Season 31 and 32 bring big changes to Apex Legends Ranked. New ranks, legend banning, scoring tweaks and UI clarity shifts will alter how matches feel and how you should listen.
Sound remains one of the clearest competitive edges you can control. This post focuses on practical audio adjustments you can make now to hear more in Ranked where map knowledge, rotation timing and opponent behavior all matter more than ever.
Steps:
1. Assess your current headset and listening environment for background noise.
2. Check your in game audio settings and note your current volumes for effects, music and voice.
3. Decide which sound cues you depend on most like footsteps, doors and gunfire.
Why the update matters
Ranked changes influence pacing and player distribution. New Iron, Emerald and Grandmaster tiers plus a Pro Am League and a new banning system will shift where and how fights start.
Those shifts affect the types of audio cues you need to prioritize. When fights become more frequent in certain brackets or when banning alters meta picks, rely on consistent auditory information to track rotations and approach vectors.
Steps:
1. Review the Ranked Roadmap details to note when Season 31 and 32 features land.
2. Observe early matches in your new bracket to identify common engagement ranges.
3. Mark which in game sounds are most useful at those ranges like distant footsteps or close quarter movement.
Focus on footsteps first
Footsteps remain the single most actionable sound to detect enemy position. Small changes in match flow make hearing steps even more valuable because early warnings let you avoid or set up fights intentionally.
Adjust your audio chain so mid and high frequency information related to footsteps is clear and not masked by explosions or music.
Steps:
1. Lower music and ambient volumes in the game to reduce masking of high frequency cues.
2. Boost effect volume relative to master audio so footsteps are louder compared with other sounds.
3. Use a simple EQ to raise frequencies where footsteps sit if your headset sounds dull in that range.
Prepare for wider skill ranges
Scoring adjustments for wide skill matches mean you will sometimes face players with different playstyles and audio habits. That variability creates more unpredictable soundscapes.
Design your listening setup to be reliable across multiple scenarios so you do not need to relearn how to hear in every match.
Steps:
1. Set consistent in game volumes and avoid frequent dramatic changes between matches.
2. Create a quick reference EQ or profile that you can revert to when sound balance feels off.
3. Train with custom lobbies to validate that your changes help you detect opponents at common engagement distances.
Optimize team and comms
UI clarity improvements and shifts in Ranked dynamics mean teammates will call positions more confidently and more often. Clear comms let you act on audio cues faster.
Balance voice volume so it is audible but not overbearing; you still need spatial and environmental sounds to make decisions.
Steps:
1. Lower in game ambient noise while keeping voice chat volume high enough for quick calls.
2. Use mono or stereo voice settings that keep teammate dialogue readable without masking directional cues.
3. Practice brief, precise callouts focused on bearings and distances to reduce clutter during fights.
Tune for your headset
Every headset reproduces sound differently. A profile tuned to your ears and your headset will reveal more detail than stock settings.
You can create a practical EQ that emphasizes the bands important for footsteps and directional cues while keeping gunfire recognizable.
Steps:
1. Identify which frequency bands your headset under or over emphasizes by listening to known reference clips.
2. Apply a modest EQ boost in the 2 to 6 kHz band to clarify footsteps and small movement noises.
3. Save a profile specifically for Ranked so you can switch back after casual play.
Iterate with new metas
As Season 31 and 32 roll out features like legend banning and ranked reward changes your listening priorities may need small tweaks.
Regularly testing your audio setup in the new meta helps you spot blind spots introduced by changes in engagement distances or common legends.
Steps:
1. Play several matches after each patch to confirm your audio choices remain effective.
2. Record or note any sounds you miss frequently and adjust EQ or volume balance to compensate.
3. Rotate between two saved profiles if you find different compositions of sound are optimal for different maps or metas.
Where to start
Begin with small, reversible changes and validate them in real matches. Major Ranked shifts mean what worked yesterday might need refinement today.
If you want a starting point that is personalized to your headset and ears, consider using tools that build a tailored profile for Windows headsets; Athlete Audio offers Peter, a free app that creates a personalized EQ you can use as a baseline before further adjustment.
Steps:
1. Reduce music and ambient audio in the game settings to reduce masking.
2. Raise effect volume and verify footsteps are clearer in a live match.
3. Save your settings and test them over multiple matches before refining further.
Resources
For details on the Ranked Roadmap changes including new ranks and legend banning see the official announcement linked below.
Use that information to prioritize which audio cues to train for as you move through the new tiers and match types.
Steps:
1. Read the Apex Legends Ranked Roadmap announcement to understand season timing and feature specifics.
2. Apply the audio steps above in your next session and track what helps you win more fights.
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