TL;DR
What to know first
- Crypto, Lifeline and Revenant receive buffs; Loba’s cooldowns get longer.
- Akimbo Wingman fires a sequential two-shot burst.
- Strongholds add a contested capture objective; District at night returns.
- EA has not supplied every weapon value in these Designer’s Notes.
Cipher · EA Designer’s Notes
When does Apex Season 31 start?
Designer’s Notes preview, not the full patch log. Values EA has not published stay unlisted here.
Cipher · EA Designer’s Notes
Which legends got buffed in Season 31?
25s drone battery; 360° scans; marks last 8s, or 12s with the duration upgrade. Charged Up adds 10s of battery. EMP without drone line of sight deals 50 shield damage. EA gives no numeric damage value for line-of-sight EMP here.
Moving toward teammates gets a base-kit speed boost. With the drone stowed, one Ultimate press deploys it and triggers EMP.
Tactical cooldown −10s in the base kit; healing while gliding. A new level-3 upgrade cuts Ultimate cooldown by 60s.
The other new level-3 choice is Revive Shield, which protects the teammate being revived. Choose between that shield and the cooldown upgrade.
Base Tactical cooldown −5s; Ultimate cooldown −30s. The old 35s timer cap is removed. Knocks add 5s, or 10s with Every Lasting; the Silence upgrade lasts 4s.
No Escape refreshes Tactical when Assassin’s Instinct marks a low-health enemy. Silence triggers its pulse when the Tactical leap lands.
Our take for ranked: practise the drone recall cycle before committing a Crypto push. For Lifeline and Revenant, check your selected upgrades; upgrade-only effects should not be treated as base-kit buffs.
Cipher · EA Designer’s Notes
What changed for Loba, and was Axle nerfed again?
| Loba cooldown | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Tactical | 25s | 30s |
| Ultimate | 120s | 150s |
EA’s Axle discussion refers to the October 1 hotfix. Do not count it as a newly announced November 3 nerf.
Our take for ranked: Loba players should budget for the extra 5s on the bracelet before planning a second escape.
Cipher · EA Designer’s Notes
What are Akimbo Wingman and the weapon changes?
Prowler and Nemesis nerfs are announced without numeric values. The Elite Hemlok is vaulted; the Hemlok Burst AR returns.
Cipher · EA Designer’s Notes
How do Strongholds work, and which map returns?
Hold the nearby area to unlock one; enemies can contest it. Dynamic cover appears around the landing. Rewards include Care Package weapons and Gold guns.
District at night also returns.
Our take for ranked: treat the capture as a rotation decision. Check nearby squads and your exit route before choosing to hold it.
Cipher · EA Designer’s Notes
Where can I read EA’s original notes?
This page separates exact published numbers from our labelled ranked advice. EA’s original article has the full context and screenshots.
More on Apex Ranked
Related ranked resources
FAQ
Common questions
When does Apex Season 31 launch?
EA lists November 3, 2026 for Cipher. The Designer’s Notes do not specify a launch hour.
Which legends are buffed in Season 31?
EA details Crypto, Lifeline and Revenant buffs. Some effects require choosing an upgrade.
What are Loba’s new cooldowns?
Tactical changes from 25 to 30 seconds; Ultimate from 120 to 150 seconds.
Are these the full Season 31 patch notes?
No. This is a summary of EA’s October 30 Designer’s Notes. Several weapon changes have no numeric values in that source.