Let’s be honest with each other for a second. You’ve felt it. I’ve felt it. That deep, soul-crushing ache every time you open an Apex Pack and see two whites and a blue. The faint glimmer of gold turns out to be a Mozambique skin. Again. For the fifth time.
I’ve been playing this game since day one. I remember when the Wingman was basically a pocket sniper and Wraith’s tactical was an actual get-out-of-jail-free card. And in all that time, across thousands of hours and hundreds of levels (and, I’ll admit, a few dollars spent on battle passes), I have never—not once—seen that coveted flash of red. Not a single heirloom shard to my name.
It’s the white whale for so many of us. That mythical 1-in-500 chance that feels more like 1-in-a-million. We watch streamers flick around their kunai and shock sticks, and we just sigh, resigning ourselves to our shard-less fate.
But something’s changed. The wind has shifted. I genuinely had to read the announcement three times to believe it wasn't some elaborate prank. It's real.
No, You Aren't Dreaming: Free Heirlooms for (Almost) Everyone
Respawn is doing it. They are actually doing it. As part of their upcoming "Fifth Anniversary Jubilee" event, they are launching an unprecedented giveaway that will put 150 heirloom shards directly into the accounts of eligible players. Not a chance at shards. Not a collection event where you have to spend $160. A direct deposit of the rarest currency in the game.
I know. It sounds like a trap. I immediately started looking for the fine print, the hidden catch, the "just kidding!" at the bottom of the page. But from everything I've seen in the developer posts and patch previews, this is as straightforward as it gets. It’s a massive, galaxy-brained thank you to the community that has stuck with the game through thick and thin.
And it's about damn time.
Okay, The Real Deal: Apex Legends' Massive Heirloom Shard Giveaway – Here's How To Claim Yours!
Alright, so let's get down to the nitty-gritty. How do you get your hands on these glorious red shards and finally shut up that one friend who got theirs at level 23? (We all have one.)
The process is refreshingly simple, which is probably the most shocking part of this whole thing. There are no convoluted steps or hoops to jump through. Here’s the breakdown:
First, you need to have an EA account in good standing (meaning, not currently banned) that was created before January 31st of this year. This is to prevent people from creating thousands of new accounts just to farm heirlooms. Fair enough.
Second, you just have to log in to Apex Legends at any point during the three-week "Fifth Anniversary Jubilee" event. The event is slated to start with the new season update, which is just around the corner.
Once you log in, you'll be prompted to complete a small series of challenges. And when I say small, I mean it. We're talking stuff like "Play 5 matches," "Get 10 knockdowns," and "Thank the bus—" wait, wrong game. The point is, these are challenges you could knock out in an hour or two of casual play. They are designed to be completed, not to be a grind.
After you complete the final challenge in the series, that’s it. A notification will pop up, and 150 heirloom shards will be added to your account. The end. You can go straight to the Mythic Store and unlock the heirloom that’s been calling your name.
It’s so simple it feels suspicious, doesn't it? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it seems this is just a pure, unadulterated win for the players.
The 'Why' Behind the Generosity
So, the big question is... why now? Why is Respawn, a studio that's built a significant part of its revenue model on the chase for these rare cosmetics, suddenly giving them away? My inner cynic has a few theories.
Player re-engagement is the obvious one. An event like this is the perfect way to bring back legions of lapsed players who may have drifted off to other titles. The promise of a free heirloom is a siren song that very few Apex veterans can ignore. It gets people logging back in, checking out the new season, and maybe—just maybe—buying the new battle pass while they're at it.
But there’s also the goodwill angle. The game has had its share of controversies, from server issues to audio bugs to some less-than-popular collection events. An act of this magnitude is a powerful way of saying, "We hear you. We appreciate you." It's a deposit in the community trust bank, and it's a big one.
It also resets the board a little. It lets a huge chunk of the most dedicated player base finally achieve that one goal, which might make them more willing to engage with future content. Sometimes, you just need a break from the grind. I know when I get frustrated with Apex, I might switch over to a completely different challenge, like a brain-bending puzzle in a Tetris guide or just mindlessly smashing towers in a simple 3D game. This giveaway feels like that kind of mental reset for the entire community.
Actually, there's something else here. By giving a huge number of players an heirloom, it slightly devalues them, yes, but it also makes them more visible. More players running around with cool animations might entice newer players to chase after one themselves. It’s a strange, but potentially brilliant, marketing move.
FAQs: Your Heirloom Giveaway Questions, Answered
What if I already have an heirloom? Or all of them?
Great question for you lucky few. If you already have one or more heirlooms but not all of them, you'll still get the 150 shards to spend on one you're missing. If you're one of the mythical whales who owns every single heirloom and prestige skin? The devs have stated you'll receive a bundle of 50 Apex Packs instead. Not a bad consolation prize.
Is this really free? Like, 100% no-strings-attached free?
As far as money goes, yes. You do not have to spend a single cent. The only "string" is that you have to log in and play a little bit during the event window. It's an exchange of your time and engagement for the shards, which is a trade I will happily make.
Will claiming these free shards reset my 500-pack pity timer?
This is a crucial one. According to the developer FAQ, no! Claiming these giveaway shards will *not* affect your pity counter for earning them through Apex Packs. So if you were 450 packs in, you're still 450 packs in. This giveaway is a completely separate bonus that exists outside the normal system.
Why is Respawn being so generous all of a sudden?
Beyond what I speculated above, it's their fifth anniversary! It's a huge milestone. Major live service games often do big events to celebrate, and this is Apex's way of throwing a massive party for its players. Think of it less as a random act of kindness and more as a very, very good party favor.
So how do I know if I'm eligible for the Apex Legends' Massive Heirloom Shard Giveaway?
It's simple: as long as your account was created before January 31st of this year and isn't under a ban for cheating or toxic behavior, you're good to go. Just log in during the event and you're in.
The only problem left is the agonizing decision of which heirloom to pick. Do I finally get Wraith's kunai, the OG status symbol? Or Lifeline's Shock Sticks, which just have the coolest animations? Maybe I go for something newer, like Crypto's Biwon Blade. It’s a good problem to have, and for the first time in five years, it's a problem I'm about to have.
This whole thing feels like a turning point. A celebration. A collective exhale for a community that's been holding its breath for a long, long time. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch heirloom animation videos on YouTube for the next three hours. It's time to do some research.
If you're looking for more fun ways to kill time while you wait for the event to drop, there are tons of awesome browser games out there. You can find some of the hottest titles over at CrazyGames, or even try your hand at a fun physics game like Cannon Balls 3D. A little break can make the return to the Apex Games that much sweeter.
