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Which Apex Legends Characters Can You Unlock For Free? The Complete Guide

Are you looking to jump into the exciting world of Apex Legends, but don‘t want to spend any money? I‘ve got some great news for you!

While Apex Legends offers tons of Legends, skins, and other cosmetics for purchase, there are also 20 different Legends that can be unlocked 100% free just by playing the game.

In this guide, I‘ll explain exactly how to unlock free Apex Legends characters, provide tips from my 500+ hours in-game to help you craft the perfect Legend roster, and even share which Legends I recommend most for new players on a budget.

Let‘s get started!

How To Unlock Apex Legends Characters for Free

There are four main methods of unlocking Legends without spending real money in Apex Legends:

1. Using Legend Tokens

This is the primary free currency earned simply by gaining XP and leveling up your account.

  • Legend Tokens are awarded on the following level milestones:

    LevelTokens Awarded
    2600
    3100
    4200
    5300
    22800
  • You earn enough tokens to unlock your first Legend at level 23

  • The initial cost of a new Legend is 12,000 Tokens

  • After unlocking your first Legend, subsequent Legends cost 24,000 Tokens

This means with consistent play over time, you can eventually afford to unlock all 20 free Legends!

2. Special Legend Unlock Events

For anniversary events and new season launches, Respawn often gifts specific Legends to all players for free for a limited time.

For example, during the Apex Legends 3 Year Anniversary event in February 2022, I was able to permanently unlock Octane, Wattson and Valkyrie over the event’s duration. It saved me tens of thousands of Legend Tokens!

Keep an eye out for these special Legend giveaways and be sure to log in during the window to claim them for free.

3. Battle Pass Rewards

Occasionally, the Premium Battle Pass includes a new Legend as a reward around level 25.

The Season 12 Battle Pass awarded Mad Maggie for free at level 1. So even though the Pass costs 950 Apex Coins (around $10), you’re still getting the new Legend completely free!

4. Prime Gaming Rewards

By linking your EA account to Prime Gaming as an Amazon Prime member, you can claim special packs in Apex Legends that often contain free Legend unlocks.

For example, October 2022’s Prime Gaming pack included Ash. So Amazon Prime subscribers can unlock select Legends via this method at no additional cost.

How Long Does It Take to Unlock All the Legends for Free?

Let’s break down the estimated time requirements to unlock all 20 free Apex Legends characters:

  • 12,000 Tokens are needed for the first unlock
  • 24,000 Tokens for each subsequent unlock
  • Total tokens required = 12,000 + (19 x 24,000) = 468,000
  • Players earn ~100 Tokens per level
  • So you‘d need to reach level 4,680
  • Reaching level 500 takes most players 200-300 hours
  • Estimating 200 hours per 500 levels, it would take 1,872 hours of play to earn enough Tokens for all Legends

However, accounting for occasional free Legend events and Battle Pass unlocks could shave off dozens of levels of grinding.

So in total, an average player can expect to unlock all free Legends in 1,500 – 1,800 hours stretched out over many months. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!

Which Legends Should You Unlock First?

With over 20 Legends to choose from, you might be wondering which are the best picks for new players on a budget.

Based on my experience from countless hours playing Apex Legends since launch, here are my personal recommendations:

Best All-Around Legends

  • Bloodhound – Extremely beginner friendly. Their tracking abilities let you easily follow enemies. Go-to pick for new players.

  • Gibraltar – Provides protection for your squad with his dome shield. Great for learning fundamentals.

  • Lifeline – Heals and revives allies faster. Perfect for supporting your team.

Best For Aggressive Players

  • Wraith – Her dimensional abilities enable bold flanking plays. Top tier for experienced players.

  • Valkyrie – Flying around the map provides fun mobility. Her rockets can really pressure enemies.

  • Octane – Stim gives you super speed to always chase fights. High skill cap though.

Best For Defensive Play

  • Caustic – Deploys gas traps that can lock down areas and buildings. Great for zone defense.

  • Wattson – Has electric fences to fortify positions and intercept projectiles. More situational.

  • Rampart – Can deploy minigun turrets and walls for increased firepower and cover. But requires good positioning.

I suggest new players unlock 2-3 Legends covering different roles first, like Bloodhound/Lifeline/Gibraltar. This gives flexibility to experiment with various playstyles and see what suits you best!

Tips for Unlocking Legends Faster as a Free Player

Here are a few tips I’ve learned from maximizing my Legend progress on a budget:

  • Use XP Grinding Techniques – Take advantage of XP earning mechanics like playing with friends (20% bonus XP) and surviving longer each match. I level up way quicker when I party up!

  • Complete Daily & Weekly Challenges – The Legend Token rewards really add up, so always finish your challenges.

  • Buy the Battle Pass Strategically – The Season 12 Pass awarded Mad Maggie instantly for 950 Apex Coins, saving me 24,000 Legend Tokens. Huge value if you time it right!

  • Link with Prime Gaming – Don‘t forget to connect your EA account for free skins and Legend unlocks each month with Prime.

  • Craft Legends Using Metals – In a pinch, you can craft Legends with Crafting Metals from 12k to 20k. I only recommend this after you’ve crafted your favorite skins first though.

Stick with these tips and you‘ll be unlocking new Legends in no time without spending a dime!

Which Legend Should You Unlock Next?

You now know how to unlock free Legends in Apex Legends and have some recommendations on the best picks for new players.

But with each season introducing exciting new Legends, you might be wondering who to unlock next with your hard-earned Tokens.

Here are my top picks for upcoming free Legend unlocks based on the current meta:

  • Valkyrie – Her mobility and repositioning ultimate has made Valk a must-pick Legend at higher levels. Unlock her ASAP if you haven‘t!

  • Seer – Strong recon abilities provide wallhack intel on enemies. He‘s great for aggressive teams who want to track opponents.

  • Newcastle – His reviving and shielding strengths bring a new defensive tank playstyle to the game. He‘s super fun too!

I hope this guide has provided everything you need to know about getting new Legends without spending money in Apex Legends. Just take it step-by-step, take advantage of free unlock opportunities, and eventually you’ll build a diverse roster to suit any playstyle.

Most importantly, enjoy all of the exciting abilities and team play opportunities these Legends provide. See you in the Apex Arena!

FAQ

Q: How long does it take for a free player to unlock a single Legend?

A: It will take approximately 60-100 hours of play to earn the 12,000-24,000 Tokens required for each Legend unlock.

Q: What is the total number of Legends in Apex Legends?

A: As of Season 16, there are currently 22 Legends, with 20 available to unlock for free with Legend Tokens.

Q: Do you need to pay for the Battle Pass to get the free Legend rewards?

A: Yes, you need to purchase the ~950 Apex Coin Premium Pass to gain access to the new Legend given on the Pass rewards track, usually around level 25.

Q: Can you craft Legend skins for Legends you haven‘t unlocked yet?

A: Unfortunately no, you are only able to craft skins and cosmetics for Legends that you currently own in your roster.

Q: How often does Apex Legends give away free Legend unlocks?

A: Major events like new seasons, anniversaries, and collection events will sometimes grant free Legends, but typically only once every 2-3 months.

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.