What is ordnance in Apex Legends?

Olivia Richman Published 26/12/2024

Team fights are core to Apex Legends, and ordnance can make or break these intense clashes.

While Apex Legends may not be as popular as it once was, the game’s colorful lore and fast-paced gameplay have continued to excite battle royale fans. Even as competitors like Marvel Rivals and Valorant continue to grow, Apex Legends maintains a steadfast fanbase.

One of the biggest reasons for Apex Legends’ success is its focus on mobility and gunplay. Whereas other games may focus on a more strategic slant or casual gameplay, Apex Legends’ fast pace makes it stand out.

What does ordnance do in Apex Legends?

Ordnances are throwable explosives with different functions. There are currently just three ordnances in Apex Legends, each working completely differently from each other. Each has a special use so it’s imperative to learn what each ordnance does. Here are the ordnances that every Agent can pick up around the map.

Frag Grenades: Explosives that deal damage to anyone in a large radius
Arc Stars: Sharp weapons that stick to enemies and explode, damaging and slowing enemies
Thermite Grenades: Create damage-inflicting walls of thermite with an area of effect

Frag grenades can do up to 100 damage, igniting just four seconds after impact. What makes them even more impactful is their ability to destroy doors. A thrown frag will bounce off surfaces until the four seconds is up, exploding and damaging enemies and doors within its 125-foot radius.

Arc Stars do up to 75 damage and stick to surfaces or enemies. These explode after just 2.5 seconds. Enemies in the impact zone will be slowed. On top of that, Arc Stars destroy doors and temporarily disable vehicles.

Thermite Grenades explode right on impact, dealing up to 25 damage per fire damage stack. The impact lasts eight seconds, damaging enemies and destroying doors. They can also be used to charge the Rampage LMG.

Apex Legends Gibraltar

In addition to the above, some Agents have special ordnance exclusive to them.

Smoke Grenade (Bangalore)
Creeping Barrage (Bangalore)
Mortar Bombardment (Gibraltar)
Nox Gas Grenade (Caustic)
Knuckle Cluster (Fuse)
The Motherlode (Fuse)

How to use ordnances in Apex Legends

Every ordnance in Apex Legends has its own strategy if players want to use them optimally. While they all deal damage, the real uses can be game-changers in certain situations.

Frag Grenades are often used to clear an area of enemies. Use Frags as an area denial weapon by throwing multiple wherever you know enemies are hiding. This should force enemies to abandon their hiding spots, either putting them in a vulnerable spot or forcing them away from your team.

The best legends for Frag Grenades include Horizon and Fuse. Horizon’s Black Hole ultimate will pull enemies into one area so players can then toss a Frag on them and damage entire squads. Multiple Frags can wipe them out completely. Fuse can throw Frags further than other legends, catching teams off guard.

Arc Stars are more focused on precise attacks since they attach to the first thing they touch. Arc Stars are best used when chasing down an enemy team since players can either slow down an escaping enemy or render a vehicle useless. This can allow your team to catch up to struggling teams. Arc Stars also do quadruple damage against shields, so this can be a great way to break down an enemy’s high-level EVO shield before taking out a gun to finish the job.

If you want to use an Arc Star from a distance, consider throwing it as Fuse. Otherwise, remain up close when throwing Arc Stars to ensure nobody is missed. This ordnance is not the best against Wraith or Wattson, since these legends can remove its effects.

Thermite Grenades are great for chasing or repositioning enemies. Thermite Grenades can be tossed in front of a team to force them to change directions and take them down. It can also be thrown behind your team to get aggressive teams to fall back.

Use a mobility-focused legend like Wraith to make a run for it after tossing Thermite Grenades. These ordnances are also a great choice for weakened teams since they bypass knockdown shields.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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