TL;DR
- Sparrow is an agile archer legend who entered Apex Legends on May 6, 2025.
- Sparrow can track enemy placement with his arrows, and double jump, allowing him to reach high places with ease.
- The Stinger Bolt allows Sparrow to damage and slow foes in a large area.
- Other legends with similar abilities may be used less since Sparrow has been introduced.
- Bangalore’s smokescreen pairs well with Sparrow’s Stinger Bolt.
Season 25 of Apex Legends has just dropped, following in the footsteps of the ALGS Open’s conclusion on May 4. There were already over a dozen powerful legends to use in Apex, but another has recently been introduced to add further diversity to the roster.
Sparrow is defined by his agile movement and tactical abilities, so here’s a deep dive on how the latest legend could change competitive Apex in the coming months.
Who is Sparrow?
The latest operator to enter Respawn’s battle royale, Apex Legends’ Sparrow is strong yet agile. He can double jump to quickly escape opponents or reach their level, and his tracking abilities allow you to hunt an enemy for miles before taking aim.
There are plenty of legends who Sparrow might replace or outshine, along with abilities that are rendered obsolete if you have him on your team. With three unique powers, Sparrow is one of the strongest additions to Apex’s roster in the last year.
Apex Legends: Sparrow abilities
Apex Legends’ Sparrow has three powers that help him stand out against other legends. By default, Sparrow can float through the air by taking advantage of a double jump, which is perfect if you need to gain a height advantage in a pinch.
With his bow, Sparrow is capable of shooting arrows to track unsuspecting enemies, while his ultimate creates a field of damage that also decreases movement speed.
Sparrow is a recon legend, meaning his abilities allow him to excel at gathering info on opposing teams, though this legend is also great for trapping the opponent before going on the offensive.
We’ve compiled each of Sparrow’s powers into the table below to give readers a snapshot of his overall kit.
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Passive: Double Jump | Sparrow can double jump, and performing a jump after climbing will fast-track him to the ledge. Extra Bocek arrows can also be carried by Sparrow. |
| Tactical: Tracker Dart | Sparrow can shoot a tracker in a chosen direction to reveal enemies within the line of sight. Tracking darts can also activate any survey beacons. |
| Ultimate: Stinger Bolt | Sparrow can shoot an arrow in a chosen location to deploy a deadly force field after charging on the chosen spot. The arrow deals damage and creates an area where enemy movement is significantly slowed. The Stinger Bolt is especially useful in areas with multiple enemies. |
What impact will Sparrow have on competitive Apex?
Sparrow is Apex Legends’ latest operator, so we’ll have to wait a while to see how pro teams will use him to their advantage in esports tournaments. What we know now is that players will seek to use his Stinger Bolt to slow enemies, while offensive legends may team up with Sparrow to finish off foes trapped by the archer’s ultimate.
Players will need to watch out for the Stinger Bolt and Sparrow’s double jump, as he can sneak up on you even if you have the high ground. Competitors should adapt by better understanding where the enemy is at all times and using other recon characters, like Crypto, to track Sparrow’s movement.
Who might Sparrow replace?
The biggest way that Sparrow will affect competitive is in relation to the legends that he might replace. Sparrow probably won’t completely replace other characters, but we could see a reduction in the use of certain legends.
We’re going to break down a few characters with similar abilities and why Sparrow may be a better choice for ranked play and esports events.
| Legend | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Crypto | Crypto is one of the most popular characters in Apex esports, so a reduction in his use will mean less comprehensive tracking of enemy teams. While Crypto’s entire kit is based around his tracking drone, Sparrow offers the ability to pinpoint opponents, plus he has multiple powers that are directly useful for combat. Sparrow can create a field of damage with his ultimate, while his double jump makes it easier to get to enemies. Fewer Crypto drones on the battlefield could create a more relaxed environment, especially when you’re far from enemy teams. Bloodhound, Vantage, and Seer may also be used less in Season 25 due to Sparrow’s introduction, as they each have a tracking ability, too. |
| Valkyrie | Valkyrie is one of the best legends in Apex, and it’s unlikely that she’ll ever completely disappear from the competitive scene. However, players that use her to quickly gain the high ground may shift towards Sparrow in Season 25 due to his ability to track and stun opponents. Sparrow can double jump, offering easy access to rooftops and other high spots, so pro players who want to switch to the recon class may prefer the archer now that he’s an option. Since Sparrow can also stun enemies with the Stinger Bolt, he could be more useful for legend combinations compared to Valkyrie. |
How do the changes compare to other new characters?
Past legend releases completely changed how competitive teams build their rosters. While Sparrow won’t affect the esports scene as notably as characters like Valkyrie and Ash, he may be a preferable pick compared to legends with comparable powers.
Sparrow is a recon legend, so characters like Bloodhound and Vantage won’t be as useful on the same team. Assault legends are a great option to pair with the agile archer since they offer very different skill sets, so here are a few ideas for how to form your trios in Season 25.
Assault legends pair well with Sparrow’s abilities
Bangalore in particular is a great character to combine with Sparrow’s ultimate. Sparrow can create a field of damage that also slows movement speed for unsuspecting foes. Bangalore is able to shoot a smokescreen over Sparrow’s Stinger Bolt, making it easier to trap or confuse enemies that can’t see the area where his ultimate is placed.
Other assault legends like Ash and Ballistic are also a perfect pairing for Sparrow, primarily because their skill sets are so different. You need a diverse character lineup for your trio in order to succeed, so we’re recommending you pair Sparrow with a character that isn’t a recon legend, especially an aggressive character, as they can benefit from Sparrow’s tracking.
Conclusion
All of Sparrow’s powers are mirrored by something similar that already existed in Apex Legends, but his combination of a double jump with the ability to track distant enemies provides a unique combination that’s perfect for recon players.
As we get further into Season 25, we’ll likely see a reduction in use for other legends who have the power to track opponents, along with new character combos based around Sparrow’s kit.
FAQs
Sparrow is the newest character in Apex Legends. Equipped with the ability to track foes and a fast-paced double jump, Sparrow is the perfect scout for gathering intel on opposing teams.
Sparrow is a recon legend who can track the movement of enemy players.
The release window for Season 25 and Apex Legends’ Sparrow release date is the same, as both launched on May 6, 2025. Titled “Prodigy,” Season 25 added Sparrow and various balancing changes to the existing legend roster.