Key takeaways
- Season 30 Split 2 ranked S tier: Loba and Pathfinder. They are level at 17.3% each among Master and Predator players, over a third of all picks between them.
- Axle has dropped from S to A. After the 25 August and 1 October nerfs her Master and Predator pick rate fell 45% in one week and another 18% the next, to 5.2%.
- Octane and Mad Maggie have taken over as the aggressive picks, third and fourth at about 8%. Alter is the riser of the week, up 38% to 5.6%.
- The Split 2 buffs to Catalyst, Conduit and Fuse made them better, not meta. None of them is above 2.2% at Master and Predator.
- Below Diamond, a legend you play well beats an S-tier pick you're still learning. Use the tiers as a shortlist, not a rule.
The best legends in Apex Legends Season 30 Split 2 ranked are Loba and Pathfinder, followed by an A tier of Octane, Mad Maggie, Axle, Bangalore, Revenant, Seer, Alter and Vantage. This tier list covers all 28 legends for the World's Edge, Olympus and Broken Moon ranked rotation that started on 15 September 2026 and runs until Season 30 ends on 3 November, and it is updated for the 1 October Axle nerfs.
We build it from three things: what Master and Predator players actually pick (Apex Legends Status data, read on 20 October 2026), what Respawn changed in the Split 2 patches, and how each kit plays on the three ranked maps. Pick rate tells you what top players trust; it doesn't tell you what you should play, which is why every tier below comes with the reason it's there. If you're new to tiers, RP and entry costs, start with our Apex Legends ranked guide.
Apex Legends Season 30 Split 2 tier list
| Tier | Legends | What puts them there |
|---|---|---|
| S | Loba, Pathfinder | Fit every squad and every Split 2 map; the two picks Master and Predator lobbies build around |
| A | Octane, Mad Maggie, Axle, Bangalore, Revenant, Seer, Alter, Vantage | Strong in the right comp or playstyle; each has one clear job it does better than the field |
| B | Horizon, Wraith, Conduit, Gibraltar, Catalyst, Sparrow, Fuse | Viable and sometimes map-specific; they ask more of the squad around them |
| C | Ash, Wattson, Valkyrie, Lifeline, Crypto, Caustic, Mirage, Rampart, Newcastle | Situational in ranked; defensive or comms-heavy kits that solo queue rarely gets full value from |
| D | Bloodhound, Ballistic | Lowest priority in high-ranked lobbies this split |
Why Loba and Pathfinder are the S tier
Loba wins fights before they start. Season 30's loot overhaul removed Gold attachments and cut purple attachment spawns, so the legend who can pull the right barrel or batteries from across a POI decides how equipped a squad is going into its first real fight. Her launch buff (a 0.4-second tactical equip, longer and faster bracelet throws, and a 120-second ultimate cooldown) made that easier, and at 17.3% she shares the top spot at Master and Predator with Pathfinder.
Pathfinder is the safest answer to the Split 2 maps. Olympus and Broken Moon both have long open stretches between POIs, and a grapple that reaches height or breaks line of sight is worth more there than almost any other tactical. He gets the squad out of bad fights, onto the ridge before the next ring, and onto an off-angle when a fight does start. He has been level with or just behind Loba all split, at 17.3% on 20 October. Our Pathfinder guide covers how to grapple with a purpose rather than just because the cooldown is up.
The pairing explains the meta: one legend makes the squad stronger before fights, the other decides where those fights happen and gets everyone out when they go wrong.
The A tier
- Octane: the third most-picked legend at Master and Predator (8.1%). With Axle nerfed, aggressive squads have moved to his Stim and launch pad for fast entries and late rotations. He punishes teams that sit in the open and is punished himself if you push without the squad.
- Mad Maggie: fourth at 7.8%. Her Riot Drill and Wrecking Ball break exactly the setups Split 2 endgames produce: teams holding buildings on Olympus and the domes and cover clusters of Broken Moon.
- Axle: still A tier, but no longer the default. She was the most-picked legend in late August. After the 25 August hotfix and the 1 October update her pick rate fell 45% in seven days and kept falling, to 5.2% on 20 October. She still starts fights on her terms in a coordinated squad; she no longer carries one that isn't.
- Bangalore: smoke to cross open ground, revive or reset, with nothing to learn before it's useful. A strong solo queue pick on all three maps.
- Revenant: pressure and forced engagements for squads that know when not to push. His pick rate has slipped two weeks running, but his job in a dive comp hasn't changed.
- Seer: information that turns into safe pushes. The 25 August hotfix removed the turn slow from his tactical, a nerf, and he has settled at around 4%, mostly in squads that pair him with Octane and Maggie.
- Alter: rotations through terrain other teams don't expect, and an escape the enemy can't follow. Her pick rate jumped 38% in the week to 20 October (5.6%), the biggest move among the top ten, as Axle players look for another way to pick their fights.
- Vantage: long-range pressure and early information on maps with long sightlines, especially World's Edge and Broken Moon.
What changed from Split 1 to Split 2
| Legend | Split 1 tier (24 August) | Split 2 tier (20 October) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axle | S | A | Nerfed on 25 August and again on 1 October; pick rate down to 5.2% |
| Seer | S | A | Tactical turn slow removed on 25 August; still a strong information pick |
| Alter | S | A | Same kit, but Pathfinder covers the mobility role better on the Split 2 maps |
| Catalyst | C | B | Split 2 buffs: tactical cooldown 20s to 15s, faster ultimate, up to 6 reinforced doors with Ferro-Door |
| Fuse | B | B | Buffed with 25% explosive damage resistance and Knuckle Jump in the base kit, but rarely picked high up |
| Valkyrie | A | C | Launch nerfs to missile damage and ultimate height; 0.9% at Master and Predator |
| Crypto | A | C | Needs a coordinated stack to pay off; 0.7% at Master and Predator |
| Bloodhound | B | D | The rework made the kit stronger on paper, but top lobbies have not adopted it: 0.3% |
The Split 1 tiers came from a different data set (the top 100 Predators on 24 August), so treat this table as the direction of travel rather than a like-for-like comparison. Every balance number above is from Respawn's Marked midseason patch notes and the 1 October update notes; our Season 30 patch notes breakdown lists them all.
Master and Predator pick rates in Split 2
These are the share of Master and Predator players picking each legend, across all game modes, as shown by Apex Legends Status on 20 October 2026. The weekly change compares each rate with seven days earlier.
| Legend | Pick rate | Change over 7 days |
|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder | 17.3% | +2% |
| Loba | 17.3% | -6% |
| Octane | 8.1% | -2% |
| Mad Maggie | 7.8% | +3% |
| Alter | 5.6% | +38% |
| Axle | 5.2% | -18% |
| Bangalore | 4.7% | 0% |
| Vantage | 4.4% | +1% |
| Revenant | 4.1% | -9% |
| Seer | 3.9% | -3% |
| Horizon | 3.4% | -3% |
| Wraith | 3.3% | +10% |
| Conduit | 2.2% | +2% |
| Gibraltar | 1.9% | +7% |
| Sparrow | 1.6% | +8% |
| Catalyst | 1.3% | +4% |
| Fuse | 1.1% | +4% |
| Ash | 1.1% | +4% |
| Wattson | 0.9% | +5% |
| Lifeline | 0.9% | +11% |
| Valkyrie | 0.9% | +17% |
| Crypto | 0.7% | +7% |
| Caustic | 0.6% | -17% |
| Mirage | 0.6% | +19% |
| Newcastle | 0.4% | +11% |
| Rampart | 0.4% | -19% |
| Bloodhound | 0.3% | -9% |
| Ballistic | 0.2% | +19% |
Source: Apex Legends Status, Master and Predator pick rates, read on 20 October 2026. Large percentage swings on small pick rates (Ballistic's +19% is a move from under 0.2% to 0.2%) mean little; read the change column for the top ten.
How we turn pick rates into tiers
Pick rate sets the starting order, then we move a legend when the data and the kit disagree. Horizon (3.4%) sits in B, below Vantage (4.4%), because she peaks on Olympus and fades on the other two maps. Catalyst moves up to B on 1.3% because her Split 2 buffs shortened her tactical cooldown to 15 seconds, and her doors and spikes control the buildings Olympus endgames are fought over. Bloodhound drops to D on the numbers alone: the rework is interesting, but a 0.3% pick rate among the best players means the cloak hasn't earned a place in their comps yet.
Is Axle still good after the October nerfs?
Yes, in a squad that plays around her, but she is no longer the best legend in the game. Season 30 launched with her maximum slide boost cut from 5 to 3 seconds. The 25 August hotfix then cut Nitro Gate's launch speed from 750 to 700, Kickstart's health from 200 to 150 and its stun from 1.5 to 0.25 seconds, and raised the ultimate's base cooldown from 90 to 120 seconds (the Drone Deployer upgrade restores 90).
The 1 October update went further: Axle's passive slide lateral control was cut by 50%, lateral control under Nitro Gate by 25%, Nitro Gate's initial push speed from 700 to 650, Kickstart's maximum knock-up from 700 to 650 and its drone chase time from 10 to 8 seconds, and aim assist is now disabled for players under Nitro Gate's effect. The aim assist change hits controller players hardest, because Nitro Gate entries were built around closing to SMG range and tracking on arrival. Our Axle guide covers how to play her after the changes.
Best legends for each Split 2 ranked map
| Map | Strongest picks | Why |
|---|---|---|
| World's Edge | Loba, Pathfinder, Vantage, Catalyst | Long sightlines and the reworked POIs reward loot efficiency, height and building control |
| Olympus | Pathfinder, Horizon, Mad Maggie, Catalyst | Vertical fights and building endgames |
| Broken Moon | Pathfinder, Alter, Loba, Octane | Open ground between POIs; mobility and fast rotations decide position |
For the reasoning behind each pick and comps for every map, see our guide to the best legends for each map.
Best legends for solo queue in Split 2
Solo queue rewards kits that help without a callout. These hold up with teammates you've never met:
| How you queue | Legends that hold up | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo queue | Loba, Pathfinder, Bangalore, Conduit | Loot, escapes, smoke and shields that work without coordination |
| Duo plus a random | Loba + Pathfinder, Bangalore + Seer, Conduit + Octane | One legend that supports, one that creates or escapes fights |
| Full three-stack | Octane, Mad Maggie, Axle, Seer, Revenant | Comms unlock the aggressive and information kits |
Habits matter more than the pick when you play alone; our solo queue to Master guide covers them.
Best Apex team comps for Season 30 Split 2
- Loba + Pathfinder + Octane: the high-ranked default. Loba equips the squad, Pathfinder takes height and exits, Octane takes space fast. It needs a squad that rotates early.
- Loba + Seer + Mad Maggie: information and endgame breaking. Seer finds the team holding a building and Maggie forces them out of it.
- Pathfinder + Bangalore + Conduit: the forgiving comp for squads that don't talk much. Escapes, smoke for revives and resets, and shields to survive a bad fight.
How to use this tier list
- Start from your role. If you already play the squad's support, entry or information role well, pick the highest-tier legend in that role rather than switching roles to chase the S tier.
- Build around the squad. Three A-tier legends that cover loot, mobility and fight-starting beat three S-tier picks that all do the same job.
- Check the map. Horizon on Olympus or Vantage on World's Edge is worth more than her tier suggests.
- Don't force the meta. Below Diamond, keep a pool of two or three legends you can play in any comp.
Aiming for the top 750? Our guide on how to reach Apex Predator covers the requirements, a daily practice routine and a weekly plan.
Short on time for the ranked climb
If your schedule doesn't fit a full Split 2 grind before the season ends, an Apex Legends rank boost is played by hand by an experienced Apex player, with a duo queue option so you can play every game yourself. If you're already in Master and chasing the top 750, the Apex Predator boost covers that last step. If the rank you ordered isn't delivered, you're eligible for a refund under the Refund Policy.
Apex Season 30 Split 2 tier list FAQ
Who is the best legend in Apex Legends Season 30 Split 2?
Loba and Pathfinder. On 20 October 2026 they were level as the most-picked legends among Master and Predator players, at 17.3% each, more than double any other legend.
Is Axle still S tier?
No. After the 25 August hotfix and the 1 October update, which also disabled aim assist under Nitro Gate, her Master and Predator pick rate fell to 5.2%. She is A tier: strong in a coordinated squad, no longer a must-pick.
What is the best legend for solo queue in Split 2?
Loba, Pathfinder, Bangalore or Conduit, because each gives the squad value without voice comms: loot, escapes, smoke or shields.
Did the Split 2 buffs make Catalyst, Conduit and Fuse meta?
Not in high-ranked play. Catalyst rose to B tier on her shorter tactical cooldown and building control, but none of the three is above 2.2% at Master and Predator.
What are the worst legends in Season 30 Split 2?
Bloodhound and Ballistic, at 0.3% and 0.1% among Master and Predator players. Both can still win games in the hands of a player who mains them.
What is the best team comp for Split 2 ranked?
Loba, Pathfinder and Octane is the high-ranked default. For squads that don't communicate much, Pathfinder, Bangalore and Conduit is more forgiving.
When will this tier list change?
When Season 31 arrives. Respawn has said Season 30 ends on 3 November, and its roadmap lists ranked updates for Season 31, but the details aren't out yet. We update the tiers after each balance patch.
