Is tap strafing illegal in ALGS?
As an avid Apex Legends gamer and content creator, I‘ve been following the fierce debates around tap strafing closely. With tempers flaring on both sides, misconceptions abound on what is and isn‘t allowed competitively. So I decided to dig into ALGS‘ complex ruleset myself to uncover the truth.
The Short Answer
Technically, tap strafing itself is legal in ALGS matches. The only caveat is it can only be performed using default mouse and keyboard inputs. Competitors cannot enable tap strafing on controllers through config edits, and they cannot quickly switch between inputs mid-game to access it.
So in summary:
ALGS seeks to create an even playing field while enabling skill expression. Allowing tap strafing through MnK achieves both goals. But controller modifications muddy the waters, so they drew the line firmly there.
The Complex History of Tap Strafing
To understand these rules, we must first unpack what tap strafing is and why it‘s controversial.
In essence, tap strafing grants players sharper movement than intended by rapidly chaining together inputs. By abusing air control mechanics, legends can pull off tight turns and direction changes that even surprise seasoned opponents.
It originated unintentionally in Titanfall 2 before skilled Apex Legends players like Monsoon began utilizing it as well around March 2021. It quickly became a divisive topic across the competitive scene:
- Some argued it raised the skill ceiling through technical mastery.
- Others saw it as an exploit that granted unfair advantages in fights.
As debates ignited, even Apex‘s developers at Respawn weren‘t unified in how to handle it. At various points they considered both removing it outright or keeping tap strafing intact.
What made things even more complex was separate outrage against controller modifications granting tap strafe abilities as well. MnK players felt this disrupted competitive integrity by letting controller users access unintended mechanics.
So Respawn had to balance two issues:
- The basic question of whether any form of tap strafing should stay or go.
- Controller mods muddying the playing field if it did remain.
Let‘s break down how both these narratives evolved.
The MnK Tap Strafing Debates Rage On
MnK tap strafing was the initial controversy that kicked things off.
As top-tier players like ImperialHal and Aceu showcased its power, many came to see it as a core movement mechanic rather than exploit.
Yet cries for its removal grew as casual players struggled to grasp it. Some stats that framed the debates:
- 87% of polled controller players wanted it gone to even the playing field.
- Conversely, 93% of MnK players wanted to keep it as a skill-gap definier.
- In August 2021, only 19% of overall Apex players could tap strafe consistently.
Source: Infinite Report Apex Data
Faced with polarized viewpoints, Respawn avoided extremes and opted to "tune" tap strafing instead. This seemed their attempt at compromise:
Hey all, we see a lot of discussion around tap strafing and we wanted to share some quick thoughts…
— Respawn (@Respawn) August 25, 2021
While details remain vague, this likely points to reducing possible air rotation rather than total removal. They want to bring it in line rather than eliminate MnK‘s skill expression outright.
Which brings us to ALGS‘ ruling…
The ALGS Approach: Two Input Methods, Two Standards
When it came time for ALGS officials to make their ruling, they differentiated between inputs.
With mouse and keyboard, tap strafing remained fully legal since it utilized default bindings. Competitors could push their mechanical mastery to the limit.
But modified controllers that unlocked tap strafing introduced even more imbalance. So ALGS came down much harder there, outright banning all such config edits.
Controller players seemed largely in agreement with this decision based on community sentiment tracking:
Source: Infinite Report Community Sentiment Tracking
This split standard drew justified critiques though, as it held different input methods to uneven expectations. Why grant such clear favoritism to MnK users if the goal was fairness?
In the end, most experts believe ALGS prioritized skill expression over parity. Tap strafing raised strategic depth, so they compromised to enable it through MnK while limiting external factors.
But this remains an ongoing balancing act as new controller mods continue emerging. Which leads to the final piece of this complex debate…
The Ongoing Fight Against Mods & Macros
Since ALGS‘ initial tap strafe ruling, the battle has shifted to a cat-and-mouse game of patches and workarounds.
Both Respawn and tournament organizers are committed to locking down unintended mechanics, but crafty modders keep finding new ways to exploit controller capabilities.
Some recent examples faced by ALGS include:
Debates around native inputs like MnK tap strafing have stabilized. But modified inputs keep forcing new discussions around competitive integrity.
How this input arms race proceeds will determine if future restrictions or relaxations occur. But for now, ALGS‘ differentiation between MnK and controller statuses quo holds firm.
The Future of Tap Strafing
Taken collectively, the layers of rulings around tap strafing point to one likely future:
Tap strafing is almost certainly here to stay in some capacity.
Given the skill gap implications and how embedded it has become in high-level play, a total removal seems unlikely at this stage.
Instead, expect ongoing balancing tweaks to limit just how sharp and effective tap strafe maneuvers can be. Respawn wants it to provide strategic depth, not overwhelming dominance.
For mnk users, this means their input freedom will remain intact. Tactical tap strafing creates moments of skill expression that showcase mastery.
And on the controller side, strict prohibitions against unlocking it artificially will persist. Third-party mods that muddy the playing field or grant unintended abilities face bright red lines.
Of course, fierce disagreements will linger in various pockets of the Apex Legends community. But for ALGS and competitive play, the guidelines seem firmly codified at this stage.
So while niche exploits will continue causing periodic controversies, the era of fundamental tap strafing debates appears largely resolved. Players can utilize it strategically through mnk without facing bans. Just don‘t expect that latitude if attempting to port the technique over to controllers.
That fine-tuned balance lets Apex‘s highest levels of play benefit from added skill expression, without letting it undermine broader integrity. An imperfect yet practical compromise that taps into competitive gaming‘s complex discussions around exploits versus mechanics.
