Pathfinder is back to being the highest picked Legend in Apex Legends Season 22. We’ll teach you how to be the best grappler in this guide.
Pathfinder has been regarded as one of the best Legends in Apex since the game launched. Five years later, in Season 22, our friendly robot is still topping the charts as one of the most picked Legends in Apex.
Movement is a huge part of what makes Apex Legends unique. Pathfinder is the first Legend to show gamers what it means to move in Apex. With Spider-Man-like versatility, Pathfinder quickly became a fan favorite.
It’s not surprising that Path is topping the charts again with the current rotation of maps and all the buff that he has received, Pathfinder has not seen this much play in a long time. The maps Broken Moon, Storm Point, and the newest map, E-District all allow Pathfinder to use his abilities to their fullest potential. Pathfinder can zip through the skies using his grappling hook and cover huge distances in the first two maps. E-District has a ton of verticality which allows Pathfinder to scale building and reposition his team in a matter of seconds.
With all of that and more, let us learn how to use Pathfinder to his fullest.
Master the Grappling Hook
Pathfinder’s Grappling Hook is essential for quick repositioning, initiating fights, and even surprising enemies. Mastering the Hook is therefore imperative to become a good Pathfinder. The hook alone makes Pathfinder almost untouchable despite his massive hitbox. The biggest thing to learn about the grapple is moving at different angles and not following the linear path that the grapple will take you on.
Pathfinder’s grapple can reach and grab onto surfaces that are up to 20 meters away. Grappling without any other input to a point 20 meters away will take you directly to that point. However, if you can manipulate your movement on the grapple properly, you will travel huge distances in a matter of seconds. We will show you two of Pathfinder’s most used moves.
The Grapple Jump
The grapple jump is one of the Pathfinder’s most important moves that you have to learn to become a good Pathfinder. It launches you a huge distance and allows you to get the drop on enemies hiding behind cover.
Step 1: Look at the furthest point on the ground where your crosshair becomes blue and hit the tactical button.
Step 2: Jump as soon as you see the grapple hit the ground. This is indicated by a spark on the surface you are aiming at.
Step 3: Hold your backward movement input to gain the biggest arc.
Step 4: GET LAUNCHED!
Corner Tether
The corner tether allows you to take huge turns around buildings and other obstacles like Spider-Man. This is especially useful while chasing enemies or even getting to a difficult to reach high ground.
Step 1: Launch your grapple at a corner and jump with the spark. (Just like the Grapple Jump)
Step 2: Immediately look to the left and input left with your movement as well (or right depending on the direction you want to tether around)
Step 3: Look to the right, towards your grapple attachment point once you start moving left.
Step 4: Watch yourself flay around the corner
Pro Tip: Crouch after both these moves to slide away a massive distance.
Use Your Mobility to Flank
As a Skirmisher, Pathfinder excels in finding unique flanking routes. Use your abilities to get behind enemy lines or to move quickly across the map. Flanking is particularly effective when third-partying other squads, as it allows you to catch them off-guard when they’re already engaged in battle.
Both the grappling techniques we discussed above will allow you to get the upper hand in battles. Grappling into enemies is especially useful after you break an opponent’s shield and they go into cover to heal. You can easily use the grapple jump to go over their cover and attack them in the back before they can get their heal off.
You can also disengage from a fight if things get too messy after an unsuccessful push. Grapple onto the nearest wall or tree and corner tether away from the fight.
Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
Pathfinder’s mobility can sometimes lead to overextension, so be mindful of your positioning relative to your team. While it’s tempting to explore or chase kills, getting too far ahead can leave you vulnerable to being singled out by enemy squads.
Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. If you stray too far away from your team, you can’t help them out of a difficult situation. If you want to grapple into an enemy team or want to go to high ground, use your Zipline Gun to help your team keep up your pace.
Keep in mind that your tactical ability has a cooldown. If you grapple into a hostile situation with multiple enemies, you cannot grapple back to safety and will most definitely be gunned down before you secure your kill. So make sure to see if the person you’re chasing has their team nearby or not.
The Right Perks to Use
Pathfinder, like every other Legend, gets two perks. The perfect combination of perks is what makes him a bigger threat than he already is.
The first perk you should get is the Forward Scout. Despite Path being a Skirmisher Legend, he has a very aggressive playstyle. Knowing where enemies are will be a huge advantage to Pathfinder players as you can easily rotate into the next fight. Furthermore, experienced players already know the general direction where the ring ends so it is a better pick over insider knowledge.
The second perk is not as straightforward and will vary from player to player. That being said, we think the Death Grapple is the better choice. Death gra[[le resets your tactical right after you get a knock. Pathfinder’s mobility is what makes him a great Legend. As we discussed earlier, you use his grapple to get the drop on your enemies and take them out quickly. The Death Grapple will allow you to capitalize on enemies who have low health and are hiding behind cover. You can grapple in, secure the knock, and grapple out.
Zipline Zen is useful if you are playing in a ranked setting where you play more cautiously and are not as aggressive. Zipline Zen will help your teammates keep up their pace and get to the high ground quickly and easily. You can also reposition a lot faster in these slower paced games.
Use Abilities Frequently
Don’t hold back on using your abilities outside of combat. Constantly utilizing your Grappling Hook and Zipline Gun helps you stay mobile and control the map more effectively. This is especially important in the early game when positioning and looting quickly can give you an edge.
Create High Ground Opportunities
Pathfinder’s abilities allow you to reach high places easily, giving you a tactical advantage in fights. Whether it’s for sniping or scouting, use the terrain to your benefit by gaining higher ground that other Legends can’t easily access. The high ground is key in every game. The faster you secure it, the faster you have the upper hand. Path can also set down his Zipline to help your teammates gain the high ground as well. To make the most out of the high ground, use Snipers and LMGs to gun down enemies and keep them on their toes.
Effective Team Compositions
Pair Pathfinder with Legends like Revenant, Valkyrie, and Octane for a high-mobility team that can quickly capitalize on positional advantages. All your Legends can move up to a squad and make quick work of them. Having a squad filled with other movement Legends will let your team keep up with you and assist you in difficult situations.
Alternatively, you can team up with defensive Legends like Wattson and Caustic to secure and fortify key positions during the late game. Like we said earlier, the high ground is crucial so being able to bunker down in the high ground will keep you secure and make sure that no one else can claim your land.
Finally, Pathfinder does well with Recon Legends as you can find where the enemies are easily and capitalize on their faulty positions. Legends like Bloodhound and Seer are particularly good at this.
In conclusion, Pathfinder’s resurgence as a top pick in Apex Legends Season 22 highlights his unique mobility and versatility, making him a challenging yet rewarding Legend to master. The key to excelling with Pathfinder is mastering his Grappling Hook, which can be used not just for movement but also for gaining tactical advantages in fights. Techniques like the Grapple Jump and Corner Tether are essential for repositioning quickly, flanking enemies, and escaping dangerous situations. Additionally, using his abilities frequently and strategically, especially in conjunction with high-ground positioning, allows Pathfinder to dominate engagements and provide critical support to his team.
So polish your grapples and get ready to swing into action!
