Deploy an aerial camera drone that can remotely interact with Survey Beacons, Respawn Beacons, and ally Banner cards.
Cooldown
40 seconds
Pressing the tactical button will launch the drone from Crypto ~25 m. Holding the tactical button will cause Crypto to go into drone view immediately.
If the drone is thrown at a wall, it will turn around.
The drone can be deployed and flown up to 200 meters away from Crypto. If the drone is 240+ meters away from Crypto, it will automatically be recalled.
Hold ADS (///) to conduct level flight while looking around.
When not being piloted manually, the drone is left parked in midair.
Crypto is left stationary while piloting the drone. Taking damage while in drone view will force Crypto out of it.
Crypto can recall the drone at any time with H///, EXCEPT when reviving a teammate who is down, as this will interrupt the revive on the downed teammate. The drone can, however, be recalled without interruption while shooting, healing, while knocked down, or executing other actions. The recall takes ~2 seconds.
The drone has 50 health, which gets recovered when recalled.
If you have Vault Key in your inventory. You can use the drone to open the Vault.
The drone can ping items as long as they are within 12 meters. Enemies can be pinged up to 125 meters.
While in drone view, weapons automatically reload, starting with the currently equipped weapon. Reloads take the same amount of time as they would normally.
The audio range from the drone is as follows:
Drone Throw - 175m.
Entering Drone - 175m.
Exiting Drone - 175m.
Recalling Drone - 100m.
Piloting Drone - 110m.
Idle Drone - 80m.
You can manually ping and use the ping wheel while in drone view. The following is everything that the Surveillance Drone can Ping:
Crypto is completely vulnerable while in drone view. Find a safe place to stay while operating the Surveillance Drone. You can crouch while entering drone view to force Crypto to stay in this stance while using it, making it easier to hide him.
Deploying the drone while sliding allows Crypto to keep sliding while the drone deploys. You can slide into cover and/or save time this way when moving into new areas via downward slopes.
Although your squad can see the drone's automatic Neurolink pings, the range is very limited. Remember to manually ping the enemies you see that the drone doesn't automatically detect.
The drone's ability to see the number of nearby enemy squads is very powerful information. Communicate this information to your squad often to make decisions about when/where to move, which fights to take, and avoid being caught by surprise third parties after winning a fight.
The 200-meter squad detection radius is approximately the same size as your minimap.
You can use the drone as a decoy to distract enemies while your squad is either flanking or escaping.
Because enemy drones appear with an orange aura, flying it outside The Ring will cause it to visually blend in with the orange ring effect and its partial opacity, making it harder for enemies to spot. The drone does not take Ring damage.
If your squadmates have died, you can use the drone to safely retrieve your squadmates' banners. Try to fly the drone in from a different direction rather than directly from yourself to reduce the likelihood of being caught doing this. Carrying Mobile Respawn Beacons in your survival slot is naturally more valuable for Crypto.
The Surveillance Drone can sometimes take more shots to destroy than intended despite only having 50 health. This doesn't include weapons that can one-shot it.
Sometimes when the drone is hacking a Survey Beacon, the next ring is not revealed on the map unless you hack the beacon when facing its front, despite the hacking sound effect playing.
The drone cannot fit through certain windows.
Attempting to deploy the drone while crouching too close to a wall or cover can cause it to become stuck.
In Arenas, one charge is used when the drone is deployed and another is used when it is destroyed. If all three charges are bought and the drone is destroyed, only one charge will be left.
The map in the drone view is incorrect.
There is a small window of actionable time between throwing out the drone and entering it when holding the ability button down, during which items can be used and will complete while piloting the drone.
Being knocked while drone is active will immediately recall drone (knocked while using EMP will cancel and consume the charge)
Neurolink
Passive
Neurolink
Description
Crypto and his teammates see what his Surveillance Drone detects up to a 30m distance.
Cooldown
?
The drone will highlight doors, supply bins, care packages, traps, and enemies with a direct and uninterrupted line of sight within 30 meters. Enemies are more noticeably marked with a triangle.
Enemies highlighted by the drone will see 'DRONE DETECTED' on their HUD.
When deploying the drone, Crypto will call out the number of enemy squads within 200 meters. While the drone is out, all banners on the map will display this number.
Banners can be pinged to call out the number again.
The Drone EMP and Neurolink can be used even when Crypto is not directly controlling the drone. This allows Crypto to actively stay in the fight while gathering information on what enemies are doing.
The Surveillance Drone is noisy and its automatic enemy detection will warn enemies of its presence. If you don't want them to know your squad is nearby, you can manually ping them from a distance.
Many maps have glass surfaces that the drone can detect enemies through. Park your drone on one side so that it can safely scan enemies on the other side.
If you're struggling to find enemy squads, flying around with the drone through buildings and covers and looking through glass might cause them to be spotted by the drone's enemy detection, even if you didn't notice them.
The drone may not highlight certain general things that are supposed to be highlighted.
Charge up an EMP from your drone. The blast deals 50 shield damage, slows players, and destroys traps.
Charge time
3 minutes
Takes 3 seconds to charge before detonating. The drone can be destroyed before the detonation, cancelling it.
Affects all players (and Crypto himself) in a 30-meter radius, even through walls and other obstacles. Squadmates take no shield damage but are still slowed down.
The slow lasts roughly 1-2 seconds.
Enemies hit by the EMP will have their minimaps disabled for 2 seconds. It is replaced with static and the words [SIGNAL JAMMED].
The radius of Drone EMP is the same as Neurolink's tracking radius. If an enemy is highlighted in orange, you know they'll be caught in the blast.
You can activate EMP from where you last left the drone, even when you are not in drone view. This way, you can set the drone in one spot, leave the drone view, prepare for an ambush, activate the EMP, and push immediately.
Keep in mind that you and your drone are still vulnerable to damage while EMP is charging.
The drone is easier to spot while EMP is charging. Try to activate EMP with your drone in a safe spot or while flying it around to avoid it being destroyed.
EMP is very good for ending fights quickly and lessening the chances of your squad getting third partied.
Using EMP on enemies who are fighting or escaping outside The Ring can be effective as the slow effect can potentially be enough for the ring to knock or eliminate them.
Using EMP on large groups of enemies can rack up damage for Crypto's Evo Shield very quickly.
Using EMP on single enemies can be worth doing to take them out of the fight temporarily, rather than letting their squad group up.
Since squadmates do not take shield damage from EMP, a risky tactic in a pinch is to activate EMP even if Crypto and his squad will be caught in the blast, giving your team an opportunity to attack or escape while the enemy recovers.
It's very useful for Crypto to carry at least 1-2 Ultimate Accelerants to quickly recharge EMP.
Offensive, agile Legends make good squadmates for Crypto, as they can easily hunt down enemies after an EMP.
On Kings Canyon, using a Charge Tower when your ultimate is fully charged, then activating the EMP exactly 2.5 seconds before the charge tower activates will remove the cooldown completely after every activation until the drone is destroyed. Note: you must have a teammate to do this.
Perks
Perk
Effects
Recon
Can interact with Survey Beacons to temporarily track all enemies' locations on the minimap.
Upgrades
Level 2 Upgrades - Unlocked at 450 EVO
Network Expansion: +25% range on Neurolink and Drone EMP. (30 m → 37.5 m)
Quick Transmission: Increases Surveillance Drone's acceleration and deceleration by [?]%.
Level 3 Upgrades - Unlocked at 1800 EVO
Satellite Imagery: Neurolink scan persists on enemies for 1.5 seconds after leaving the drone's radius.
Hackathon: Reduce Surveillance Drone recovery cooldown by 20 seconds. (40 sec → 20 sec) Gain a brief speed boost when Drone EMP is activated or when the drone is destroyed.
Lore
“
Crypto specializes in secrets. A brilliant hacker and encryption expert, he uses aerial drones to spy on his opponents in the Apex Arena without being seen. He also has a secret of his own: he joined the Apex Games to find the people who framed him for murder.
An orphan abandoned at a young age, Tae Joon escaped a life of squalor by becoming a computer engineer for the Mercenary Syndicate, along with his foster sister, Mila Alexander. One day, Tae Joon and Mila stumbled upon an algorithm that could predict the result of any Apex Games match, hidden away in the Games’ own computer systems. That caught the attention of the wrong people - the next day, Mila disappeared, and Tae Joon was forced to into hiding after he was framed for her murder.
He’s now joined the Games to clear his name, because sometimes the spotlight is the best place to hide. Along the way, he's uncovered hints of a conspiracy greater than even he predicted - and maybe greater than he can conquer alone.
↑Inconspicuous: Before Tae Joon Park was a wanted man, he was a gifted programmer and engineer. The drone cameras that broadcast the Apex Games were originally his creation. In another life, they may have made him famous.
Fixed visual bug for when he first drops into game, the Drone UI reports that it is "recharging" (as if it has been destroyed pre-drop), but progress does not complete / progress.
Crypto was the source of several "glitches" in Kings Canyon, including distorted lines from the announcer and hacked banner displays showing his attempts to get login information.
Crypto appeared in an inaccessible room behind glass in Singh Labs, getting info on the space elevator at World's Edge. When a player got near, he and his drone would flee.
Drone EMP causes the same minimap-disabling effect as Titanfall 2's Radar Jammer boost.
Crypto's voice actor, Johnny Young, is an active streamer on Twitch, where he is known to do custom voice lines after the character he plays.
During the 3rd Anniversary collection event, two skins were released based on Crypto's Hype Beast skin - Lit Witt for Mirage and Thunder Kitty for Wattson.
The inscription, "0's & 1's 4 Lif3" along with Crypto's logo is found within "Hack". The logo and inscription can be seen if "Hack" is deployed or when Crypto is selected in the beginning of the match.
Crypto's drone remote has the word "susukekki" on it which means "riddle" in Korean.
Crypto currently has had the longest wait for an Heirloom at 910 days.
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) to conduct level flight while looking around.
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, EXCEPT when reviving a teammate who is down, as this will interrupt the revive on the downed teammate. The drone can, however, be recalled without interruption while shooting, healing, while knocked down, or executing other actions. The recall takes ~2 seconds.
Survey Beacons and 
Respawn Beacons instantly. It must be within 7 meters to do these.
Vault Key in your inventory. You can use the drone to open the Vault.
![Midnight Cipher 2,500[note 1]](/wiki/File:Midnight_Cipher_Crypto.png)
![Inconspicuous [Story 1]](/wiki/File:Inconspicuous_Crypto.png)
![[CLASSIFIED]](/wiki/File:Classified_Crypto.png)
![Cool Operator 1,400[note 1]](/wiki/File:Cool_Operator_Crypto.png)
![Concept art of Crypto.[1]](/wiki/File:ConceptArt_Hethe_Srodawa_Crypto_Concepts.jpg)
![Concept art for the drone.[2]](/wiki/File:ConceptArt_Danny_Gardner_Crypto%27s_Drone.jpg)
![Concept art for the drone's remote.[3]](/wiki/File:ConceptArt_Danny_Gardner_Crypto%27s_Puzzle.jpg)
![Concept art for Crypto's The Hired Gun skin.[4]](/wiki/File:The_Hired_Gun_Crypto_Concept_Art.jpg)
![Concept art for Crypto's Hype Beast skin.<ref>[1]](/wiki/File:Hype_Beast_Crypto_Concept_Art.jpg)
![Concept art for Crypto's Machine Language skin.[5]](/wiki/File:Machine_Language_Crypto_Concept_Art.jpg)
![Concept art for Crypto's Elf Made skin.[6]](/wiki/File:Elf_Made_Crypto_Concept_Art.jpg)
![Concept art for Crypto's Biwon Blade.[7]](/wiki/File:Crypto_Biwon_Blade_Concept_Art_1.jpg)
