Pure Apex Routine

Disclaimer

This routine isn’t final; we might add/modify scenarios and this written guide further down the line. Also we would love to hear your constructive feedback on the routine. You can just @ us or send us a message on our Twitter.

We really hope you enjoy this routine and it serves you well!

How to use the routine

Download and place the file in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\FPSAimTrainer\FPSAimTrainer\Saved\SaveGames\Playlists

Warm up

  • Set the playlist to totally random
  • Play it once and you are ready to go

will take about 25 minutes.

Note: This routine makes for an amazing warm up, because it isolates ALL of the necessary components of our aim using challenging scenarios.

Extended training

  • Set the playlist to totally random
  • Play through once
  • Repeat the above 2-3 times

Behind the routine

1by1

  • It’s based on a learning technique called interleaving (you basically study related skills and techniques in parallel) which is supposed to improve learning. There exists plenty of evidence of it being effective.
  • Keeps you interested and excited to play a routine, because it feels less repetitive

Totally random

  • You basically play a different routine every time, and keeps things feeling fresh
  • If you look at a scenario like solving a problem, you get used to solving problems when they occur and not in a specific pattern
  • Helps better prevent routine burn out or feeling of redundancy

Short and intense

We want you to spend less time on a routine as possible in Kovaaks, while still netting the most possible benefit. This is a game specific routine so we are focusing on you playing Apex for the most part. This routine is supplementary and won’t make you a good Apex player without you actually playing the game.

Is it TOO DIFFICULT?

This is quite easily one of the more challenging routines you’ll ever see, but for good reason. Understand that the increased challenge is set to promote and encourage the player to approach the routine with maximum intensity and focus. If it feels too difficult at first, don’t be discouraged. There are plenty of guides out there that are perfect for beginner level players or intermediate players. Since this routine is an Apex specific routine, this is a crucial goal we optimized the scenarios for.


Scenario-Explanation

B180TI Extra Small Sparky

The arcing trajectory of an opponent is a frequent occurrence in Apex Legends. Although it’s not a 1:1 replication of every possible situation, understanding the mouse control required to constantly track in this arcing trajectory is extremely important.

  • Really focus on being smooth, try to track the full arc.
  • Learn to be able to recognize and react to the small direction changes at the top of the arc as well as small environmental interactions like when the bot hits the wall Video-Showcase

Extra Smoothsphere Pure

Smoothness and precision are often quite difficult to balance. In this scenario you are learning to be harmoniously smooth and precise. 
Smoothsphere is a
 precision bot, yet it’s quite fast and has mostly horizontal predictable movement, which makes it perfect training for variously ranged targets in Apex.

Extra Controlsphere Pure

Reactivity and precision have inherent tradeoffs, where we sacrifice a little bit of one for the other. In this scenario you are learning to balance reactivity and precision with smaller corrections while tracking. This is great for Apex, because as you begin to play against much more competent players, their movement becomes a little less predictable. A controlled and reactive tracking will be required of you.

  • Focus primarily on the reactivity and the mouse movements
  • Familiarize yourself with the amount of mouse movement required to keep up with the frequent direction changes
  • Try to correct the smaller movements with your wrist and track larger position changes using your arm

LDDH Fixed

This might be difficult for a lot of players. IT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF BAD HABITS. We still kept it in because we see massive potential in the scenario. Feel free to delete/replace it.

If you can track this bot everything else is easy mode.

  • Focus on the movements you can deal with and maximize the overlap of the visual information with the doable tracking of yours
  • Don't tense up and only track what you are capable of
  • Be sure to focus on purely reacting and obtaining a period of smooth tracking per strafe

Bad habits to avoid:

  • Sporadic unintentional mouse movements.
  • Highly increased tension or tightness in the hands, wrist, and arm.
  • Shakiness or overcompensated movements.

Close Evasive Pure

Great for fast close quarter combat. This scenario really varies from play to play therefore we encourage you to AVOID looking at your scores too critically. We are aware that this would be a HORRIBLE benchmarking scenario, but that is not what it’s about. We are exploring the idea of utilizing training methods similar to HIIT by having a relatively high intensity with short challenge times.

It is paramount in this scenario, that you do not become too critical of your scoring. (Yes, we know…”
Why the heck wouldn’t I?”) The multiple layers of variance will easily be quite daunting at first glance, but how you approach the scenario will determine whether or not you benefit from it. Utilizing a similar method seen in physical training known as HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), we encourage you to go for maximum effort in reactivity and tracking in a short burst. This will remove the mental framing that is attached to “preemptive” or “anticipative” aim, and get your mind more geared around becoming visually reactive. You will find yourself being more proactive in reactivity and recognizing when the target momentarily commits to long strafes or more readable patterns. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Always attempt at maximum effort, and react to the best of your ability.

Popcorn Goated Tracking

As most of the seasoned players in Kovaaks are aware, Popcorn scenarios are commonly avoided by Beginner and even Intermediate level players. Popcorn scenarios can quite easily be listed as one of the tougher styled scenarios in all of Kovaaks. The importance of vertical tracking in Apex, is quite apparent. Refinement of vertical tracking will always be of importance. Read: B180TI Extra Small Sparky.
They share many qualities with one another, with the added goal of switching from target to target.

  • Track the full movement of the bot.
  • Focus on using your shoulder/arm during the bot’s up and down movement.
  • VOD of a good run 

Smoothbot Unvincible Small Goated

Smoothbot is a staple in many people’s scenario rotation for a few reasons. This scenario specifically will also help refine your ability to work with large angles. Being able to track properly outside of your “home” mouse position and understanding how to utilize the entirety of your mousepad is extremely important.

  • Even though the name is Smoothbot, you don’t have to be smooth.
  • Keep your crosshair on the bot as much as possible, and flick back to it when it changes direction.
  • Reposition your mouse as little as possible. This scenario is supposed to introduce you to weird and large angles.

Highground Pure

Positioning is one of the cornerstones of success in ALL FPS games. In Apex, one of the most powerful positions you can be in, is on the high ground. Learning to track a target looking from above and aiming downward, is actually a quite nuanced and “weird” feeling, if you haven’t practiced it enough.

  • Develop confidence and a good understanding of how to aim down towards a target on the low ground.
  • VOD of a good run

VSS Close-Mid Long

VSS stands for varied strafe speed. You will notice that as you play this scenario, the bot’s strafe speed will gradually hasten. It’s a smoothness heavy tracking scenario with bots that accelerate. If played well, you’ll be less vulnerable to getting thrown off by your opponent’s strafes and be better at just following them as they add variance to their movement.

  • Stay alert and reactive, while staying smooth regardless of the speed of the bot
  • Try to understand movement on the z-axis to determine the amount of mouse movement required when the bot is close or far from you

VSS GPAIO thin far bots

Again, we are using a thinner bot for precision purposes. With the numerous strafe profiles that this scenario has, it forces you to be more reactive instead of anticipative. We believe it is safe to assume that you have developed or are currently developing a good understanding of reading an opponent's movement. This scenario is more geared towards dealing with movements that are less predictable and sometimes sporadic or even intentionally made more difficult to read.

  • Don’t predict!
  • Track the bot, stay smooth on the longer strafes and as reactive as possible on the shorter ones.

Pasu Small Pure

It challenges your reading ability, by forcing you to recognize direction changes and the bot's commitment to a longer, more predictable strafe. It is a dynamic click scenario that most of you should be familiar with. As most dynamic clicking scenarios are, you are also most efficient learning to incorporate your developed tracking ability to perfectly line up shots as well. With the numerous bots in your line of sight, you will be switching from target to target and micro correct frequently.

  • Spam and flick, don’t wait for the targets to approach your crosshair
  • Create as many opportunities to aim as possible
  • Flick right onto the target, and not ahead of it.
  • Read the whole “map”, don’t tunnel vision on one target.

Popcorn Voltaic No Reload

Dynamic clicking scenario with more emphasis on the vertical movements. Same benefit you’d get from pasu and bounce scenarios, but with the added challenge of deep and shallow arcs on a 360 degree playing field.

  • Use the pasu principle here
  • Focus on larger angles

Bounce 180 small goated

Another dynamic clicking scenario that shares the same benefit as the rest of the ones we have selected.

  • Use the pasu principle
  • Hit as many targets as possible
  • Focus on speed

ww4t Varied

Static clicking scenario, that tests your ability to quickly flick/snap to a bot, preferably directly on target, but commonly as close to the target as possible with very little margin of error. If you don’t land directly on target, which is common even for the best players, you will then refine your ability to micro correct and readjust the placement of your crosshair. You will notice that it is a time attack scenario, so your goal is to finish the scenario as quickly as you can while maintaining your highest potential accuracy

6wall14targets_Pokeball

Pokeball scenarios are good training for landing and staying on target smoothly. This particular pokeball scenario has more awkward vertical angles and makes it easier for you to acquire targets outside of your field of view.

  • Make linear movement between targets
  • Focus on smoothness before going for speed

voxTargetSwitch Smooth

It’s hard to obtain smooth but fast movements, this scenario will help teach you how to smooth out after a target switch or bigger correction, if you’re not smooth the bot will regain HP and you’ll be in a bad spot!

  • Scan the play field, plan ahead, and get to each target in the shortest amount of time possible by utilizing clean pathing/lines for maximum efficiency
  • Stay on target after making the initial snap to a target

3D Switching

  • When your crosshair is on the bot, try to be as smooth as possible
  • Mentally lay out your next target
  • Switch as fast as possible

Bounce CT Dodge Park

We are aware that many people are on the fence about the effectiveness of Dodge/Movement scenarios for practice or benchmarking. The scoring can be cheesed in some scenarios, and the velocity at which the player can move won’t be a 1:1 experience with their game of choice. We still feel that understanding how player movement affects the required mouse movement for your desired crosshair positioning is of extreme importance. Very rarely in Apex, will you have the opportunity to stand still and shoot an opponent for free with no punishment. We feel this scenario is great at getting a good grasp of moving and shooting as one complete unit.

  • Maneuver yourself and put yourself in prime position to effectively shoot a target while doing so
  • Move with intent to hit, imagine you’re using a wingman or scout.
  • Follow the bot and hit it at the right time, the movement speed is high so any unnecessary movements will be punished!

CFSD Pure

This scenario perfectly encapsulates a very frequent occurrence in close quarters gunfights in Apex. In 1v1 situations, you are forced to maximize damage output, while mitigating damage taken. Use this scenario to better understand how poor unintentional movement can also act as a hindrance to your aim, and how specific and purposeful movement can help you aim more efficiently.

  • Understand how your OWN movements and dodge patterns can make you either an easier or more difficult target for your opponent.
  • Utilizing the HIIT method, we shortened the overall length of the session, but expect you to put in your maximum effort.

Cycle Strafes Mid Varied Medium

To practice movement separately from aiming in a mid range fight. It’s key to prevent automatic mirroring in fights. Dodging is a part of every higher-ttk game. This would be the first step to learning the way of movement while aiming.
It forces you to not use movement as a way to be more accurate, but to be accurate no matter the way you move yourself, as the movement scoring system heavily punishes you for moving too early/late.
When done correctly you’ll be put in scenarios where you’ll be either mirroring or anti-mirroring and one of the 2 will be really hard.

  • For Cycle/Circle strafe scenarios, don't forget to select a MBS sound for ‘’change now’’.
  • Change direction everytime you hear the sound of hitting the movement speed.
  • Anticipate random strafes from the bot

Circle Strafes Mid Varied Medium

See above.

Manwing Strafe Gallery V3

To practice Wingman combat mostly, but is also effective at refining your ability to acquire multiple targets in your LOS while strafing. Click timing while moving is troublesome for most people, so getting comfortable or even exceptionally good at this will make a huge difference.

  • Play with wingman in mind
  • Do short faster strafes but
  • Keep in mind that the opponent is also fast
  • Focus on hitting over dodging

Pasu Dodge Track Pure

Moving while aiming at a small target which is moving in oblique angles can be very beneficial in some fights and overall is a huge benefit to your mouse control development. Aiming precisely while moving can also be a win condition.

  • Either circle strafe or mirror/anti-mirror
  • Play to maximize damage using movement  or to isolate aim and movement

Contributors

Scenario Selection

Written Guide

Playtesting and Feedback