Gaming Roundup

Best Legends to run in Apex Legends Overclocked Split 2 (Season 29)

The mid-season balance pass reshuffles the squad meta, and these five picks come out ahead after June 23.

The mid-season balance pass reshuffles the squad meta, and these five picks come out ahead after June 23.

The Overclocked Split 2 update lands on June 23, 2026, and it brings a mix of buffs and nerfs that move several Legends up and down the pecking order. A soft ranked reset means plenty of players are starting their climb again, so picking characters that match the new numbers matters more than usual right now.

Quick answer: Run Pathfinder, Ballistic, Valkyrie, Axle, or Vantage. Pathfinder and Ballistic gained the most from the patch, Valkyrie and Axle remain strong despite small nerfs, and Vantage is untouched and still lethal early.


Why these five Legends after the Split 2 patch

The update buffs Ballistic, Pathfinder, and Seer while nerfing Axle, Mad Maggie, Valkyrie, and Conduit. Even with reductions, mobility and pressure still decide most fights, so the picks below either gained tools or kept enough of their kit to stay relevant.

LegendPatch statusMain reason to run it
PathfinderBuffedTwo grapple charges, faster ult, Horizon air control perk
BallisticReworkedStronger overheat damage, team sprint boost on ult
ValkyrieMinor nerfMobility and scans intact for rotations and picks
AxleNerfedStill fast, tactical refreshes on knocks
VantageUnchangedEarly-game knock potential and quick repositioning

Pathfinder

Pathfinder in Apex Legends Season 29 Split 2
Pathfinder (Image via EA)

Pathfinder finally gets the buff he has needed for several seasons. His tactical now holds two grapple charges on a flat 20-second cooldown, so you can chain grapples without waiting on the old progressive timer. His ultimate cooldown is also shorter, which keeps the zipline gun ready for rotations more often.

His new Level 3 upgrade, Landing Gear, grants Horizon’s air control and faster recovery from hard landings. That makes diving onto enemies or escaping a bad spot far safer, since you keep aim control in the air and don’t get punished on touchdown.


Ballistic

Ballistic in Apex Legends Season 29 Split 2
Ballistic (Image via EA)

Ballistic’s tactical now overheats only one weapon instead of both, but the payoff is bigger. Overheat damage jumps from 15 to 50, the debuff lasts 15 seconds, and he carries two tactical charges. Overheat also stops degrading when an enemy isn’t firing or swaps weapons, so the pressure sticks.

His ultimate now gives Ballistic and nearby teammates a sprint boost on activation, which rewards aggressive pushes. The Level 3 Quiet Time upgrade swaps overheat for a silence and slow on hit, giving you a hard counter to ability-reliant squads.


Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Apex Legends Season 29 Split 2
Valkyrie (Image via EA)

Valkyrie lost the recent improvement that let her land faster from skydiving, but the rest of her kit is intact. Once your EVO hits Level 2 you can still scan enemies through buildings, which makes hunting separated squads simple.

With a few EVAC Towers you and your team can reposition across the map, then drop in and stun isolated targets with her missiles for an easy opening. Her jetpack passive keeps her among the most mobile Legends in the game, nerf or not.


Axle

Axle in Apex Legends Season 29 Split 2
Axle (Image via EA)

Axle takes another round of nerfs, but she stays playable. Her Nitro Gate max count drops to two and the gate health falls to 100, so the setup is more fragile. Even so, the playstyle is still fast, and Power AMP refreshes her tactical when you secure a knock.

Her ultimate now launches enemies on an arc based on their movement speed instead of straight up, so you can no longer pop someone into the air for a free reset. With the lower gate health, the smart play is to push behind your ultimate and grab a knock while opponents are distracted shooting it down.


Vantage

Vantage in Apex Legends Season 29 Split 2
Vantage (Image via EA)

Vantage received no changes in this patch, which keeps her a reliable early-game threat. Two sniper hits will down anyone running a blue shield, so she punishes opponents before fights are even fully formed.

Her tactical lets you relocate between buildings faster than most Legends, and it grants Horizon’s air control while active. Unlike Pathfinder, she gets that air control without spending a perk slot, so it’s available the moment you start using her tactical.


If you want the safest pick after the update, lean on Pathfinder or Ballistic since both gained clear power. Valkyrie, Axle, and Vantage round out a squad that prizes speed and quick picks, which is exactly what the current ranked maps reward as you climb back through the soft reset.