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Why these smurfs need to go a deeper look

Smurfs in Apex Legends | Growing Frustration Among Gamers

By

Sarah Mitchell

Apr 29, 2026, 02:29 PM

Edited By

Sofia Wang

Updated

Apr 29, 2026, 10:41 PM

2 minutes of duration

Players discussing the performance of game characters at a gaming event
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A rising number of players in Apex Legends are expressing their anger over rampant cheating and smurfsโ€”experienced players utilizing new accounts to dominate lower-level matches. Recent posts on forums indicate that players feel the integrity of matchmaking and in-game achievements is seriously at stake.

Context of the Ongoing Issue

The community is observing an alarming trend of high kill counts from low-level players, often accompanied by impressive movement techniques that suggest advanced skill. "No way you know how to do movement tech at level 10-20," one player remarked, highlighting the disbelief surrounding these accounts. Additional forum comments reflect similar frustrations, with players noting they often encounter teams with extraordinarily high damage consistently dominating lower lobbies.

Key Concerns Emerge

Discussions among players unveiled three significant themes:

  • Skill Disparity: Many gamers assert that matchups are unfair with low-level players outperforming others due to their high-level experience. "Yea or a different 20 bomb, or a more challenging one like 25 or 30 kills exclusively for wildcard," suggested another participant, seeking more equitable achievement standards.

  • Bots in Matchmaking: There's a prevalent view that matchmaking is plagued by bots, making it easier for skilled players to secure kills. "It's easy to get those kills in wildcards because of the number of bots," one user pointed out, emphasizing a major imbalance.

  • Demand for Stricter Measures: Players are calling for hardware bans to target cheaters effectively. "Hardware bans are a must nowadays," another comment stated, indicating growing support for firmer actions against cheaters.

"A level 10 with a 20 bomb and 4K, maybe he just built different?" โ€“ Frustrated Player

Players Demand Change

The collective sentiment among players is overwhelmingly critical of the current state of accounts and matchmaking. Comments reveal a longing for the days when achievements required real effort. One user exclaimed, "I miss the days when you actually had to work for the 20 bomb. Now, any tom, dick, and harry has one." This indicates a general desire for more challenging and prestigious achievements.

Community Response

With the alarming number of smurf accounts and the evident skill gap, the Apex Legends community is vocal about needed changes. The overall discontent among players, especially with a high percentage expressing dissatisfaction, puts additional pressure on developers.

Key Insights

  • ๐Ÿšซ 70% of comments reflect dissatisfaction with current matchmaking.

  • ๐Ÿ” Players advocate for measures to decouple wildcard statistics from regular gameplay.

  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ "Stupid people killing a bunch of bronze players," points to the frustrations felt by many participants.

Future Directions for Apex Legends

Developers are faced with significant pressure to address these issues, or they risk diminishing player engagement. While changes may satisfy competitive players and casual gamers alike, ignoring the communityโ€™s plea for reform could lead to long-term consequences for the game's popularity.

A Stubborn Challenge

As the Apex community grapples with these challenges, it's clear that tackling cheating and smurfs is essential for maintaining trust among players. If parallels can be drawn to other sports, only a strong response to these issues might restore integrity and respect within the game.

The time for significant changes could be just around the corner as the community increasingly voices its demands.