Apex Legends Season 31 at a glance
Apex Legends Season 31 starts in November 2026, straight after Season 30 ends on 3 November, and the biggest confirmed change is to ranked: Legend Bans arrive in Diamond-and-above matches. Respawn's Ranked Roadmap of 20 October 2026 confirms four ranked changes for the season. Respawn hasn't yet published Season 31 patch notes, so legend, weapon and map changes are not official.
This guide covers everything confirmed for Season 31 in Apex Legends, what has only been leaked, and the bigger ranked rework Respawn has planned for Season 32. We will update it when the Season 31 patch notes go live.
| Status | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Season 30 ends | 3 November 2026 | Respawn's 6 October update notes |
| Season 31 starts | November 2026, exact day and time not announced | Respawn's Ranked Roadmap |
| Ranked changes | Confirmed | Ranked Roadmap, 20 October 2026 |
| Legend, weapon and map changes | Not announced yet | Leaks only so far |
| Season 32 ranked rework | Confirmed for early 2027 | Ranked Roadmap |
What changes in Season 31 ranked
Respawn's roadmap lists four changes:
| Change | Who it affects | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Legend Bans | Any match with Diamond or higher players | Players vote, and voted Legends may be banned for that match |
| Level 20 access | New and returning accounts | Road to Ranked challenges are removed; Account Level 20 is enough |
| Challenger and Goliath lobbies | Squads far from the lobby's median tier | Lower entry cost for underdogs, higher entry cost for favourites |
| Demotion Shields | Players just promoted | The existing three-shield protection now shows on screen |
Respawn says these plans "may change as we listen to community feedback", so check the patch notes on launch day.
How Legend Bans work
Legend Banning switches on alongside Drop Zone deployment, so it runs in any ranked match with Diamond or higher players. A match goes like this:
- Banning Phase. Before Legend Selection, every player picks one Legend they would like banned.
- The odds. Each Legend's chance of being banned depends on how many votes it got. More votes means a higher chance, not a guaranteed ban.
- The draw. The game picks the banned Legends at random using those odds.
- Legend Selection. Nobody in the lobby can pick a banned Legend for that match.
Respawn says it chose odds over an automatic ban on the most-voted Legend because a fixed rule "creates its own banning meta". EA hasn't said how many Legends are banned per match.
What to do before your first Diamond match:
- Have a second and third Legend ready. If your main is in every tier list, expect it to be banned in some matches. Practise a backup in the same role before you queue, not during the match.
- Vote for the Legend that beats your squad. If your team struggles against a strong scan or a strong engage, vote for that Legend. One vote doesn't ban anything, but the most-voted Legends go out more often.
- Agree on a fallback comp. Decide in the lobby who plays what if your first pick is gone, so Legend Selection doesn't eat your planning time.
Ranked access goes back to Level 20
Road to Ranked challenges are being removed. In Season 31, ranked only needs Account Level 20. EA says it will keep looking at the exact level, so the threshold could move later.
For new players, that makes ranked available sooner. It also means more new accounts in the lowest ranks early in the season, so expect uneven lobbies in your first few games.
Challenger and Goliath lobbies
Every ranked lobby now gets a Lobby Tier, shown when you load in. EA describes it as roughly the median of all squads in the match. Your squad's entry cost then depends on where you sit against it:
| Your squad compared with the Lobby Tier | Match type | Entry cost |
|---|---|---|
| Two or more tiers below | Challenger | Reduced |
| Within one tier | Normal | Standard |
| Two or more tiers above | Goliath | Increased |
EA's example is a Gold lobby. Bronze squads in it are Challengers, a Diamond squad is a Goliath, and Silver, Gold and Platinum squads pay the normal cost. EA's example images show a Challenger entry cost of 7 RP and a Goliath cost of 9 RP for that lobby. EA hasn't published the full cost table.
What this means for you:
- Stacking with a much lower friend now costs less. If your duo partner is two tiers below the lobby, your squad can land as Challenger and pay less to play.
- Smurfing down costs more. A high-ranked squad in a low lobby is a Goliath and pays more RP to enter, so it gains less from each match.
- Read the tag when you load in. As a Goliath, a cheap early death costs you more than usual, so play the first circle safely and pick fights you know you can win.
Demotion Shields, now visible
Demotion protection isn't new, but Respawn says it "was an unintentionally hidden feature". Season 31 puts it on screen.
When protection is active you have three Demotion Shields. Any time a match would cost you enough RP to demote, one shield is used instead. Protection ends when you gain enough RP that a single match can't demote you, or when you use all three shields and demote.
The practical rule: right after a promotion, a bad game won't drop you straight back down, but each one spends a shield. If you are down to your last shield, play for placement until you have a buffer.
What's been leaked but not confirmed
Ahead of the patch notes, leakers and dataminers have reported changes that Respawn has not announced. None of these are official, and the details could change or not ship at all:
- A Crypto rework, with changes to his drone and EMP.
- Buffs for Lifeline and Revenant, mostly shorter cooldowns and new upgrades.
- Strongholds, reported as a replacement for care packages.
- Akimbo Wingman, letting you dual-wield the Wingman.
We haven't listed numbers for any of these, because no official figures exist yet. Until the patch notes are out, don't build your Season 31 plan around a leaked change.
What's coming in Season 32
Respawn says Season 31's changes "lay the foundation" for a larger rework in Season 32, in early 2027. EA's roadmap lists:
| Season 32 change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Iron replaces Rookie | Iron counts as a standard rank for all players |
| Emerald | A new rank between Platinum and Diamond, with 4 divisions |
| Masters | Gets 4 divisions |
| Grandmaster | A new top rank. The Predator badge goes to the top 750 of Grandmaster at the end of the season |
| Open League | Iron to Emerald. Every match starts in the Dropship |
| Pro-Am League | Diamond, Masters and Grandmaster. Drop Zones and Legend Bans live here |
| RP scoring | Each kill and each placement is worth a set amount. Your team's kills count fully for everyone, so assists and participation credit are removed |
| Entry costs | Rise at each division instead of each tier |
| Weighting | Open League values kills a little more, Pro-Am values placement more |
| Weekly Ladders | Removed |
| Rewards | New seasonal auras, revisited Ranked Dive Trails, Epic and Legendary Apex Packs, and rewards on promotion |
EA says more details are coming closer to Season 32's launch, and the list "isn't everything".
The change that matters most for planning: under Season 32 scoring, every kill your squad gets pays everyone the same. Playing with a squad that fights together will count for more than chasing your own damage.
How to get ready
- Finish what you want from Season 30 before 3 November. Ranked resets at the start of each season, so any badge or tier you want from this season needs to come before the switch.
- Learn a backup Legend now. If you play in Diamond or above, bans will push you off your main in some matches.
- Check your shields after a promotion. The new counter shows how many bad games you can afford.
- Queue with players near your rank. Goliath lobbies make carrying a much lower friend cost you more RP.
For how RP, kill points and placement work today, our Apex Legends ranked guide covers the current system. If the climb is the part you don't have time for, BoostingXP's Apex Legends rank boost takes your account from your current rank to the one you choose, played by hand by high-ranked players.
FAQ
When does Apex Legends Season 31 start?
In November 2026. Season 30 ends on 3 November, but Respawn hasn't announced Season 31's exact start time. Check the in-game countdown.
Is the Crypto rework confirmed for Season 31?
Not yet. A Crypto rework has been leaked, but Respawn hasn't announced it. The Season 31 patch notes will confirm what actually changes.
How do Legend Bans work in Apex Season 31?
In any ranked match with Diamond or higher players, each player votes for one Legend before Legend Selection. The more votes a Legend gets, the higher its chance of being banned, and the game draws the bans at random from those odds. Banned Legends can't be picked by anyone for that match.
Do Legend Bans apply in Gold or Platinum?
Not in Season 31. Bans only run in matches with Diamond or higher players, alongside Drop Zone deployment.
What level do you need for ranked in Season 31?
Account Level 20. The Road to Ranked challenges are removed, and EA says it may still adjust the level.
What is a Goliath match in Apex?
A match where your squad is two or more tiers above the lobby's median tier. You pay more RP to enter. A squad two or more tiers below is a Challenger and pays less.
What new ranks are coming in Apex Season 32?
Iron replaces Rookie, Emerald sits between Platinum and Diamond, and Grandmaster is the new top rank. The Predator badge goes to the top 750 Grandmaster players at the end of the season.
