What does ALGS stand for?

ALGS stands for Apex Legends Global Series, which is the official competitive circuit for the game Apex Legends.

How does the Match Point format work in ALGS?

In the Match Point format, teams earn points from placements and eliminations across multiple matches. Once a team reaches 50 points, they become 'Match Point Eligible.' The first eligible team to then win any subsequent match (by placing 1st) is crowned the champion.

What are the eligibility requirements to compete in ALGS?

To be eligible for ALGS, players must have an EA account level of 50 or higher, and teams must consist of at least three players.

What is the total prize pool for ALGS Year 4?

The total prize pool for ALGS Year 4 was $5 million USD across all events.

What are some new features for ALGS Year 5?

ALGS Year 5 introduces a consolidated 'Americas' region, a new points system called 'Championship Points' belonging to players, POI Drafting for qualifiers, and Legend Bans for Pro League and LAN events.

Introduction to the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS)

The Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) is the official competitive esports circuit for the popular battle royale game, Apex Legends. Organized by Electronic Arts (EA) and Respawn Entertainment, the ALGS features a structured system of competition, including promotion and relegation, leading to a grand championship event. The series aims to identify the best Apex Legends teams globally, offering substantial prize pools and a platform for professional play.

ALGS Structure and Seasons

The ALGS season is typically divided into distinct phases, including a regular season, playoffs, and a culminating championship.

Year 4 Overview (2023-2025)

ALGS Year 4, running from October 2023 through the ALGS Championship in February 2025, maintained a similar format to its predecessor, Year 3. The season was split into two halves, each featuring regional Pro Leagues and Playoffs. A total of three in-person LAN events were scheduled: the Split 1 Playoffs, Split 2 Playoffs, and the year-end ALGS Championship.

Year 5 Updates (Upcoming for 2025)

For ALGS Year 5, several significant format changes have been announced. The North American and South American regions will be consolidated into a single "Americas" region. The competitive calendar will include the ALGS Pro League and three offline tournaments: the ALGS Open, the Midseason Playoffs, and the 2025 Championship. A new points system, "Championship Points," will belong to the player rather than the team and can be earned through the Pro League, ALGS Open, and Midseason Playoffs.

Regions of Competition

ALGS competitions are organized across several major regions. In Year 4, these regions included North America (NA), South America (SA), Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Asia–Pacific North (APAC North), Asia–Pacific South (APAC South), and China.

Starting with Year 5, the competitive regions will be streamlined to Americas, EMEA, APAC North, and APAC South, with South America merging into the Americas region.

Path to Pro: How to Qualify

The ALGS employs a multi-tiered system for teams to enter and advance through the competitive circuit.

Eligibility

To participate in the ALGS, players must have an EA account level of 50 or higher. Teams are required to consist of at least three but no more than four competitors.

Preseason Qualifiers (PSQ)

The season typically begins with four online Preseason Qualifier tournaments. The winning team from each regional PSQ automatically qualifies for Split 1 of the Pro League. Additionally, the next top four teams in each region, based on cumulative points from the qualifiers, also earn a spot in the Split 1 Pro League.

Challenger Circuit (CC)

The Challenger Circuit serves as an open competitive track for all eligible players and aspiring professional teams to showcase their skills. Each split features four Challenger Circuit tournaments per region. The winners of these circuits, along with several top teams based on total circuit points, can qualify for either the Pro League Qualifiers or the Championship Last Chance Qualifiers.

For Year 4, South America did not have a Pro League; instead, teams qualified for LAN events through a series of Challenger Circuit tournaments culminating in a regional final.

Pro League

The Pro League is the main online regular season for the elite teams in each region.

Year 4 Structure: Each regional Pro League consisted of 30 teams. Out of these, 22 teams received automatic invitations based on their performance in ALGS Year 3, while the remaining eight spots were filled by teams from the Preseason Qualifiers. Each split of the Pro League featured an online regular season played in a triple round-robin format, where each group competed against every other group three times.

Pro League Qualifier (PLQ): Following Split 1, the bottom eight teams from the Pro League compete in a Split 2 Pro League Qualifier against top teams from the Challenger Circuit to determine who advances to Split 2 of the Pro League.

China's Participation (Year 4): For Year 4, teams from China were directly invited to the Split 1 Playoffs without participating in a Pro League or Challenger Circuit.

Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ)

After the Split 2 Playoffs, teams from the Pro League who have not yet secured a spot in the ALGS Championship will compete in the Last Chance Qualifiers. This online tournament also includes top teams from each region's Split 2 Challenger Circuit, offering a final opportunity to qualify for the Championship.

Tournament Formats and Rules

Competitive Apex Legends features specific rules and formats designed to ensure fair and exciting gameplay.

Match Point Format

The Match Point format is a signature element of ALGS finals, including Regional Finals, Playoffs, and the Championship. Teams earn points based on their in-game placement and the number of eliminations. Once a team accumulates 50 points, they become "Match Point Eligible." To win the tournament, an eligible team must then secure a match victory (place 1st) in any subsequent game. This format can lead to dramatic finishes, as seen in the ALGS Year 3 Championship where TSM secured victory after reaching the Match Point threshold.

Map Pool and POI Drafting

ALGS matches feature competition on various Apex Legends battle royale maps. For Year 4, "Storm Point" and "World's Edge" were primary maps, with "E-District" being introduced for the Year 4 Championship. For Year 5, the map pool will be updated to include "Broken Moon" in addition to World's Edge, Storm Point, and E-District, with Broken Moon and E-District debuting after the Preseason Qualifiers.

Starting in Year 5, "POI (Point of Interest) Drafting" will be introduced to the Pro League Qualifier and Last Chance Qualifier. This system allows teams to select their drop spots based on performance or seed, rather than a first-come, first-served approach. This change aims to make the early game more consistent and emphasize macro-level strategies like rotations and positioning.

Legend Bans

ALGS Year 5 will introduce "Legend Bans" to the Pro League, Pro League Qualifier, Last Chance Qualifier, and all LAN events. After each match in a series, the legend picked by the most teams will be removed from the available legend pool for the remainder of that series. If an entire class of legends is banned, the longest-banned legend will become available again. This mechanic will significantly impact team compositions and competitive meta.

General Competitive Rules

Competitors are prohibited from hiding inside map geometry or behind invisible walls.

The use of any third-party applications or physical devices (e.g., Strike Packs) that provide a competitive advantage is forbidden.

Players must use the same input device for the entirety of a match series.

Gold (Level 4) Knockdown Shields are removed from official match settings.

Coaches are not permitted to communicate with anyone other than a tournament official during a live match.

Competitors are generally not allowed to stream their matches.

Teams qualifying for the Last Chance Qualifier or Championship via Playoff Points are required to maintain at least two competitors from their most recently completed ALGS event on their locked roster.

Prize Pools

The ALGS offers substantial prize money across its various stages.

For ALGS Year 4, the total prize pool was set at $5 million USD.

Split 1 Playoffs: $1 million USD prize pool.

Split 2 Playoffs: $1 million USD prize pool.

ALGS Championship: $2 million USD prize pool.

Regional Pro Leagues: Each regional Pro League (North America, EMEA, APAC North, APAC South) had a prize pool of $125,000 per split.

Year 5 will see adjustments to prize distribution, with payouts extending to the top 30 rosters at the Midseason Playoffs and Championship, and the top 40 teams at the ALGS Open.

Notable Teams and Players

Throughout ALGS history, various teams and players have achieved significant success.

ALGS Year 3 Champions: TSM.

ALGS Year 4 Split 1 Playoffs Champions: Reject Winnity.

ALGS Year 4 Split 2 Playoffs Champions: Spacestation Gaming.

ALGS Year 4 Championship Champions: GoNext Esports, an underdog team, claimed the title in Sapporo, Japan.

ALGS Partnership Program (Year 4): Twelve organizations were part of this program, receiving financial stipends and media support. These included Alliance, DarkZero, Disguised, FaZe, Fnatic, FURIA, LG Chivas, Moist Esports, OpTic Gaming, Riddle, TSM, and XSET.

Teams to Watch (Year 4 Championship): Shopify Rebellion, Fnatic, and Gaming Gladiators were highlighted as teams to watch.

Players to Watch (Year 4 Championship): Key players like Phony, Sangjoon, Kurev, Unlucky, YanYa, Meltstera, Lible_Ace, Blasts, JMW, ImperialHal, iHateTheWorld, and JR were identified for their potential impact.

Competitive Strategies and Meta

Competitive Apex Legends is dynamic, with strategies constantly evolving.

Patch Cycles: ALGS games are typically played on game versions that are one or two patches behind the most recent live update, allowing teams to adapt to a stable meta.

Meta Shifts: Character buffs and nerfs, as well as new season releases, frequently cause shifts in the competitive meta, influencing legend selection and team compositions.

Scrims: Professional teams regularly engage in unofficial matches, known as "scrims," to practice strategies and refine their gameplay.

Point of Interest (POI) Selection: Teams strategically choose their landing spots (POIs) at the start of each game. The introduction of POI Drafting in Year 5 for certain qualifiers will formalize this process, making macro-level strategies, such as rotations, positioning, and timing, even more critical.

Legend Composition: With the implementation of Legend Bans in Year 5, teams will need to develop flexible strategies and adapt their legend compositions on the fly within a series.

Off-Meta Play: While most teams adhere to the prevailing meta, some may opt for "off-meta" strategies, incorporating unorthodox playstyles to surprise opponents.

Match Point Strategy: The Match Point format in finals encourages teams to play aggressively for the win once they reach the point threshold, rather than solely focusing on consistent placements.

Comprehensive Guide to the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS)

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