How to Collect Compute Nodes and Unlock Neon Network Rewards in Apex Legends
The Neon Network collection event is now live Apex Legendsand one of the major changes it introduces to the event format is the method by which the free rewards are obtained: finding and collecting Compute Nodes.
Neon Network has added Compute Nodes, an event-exclusive currency that can be obtained through unranked battle royale matches to spend in a special reward store. Many of the rewards available are similar to those previously available through the reward tracker that previous collectible events had, but there are also a few newcomers. There are badges to unlock that come with new radio plays, legend-specific Apex packs, and some Epic cosmetics for Loba and the R-301.
Unlike the challenges of the past, you’ll have to put in a bit more work to get the Compute Nodes you need to claim these prizes for yourself. Here’s our guide to how the system works, where to find Compute Nodes in your battle royale games, and the extent of the grind ahead.
Where to find Compute Nodes in Apex’s Neon Network event
Compute Nodes can be found in unranked battle royale matches for the duration of Apex Legends’ Neon Network event, which runs from July 25 to August 8.
When you first visit one of the Battle Royale maps, you will automatically have a Node Tracker in the survival slot in your inventory which you can equip at any time. When you hold the Node Tracker, the display will point you in the direction of the nearest Compute Nodes. Follow the Node Trackers prompts until you see a small circular area highlighted in blue on your screen.
Once you enter this circle, the Node Tracker will start hacking the location. This hack doesn’t take long to pull off – about two seconds – but beware that the battle won’t stop around you. Only attempt to loot these locations if you are safe. Once the hack is complete you will be rewarded with a bundle of Compute Nodes and a very rare loot tick.
This also consumes your Node Tracker and we’ve found that you can’t pick up additional Node Trackers if you happen to find one on an enemy deathbox.
On our first successful hack of such a location, we got a total of 880 Compute Nodes, so the system is quite generous with its handouts. Compute Nodes drops in subsequent matches and spends 875 instead, so it’s important to keep in mind that the number may vary a bit per instance. The loot tick also happened to contain a gold backpack and an L-STAR – it’s fair to say that looting these spots with a bit of luck on your part could also give you an excellent start to the match.
You can earn Compute Nodes this way up to five times a day. Depending on the variation you get with the number of Compute Nodes you earn per drop, that means you’re looking at something in the ballpark of 4300 to 4500 Compute Nodes per day if you use all of your Node Trackers.
Using Compute Nodes in the Neon Network reward store
Compute Nodes are spent in the Rewards Shop tab in the main menu. Here are several free rewards for sale through the Compute Nodes currency. While the available banner frame and holo spray will only cost you 3000 Compute Nodes, the more sought after rewards like the Epic Loba skin will cost you up to 7000 Compute Nodes.
To use your Compute Nodes, simply select a reward you have enough nodes for on the left side of the screen and unlock that reward in the next screen.
With the Neon Network event also running parallel to A Thief’s Bane and Kill Code, two of the biggest story initiatives from Top since Broken Ghost – some lore content has also been unlocked here. Players will earn event badges at different milestones of the total number of Compute Nodes earned. The first three of these event badges (unlocked at 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 Compute Nodes, respectively) will also unlock a radio play that you can access after Loba and Crypto’s exploits.
Related: All the skins in it Apex’s Neon Network Collecting Event
It’s worth noting that any Compute Nodes you don’t spend before the Neon Network event leaves Top will be terminated and removed from your account on Tuesday, August 8. Spend them when you have them as there is no point in holding them for the future.
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