Apex Legends Loot Pool Debate: Should Every Player Start With a P2020?
A long-running frustration over Apex Legends' growing loot pool has put a familiar question back under the spotlight in 2026: should every player begin a match with a gun? Comments from Respawn Entertainment live balance designer John Larson have given the community a rare look at the internal debate, especially around the idea of handing everyone a P2020 at the start of a battle royale match. The discussion matters because Apex Legends now carries a large arsenal, and not every weapon feels equally useful when players touch down. Weapons such as the P2020, Mozambique, and Triple Take have often been treated as quick drops once something stronger appears, and that perception has fueled calls for a cleaner, more predictable loot experience.
The complaint is not new. A frustrated fan asked Larson to address the health of the loot pool, arguing that too many guns feel like automatic tosses. Larson did not dismiss the concern. He indicated that Respawn has ideas in mind and acknowledged a core design tension: the team cannot keep adding weapons without considering how the loot pool affects the pace and fairness of matches. That answer may not have delivered a roadmap, but it confirmed that the issue is on the balance team's radar.
The Starter Gun Question
Another player suggested that Apex Legends follow a Warzone-style approach and give everyone a P2020 at the start. Larson said the team had considered the option, but internal opinion was not unanimous. He explained that starter kits were a hot topic during implementation and that he personally opposed the idea. His concern was not about flavor or nostalgia; it was about combat pacing. On a contested drop, a coordinated team could wipe a solo player very quickly if everyone already had a firearm. Larson noted that the opening scramble for guns buys time for players to react, and he pointed out that coordinated teams already use fast elimination strategies in high-level ranked play.
That argument cuts to the heart of Apex Legends' design identity. The drop is messy, improvised, and often decided by who finds a weapon first. A starter pistol would reduce some of that randomness, but it could also remove the brief window of chaos that gives isolated players a chance to escape. At the same time, a guaranteed P2020 could soften the worst outcomes of landing near a squad with better luck. It would also create more early pistol duels, which could be entertaining for viewers and less punishing for players who land in a bad spot.
| Option | Potential upside | Potential risk |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone starts with a P2020 | Reduces pure loot luck; creates fairer early fights | Coordinated squads may eliminate solos faster |
| Keep the current scramble | Preserves Apex's chaotic drop identity | Players can feel helpless without a gun |
| Rotate or trim floor loot | Improves loot quality and weapon variety | Could reduce the thrill of discovering strong items |
Loot Pool Health Matters
The larger issue is loot pool health. Every new weapon adds another item to the floor, another variable to learn, and another possible disappointment when a player opens a supply bin. Respawn has to balance excitement with clarity. A deep arsenal can make the game feel rich, but it can also make early fights feel inconsistent. If certain guns are almost never worth carrying, they effectively become clutter. That clutter can slow down looting, dilute the value of attachments, and make matches feel more random than competitive players prefer.
A rotating loot pool, a balance pass, or a starter weapon are all possible answers, but each comes with tradeoffs. Larson did not confirm any specific change for the main battle royale mode. Instead, his comments framed the debate as a design problem rather than a simple quality-of-life request. The community may want fewer useless guns, while the developer must protect the drop experience that has defined Apex Legends since launch.
For now, the P2020 starter idea remains a fascinating what-if. It could reduce frustration, encourage early pistol fights, and give players a tool to defend themselves against threats such as Prowlers after a risky landing. Yet it could also accelerate the very squad wipes that make contested drops so unforgiving. As Apex Legends continues through 2026, the balance team's challenge is clear: keep the loot pool healthy without removing the scramble that makes every drop feel like a story waiting to happen.