Pros Call Legend Ban System "One of the Best Changes" in Apex Legends

The ALGS Open marks the first tournament to feature the new Legend Ban system in Apex Legends, forcing pros to adapt their previously tried-and-true strategies to account for a changing pool of Legends. 

The addition has been lauded as a welcome one, with pros appreciating the pressure it puts on players to be more well-rounded. The likes of Team Falcons' Phillip "ImperialHal" Dosen is especially pleased with the change, despite some initial reservations: "I said on stream like I was very skeptical about it, because I felt like we didn't have enough characters to compensate for the ban system.

But, you know, ever since they've released it, I feel like that was probably one of the best changes they've ever done in Apex, competitively. It helps us as a team tremendously. We're not forced onto one character that we don't enjoy playing. It can be banned and we play a different character that we enjoy. So, I feel like it's a win for everyone."

For Falcons, it seems the change wasn't hard for the team to adapt to. Speaking to GINX on the team's versatility, ImperialHal said, "I feel like it was pretty easy for the most part. Obviously, we were trying to figure out who's playing what, in a way. But it didn't take that long for us to get used to it and understand what we need to play."

• Read More: Alliance Hakis on ALGS Open & Legend Bans: "If You Only Know How to Play One Thing, Then You're Going to Struggle"

Falcons have had a few ups and downs in recent tournaments since the team entered the ALGS sphere back in May 2024. When asked if the team's synergy felt stronger going into the ALGS Open, ImperialHal said, "Yeah, compared to other tournaments. We had Germany with 20th place and then after that we had Sapporo where we had the third. I know Zer0 [Rhys "Zer0" Perry], he has superstitions. He's like, 'Yeah, in NA tournaments, I've always either gotten first or second.' And I told him, 'OK, but my worst tournaments are in NA.' So, we can balance that out a little bit.

We're always confident going into the game days. We've been playing for so long. So, if we ever go to any tournament not confident, it's a really big issue for sure. So right now, we're feeling good."

• Read more: ImperialHal Talks ALGS Open Teams: "If You Deserve It, Then You'll Show It"

The ALGS Open is taking place May 1-4, 2025. Fans can catch the action via the official Apex Legends Twitch and YouTube or via FACEIT Watch channels.