Apex Legends Season 31 Cipher: Ranked Changes, Crypto Rework, Akimbo Wingman & Strongholds

Apex Legends Season 31, Cipher, launches on November 3, 2026 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC (EA app, Epic, Steam). EA and Respawn published the season overview on October 29, and it is a big one for anyone who plays Ranked: Legend Bans arrive in Diamond+ lobbies, entry costs now react to lobby skill spread, Crypto gets a full rework called Crypto Rewired, and the Akimbo Wingman and Strongholds change how fights and loot work.

Below is what is officially confirmed so far, what it means for your climb, and what we are still waiting on. Everything here comes from EA's Cipher game updates post and the official Ranked Roadmap. Exact numbers (cooldowns, damage, RP values) were not published before launch, so we flag them as unconfirmed rather than guess.

Ranked in Season 31: what changes

Legend Bans in Diamond+ lobbies

The headline Ranked feature is Legend Banning. According to the Ranked Roadmap, it is enabled together with Drop Zone deployment, so any match with Diamond+ players uses it. The pre-match flow gets a dedicated Banning Phase:

• Every player votes for one Legend to ban.
• When all votes are in (or the timer runs out), each nominated Legend shows its chance of being banned. More votes means a higher chance.
• The system then randomly picks bans using those percentages. Banned Legends cannot be picked by anyone in that match.

Respawn deliberately did not make it "the most-voted Legend is always banned", because that would create its own banning meta. In practice, that means you cannot count on your main being safe, and you cannot count on the strongest Legend being gone. EA's own advice: have a Plan B, maybe a Plan C. How many Legends can be banned per match has not been confirmed.

Challenger and Goliath matches

Each Ranked lobby now shows a Lobby Tier when you load in, essentially the median of all squads. If your squad is two or more Rank Tiers below it, you are in a Challenger match with reduced entry cost. Two or more tiers above it, you are a Goliath and pay a higher entry cost. The adjustment is shown up front, so you know what you need to break even before the drop. The exact size of the adjustment is not published, and Respawn says it will keep tuning it.

Easier access and visible Demotion Protection

Road to Ranked challenges are removed; access goes back to Account Level 20 (Respawn says the threshold may still be adjusted). Demotion Protection, an existing but mostly hidden feature, is now clearly displayed: when one match could demote you, you get three Demotion Shields, and you only drop a tier after all three are used.

What is not in Season 31

The new Iron, Emerald and Grandmaster ranks, the Open League / Pro-Am League split and flattened kill/placement scoring are planned for Season 32 (early 2027), not Cipher. For Season 31, the familiar rank ladder stays in place.

Crypto Rewired: from drone camping to active intel

Crypto's role shifts "from passive to aggressive intel-gathering", per EA:

• Battery-powered Surveillance Drone. The drone runs on batteries instead of a cooldown, so you can pick it up and redeploy without a long wait.
• Sentry Mode. Park the drone in a good spot and it tags enemies in sight for you and your squad.
• Faster EMP. His EMP Ultimate can now be deployed with the press of a button.

For Ranked, Crypto looks like a strong pick for teams that play edges and rotate on information. Battery count, drone durability and exact EMP numbers are not confirmed yet; wait for patch notes before rebuilding your whole team comp around him.

Akimbo Wingman

The new Akimbo Wingman is dual-wielded Wingman revolvers, described as "precision and firepower" together. EA's press release adds "double the damage". Damage per shot, fire rate, magazine size and whether it is a ground or crate weapon are not confirmed in the official posts. Expect it to be tested heavily in the first days of the season.

Strongholds: the new loot vaults

Strongholds are described as the evolution of Care Packages: high-tier, high-risk loot in a very loud package.

• Inside: crate weapons, corrupted attachments and EVO for the whole squad.
• Opening one takes time and triggers an alarm that shows nearby squads exactly where you are.
• Each Stronghold spawns with cover and Hardlight to help you hold it.

In Ranked, this is a classic risk/reward call: raid it and gear up, or hold an angle and third-party the squad that rings the bell. How many Strongholds spawn per match and when they appear has not been confirmed.

Also in Cipher

• Revenant buffs: shorter Ultimate cooldown, quicker Tactical, and new Upgrades (extend the Ultimate on knocks, silence nearby enemies after a Shadow Pounce, auto-refresh Shadow Pounce while an enemy is marked).
• Lifeline buffs: reduced D.O.C. cooldown, self-heal while gliding, and Upgrades for Ultimate cooldown reduction, a shield while reviving and better flight mobility.
• Cryptic Core, a new Mythic Volt SMG, as a possible drop in Cipher Seasonal Packs (not available in all regions).
• Kings Canyon Evolved, a reworked map, is announced for Season 32.

How to approach your Season 31 climb

• Learn two or three Legends. In Diamond+, bans are random by vote weight, so a one-main pool is a liability.
• Read the Lobby Tier. A Goliath match costs more to enter; play for placement instead of forcing early fights.
• Treat Strongholds as bait. The alarm reveals you; only open one when your squad can hold it.
• Check the patch notes on launch day for the numbers that are still missing.

If solo queue keeps eating your RP, CarrySquad's Ranked service is manual progress toward the rank you choose, with optional Priority, Play with our team and Stream add-ons.

FAQ

When does Apex Legends Season 31 start?

Apex Legends: Cipher launches on November 3, 2026, according to EA's official announcement.

How do Legend Bans work in Season 31 Ranked?

In matches with Diamond+ players, each player votes to ban one Legend. More votes raise a Legend's chance of being banned, then the system randomly selects bans by those percentages. Banned Legends cannot be picked that match.

Are Legend Bans active in all Ranked ranks?

No. EA says bans apply to Diamond lobbies and above, alongside Drop Zone deployment.

What are Challenger and Goliath matches?

If your squad is two or more Rank Tiers below the Lobby Tier, it is a Challenger match with lower entry cost. Two or more tiers above makes it a Goliath match with higher entry cost.

What is Crypto Rewired in Cipher?

Crypto Rewired is the official name of Crypto's rework in Season 31 (Cipher is the season name). His Surveillance Drone runs on batteries instead of a cooldown, has a Sentry Mode that tags enemies for the squad, and his EMP Ultimate deploys with a button press.

Are the new Emerald and Grandmaster ranks in Season 31?

No. EA's Ranked Roadmap places Iron, Emerald and Grandmaster ranks, plus the Open and Pro-Am Leagues, in Season 32 (early 2027).