You know, sometimes you boot up your favorite game, ready to unleash chaos, and something just feels… off. That’s exactly what happened to me recently with my main man, Fuse, in Apex Legends. I was dropping into World’s Edge, ready to rain some explosive hell with my knuckle clusters, and I couldn’t for the life of me get that nice, precise zoom I was used to. It felt like my robotic arm had suddenly developed a case of stage fright. Turns out, I wasn’t imagining things. The community has been buzzing about a change to the Bombastic Explosives Expert that Respawn Entertainment didn't even bother to mention in the patch notes for the Harbingers Collection Event.

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It’s a classic case of a 'silent nerf.' While everyone was talking about the bigger balance changes to Legends like Horizon and Revenant, Fuse mains like me were left scratching our heads. The ability to zoom in while lining up a grenade or a Knuckle Cluster shot? Gone. Just like that. A Reddit user named ashowlyy was the one who really put a spotlight on it, and the thread exploded (pun intended). Some players were surprised, saying they never even knew Fuse could zoom. But us veterans? We knew. We relied on it. It’s one of those little things that separates a good Fuse from a great one. Removing it feels like taking away a painter’s fine brush and handing them a roller instead.

Now, on the surface, it might not seem like a huge deal. It’s not like they took away his grenade stacks or made his Motherlode ultimate useless. But here’s the thing about Fuse’s kit: his whole schtick is causing mayhem from a safe distance. That robotic arm isn't just for show; it’s a cannon that lets you arc explosives over buildings and into enemy laps from halfway across the map. Taking away the zoom makes hitting those long-range, surgical strikes a lot more of a guessing game. You have to eyeball it now, and let me tell you, in the heat of a final ring fight, eyeballing a grenade toss is a recipe for disaster (or accidentally blowing up your own team’s Wattson fence, not that I’ve ever done that…).

This nerf hits differently because Fuse is actually pretty popular right now. He’s sitting comfortably in the top third of Legends based on pick rate here in 2025. That means a lot of players are going to feel this tweak. It’s a subtle change that alters the feel of the character. The rhythm is off. It’s like driving your car and realizing the power steering is a little heavier than it was yesterday. You can still drive, but it requires more muscle, more concentration.

Why This Change Stings a Little Extra:

  • The Element of Surprise is Gone: Part of Fuse's charm was being able to precisely land a Knuckle Cluster on a team healing behind cover. Now, it's more of a 'spray and pray' situation.

  • It Feels Inconsistent: When other Legends get tweaks, it's right there in the notes. This felt… sneaky.

  • The High-Velocity Advantage is Diminished: That arm launches things fast and far. Without zoom, judging distance for those max-range throws is pure instinct.

Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom for our explosive Aussie. The patch notes did include a small buff that they did tell us about: the deployment time for his Knuckle Cluster ability was reduced. So, you can throw them out a bit quicker, which is nice for close-quarters panic situations. And let’s not forget the real star of the Harbingers Event for Fuse mains: his heirloom, the Razor’s Edge.

Man, this thing is a beauty. It’s an electric guitar that turns into a deadly blade. Fans are calling it one of the best-designed heirlooms in the game, and I have to agree. Swinging that thing around while running to the next fight just feels right. It almost makes you forget about the zoom nerf… almost.

The Harbingers Event also introduced a new Limited-Time Mode called Living Shells Trios, which features a new type of grenade called Rev Shells. Given Fuse’s passive ability to carry more grenades, he’s naturally a strong pick for this mode. So, in a way, the event itself is a bit of a consolation prize for us Fuse enthusiasts. He’s still the king of explosives, even if his crown feels a tiny bit looser.

The Good The Bad The Explosive
Faster Knuckle Cluster deploy time 🚀 Silent removal of aiming zoom 👎 Can still carry and launch more 'nades than anyone 💣
Awesome new Razor's Edge Heirloom 🎸 Long-range accuracy is now harder 🎯 Perfect for the new Living Shells LTM 🎪
Still a top-tier pick for chaos Feels like an unspoken nerf 🤫 Motherlode ultimate is untouched and still terrifying 😱

So, what’s the verdict? As a Fuse main, I’m a bit miffed, I won’t lie. The secret change leaves a sour taste. It’s the principle of the thing, you know? But I’m also pragmatic. The faster tactical is a genuine help, and the heirloom is pure joy. I’ll adapt. I’ll learn to judge those distances without the zoom, or I’ll just get closer and embrace the beautiful, fiery chaos up close. That’s what Fuse is all about, anyway. Sometimes you just have to walk up and ask, 'Did you miss me?' before unleashing hell.

The bigger question now is… what else did Respawn change without telling us? The Harbingers Event has been full of surprises, both good and, well, quietly annoying. Only time will tell what other secrets are hiding in the code. For now, I’ll be in the firing range, recalibrating my explosive instincts, one un-zoomed grenade toss at a time. Wish me luck—I’m gonna need it.