Apex Legends Season 20: Breakout has brought with it a massive amount of changes to Respawn's popular battle royale, with Ranked Mode being entirely reworked, a new, streamlined crafting system, updates to the Firing Range, and more. But the most significant of these changes are, without question, the removal of EVO Shields from the loot pool and the introduction of the Legend Upgrades system, as well as Shield Cores.

The new shield mechanic and Legend Upgrades system go hand-in-hand, but with 100 new Legend abilities introduced to the game and no EVO Shields in the loot pool, players have questions. Is shield-swapping still a viable tactic? What new abilities are now available for each Legend? How do Shield Cores fit into the equation? But whether you're an Apex Legends veteran or a new player, we've got you covered, so keep reading for a detailed breakdown of the game's complicated (but delightfully customizable) new meta.

Are EVO Shields really gone?

EVO Shields are no longer a part of the loot pool in battle royale mode (though they function essentially the same as they previously did in Mixtape Mode). Gone are the days of spotting a purple body shield through a wall and yoinking it into your inventory via Loba's Black Market ability, leveling up a shield and dropping it for a teammate, or quickly snagging a fresh shield from the ground mid-firefight.