Best VPNs and macro changes for Apex (competitive edge tips)

In competitive Apex, every slight boost can make a big difference. A good VPN can help reduce ping so you can react faster during intense fights. Meanwhile, implementing macro changes—like maximizing FPS, minimizing screen tear, and improving internet stability—can give you the edge you need in battle.

Simple fixes like closing background apps and using features like NVIDIA Reflex can lead to a smoother experience. Customizing your mouse and keyboard settings to make bunny hopping, tap strafing, and other maneuvers easier will give you a tactical advantage.

Finally, paying attention to your gear and setup is vital. These little details add up, whether it’s picking the right mouse, overclocking, or fine-tuning your sound settings. With the best VPNs and macro tweaks, you can elevate your Apex Legends experience and dominate the competition. All without cheating, CFGs, and other unapproved tools, of course.

Best VPNs for high-level Apex

Here are the best VPNs for high-level Apex:

1. NordVPN: The go-to VPN for competitive Apex Legends. Speedy, private, and with an extensive server network in 111+ countries. Great for lowering ping, smooth streaming, and much more.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for high-level Apex. Enjoy amazing speeds and unlimited concurrent connections to share with friends and family.
3. IPVanish: A versatile VPN for gamers, offering unmetered connections, port customization, and an Optimal Location feature for the best speeds.
4. ExpressVPN: Fully obfuscated VPN to avoid detection online, with 3,000+ servers in 105+ countries, blazing fast servers, and easy-to-use apps.
5. CyberGhost VPN: Offers thousands of servers in 100+ countries, including ones specifically tailored for streaming and online gaming, among others.

Best macro changes for Apex: 8 key points to improve your game

Here are the macro changes you need to make to improve your Apex game:

1. Monitor refresh rate

A monitor with a higher refresh rate (144 Hz, 240 Hz) can make gameplay smoother compared to the usual 60 Hz monitors. Some players report seeing slight screen tearing on 144 Hz monitors versus 240 Hz ones, so consider that as well.

Regardless, the higher frame rate you gain reduces motion blur and makes fast actions—like flicking to a target or tracking enemies—feel more precise. This increase in visual clarity and fluidity can improve your reaction times in high-level Apex and other fast-paced games.

You can see on-screen changes as soon as they happen, shaving off precious milliseconds in fast gunfights or quick decision-making moments.

Note that Apex Legends limits your max FPS to 144 by default. Here’s how to disable the cap:

• Launch Origin and go to your game library.
• Right-click Apex Legends and select Game Properties.
• Click on Advanced Launch Options and copy-paste “+fps_max unlimited” (without quote marks) into the Command line arguments field.
• Click Save and you’re set.

2. Mouse and mouse pad quality, plus settings

Get a good gaming mouse with a high polling rate—around 1000 Hz, but not higher due to potential technical issues in Apex. You’ll also want customizable buttons to quickly access frequently used inputs (grenades, tacticals, ping, etc.) Naturally, you need an ergonomic design for better comfort during long sessions.

A good mousepad can also go a long way. Larger ones provide more room for wide movements, whether quick flicks or tracking fast targets. Smooth mouse pads allow faster maneuvers, while rough ones offer more control and precision. It’s all up to your playstyle here.

As for mouse settings, many players find success at 800 DPI, 1.5 in-game mouse sensitivity, and 0.9 ADS. Of course, you’ll have to experiment to see what works for you.

3. Custom keybinds

Even if you don’t get a mouse with extra buttons, certain custom keybinds will help you execute advanced movements for a competitive edge. Here are some popular examples:

• Double bind W and Scrollwheelup to move forward: Allows for easier tap strafing, since scrolling the wheel upwards registers multiple W inputs in quick succession.
• Double bind Space and Scrollwheeldown to jump: Makes bunny hopping smoother.
• Bind your heals separately (e.g. small heals to “3”, shield batteries to “4”): Also useful in case you go for high mouse DPI, since you’re less likely to choose the wrong thing on the heal wheel.
• Holster weapons to Z or a mouse button: For easier access (and to free up space for heal inputs).

You can also switch from the WASD control scheme to ESDF and free up a handful of more accessible keys. Experiment and find what’s more comfortable for you.

4. Network optimization

Apex Legends is infamous for being laggier than other multiplayer games. While you can’t do much about EA’s servers, you can tweak some of your network settings to lower your ping. Here are some useful tips:

• Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi: No matter how fast your wireless connection is, it will never have the same stability as good old Ethernet.
• Reduce network traffic: Avoid streaming music or shows on the side, and stop any downloads to free up bandwidth.
• Use a VPN: If you’re having ping issues, a VPN will force your traffic to take a different route to the Apex servers, which may solve connectivity issues. See our guide on how to get a VPN working with Apex Legends for some provider suggestions and more tips.
• Get a better router: We’re not talking about so-called “gaming” routers, which are about as effective as a “gamer chair.” If you’re playing Apex Legends on consoles, you might want to look into a good VPN router, as consoles don’t have innate VPN capabilities.

See also: Is a VPN for Apex Legends worth it?

5. PC cooling and overclocking

Not everyone has the budget to upgrade their rig nowadays, and scalpers aren’t making things easier. You can still overclock your CPU and GPU to squeeze out a few extra FPS in Apex. If you do, make adjustments in small increments to avoid damaging your components.

Investing in a good cooling system for your PC will also keep your Apex performance stable during intense fights. If you use air cooling, ensure your case has good airflow. Liquid cooling is more expensive but generally better, especially if you want to overclock your opponents.

6. Reducing input lag

By tweaking a few settings, you can improve performance in Apex Legends. This will reduce input lag, allowing you to react faster and aim more accurately. Here’s what to do:

• Disable V-Sync: This feature syncs your game’s FPS with your monitor’s refresh rate to prevent screen tearing. However, this increases input lag.
• Turn off background processes: Use the Task Manager for this. Windows Game Mode has changed from managing system resources to minimizing disruptions by turning off updates and notifications while you play.
• Use NVIDIA Reflex (or Ultra Low Latency mode) or AMD Anti-lag: Note that Reflex imposes an FPS cap just below your monitor’s refresh rate, which may conflict with the “+fps_max unlimited” command from section 1. Test both to see which works for you.
• Reduce resolution and turn off anti-aliasing and shadows: These are the most demanding Apex graphics settings, and turning them off will drastically boost your FPS if you have a lower-end PC.

7. Clearing visual clutter

Both NVIDIA and AMD offer tools for adjusting the game’s visuals, enhancing clarity and reducing unnecessary distractions.

You can use NVIDIA Freestyle to adjust the brightness, contrast, image sharpening, and color settings to your preferences. Meanwhile, AMD Radeon Image Sharpening (RIS) applies a sharpening effect without impacting your performance. Similarly to Freestyle, you can adjust contrast, brightness, color saturation, and vibrance.

Tweaking these settings will help you:

• Spot enemies more easily in the shadows
• Prevent overly bright areas from becoming blinding or washed out
• Make character models and textures more defined
• Increase color vibrancy to make enemies and other important details stand out

8. Sound optimization

Sound optimization in Apex Legends can give you the edge in heated matches by letting you hear abilities, footsteps, and other enemy noises. Of course, the game is pretty bad at balancing audio (or offering in-depth sound settings), leading to lengthy complaint threads like this one.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Invest in a good headset: The one thing you don’t want to skimp on, especially in high-level Apex matches. Good headphones will have high clarity and directional audio to help you pick up which direction gunshots or footsteps are coming from.
• Lower dialogue volume, max out sound effects: Makes character voice lines less distracting while letting your team communicate effectively. The latter is self-explanatory: you want to hear Bloodhound before seeing his mask.
• Mute or reduce music volume: Stephen Barton is an amazing composer, but sadly, you’ll have to turn off his tunes to—well—be more in tune with your surroundings.
• Use surround sound: Dolby Atmos/Windows Sonic should add depth to your audio, letting you identify the direction sounds come from. That said, we’ve seen players have issues with Windows Sonic in Apex, so test both to see which delivers better results.
• Equalizer settings: Boosting high frequencies in your EQ makes footsteps and certain gunfire sounds stand out. Meanwhile, reducing low frequencies can make explosions and other distracting effects less intense, letting you focus on what’s important.
• Disable unnecessary audio effects: Some audio drivers (e.g. Realtek HD Audio, SteelSeries Engine), add reverb and other enhancements that can muddy in-game effects. Disable these for a cleaner sound.

Best VPNs and macro changes for high-level Apex FAQs