The countdown toApex LegendsSeason 13: Saviors is well underway. Slowly but surely, Respawn Entertainment has revealed map changes toStorm Point like the Downed Beast POI, new PvE features like the IMC Armories, and Ranked changes including a new introductory tier and possible demotions. The big question on everyone’s mind, of course, is the big guy: Newcastle.
Newcastle isn’t just the hero of the hour comeApex LegendsSeason 13, he’s a bonafide war hero who puts people first. Whereas Bangalore, his sister, is all about following the command to a letter, Newcastle found himself going down a different road…leading him to Harris Valley. Game Rant recently took part in a presentation, where Respawn talked all thingsApex LegendsSaviors.
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Apex Legends Season 13 Newcastle Ability Descriptions
Newcastle always puts others first, and that’s reflected in his role as a defensive legend. It’s been quite some time since adefensive legend has entered the Apex Games, and Respawn is aware that there are quite a few more assault characters in the game than other character classes.
Newcastle is loosely based on a medieval knight, following his code of honor, but this is also seen in his logo and his shield. It translates well to gameplay because he is all about defending his allies, with defensive pushes and mobile defensives being key components of his kit.
His passive is fueled byhis Knockdown shieldand allows him to drag enemies out of the fire. His Mobile Shield has a few tactical uses and has a few moving parts: the upper and lower half. His Castle Wall is the big ability, where he can cross huge distances quickly and throw up distances.
It remains to be seen howNewcastle fits into theApex Legendsmeta, but he doesn’t seem as overpowered as past additions. Traditionally, legends enter rather strongly and are then tweaked accordingly, as seen with Seer, and the developer acknowledged concern of the“Shield meta” as seen with Gibraltar.
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With this in mind, it’s worth mentioning that Newcastle is built with a lot of counterplay, and he doesn’t seem likely to go the way of Seer, at least so it seems. His passive is based on his knockdown shield, which elevates that loot for him but also weakens this ability early game, and his mobile shield can be broken in a few ways. In other words, his defense has its weaknesses, and how that impacts his defensive role inApex Legendsremains to be seen.
Apex Legends Season 13 Newcastle Lore and Background
Lore-wise, Newcastle is not Newcastle, and Jackson Williams is not exactly Jackson Williams. His character comes with a ton of layers. Thesoldier known as Jackson Williamsended up in Harris Valley, where he assumed a new identity and built a life with a new family. A major aspect of his character is his daughter, with Williams trying to be hip, making bad dad jokes, and rocking a dad bod now. It’s heartwarming in the best of ways to see this former soldier genuinely happy.
Meanwhile, one person from Harris Valley—Newcastle—desperately tries to enter the Apex Games, but he is rejected multiple times. It seems that this Newcastle owes the wrong people a lot of money, and his rejection from the Apex Games puts Harris Valley in danger. Not one to leave anyone behind, Williams takes up the mantle of Newcastle to protect Harris Valley. He gets one chance to enter the games, and here he is.
Newcastle is doing this to protect Harris Valley and everyone there, but he also wants to get back home to his daughter. As part of the game, Newcastle is not going to leave any legend behind, but there’s going to befamily drama, of course, between him and Bangalore.
Apex Legendsis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Mobile releases worldwide sometime this May.
