell us.
Report a correction →