I write about Apex Legends a lot, so you’re forgiven for not remembering exactly which article I’m referring to when I say that I wrote some rather harsh remarks about Rampart in a previous publication. It’s this one. Read it now, or not a lot of what you’re about to read will make much sense. Done? Sound.
I’ll preface this argument by saying that I’m a weird Apex Legends player. I’ve got four figures of hours in the game, started playing at Season 0, and have had peaks and troughs of how much I’ve played over the game’s five year lifespan. But I’m not that good at shooting. I’m a keyboard and mouse player, so I’m relying on technical ability rather than aim assist to hit my shots, but I’m just… not that good at hitting shots.
I don’t have the time, patience, or motivation to practise the game in any way other than just playing. I login for a few games, I die a few times, I log off. I’m not going to download AimLabs instead of spending time with my family.
However, I’ve probably watched twice as much Apex esports as I’ve played the game myself. My knowledge of the game is exceptional. I know the best strategies, rotations, and understand exactly what a pro would do in most situations. I know where the ring will pull. I select my Legend in order to best complement my random teammates’ selections, despite my main.
A lot of players are in the same boat as me, don’t get me wrong, but I’m a valuable asset to a team, despite my poor shooting. If they listen to me. Playing solo isn’t ideal on the Apex Legends ranked ladder, but it’s a far better experience if you’re a fragger rather than a strategist.
However, this high concept, big picture thinking led me astray. I was always thinking of optimal loadouts and perfect positioning, rather than approaching Apex Legends as 90 percent of players do: as a fun game.
I thought Rampart would be unbearable. I thought seeing every opposing team arm up with a bunch of deployable cover and a minigun would be insufferable, the bane of my ranked play. Then I played as her. And, joy of joys, my mind was immediately changed. I’m sorry Rampart. I’m sorry Rampart mains. She is an incredibly fun character who, rather than ruining the next fortnight of Apex Legends, has changed my life.
You see, playing Rampart is an easy mode. Caught in the open? Drop a wall for some cover. Terrible at shooting? Use your Ultimate ability, a minigun called Sheila that spits out 1,200 rounds per minute for an impressive 280 dps. It doesn’t matter if you can’t hit your shots when you spit them out twice as fast as a Flatline, and don’t need to reload until you’ve spent all 173 rounds of ammunition. Never underestimate the time not spent reloading in a fight.
I’m glad I set my esports snobbery aside and gave Rampart a spin, because she’s great fun to play. But that doesn’t solve my problem of a lobby full of Ramparts being unbearable.
Maybe I’ve got a little more understanding since playing her for the past few days, but I’ve found coming up against other Ramparts to be quite fun. With 19 other Ramparts in a lobby at the moment, you’re bound to face off against a few of them in every match. Sheila on Sheila action is great, though. Two players, standing behind their walls, strafing left and right and firing an incessant storm of bullets at one another. What better feeling is there than beating your opponent’s minigun with your own? It’s chaotic, it’s completely unskilled, it’s left me with a massive grin on my face every time.
That said, facing off against a Rampart when I’m playing Wattson or Bloodhound is still unbearable. But as another Rampart, it’s great. And with Sheila by my side, my damage numbers are skyrocketing. I’m providing fire support to my teammates, increasing my K/D, and directing them, all while having great fun. I’m sorry Rampart. You may not be a competitive Apex staple, you may not be the most refined character in the game, but you’re great fun.
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