Dragons are dropping special loot boxes in Apex Legends

Credit: Respawn

**UPDATE: This story previously stated that Apex Legends' dragons would steal loot boxes from fallen foes, which isn't true, and has thus since been corrected.**

Apex Legends season 1 is just winding down in the lead up to Apex Legends season 2, but it looks as though developer Respawn Entertainment plans to finish things with a bang... or rather, a miscellany of scales, screams, and fire. That's right; the Apex Legends dragons are finally here... but you may not be so excited once you realise what is the winged beasts are up to in the game itself. 

Arriving out of nowhere, players have discovered Apex's dragons (officially known as "flyers) flying around with loot boxes, and anyone who manages to shoot one of the soaring reptiles down will find said box on the floor belonging to someone on their Apex Legends Friends list, and available to mine for extra weapons and resources. Check out the video below to see one such dragon carrying the booty in action. 

Previously, these high-flyers had been spotted soaring above the Apex Legends map, but had never interacted with players themselves, but invested competitors are already discussing this latest development at length on the game's Reddit page, especially as - if you don't have any Apex players in your friends list and shoot a Flyer down - the fallen loot box will feature the name of a developer from Respawn Entertainment. Cute!

Respawn has also started making cryptic teases on social media, starting with this 'Alert' screen on Twitter:

The next season of Respawn's free-to-play battle royale - which has previously teased reptilian monsters in its E3 2019 trailer - is due to start in a few weeks' time, on July 2, and will introduce new playable hero Apex Legends Wattson alongside a bunch of other content and several changes to the map itself. 

Perhaps we can expect more from the dragons in the lead up to this next update who - at present - are little more than a novelty to anyone looking to steal some loot from their supposedly departed friends. 

In the meantime, check out every item and cosmetic that's included with the first Apex Legends battle pass in the video below.  

Alex Avard

I'm GamesRadar's Features Writer, which makes me responsible for gracing the internet with as many of my words as possible, including reviews, previews, interviews, and more. Lucky internet! 

Latest in Apex Legends
Apex Legends Control
Months after ruling out an Apex Legends 2, EA CEO says "an even bigger, more meaningful" Apex 2.0 is on the table after Battlefield 6
Lifeline looks into the camera with a smirk
After 5 years, Apex Legends is going back to the beginning with a Fortnite-style mode letting you experience the launch version of the battle royale FPS
Apex Legends
Apex Legends was a top 50 Steam Deck game, but EA's dropping Valve's handheld because it can't tell if those players are actually dirty cheating Linux users
Apex Legends Catalyst
72,632 'Overwhelmingly Negative' reviews later, EA walks back controversial Apex Legends battle pass changes: "You've spoken, and we've listened"
Apex Legends
EA announces Apex Legends is getting twice as many battle passes and you can no longer earn them in-game
Apex Legends
Apex Legends' new swimsuit skins have fans predictably down bad
Latest in News
Diego Luna in Andor
It looks like a key Star Wars event mentioned in Rebels will be shown in Andor season 2
Daredevil: Born Again
A major character is returning in Daredevil: Born Again season 2 – despite being killed off in the first 10 minutes of season 1
Marvel's Avengers
After Square Enix's attempt flopped, Avengers: Endgame and Doomsday directors are "open" to working on their own Marvel team-up game
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds' first time-limited event quests are here, giving fans just 2 weeks to snag special armor and rare materials in the action RPG
Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Longlegs director pitches horrifying Star Wars movie with Darth Vader, and we want it to happen
Fragpunk
Marvel Rivals publisher indefinitely delays its other hero shooter on Xbox and PS5 2 days before its free-to-play launch