Firefights end up fast-paced inApex Legendsdue to the game’s nature of having characters with a wild arsenal of offensive skills, making combat between squads rather short as victory rests in the team who overwhelms the other the fastest. This strategy usually works, at least until one of the teams has aNewcastleon their side. Thanks to this defensive Legend’s toolkit, players have access to convenient shields and even entire walls that can transform a losing battle into an opportunity for an exit or even a fierce counter-attack.
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Compared to other characters inApex Legends, Newcastle specializes in absolute defense, making him more of a protector and a tank compared to some Legends that specialize solely in hardcore combat. However, just how can players help Newcastle shine in a game where many teams lean towards extremely fast-paced gameplay?
Newcastle: New Hero, Old Soldier
Lamont Craig was content in his stay in the small town of Harris Valley with his family, especially when the knight Newcastle was there to protect them from threats. Unfortunately, Newcastle had a dark secret: he had actually sold the town off to the Forgotten Family gang, with Newcastle dying in their hands when they came to collect. It’s only thanks to Lamont’s military acumen that the Forgotten Family was fended off, but they always had ways to come back to collect.
However, Lamont also had a secret of his own: he was actually Jackson Williams, a former IMC soldier who refused to follow orders he knew was a losing mission. Knowing he would face retaliation for not following orders, he abandoned his sister Anita to keep her safe while he let the world think he died in that last task. And now that he wanted to keep Harris Valley safe, Jackson/Lamont now donned the armor ofNewcastleand participated in the Apex Games to earn the prize money to slowly pay off the town’s debt - and hopefully avoid being discovered by Anita, who also joined the Games as the Apex Legend Bangalore.
Why Play Newcastle: Mobile Defense Supremacy
It’s one thing to protect the team as a member of the vanguard and another to have a kit precisely tailored to ensure the team survives an active firefight. Thanks to Newcastle’s shields and walls, players who dreamt of being tanks in an FPS can finally get the opportunity to deploy shields while attacking the enemy with the fiercest ofApex Legendsweapons. However, players who want to see Newcastle’s appeal as a more mobile defender may also want to check these reasons for using him:
The Basics Of Newcastle: Proactive Defense
Players interested in a defensive Legend to use in anyApex Legendsmapcan get immediately attracted to Newcastle and his shield-focused build. After all, it’s not every day that an Apex Legend has the power of not just deploying shields and even creating gigantic walls, but also remaining fully capable of striking back at opponents. Gamers who want an idea of Newcastle’s offerings may want a quick run-through of his kit:
Passive: Retrieve The Wounded
Perhaps the epitome of Newcastle’s supremacy as a mobile defender inApex Legendsgameplay,Retrieve The Wounded (Passive)allows him to drag downed allies while reviving them. In the process, Newcastle will be deploying his Revive Shield to protect them from anyApex Legendsweapon combo. This transforms Newcastle into a repositioning specialist, especially for allies who can’t move when revived by someone else.
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Tactical: Mobile Shield
One of the best abilities in Newcastle’s kit as a character that can make him effective with even anApex Legendspistol,Mobile Shield (Tactical)allows Newcastle to deploy his drone that can constantly shield him and allies near him. This allows him to protect allies and even defend them throughout a tricky combat situation. Here are things to consider when using this ability:
Ultimate: Castle Wall
Perhaps the most innovative gadgets useful to anyApex Legendsteam,Castle Wall (Ultimate)gives Newcastle the ultimate defensive edge when deployed properly. He jumps upward and, upon choosing an area, slams hard on the ground and deploys a large wall to protect himself and his allies.
Newcastle Gameplay: Frontline Scouting Defense
With skills that allow him to deploy shields, and walls, and even carry allies to safety, Newcastle quickly becomes one of the game’s best defenders. However, his reliance on heavy defense skills like hisApex LegendsTacticalmay discourage fast-paced players from using him in some of the most intense matches they encounter. The thing is, there are ways of using Newcastle’s innate tankiness to ensure the team gets the best protections in even the most dangerous of combat situations:
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Support Class: Cement Defensive Potential
Newcastle as the premier shielder ofApex Legendsgameplay can fortify even the worst positions possible, especially in the thick of battle. Sadly, Newcastle’s defenses are best used in knocked-down teammates, since his shields can protect him well enough while reviving his downed allies. Unfortunately, it’s tougher for Newcastle to be useful when a 0 HP ally has to be revived at a Respawn Beacon, and even worse if that team’s Ally Banner has already expired. Now that Newcastle is aSupport ClassLegend, he is now more capable of boosting his defensive potential. Here’s the perk Newcastle receives with this position:
Loadout Recommendations
Being a defensive specialist, Newcastle and his shields are capable of even transforming the worst combat situations into a viable control point. Even with a baseApex Legendspistol, Newcastle’s shields can give his team enough time to plan a comeback or even retreat to a safer position. However, players who want to dish out the most damage while using Newcastle’s shields may wish to plan his toolkit using heavy-damaging weapons. Here are some of the best weapons to give Newcastle:
Apex Legendsis playable on the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
