Apex Legends content
This article concerns the subject and the content related to it in Apex Legends. For the background of the subject in Apex Legends universe, see Catalyst (character). |
“ | Adolescents can be so headstrong. Was it too much or not enough? And even though sometimes it felt like all the forces of the universe were working against us... we had each other. I would do anything for my coven. I still would. |
Catalyst | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Defensive Conjurer | |
Details | |
Real Name | Tressa Crystal Smith |
Gender | Female |
Age | 30 |
Homeworld | Boreas |
Gameplay | |
Class | |
Tactical Ability | |
Passive Ability | |
Ultimate Ability | |
Real-world Info | |
Voice Actor | Meli Grant[1] |
Catalyst is a
Controller Legend. She was introduced in
Season 15 and is locked from the base game. She can be unlocked using digital currency: either
12,000 or
750.
Abilities
Piercing Spikes
Tactical | Q/![]() ![]() ![]() | |
---|---|---|
Piercing Spikes | ||
Description | Throw out a patch of ferrofluid which turns in to spikes when enemies are near. Catalyst remains immune to enemy spikes. | |
Cooldown | 25 seconds |
- Has 2 charges. Can create a maximum of 2 patches. Catalyst can pick up the patch to regain a charge, so long as the patch hasn't been activated.
- Holding Tactical button delays the launch. Melee cancels the launch.
- Has a throw distance of ~15 meters when launched horizontally (trajectory can be increased by aiming higher, increase distance to ~40m if target area is at same level as Catalyst).
- Can be thrown simultaneously with other actions (firing, reloading, healing, etc.) without interrupting them.
- Creates a 2m x 11m patch perpendicular to the point of view.
- Spikes will start moving when an enemy player in line-of-sight to the center gets within 10m from the center. It will be considered activated at that stage.
- When an enemy walks over activated spikes, it slows them and deals 15 damage every second. Unactivated spikes will slow enemies, but do not deal damage.
- In the middle of the patch is a glowing orb with 300 HP that appears when enemies get close. Destroying this dissipates the patch. The orb also takes double damage from all sources.
- Patches last until destroyed, either by the Catalyst who created them with the Utility Action button, or enemies by shooting the orb in the middle of the patch.
- Patch can travel under closed doors.
- Catalyst can pick up her spikes and get a charge refund, as long as no enemy player got inside the detection range of the spikes.
- Can be destroyed by punching the orb 1 time.
- Catalyst is immune to all Piercing Spikes, regardless of who created it.
- Can be shot down by Wattson's
Interception Pylon.
- Starts with only 1 charge; can still bank 2 charges.
- When using it to trap a door, aim next to the hinge of the door, so that the core can be protected by the opened door and the wall. This is effective because doors don't hinder the core's LOS; the spikes will activate as though it can see an enemy, but enemies cannot see nor shoot the core because their own LOS is blocked by the opened door.
- If the core hits a wall while travelling through the air, it behaves differently to other projectiles - rather than bouncing off, it will travel straight downward and place the patch parallel to the wall. Using walls as a guide is a great way to see how best to align your traps with the environment, as well as to efficiently position your traps while staying out of LOS of enemies (because you do not need to aim for the floor).
- Spike strips can function as proximity alarms. In tight quarters, pay attention to your/your teammate's spike strip reacting when enemies are near.
- As Opponent: Destroy the spike strip as soon as possible as it will linger until Catalyst's death; it is easy to forget its existence due to tunnel vision as well as its position close to the ground. Get close to it, but do not step on it, and destroy it.
Barricade
Passive | Hold X/![]() ![]() ![]() | |
---|---|---|
Barricade | ||
Description | Reinforce doors, strengthening them and locking them to enemies. Spaces where doors have been destroyed can also be reinforced. | |
- Hold the "alternative action" button near doorways for 0.5s to reinforce either existing doorpanes, or build a ferro-barrier if doorpanes are gone.
- Can reinforce up to 2 doorways at a time; if a new barricade is created, the last barricade will disappear.
- Reinforced doors take 4 melee hits to destroy; ferro-barriers take 2 melee hits to destroy.
- Doors can still be operated by Catalyst and her teammates, but not by enemy squads.
- The ferro-barrier can be broken by Catalyst and her teammates by pressing "interaction" key; Catalyst will need to rebuild the ferro-barrier if needed.
- Abilities still damage doors/ferro-barriers as normal.
- Grenades such as the
Arc Star and
Frag Grenade will instantly destroy the barricaded door. The
Thermite Grenade will slowly damage the door.
- Mad Maggie's
Riot Drill and Fuse's
Knuckle Cluster slowly damage the barricaded door until it is destroyed.
- Wattson's
Perimeter Security fences instantly destroy barricaded doors.
- Mad Maggie's
Wrecking Ball, Horizon's
Black Hole, Gibraltar's
Defensive Bombardment, Bangalore's
Rolling Thunder, Newcastle's
Castle Wall impact, Rampart's Minigun, and Crypto's
Drone EMP instantly destroy barricaded doors.
- When any doorway (standard or reinforced) is broken, it takes 3 seconds before Catalyst can reinforce the empty space. Resist the urge to run to a doorway and attempt to reinforce it the moment it is broken, as you risk leaving yourself open if an enemy team runs through the space.
- Vision through reinforced doors and ferro-barriers is greatly obscured by ferrofluid; this is useful in scenarios where enemies might otherwise spot you, your teammates, or other hazards such as Caustic traps through the door's small windows.
- Destroying a ferro-barrier with the "interaction" key can only be done by Catalyst and her team, and the ferro-barrier disappears near instantly; use this to surprise approaching enemies or enemies trying to kick down the barrier.
- When entering a building that you're trying to quickly reinforce, follow the pattern: reinforce as you approach door -> open door -> close door. Trying to open the door, reinforce it and then close it leaves Catalyst's body in open space while you fiddle with the door. This situation could cost you vital extra health if the enemy lands some damage during this time.
Dark Veil
Ultimate | Z/![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
---|---|---|
Dark Veil | ||
Description | Raise a permeable wall of ferrofluid. Enemies who walk through it will be slowed and partially blinded for a brief time. | |
Charge time | 2.5 minutes |
- Creates a permeable wall 40m in length and 8m in height in line with Catalyst's reticle.
- Takes 1 second before the first veil section rises, and takes additonal 3 seconds maximum to build the complete veil.
- The veil will keep travelling until one of the following:
- It reaches a wall that is greater than a climbable height.
- Its height reaches 2x a climbable height.
- The Dark Veil lasts 15 seconds.
- Enemies that try to cross through the wall will be slowed by 15% and blinded for 7 seconds.
- Does not block bullets, ordnance, or abilities.
- Most scanning abilities will not apply scans to players on the other side of the wall.
- Catalyst is immune to the blind effect and slow of the Dark Veil, regardless of who created it.
- Scanning abilities will only be blocked if the scan itself tries to go through the wall. If an enemy is already scanned, moving behind the wall won't remove it.
- Bloodhound's
Eye of the Allfather, Crypto's
Neurolink, Seer's
Focus of Attention and
Heart Seeker, Valkyrie's
VTOL Jets HUD, and Vantage's
Spotter's Lens will not work through the wall.
- Bloodhound's
- Crypto's drone can fly through the wall without experiencing any debuffs.
- In non-BR game modes, the wall will disappear when the Catalyst who created it dies.
- The wall may only be placed lengthways, in front of Catalyst. Because of this, it is liable to leaving an open space on the end where Catalyst placed it. To completely prevent enemies from moving through an area, position yourself flat against a surface before placing the wall.
- When looking straight ahead during placement, there is a gap between the start point and Catalyst's feet. Try looking down before placing it; this positions the start point directly under Catalyst's feet, completely preventing enemies from slipping between the empty space. This is especially useful when placing inside buildings.
- Don't understimate the blindness effect when moving through an enemy Catalyst's wall; if the wall is crossed by an enemy, their sensitivity is greatly reduced, all colour is removed from their screen and a huge dark vignette effect covers their screen. Because of this, don't be afraid to approach enemies who you can see have travelled through your wall; it is near impossible for them to fight back effectively.
Legend Upgrades
Legend Upgrades are special perks introduced in Season 20 to all Battle Royale modes. These add upgrades to a Legend's abilities as you level up your Evo Armor. Only one option may be chosen per level-up for a maximum of two perks total.
- Sister Spikes: Increase max number of active
Piercing Spikes to three.
- Long Veil: Increase
Dark Veil length to 180 feet
Lore
“ | Tressa Crystal Smith isn’t everyone’s cup of tea–an elegant, standoffish woman, she likes crystals more than she likes most people. She grew up on Boreas, a faltering planet with a deteriorating moon. Conformity and efficiency were necessities there, but that never suited Tressa. Instead, she was more at home with fellow misfits who spent their time on crystal readings, moon rituals and personal witchery–they made her turbulent teenage years (and simultaneous gender transition) easier and less lonely. But when her closest friend went to extreme lengths to save their moon from corporate encroachment, Tressa was caught in the middle. Ultimately, she ran away from home, finding solace in the one place her friend cared about most: their moon, Cleo.
There she joined the terraforming crews hired to repair and rejuvenate the celestial body. She learned to work with ferrofluid, and use it with a certain witchy flair. She grew attached to her new community and, when the heat on Boreas died down, brought some of her old friends back into the fold. She found a place to call her own–just in time for the Apex Games to arrive and sweep it out from under her new family. But Catalyst won’t disappear so easily. If the Games are going to get in her way, she’s going to turn them to her advantage, putting the prize money to use supporting her family. She sees a win in her future, and she’ll rise to the occasion. |
Cosmetic items
Skins
There are a total of 48 Legend skins for Catalyst; 9 Legendary, 8 epic, 15 Rare and 16 Common.
-
Blood Moon
-
Celestial Protector
-
Legacy of the Ancients
-
Violet Sands
-
Daemon Hunter
-
Fiber Optics
-
Hack the System
-
Heat Sync
-
User Friendly
-
Alpha Royal
-
Arachnophobia
-
Bloodline
-
Dire Wolf
-
Disruptor
-
Formal Finery
-
Labyrinth
-
Prowess
-
Racing Stripes
-
Snakeskin
-
Super Rad
-
Unholy Alliance
-
Volcanic
-
Wallflower
-
Wishbone
Finishers
-
Witch's Wrath
Default -
Badges
Emotes
Skydive Emotes
Banner Frames
Banner Poses
-
Aggressive Negotiation
-
Divination
-
I Arise
-
Misfortune Awaits
-
Mystic Crystals
-
Resistance
-
Star Gazing
-
Surprising Read
-
Tea Time
Holosprays
Music Packs
Transitions
Voice lines
History
Patch notes |
|
Development
- Catalyst was created to be "inescapably" transgender, with the help of transgender employees at Respawn, a transgender representative at GLAAD, and the character's voice actor Meli Grant, who is transgender herself. Her neopaganism also comes about from research regarding the community.[2]
- On October 13, 2022, the Apex Legends Twitter account posted an image that showed Catalyst's Tablet.[3]
- On October 17, 2022, "Last Hope" was released.
- On October 20, 2022, the Season 15 Launch Trailer was released, which confirmed Catalyst being released for Season 15.
Datamined and Leaked Data

Catalyst was leaked as a Defensive Legend whose character subtitle was "Creative Builder" on March 22, 2022. Her concept art is a copyright-free placeholder titled "The Witch".[4] A low-resolution holospray that might possibly be Catalyst was datamined after the release of
Season 14. Her abilities revolve around ferrofluid, noticeable especially when using her Ultimate.
Leaked abilities |
|
Among these, the finalized version retains her neopaganism, the use of ferrofluid, and her passive.
Trivia
- Catalyst is transgender.[5]
Gallery
-
Concept art for Catalyst.
-
Concept art for Catalyst's Blood Moon skin.[6]
-
Catalyst's High Priestess tarot card, depicting herself
-
Catalyst's Devil tarot card, depicting the Apex Predators
References
|