apEX is once again reminding everyone that grenades in CS2 are not just a support tool, but a full-fledged weapon. The Vitality captain currently leads the seasonal ranking in HE frags with 26 kills already and looks like the main candidate to break his own historical record.
The apEX case
In modern CS, not every player consistently gets kills with HE grenades, even if they work a lot with utility. But in apEX’s case, this has not been random for a long time — it is a signature trait of his game. The Frenchman regularly reads timings, catches opponents in tight spaces, and literally converts correct utility usage into free kills.
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apEX is already first this season
As of now, apEX sits in first place in the ranking of players by HE kills this season. He has 26 kills with a utility score of 96/100, which once again clearly shows that this is not just a player who occasionally lands a grenade, but one of the most dangerous utility masters in the entire pro season.
Right behind him is latto with 25 HE frags, followed by KSCERATO with 24, while bLitz and xertioN each have 22. So apEX is not just among the leaders — he is genuinely staying on top of a very tight race.
For him, this is not news, but a consistent trademark
The most interesting thing here is that this is far from the first time apEX has reached numbers like these. The Frenchman has twice in his career gone past the 50-frag mark with HE grenades in a year — 53 in 2013 and 53 again in 2025.
That is a very strong number for a player who already has a huge number of responsibilities as an IGL. Even against the backdrop of calling, macro decisions, and overall game control, apEX still manages to remain an elite performer in such a fine detail as damage and finishing kills through grenades.
The Major and a big chunk of the season are still ahead
The key point in this story is that the season is still far from over. apEX still has the Major ahead of him, along with a significant remaining stretch of the tournament year, which means that the current 26 HE frags are definitely not the final number.
That is exactly why the question of a new record looks completely realistic. If he keeps up the current pace and Vitality continue to play a lot of big events, then the mark of 53 kills in a year no longer looks unattainable.
Why apEX is so dangerous with HE grenades
The secret here is not just in throwing mechanics. apEX has a very strong feel for the moments when the opponent is already weakened, trapped in a tight area, or forced to stand in a predictable position. That is exactly why his grenades so often do not just deal damage, but end the round with a specific frag.
And this further underlines his profile as a player: apEX has long stopped being just an emotional captain who energizes the team. He is still a player who can grind out micro-episodes exactly where others would throw utility just for the sake of it.
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26 HE kills
Right now, apEX is the best player of the season in HE frags, with 26 kills from high-explosive grenades. And considering that the Major and a large part of the year are still ahead, the Frenchman has a very real chance to rewrite his own benchmark once again.
In short, the master of utility has not gone anywhere. And it looks like in 2026, apEX may once again prove that one correctly thrown HE sometimes decides just as much as a perfect entry frag.
