With Apex Legends Season 2 - Battle Charge having launched, it arguably has one of its most difference-making characters yet. Wattson’s defensive abilities can deny a lot of damage and movement in short order if deployed correctly. With that in mind, we’ve put together a handy guide of gameplay and strategies to make sure you’re maximizing all of the electric fences and Interception Pylons you’ll need to keep your team safe and sound.

Wattson Tactical Ability: Perimeter Security

Wattson’s tactical ability, Perimeter Security, allows her to deploy nodes that create an energy fence. With this ability, you’ll be looking to deny or slow enemy entry into various places, or force them to risk damage trying to cross through the fenced area in a hurry. The fence automatically shuts off when allies cross through and then turns back on immediately, so you don’t have to worry about cutting your teammates off the same way you do to enemies. That said, you need to consider carefully where your nodes are placed because enemy bullets or melee can destroy them, cutting off power and defense to that section.

• Here’s an idea of where you should be placing Wattson’s Tactical Ability in any given Apex Legends game.
• Plush against the wall at doorways, far enough to not be see by angular peaks inside if possible.
• Far enough apart that the fence beams are long and opponents will have an inconvenient time locating either end.
• In places where it is not easy to gain elevated ground and simply jump over or otherwise get around the fence without harm.
• In places where your teammates won’t constantly be walking in proximity to shut off the fence beam and allow enemies through by accident

Ultimately the goal is to make your fences as annoying and cumbersome as possible to enemies that don’t want to simply brute-force their way through while ensuring they’re not in a position where your teammates can accidentally make them useless. If you carefully consider your node positioning, you can really be a pain in the rear for enemy squads that want to play aggressive against you.

Wattson’s Ultimate Ability: Interception Pylon

Wattson’s ultimate ability, Interception Pylon, is a two-fold mechanism that serves as a deterrent to explosive-happy foes and a boon to allies and Wattson alike. Once deployed, the Interception Pylon puts out an area-of-effect field. Allies standing in the field will have any damage to their shields healed over time. Wattson’s Security Perimeter node cooldowns will also be reduced as long as she’s nearby the Pylon.

For enemies, any ordinance that hits this field will be immediately destroyed and their effect nullified. The list of ordinance affected by the Interceptor Pylon is as followed.

• All grenades, including Arc Stars, Thermite Grenades, and Frag Grenades.
• Caustic’s ultimate Nox Gas Grenade
• Explosive cannisters from Bangalore’s Rolling Thunder ultimate
• Shells from Gibraltar’s Defensive Bombardment ultimate

The Interceptor Pylon can be destroyed by gunfire or melee strikes, so it’s good for Wattson to put the Pylon in a place where enemies don’t have an unobstructed line of sight to it or can’t easily approach it. If placed effectively (plush against walls near doors, or in nooks in rock walls), the Pylon can pretty much shut down any and all enemy efforts to barrage you with explosives and ultimates and otherwise force you out of a defensive position. It’ll be your decision to figure out if you’re using it more to keep your shields up or keep your enemy’s attacks limited, but in the rare times you can do both, choosing the right place for the Pylon can win you the fight and the game.

When To Pick Wattson & Synergies

Quite simply, Wattson is not built to be aggressive. Instead, she’s built to entirely curtail aggression. She won’t be at home running in on foes with the likes of Bangelore, Wraith, or Octane, and if she’s forced to abandon a set-up and run away, she’ll find herself very limited. Wattson is best chosen to be part of a team that knows when to hunker down and hold a place.

Of the rest of the Apex Legends roster, Wattson would likely fit best with Caustic in the above regard. Where Wattson can deny entry and make certain areas difficult to pass, Caustic’s Gas Traps can further make approaching any of Wattson’s equipment a dangerous endeavor. Just as well, Pathfinder would be a suitable ally for Wattson as well because where the robot can set a Zipline to a high elevated spot for sniping and vision, Wattson can deploy a fence around the entry point of the Zipline that would make enemies trying to follow hurt themselves in the process. Lifeline is, of course, a great addition to any team, but between Wattson’s Pylon healing shields and Lifeline’s D.O.C. Drone healing health, the team can bring themselves all the way back to 100% in both regards without wasting any recovery items whatsoever.

Where Octane makes for a speedy attacker that gave some extra speed to the offense class, Wattson gives a huge amount of utility to a lot of teams with what she can do. Her best will come out when a team is willing to hold down a spot, but for those who have patience, Wattson can bring a lot of good to the Apex Legends arena. We expect her to be a potent force throughout all of Apex Legends Season 2.

Be sure to read up on all the changes that came to the Battle Charge patch, not to mention get your hands on some exclusive skins and goodies from the new Season 2 Twitch Prime Pack.