Apex Legends Brings Back Classic FPS with New 1v1 Gauntlet

Duels is a new 1v1 mode based on Apex Legends Arenas. It keeps things simple focusing only on pure player vs player (PvP) shooting action.

1v1 me bro  that old-school challenge full of confidence is making a comeback. Back in the day it was how you settled scores with your friends. Now Apex Legends is bringing that feeling back with a twist. In the latest update the game introduces Duels a 30-player mini-tournament where you try to win as many 1v1 fights as you can. It’s part of the return of Arenas a fan-favorite mode that was once a regular part of the game.

Arenas has finally returned in Apex Legends Season 25. This round-based mode was removed over two years ago and while it might not have worked well as a permanent core mode it still offered something different and exciting. Apex Legends has always been best as a battle royale game with the last-team-standing thrill at its core. But even so, Arenas didn’t deserve to be gone for so long. I really missed it and I’m happy it’s back even if just for a limited time.

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As part of today’s update and the new Future Icons event Apex Legends is getting a big change. A new mode called Arenas Duels is being added which focuses completely on fast 1v1 gunfights. It’s all about pure shooting skills. You’ll join a lobby with 30 players and during a five-minute match you’ll face off in short 1v1 battles against random players. Your goal is to win as many of these duels as you can within those five minutes. A live leaderboard will show who has the most wins.

This mode is all about skill good aim quick movement and smart timing. There are no special character powers, no healing items and no grenades. Everyone gets a random loadout of just two weapons. That’s all you have to win.

When I first heard that a 1v1 version of Arenas was coming in Apex Legends Season 25 I wasn’t sure how it would work. But after trying it I think the mix of fast-changing matchups a leaderboard to keep things competitive and the focus on pure shooting skills is a great idea. However one thing that many players including me find strange is how your opponent’s outline is shown at the start of each round. Just like in Call of Duty Warzone’s gulag you can see them for a few seconds while both players are frozen. The problem is that this wall hack effect sometimes lasts a few seconds even after the round starts which lets both players know exactly where the other one is moving. If the developers fix this issue it will make the early moments of each duel more intense and unpredictable.

The new Arenas Duels mode is live now but only until Tuesday, July 15. The Future Icons event has also started bringing a new event pass reward track and legend balance changes for Ash, Vantage and Wattson. You can read the full patch notes for all the details.