Demystifying Rare Apex Packs: Everything You Need to Know
Rare Apex Packs are a fundamental part of the Apex Legends loot system. They are digital containers within the game that grant players a chance to acquire various cosmetic items, such as weapon skins, legend skins, banners, quips, and crafting metals. What sets them apart is that each Rare Apex Pack guarantees at least one rare-quality item or better. While they don’t contain items as glamorous as those found in Epic or Legendary Apex Packs, they serve as a crucial pathway for accumulating cosmetics and progressing towards the highly coveted Heirloom Shards.
Understanding the Apex Pack Hierarchy
To truly grasp the role of Rare Apex Packs, it’s important to understand their place within the overall Apex Pack hierarchy. There are generally three main tiers of regular Apex Packs:
- Rare Apex Packs: Guarantee at least one rare item.
- Epic Apex Packs: Guarantee at least one epic item (often feature purple-based skins).
- Legendary Apex Packs: Guarantee at least one legendary item (often feature gold/yellow-based skins).
This hierarchy defines the minimum rarity of an item that a pack will contain. However, keep in mind that it’s still possible to receive items of a higher rarity than guaranteed. For instance, a Rare Apex Pack can still randomly drop an Epic or even Legendary item, albeit at a lower probability.
Why Rare Apex Packs Matter
While higher-tier packs might seem more appealing, Rare Apex Packs play a vital role in the Apex Legends experience:
- Accessibility: They are the most frequently obtained type of Apex Pack. You receive them from leveling up your account, progressing through the Battle Pass, and completing certain challenges. This frequent availability makes them a consistent source of new items.
- Cosmetic Accumulation: Over time, opening numerous Rare Apex Packs allows you to gradually expand your collection of skins, banners, and other cosmetic items.
- Crafting Materials: Rare Apex Packs also provide a steady stream of crafting metals. These metals are essential for crafting specific cosmetic items that you desire directly, bypassing the random nature of Apex Pack drops.
- Progression Towards Heirlooms: Although Heirloom Shards cannot be found directly within Rare Apex Packs, every Apex Pack opened, including Rare ones, contributes towards the “pity timer” system. This system guarantees that you will receive Heirloom Shards within 500 Apex Packs opened, unless you already own all Mythic items.
Differentiating Rare Apex Packs
If you have a mix of Apex Packs and are unsure which type you’re looking at, there are visual cues to help you distinguish them. Rare Apex Packs usually have a basic, standard skin. Epic Apex Packs often feature purple-based color schemes, while Legendary Apex Packs are characterized by gold or yellow-based designs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rare Apex Packs
1. Do Rare Apex Packs count towards the Heirloom Shard guarantee?
Yes, every Apex Pack you open, including Rare Apex Packs, counts towards the 500-pack pity timer. This means that each Rare Apex Pack brings you closer to the guarantee of receiving Heirloom Shards, regardless of the items it contains.
2. Can I get Heirloom Shards from Rare Apex Packs?
No, Heirloom Shards cannot be directly found in Rare Apex Packs. They are exclusively obtained from regular Apex Packs (of any rarity) and are guaranteed within every 500 packs opened.
3. Are Rare Apex Packs worth saving?
While it’s tempting to hoard Apex Packs, there’s generally no strategic advantage to saving Rare Apex Packs specifically. Because every pack counts towards the Heirloom guarantee, opening them as you get them won’t negatively impact your chances of getting an heirloom.
4. What are the chances of getting an Epic or Legendary item from a Rare Apex Pack?
While Rare Apex Packs guarantee only a rare item, you have a chance to get higher-tier items. The probability of getting at least one Epic or better item is around 24.8%. The probability of getting at least one Legendary item is around 7.4%.
5. How many Rare Apex Packs do I get from leveling up?
The number of Rare Apex Packs you get from leveling up varies depending on your level range. You get one pack every level from levels 2-20 (19 packs total), one pack every two levels from 22-300 (140 packs total), and one pack every five levels from 305-500 (40 packs total).
6. Do event Apex Packs count towards the Heirloom guarantee?
No, special event packs that you purchase do not count toward the heirloom count. Only regular Apex Packs earned through leveling, Battle Pass progress, or direct purchase contribute.
7. What happens if I get an Heirloom before opening 500 packs?
If you get an Heirloom before reaching the 500-pack mark, the pity timer resets. This means the count goes back to zero, and you’ll have another 500 packs to open before you’re guaranteed another set of Heirloom Shards.
8. Can I get duplicate items from Rare Apex Packs?
Apex Packs do not drop duplicate cosmetics. The game prevents you from receiving items that you already own, ensuring that each pack provides you with something new.
9. How much does it cost to buy enough Apex Packs for an Heirloom?
If you were to rely solely on purchasing Apex Packs to reach the 500-pack Heirloom guarantee, it would cost approximately $400 to $500. This is because Apex Packs cost around 100 Apex Coins each, and Apex Coin bundles are sold at various price points.
10. How do I track how many Apex Packs I’ve opened?
Unfortunately, Apex Legends doesn’t have a built-in tracker for the number of Apex Packs you’ve opened. Players often rely on external trackers or manually keeping count based on their purchases and earned packs. Apex pack trackers are available to help with this.
11. Can I refund Apex Packs if I accidentally purchased them?
In certain cases, refunds are possible. If you purchased Apex Coins accidentally and haven’t spent them, EA support can help you. Contacting the specific platform’s support is best for other platforms.
12. What can I do with the Legend Tokens I earn at level 500?
At level 500, you continue to earn 600 Legend Tokens per level and per 18,000 XP. You can use these tokens to unlock new Legends or purchase recolored skins in the in-game store.
13. What is the rarest item I can get from an Apex Pack?
The rarest item you can obtain from an Apex Pack is a set of Heirloom Shards. These shards allow you to unlock any Heirloom weapon available in the game for a specific Legend.
14. Are Apex Packs considered “loot boxes?”
Yes, Apex Packs are a form of loot box. They are digital containers that contain randomized items, and players do not know the specific contents until they are opened.
15. Where can I learn more about the game design behind Apex Legends?
Understanding the mechanics of games like Apex Legends can be fascinating. For more information on game design and learning, you can check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. This organization explores the intersection of games, learning, and society.