Key takeaways
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| When does it run? | Tuesday, October 13 to November 3, 2026, the last day of Season 30. No start hour yet. |
| Where is it played? | Wildcard, on a haunted Kings Canyon with random fog. |
| How does it work? | Pledge to the Beasts or the Demons, then earn your side's Wild Cards by dealing damage or landing knocks. |
| Does it affect Ranked RP? | No. Wildcard has no RP on the line. |
| What's in the store? | New Sparrow and Alter skins, an R-99 skin, four more Legend bundles and stickers. |
| Any free rewards? | None announced. Check the in-game event tab on October 13. |
The Apex Halloween event for 2026 has a name, and it's Blood Pact. EA and Respawn announced the Apex Legends Blood Pact event on October 8, and it starts Tuesday, October 13. What actually changes? Who are the Beasts and the Demons, and is any of it free? Everything below comes from Respawn's Blood Pact post and the Blood Pact trailer. Nobody has played it yet, so when we say what a Wild Card should do in a fight, that's our reading of Respawn's descriptions and not a test result.
Apex Blood Pact event dates and start time
When does it run? Respawn's post keeps it simple: "The Blood Pact Event runs from October 13 to November 3." Some news sites wrote November 2, but Respawn's post says November 3. That's also the last day of Season 30, since Respawn's October 6 update says its cross-play test "will run until the season ends on November 3rd".
What time on October 13, though? No start hour has been announced. The one reference point is a pattern, not a promise: on September 22, launch day of the Street Fighter event, Respawn's launch post went up at 10am PT (17:00 UTC). Whether Blood Pact follows it is anyone's guess until Respawn says.
October 13 is handover day too. The Street Fighter 6 crossover and its Wildcard mode, Apex K.O., are scheduled from September 22 to October 13, so one Wildcard event hands straight to the next. If you're still finishing it, our Apex x Street Fighter 6 event guide has the dates and rewards.
Will Core Wildcard, the regular version, stay next to Blood Pact? Respawn hasn't said. On September 24 it brought Core Wildcard back alongside Apex K.O. after player feedback, saying in its dev note that running both is "most beneficial to players when the Event varies too far from the Wildcard design ethos".
How Apex Legends Wildcard works
Never bothered with Wildcard? Here's the short version from EA Help's game modes guide and Respawn's 2025 Wildcard post. EA Help calls it "a faster, more streamlined mode without the pressure of Ranked".
- Matches take around 15 minutes and include 30 players. Wildcard sits in the Freestyle playlist.
- Weapons come kitted and level up with EVO, and ammo and EVO orbs are auto-looted.
- There are no backpacks, knockdown shields, helmets, Hop-Ups, Legend Upgrades or Class Perks. Shield Cells still exist.
- Health regenerates out of combat, everyone starts with a self-revive kit, and revivals work until the last Ring if at least one teammate is alive.
- Squads can stack Legends, even three of the same one.
- In regular Wildcard you choose Wild Cards at teal Replicators, "once per round, up to three times per match". They take no inventory space and last the whole match.
And RP? Respawn says the mode lets you "take risks without worrying about your stats or RP". Blood Pact won't move your Ranked RP. Not up, not down.
Beasts vs Demons: how the Blood Pact Wild Cards work
Here's the twist. You pledge to the Beasts or the Demons, then earn your faction's Wild Cards by completing challenges during the match. In Respawn's words: "Every round throws down a fresh challenge: if you can deal enough damage or land enough knocks, the Wild Card is yours."
How much damage? How many knocks? How long do you get? Respawn hasn't published the targets or a time limit. EA's preview screenshot shows a "DEAL DAMAGE" challenge marked "Challenge Complete" next to a countdown timer, plus a "WILD CARD EARNED" banner with three card slots, two of them filled. So there's a clock. We just don't know its length.
Respawn calls the Beasts "a fast-moving monster that can chase down enemy squads through the fog" and the Demons "an infernal powerhouse, as you shrug off damage and become impossible to put down". There are three cards a side, and they fit that split pretty closely.
| Side | Wild Card | Respawn's description | What it should mean in a fight (our read) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beasts | Evasive Maneuvers | "When weapons are stowed, move faster and gain Double Jump" | Faster rotates and chases while your guns are away |
| Beasts | Fast Draw | "Reload weapons and use shield cells faster" | Shorter reload and cell pauses between pushes |
| Beasts | Critical Roll | "Grants temporary critical hits on reload" | Pays off right after a reload, so reload before you swing |
| Demons | Speedy Charge | "Tactical and Ultimate charge faster" | Abilities come back sooner, good for ability-heavy Legends |
| Demons | Shields Up | "Epic Level shields" | Tougher shields to break |
| Demons | Super Cells | "Cells regenerate all shield health" | One cell refills your whole shield |
Respawn published no numbers for any of the six.
Fast Draw numbers and Sparrow's double jump
Fast Draw isn't new. Regular Wildcard already has it, and Respawn's October 2 update cut it to a 25% reload-time reduction (from 35%) and a 25% consumable-use-time reduction (from 50%). Does Blood Pact's Fast Draw use those values? Respawn hasn't said, so treat them as a reference point only.
What about Sparrow, who already has a double jump? Respawn hasn't said how Evasive Maneuvers and Sparrow's own double jump work together, so don't assume they stack. Our Sparrow guide covers his kit and how to play him.
Beasts or Demons: which side fits your squad?
So which side? Going by the descriptions alone:
- Beasts fit squads that take the first fight and chase.
- Demons fit ability-heavy Legends and long, messy fights.
Both sides share one catch. Every card comes from dealing damage or landing knocks, so squads that avoid fighting will get their cards later. Hiding till the last Ring isn't gonna earn you much. And since Wildcard lets squads stack Legends, a squad can build around one faction's strengths.
Can you swap factions mid-match, or in between matches? Can you collect all three of your faction's cards in one match? Respawn hasn't said. Three cards per faction does line up with regular Wildcard's limit of three Wild Cards per match, but that's a match-up, not a confirmed rule.
How Blood Pact differs from last year's Apex Halloween event
Didn't Apex already do two Halloween sides last year? Sort of. Raise Hell, last year's Apex Legends Halloween event, split Wildcard into Reaper and Demon Wild Cards that players picked from Replicators, per Respawn's Raise Hell post.
| Raise Hell (2025) | Blood Pact (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | October 14 to November 4, 2025 | October 13 to November 3, 2026 |
| Sides | Reaper and Demon | Beasts and Demons |
| How you get Wild Cards | Pick them at Replicators | Earn each one with a damage or knock challenge |
| Movement, reloads and crits | Reaper Path: "otherworldly precision: faster movement, reloads, and guaranteed critical hits" | Beasts |
| Demon side | "raw power: infinite ammo, explosive knocked enemies, and vampiric health recovery" | Faster ability charge, Epic shields, full-shield cells |
| Kings Canyon | Wildcard Night: nighttime lighting, Nessie balloons with launchers, loot bin jump scares, launchers with spooky sounds | Haunted Kings Canyon, now with random fog |
Last year the Demons were the guns-blazing side. This year they're the side that's hard to put down. The Beasts picked up the movement, reloads and crits, and a few card names carry over: Raise Hell's list already had Fast Draw, Speedy Charge and Critical Roll. The real change is how you get them. Last year you grabbed a card at a Replicator. This year you earn it in a fight.
Haunted Kings Canyon: fog, Rev Shells and glowing Nessies
Respawn says Blood Pact "all goes down on a spooky Kings Canyon". Wildcard has rotated through Kings Canyon, Olympus and E-District since September 15, and Respawn hasn't said whether Olympus and E-District stay in the rotation during the event. Our live Apex map rotation shows the current and next Wildcard map with a countdown.
What's actually haunted? Respawn lists haunted buildings, glowing Nessies, "haunted Loot Bins", "Pumpkin-skinned EVO orbs", "and more". EA's preview screenshot shows Kings Canyon at night, with glowing Nessie balloons and a giant horned skull sitting on top of a building. Two changes look like they'll shape fights: the fog and the Rev Shells.
Random fog
Respawn's line: "Fog can randomly descend upon the map, hiding squad movement and reducing sightlines, so the smart hunters use it to stalk their prey." The fog is the new part this year. What should you expect once it rolls in? Going by that description:
- More fights will start at close range, because you can't see as far.
- Long-range rifles lose value inside it.
- Audio and pings matter more. You'll often hear a squad before you see it.
Rev Shell Grenades
Rev Shells are back. Respawn says it "dusted off Rev Shell Grenades to seek out whoever's lurking in the dark", but it hasn't restated their 2026 tuning. Here's how Respawn described them last October:
Rev Shells are a target-seeking grenade that look almost as scary as the damage they do. Grab a shell, toss it into the air and it will seek out valid nearby targets, delivering substantial damage. Is there a Rev Shell hot on your heels? Take aim and shoot it down to cause an early detonation.
In fog that should cut both ways. A grenade that seeks its own target should be handy against a squad hiding where you can't see them. And if one is chasing you, don't just run. Shoot it down.
Blood Pact skins and store prices
What's in the store? Short version: six Legend offers, one R-99 skin and a sticker series. Respawn's pitch: "Go full 80s werewolf with Sparrow's new Legend Skin and Character Select Animation, or channel inner demons with Alter's new Legend Skin and the new R-99 Weapon Skin. Descend into darkness with new Beast and Demon Legend Retheme Bundles, and more."
And the prices? EA's store preview image from October 8 lists the offers below in Apex Coins. They're the sale prices shown in that preview. The live store has the final word on October 13.
| Offer | Legend or item | Price | Apex Pack or bulk bundle |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Moon | Sparrow | 1,800 | 4,350 with 50 Apex Packs |
| Restless Spirit | Alter | 2,500 | 4,350 with 40 Apex Packs |
| Speedy Scryer | Octane | 2,000 | 2,500 with 10 Apex Packs |
| Demon Fever | Fuse | 2,000 | 2,500 with 10 Apex Packs |
| Alpha Wolf | Conduit | 2,000 | 2,500 with 10 Apex Packs |
| Rabid Nightmare | Revenant | 2,000 | 2,500 with 10 Apex Packs |
| Ecto Gambit | R-99 weapon skin | 1,800 | None listed |
| Fight or Fright Sticker Thematic Pack Series 010 | Stickers | 300 each, up to 9 purchases | 2,700 as a bundle |
Sparrow's offer is New Moon, and Alter's is Restless Spirit. If you main Alter, our Alter guide covers the kit. The preview shows each offer's name, Legend and price but not what's inside, so exact contents wait for the live store.
Which bundles are Beasts and which are Demons? Respawn mentions "Beast and Demon Legend Retheme Bundles", and the Octane, Fuse, Conduit and Revenant offers look like those, but it doesn't say which side each one belongs to. Cosmetics give no gameplay advantage anyway, and nothing Respawn said suggests you have to buy one to join a faction.
Free rewards: nothing announced yet
Anything free? Nothing's confirmed. Respawn's Blood Pact post doesn't mention a reward shop, event currency, event packs, a free reward track, Twitch Drops or a Prestige skin. That's different from recent events: Raise Hell had Pumpkins for a Reward Shop, Ascended Hunt in August 2026 had Marks, and the Street Fighter event had Zenny. Could something show up at launch? Maybe, but we won't promise it. Check the in-game event tab on October 13.
What else runs during the Blood Pact event
Blood Pact isn't alone on the calendar:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Since October 7 | US-West cross-play test running |
| October 13 | Blood Pact starts; Street Fighter 6 event ends |
| October 13 to 18 | Ranked Ladder 4 |
| October 20 to 25 | Ranked Ladder 5 |
| October 27 to November 1 | Ranked Ladder 6 |
| November 3 | Blood Pact, the cross-play test and Season 30 all end |
Ranked isn't part of Blood Pact. Ladders 4, 5 and 6 keep the dates set in the Marked midseason patch notes, so all three land inside the event. Want ladder wins or champion placements while you play Wildcard? Our Apex ranked ladder boost is a ladder-only service for that, separate from a standard rank boost.
Or maybe you'd rather spend the whole event in Wildcard and still hit your Ranked goal before Season 30 ends on November 3. Our Apex rank boost covers boosts from any rank up to Predator. It's done by a top-750 booster on your platform, piloted or self-play, on PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
The US-West cross-play test
On US-West servers? Since October 7, at about 10am PT, cross-play is the default option "for all players, on all platforms in the US-West servers", per Respawn's October 6 update. Respawn's stated aim is "to shorten queue times and tighten matchmaking skill bands", and the test runs until the season ends on November 3, so it covers all of Blood Pact. Console players who would rather not can turn off cross-play in the settings menu. Our Apex matchmaking test results article covers what Respawn shared on September 30.
Known issues and recent fixes
Playing Alter? Respawn's "On our radar" list in the Blood Pact post includes this one: "Entering an Alter portal may drop players in the incorrect location." Good to know before trusting a portal in a close fight.
On the fixed side, Respawn's October 8 update sorted out a bunch of console movement issues: Ash's dash and double jump, Sparrow's double jump, Revenant's climb and mantle, and Lifeline's run animation.
Apex Blood Pact FAQ
When does the Apex Legends Blood Pact event start and end?
It runs from October 13 to November 3, 2026, the last day of Season 30. Respawn hasn't announced a start hour.
Does Blood Pact affect Ranked or RP?
No. It runs in Wildcard, which has no RP on the line.
Should I pick the Beasts or the Demons?
Going by the card descriptions, Beasts suit squads that take the first fight and chase. Demons suit ability-heavy Legends and long fights. Either way, you earn your cards by fighting.
Are there free rewards in Blood Pact?
None announced. Respawn's post doesn't mention a reward shop, event currency or a free reward track, so check the event tab on October 13.
How much does Sparrow's werewolf skin cost?
EA's store preview lists Sparrow's New Moon offer at 1,800 Apex Coins, or 4,350 as an Apex Pack bundle with 50 Apex Packs. Those are preview sale prices; the live store sets the final ones.
What are Rev Shells in Apex?
They're target-seeking grenades. Going by Respawn's description from last year, you toss one into the air, it seeks out nearby targets, and you can shoot one down if it's chasing you. They're back for Blood Pact.
Is the Street Fighter event or Apex K.O. still playable after October 13?
The Street Fighter 6 event, Apex K.O. included, is scheduled to end on October 13, the day Blood Pact starts. Finish anything you want from it before then.