update · January 23, 2026

Apex Legends Update Nerfs Octane and Horizon Synergies

Apex Legends receives a balance patch lowering Octane's healing output and reducing Horizon's mobility stats to curb a dominant team composition.

Respawn Entertainment released a balance patch targeting Octane and Horizon to curb the strength of their combined team synergy and address higher-than-expected pick metrics.

Octane Adjustments

Developers noted that Octane's pick rate remained above healthy thresholds following mid-season adjustments, pointing to problematic kit interactions. Swift Mend healing values have been lowered to reduce his passive sustain. Maximum healing drops from 9 to 6, while minimum healing decreases from 3 to 2.

Horizon Adjustments

While Horizon's individual pick rate stabilized after prior buffs, pairing her abilities with Octane created an overly potent team composition. To address this, Newt Scoot receives direct nerfs. Maximum duration is cut in half from 5 seconds to 2.5 seconds, and maximum speed drops from 700 to 550.

Why this patch matters

This update directly targets high-mobility compositions by curbing passive healing and ability duration, forcing players to rely more on traditional positioning.