Ash has dominated Apex Legends Season 26 with a staggering 20% pick rate, leaving many players frustrated with her low-risk, high-reward kit. Patch 26.1 finally delivers long-awaited nerfs to her dash, Arc Snare, and upgrades, aiming to bring her back in line.
The Apex Legends developers are clearly listening, as Ash gets a much requested nerf to her Dash in the Apex Legends Season 26 mid-season patch notes.
Ask any Apex player what frustrates them most this season, and many will give the same answer: Ash. Whether it’s her lightning-fast dash, her double portals, or her uncanny ability to escape every bad fight. Ash just felt overpowered, and a ludicrous 20%+ pick-rate meant action was needed.
Why did Ash need a nerf?
Prior to Season 24, Ash's pick rate was modest and typically in single digits. Yet, the release of Season 24 in February 2025 was the start of Ash's power creep.
The introduction of omnidirectional short-range dash - via her new passive Predator's Pursuit - allowed her to reposition quickly, dodge incoming fire and was quick to activate. Low risk but very high reward.
Ash's Predator's Pursuit also does not have a downside, unlike Octane's Stim which costs health or Wraith's Into the Void which has a loud sound cue and a trail. Plus, prior to this Apex Legends Mid-Season update it's cooldown was just 8 seconds.
Combine this new mobility with Ash second escape tool, a second Phase Breach portal - thanks to her Lvl 2 upgrade Dual Breach - and Ash could dive and escape into combat with little to no risk. Ash also benefited from the Season 24 Assault Class buff that granted stowed weapon reloading.
This is a stark contrast to her initial kit design on release all the way back in Season 11, which was very much as a YOLO assassin.
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Ash nerfs in Apex Legends Mid-Season patch notes 26.1
The biggest changes in the Mid-season patch notes are to Ash, who has been the most picked legend by an unhealthy margin in Season 26. Ash was picked in a staggering 20% of matches, with Sparrow miles behind at 10.8% in #2.
What is more, Ash has the highest average rank of any Legend at Platinum 4. However, the Apex Legends dev have whipped out the nerf stick to hopefully calm things down.
"Despite nerfs in recent patches, Ash has stayed at the top of the pack and we want to bring her back in line with the rest of the squad. In particular, a longer cooldown on her dash alongside Dual Breach’s removal should make it easier to punish Ash’s misplays."
Nerf to Ash's passive Dash Predator's Pursuit
Ash's passive Predator's Pursuit cooldown - which grants her a dash - has been increased significantly from 8 to 12 seconds. It also now has less boost if not dashing in the direction of movement. Arc Snare can be broken more easily and no longer deals bonus shield damage.
Meanwhile both of her old Lvl 2 upgrades have been removed; Dual Breach and Marked for Death.
Old Lvl 2 Upgrades | New Lvl 2 Upgrades |
|---|---|
| Dual Breach - Gain a second Phase Breach (two portals). | Longer Reach - Increases Phase Breach range by +25m. |
| Marked for Death - Enemies hit by Arc Snare are also marked (like her passive execution marker). | Ultimate Cooldown - Reduces Phase Breach cooldown by 30s. |
Instead of Dual Breach instantly giving her two portals, Ash can now instead choose to reduce Phase Breach cooldown by 30 seconds at Lvl 2. THe other new Lvl 2 upgrade simply increases the range of Phase Breach by 25m. For context, Ash's base range for her ultimate is 60m, so this is a 41% increase in range.
Ash Patch Notes 26.1
Character | Apex Legends Mid-Season Patch 26.1 changes |
|---|---|
| Ash | Passive: Predator’s Pursuit - Dash cooldown 12s (was 8s) - Less boost if not dashing in movement direction Tactical: Arc Snare - Breaks more easily, duration 6s (was 8s) - Less pull strength, no bonus shield damage Upgrades (Lvl 2) - Removed: Dual Breach & Marked for Death - New: Longer Reach (+25m Phase Breach range) - New: Ultimate Cooldown (–30s) |
Ash mains will feel the sting of these nerfs, but many in the community argue they’re long overdue. If nothing else, Apex Legends patch 26.1 proves Respawn is watching and definitely listening.
Source: Apex Patch Notes
