One of the things that setsApex Legendsapart from other battle royales isn’t just its fast-paced hero-based gameplay, but rather the ability to capitalize on an environmental component that not all shooter games are able to tap into: open air. The sprawling sci-fi environments ofApex Legendsis built precisely for the likes ofHorizon, whose abilities allow her to soar high into the sky and use verticality as a means of catching opponents off-guard.
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Of course, with Horizon tapping into a niche skillset, players might not have the easiest time using her abilities to the fullest. After all, one wrong aim of her gravity jump and players can end up plummeting to their deaths or even heading straight into an ambush. Just how are players expected to approach combat using Horizon’s abilities?
Horizon: Scientist Lost In Time
When the Outlands had found itself suffering an energy crisis, companies hired astrophysicist Dr. Mary Somers to find a solution. During her time of research, Dr. Somers had to move her family to research station Olympus and developed a close relationship with her apprentice, Dr. Ashleigh Reid, in their study of Branthium, an element with the potential to produce limitless energy.
However, when Dr. Reid revealed her treachery to Dr. Somers during their trip to a black hole, not only did she steal the Branthium they possessed, but also hijacked their spacecraft to ensure Dr. Somers died. Being the quick-witted scientist she is, Dr. Somers programmed her robot assistant N.E.W.T. to help survive the incident. Unfortunately, their return to civilization revealed they were away for 87 years. On her trip to Olympus, Dr. Somers caught wind of the city being used as an arena for the Apex Games. The astrophysicist uses her technology to transform intoHorizon, a gravity specialist and enters the Games in the hopes of finding her son and going back in time.
Why Play Horizon: Verticality Extraordinaire
Players interested in adding the verticality of maps to their playstyle withApex Legendsweaponsmight appreciate Horizon for her floating-focused toolkit. Unlike more technical Valkyrie and gliding Pathfinder, Horizon’s more flexible control over her gravity skills allows players to have short bursts of high-enough leaps that can make them a menace in active battlefields. Gamers who appreciate this kind of high-skill gameplay might love Horizon as a character for these other reasons:
The Basics Of Horizon: Jumping Supremacy
Verticality has always been Horizon’s thing since her arrival in the game, regardless if she’s usingApex LegendsAssault RIfles or other weapon variants. However, while Horizon is straightforward in her higher-jumping specialization across anyApex Legendsmap, players still need to understand the rest of her toolkit to help her meet her full potential. Players curious about Horizon’s toolkit can get a quick gist of her skills below:
Passive: Spacewalk
Thanks to her space suit andSpacewalk (Passive), Horizon enjoys better control of her movements in the air and even gets reduced fall impact, allowing her to better control her movements whenever she gets lifted in the skies while using anyApex Legendsweapon combo. This makes her an ideal midair combatant, especially for players who can use her movement in conjunction with their combat performance:
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Tactical: Gravity Lift
Perhaps the signature ability of Horizon as acharacter with even a simple weapon like anApex Legendspistol,Gravity Lift (Tactical)allows her to throw a device that counters gravity in that location. Anyone stepping into the lift is pushed upwards and, when exiting, gets a temporary boost. Horizon can use this to get the literal upper hand and become a much deadlier midair combatant. Here are things to take note of:
Ultimate: Black Hole
Perhaps the deadliest ability in Horizon’s disposal as anApex Legendsteam member,Black Hole (Ultimate)makes Horizon deploy N.E.W.T. and spawn a micro black hole that can pull anything and everything towards it. At the right moment, this ability can pull enemy players to its general direction, exposing them and making them vulnerable against Horizon and her team. Here are things to consider:
Horizon Gameplay: Verticality Is Key
Upwards is always Horizon’s best friend, but even gravity can become her worst nightmare if players don’t know how to time and use her jumps properly. Even if she’s holding a powerful gun, Horizon who can’t control her ascent and descent with herApex LegendsTacticalcan become fodder for enemies who can easily predict her movements. In turn, Horizon players should take note of these gameplay elements to maximize her potential as an Apex Legend:
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Skirmisher Class: Care Package Control
Horizon’s mastery over vertical travel gives her a lot of opportunities to clear locations from a much-harder aerial standpoint, making her fit for theSkirmisher Classreclassification in Season 16. Given her access to more vertical mobility, Horizon is better-equipped to access some of the more difficult areas in the game. And now that she’s a Skirmisher, Horizon has access to the following Perk:
Loadout Recommendations
With verticality being Horizon’s specialty, a well-timed jump from a high-enough point can allow her to tout a simpleApex Legendspistol to kill enemies. However, players who want to maximize Horizon’s toolkit to jump the gun on enemy teams and eliminate them might want to do so with the right loadout. Weapons compatible enough with Horizon to capitalize on her vertical mastery should probably use the following guns in the game:
Apex Legendsis playable on the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
