Gaming
Games
How to play as Crypto in Apex Legends
The game's second legend has been released along with the Season Three update. Read this guide on how to use Crypto's abilities and tips for playing him.
Apex Legends’ Season 3 changes have finally hit the live servers and players are busy getting to grips with the new Meltdown map, deadly Charge Rifle, ranked season, and new legend. Crypto is the second legend to be released and he promises to drastically shake up the meta with his long-range surveillance drone and lethal EMP ultimate. It’s certainly an exciting time to be an Apex Legends fan and Respawn’s Surveillance Expert has proven very popular among both pro and casual players.
While Apex’s latest legend can wreak havoc when used aggressively, you’ll need a good understanding of his core abilities and how best to use them if you wish to spy on your foes and crush them with deadly precision. If you’re looking to get the jump on your opponents, consider adding the Surveillance Expert to your roster. Be sure to check out this Crypto tips guide below to increase your win rate and get that all-important Champion Win.
How to make the most of Crypto’s abilities
Neurolink (Passive)
Crypto’s passive is what makes him such a useful legend as it allows him to detect enemies with his Surveillance Drone. Foes within 30-meters of your position are marked for both you and your teammates to see. This ability is absolutely huge as it gives you valuable information that allows you to coordinate attacks, scout out potentially hazardous zones, lay deadly ambushes, and avoid any risky plays that would otherwise hamper your chances of survival. Just like Bloodhound’s ultimate, Neurolink even allows you to see enemies through walls. Not bad for just a passive ability.
Surveillance Drone (Tactical)
Not only does Crypto’s deadly drone allow you to spot enemies and view the surrounding area from above, it can also be used to scout out nearby areas before you commit to them. You can even switch between both Crytpo and his drone on the fly, giving you huge amounts info on your surroundings. The distance the drone covers is also fairly large (200 meters from Crytpo), so don’t be afraid to take to the skies and begin searching the map for enemy players. To make matters even better, the drone can be used to open doors, supply bins and can even pick up teammates' banners.
While the Surveillance Drone may offer Crypto and his allies huge amounts of utility, it does have a hefty 40-second cooldown if it happens to get shot down. Despite the drone’s small size, destroying it is surprisingly easy as it only has one health point. To increase the drone’s lifespan, try to fly it behind cover and place it in areas where it is hidden from prying eyes.
Drone EMP (Ultimate)
This game-changing ultimate uses Crypto's Surveillance Drone to set off an EMP blast that deals shield damage, slows enemies, and disables traps. This ability is incredibly effective in Meltdown’s most built-up areas as it can affect all players in a 30-meter radius, even if they are behind walls and cover. Try to drop your ultimate when your teammates are nearby as they’ll be able to clean up any enemies that have been caught within the blast’s radius. This ability really ramps up in the late-game when the map forces more players to cluster together, so try to get the jump on enemy squads before they can engage you.
Crypto strategy and tips
Crypto is at his best when played aggressively, hunting down enemies
© Respawn Entertainment
Despite not having any abilities that allow Crypto to escape or aggressively flank enemies, he actually favours a highly-aggressive approach to combat -- in fact, Crypto is at his best when he’s seeking out new targets for his squad to ambush. Thankfully, finding nearby squads to obliterate is incredibly easy thanks to his Surveillance Drone. Once you’ve marked potential targets with your drone/Neurolink combo, it’s time to sneak into the area and lock your unsuspecting prey down with your ultimate. Communication is a big part of Crypto’s playstyle and while the in-game ping system and passive Neurolink offer plenty of info, Crypto is most effective when coordinating your plays over voice comms. It’s only when you have full communication between you and your team that you’ll unleash Crypto’s full potential.
As soon as you’ve dropped onto the map, be ready to launch your drone to provide overhead reconnaissance as you loot. Not only will this allow you to gauge the whereabouts of nearby enemies, it will also alert you to any new threats that present themselves. After all, running into an area in search of a gun only to be met with an enemy squad can be incredibly frustrating, especially if it happens to end in an instant loss for your team. Get in the habit of constantly switching between Crypto and his drone, and recall it whenever you’re moving onto the next area. The 40-second cooldown may seem pretty high, but if you’re constantly recalling and placing your drone in hard to spot areas, you can go whole games without it ever being detected. The only downside to Crypto’s drone is that it leaves you vulnerable to enemy fire when you’re piloting it, so make sure you find some cover and keep your scanning to a minimum when enemies are nearby to avoid any annoying deaths.
There are a lot of creative ways to make use of Crypto's drone
© Respawn Entertainment
Crypto’s drone can also be used in clutch situations where you need to collect your teammates’ banners without risking your own life. Simply send in your drone, hover over their death boxes and recall it to safely obtain their banners. This is particularly useful when your allies happen to get caught outside of the ring. Many Crypto players forget to use this feature, so don’t be afraid to find a safe spot before sending in your drone to pick up any dead allies. Also consider using the drone to bait enemies into unwanted situations by opening and closing doors as this will invariably force curious players into checking out the source of the sound, giving your team the perfect chance to ambush them.
Lastly, always be on the lookout for any opportunities where you can use your ultimate. For example, if an enemy squad is running away or trying to flank your team, drop your EMP and instantly put an end to their movement. The slow and shield damage will usually disorientate clustered foes, giving your team plenty of time to obliterate them before they can react. This ultimate has great synergy with Caustic’s Nox Gas Grenade, Bangalore’s Rolling Thunder, and Gibraltar’s Defensive Bombardment, so try experimenting and pairing it with other legend abilities to maximise its effectiveness. If played well, Crypto can effectively turn even the fiercest of firefights in your favour, supplying you and your team the valuable information needed to claim a decisive Champion Victory.
