The mysterious witch of Mayfair has long been a source of fascination and speculation in the quaint London neighborhood. Tales of her magical abilities and enigmatic nature have captivated locals and visitors alike for centuries. Legends and rumors swirl around her, painting a picture of a powerful enchantress who resides in the shadows. Many believe that the witch possesses the ability to grant wishes and fulfill desires, but at a steep price. It is said that those who seek her assistance must be prepared to sacrifice something valuable in return. Some tales speak of individuals who have come to regret their decisions after receiving their heart's desire, as the consequences of dealing with the witch can be severe.
You’ll get the chance to see all of the ferrofluid visual effects in action whenever Catalyst uses her skills – here’s a rundown of what you can expect from her gameplay-wise.
Add to that the prevalent theory that Margo is Big Sister, the crime boss from Rampart s Stories from the Outlands, and Catalyst s arrival brings plenty of promise to the Apex narrative before she even steps into the arena. Though the magic aspect is alluring, it was important to have a scientific explanation for her abilities, since science plays a vital role in the futuristic universe of Apex and Titanfall.
Some tales speak of individuals who have come to regret their decisions after receiving their heart's desire, as the consequences of dealing with the witch can be severe. Despite the warnings, many continue to seek out the witch, driven by curiosity, desperation, or a desire for power. She is said to reside in a modest cottage hidden deep within the heart of Mayfair, hidden from prying eyes.
Apex’s next legend Catalyst is a ‘techno witch’ that will charm fans—and change the Apex Games forever
Tressa Crystal Smith hasn’t exactly had an easy life. She lived through a crumbling Boreas after a meteor hit the planet’s moon, had some “turbulent teenage years” (with a gender transition in that time), and lost one of the people closest to her after her friend Margo bombed a facility in Boreas to “save” its moon. Stepping into the Apex Games isn’t going to be easy either, but she’s more than ready to take on that challenge and become Catalyst, the 15th legend to join the cast of Apex Legends.
After her closest friend Margo was taken prisoner, Tressa fled Boreas, setting up shop on its moon Cleo as part of a terraforming crew dedicated to preserving its environment. In the colony of Hope, Tressa learned to manipulate ferrofluid—a substance the crews used to change the structure of Cleo and is present on the surface of the moon—a talent she’d later take into the Apex Games.
With the Outlands’ most famous bloodsport moving to Cleo with its new map, Broken Moon, Catalyst is joining the fight to help save the place she called home. Her role in the Apex narrative is far bigger than just her story, however. With her release, Respawn Entertainment is shedding light on what happened in Boreas since the meteor hit Cleo, pulling Duardo Silva and Seer back into the spotlight, and possibly even tying up a loose end from season six, all while giving life to a unique legend—a “techno witch,” as Respawn staff called her, a narrative foil to Seer, and the game’s first trans woman.
The “techno witch” moniker is precisely what got the team’s creative juices flowing with Catalyst according to lead writer Ashley Reed, an exciting concept that fits Catalyst perfectly. Though the magic aspect is alluring, it was important to have a scientific explanation for her abilities, since science plays a vital role in the futuristic universe of Apex and Titanfall. “The goal was to hit ‘tech’ and ‘witch’ equally with her look,” Reed said, and the team struck that mark by making the two elements an important part of her character.
The “witch” part is easy to spot through Catalyst’s theatrics when manipulating ferrofluid in a way that almost looks like magic, as well as through her fondness for crystals and moon rituals and even in her outfit and makeup. Catalyst “likes crystals more than she likes most people,” according to her bio, and Reed said even though she tries to crack jokes with the other legends, her jokes tend to fall flat.
Screengrab via Respawn EntertainmentShe’s “too introverted and goth-y” to be an eternal joker like Mirage, but she is what Reed calls a “big sister type” who’s “dedicated to protecting those close to her.” In the Apex Games, this includes her squad, since she feels she’s responsible for them. And though it may seem Tressa will be out of place in the Apex Games, she still knows what she’s doing when she steps into a fight—and she’ll use her abilities to protect her teammates and take home the prize in the Apex Games.
The tech part may feel less majestic or alluring, but it’s an equally important part of her concept. Catalyst has a backpack full of ferrofluid, which she controls with magnets woven into her gloves. To use ferrofluid effectively in the Games, she tweaked her old work outfit and “gave it some personal pizazz,” according to Reed, though you can still spot the ferrofluid hoses and splash guards, which lend an industrial quality to Catalyst’s look. Though there’s a reasonable explanation for her abilities, it doesn’t mean she’ll stop using them with magic and majesty.
More than being the 15th legend, however, Catalyst is also the first trans woman to join the cast of Apex—a fact Respawn made abundantly clear since her debut. In her Stories from the Outlands lore cinematic, she mentions her transition. Her bio also states she had a gender transition, which left little doubt about her gender identity.
Respawn wanted to make Catalyst “inescapably trans,” according to an interview by GamesRadar’s Alyssa Mercante. The team worked hard to lend Catalyst’s portrayal elements that “reflect the lived experiences of a contemporary trans woman,” Mercante writes, and the “techno witch” moniker also came from a trans employee. Respawn worked with its own trans employees, as well as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Catalyst’s voice actor, Meli Grant—who’s also a trans woman—to ensure her representation was faithful. “Catalyst represents a certain type of trans character who is out and proud and is proud of her trans identity,” GLAAD associate director of gaming Blair Durkee told GamesRadar.
Screengrab via Respawn EntertainmentCatalyst has already made a splash in the Apex community, whether due to her impressive backstory, unique look, or just because her kit promises to deny enemy scans in a scan-heavy meta. But her story is also inextricably tied to Broken Moon, and the pivot toward Cleo and Catalyst presents an important opportunity to evolve the lore and the narrative in the Apex universe.
The Games reached Cleo due to an agreement with Duardo Silva, the One Voice of the Syndicate and arguably the Outlands’ closest equivalent to a megalomaniac Batman villain. Duardo paid the Cleo Recovery Council to host the Apex Games on the Boreas moon with the endorsement of Seer after fictional hostess Lisa Stone pressured him to take more action about Boreas in a live interview. Hosting the bloodsport would allow the terraforming efforts to continue, but not without being put on hold for some time while the Games run—and Catalyst isn’t exactly thrilled about it.
With Catalyst’s arrival, the spotlight in the narrative is bound to pivot to that new dynamic, shaking up the storylines and possibly adding new connections (and new secrets) to the mix. Not only does her introduction shed light on what happened in Boreas in the 26 years since Seer’s birth, it also opens up more room to elaborate on the dynamic between the two legends—with the ever-present opening for Silva’s megalomaniac plans for the Syndicate to wreak havoc on the Outlands. Add to that the prevalent theory that Margo is Big Sister, the crime boss from Rampart’s Stories from the Outlands, and Catalyst’s arrival brings plenty of promise to the Apex narrative before she even steps into the arena.
Catalyst’s arrival can answer a few overarching questions in the lore, but Tressa brings far more questions than she answers. The techno witch is also a valuable addition to the game: an unexplored, alluring concept that aims for meaningful trans representation in an important piece of media.
And when she does set foot in the Apex Games, you don’t want to get in her way.
About the author Pedro PeresPedro is Dot Esports' Lead Destiny Writer. He's been a freelance writer since 2019, and legend has it you can summon him by pinging an R-301 or inviting him to run a raid in Destiny 2 (though he probably has worse RNG luck than the D2 team combined). When he's not shooting Dregs, you can see him raising the dead in Diablo IV, getting third-partied in DMZ, or failing a stealth heist in Payday 3. Find his ramblings on his Twitter @ggpedroperes.
Catalyst is a big sister type where she’s a no nonsense kind of gal who doesn’t take any crap from anybody and will call you out when you’re messing up. And while she does occasionally try to crack jokes with the other legends, it tends to fall flat in unintentionally amusing ways.
The cottage itself is said to possess an otherworldly aura, with peculiar plants and strange symbols adorning its exterior. Those who have encountered the witch describe her as a figure cloaked in darkness, with piercing eyes that seem to see into one's very soul. She is said to possess a commanding presence, exuding an air of power and mystery. Rumors abound about the source of the witch's magic. Some believe she is descended from a line of powerful witches, inheriting her abilities from her ancestors. Others speculate that she made a pact with a dark entity, giving her access to forbidden powers. Regardless of the truth behind her powers, the witch of Mayfair remains an enigma, her intentions and motivations shrouded in secrecy. She is a figure of both fear and fascination, drawing people in with the promise of hidden knowledge, but always leaving them with more questions than answers. While some dismiss her as nothing more than a figment of imagination, many believe that the witch holds a key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe. Whether she is a benevolent guide or a malevolent force is a matter of debate, but one thing is certain – the mysterious witch of Mayfair will continue to captivate the imaginations of those who dare to delve into the occult..
Reviews for "The Witch of Mayfair: Exploring the Spiritual Side of London's Elite Neighborhood"
1. Jessica - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Mysterious Witch of Mayfair." The story felt incredibly predictable and lacked any depth. The characters were flat and one-dimensional, making it hard for me to connect with them or care about their fates. The writing style was also quite underwhelming, with clumsy and repetitive descriptions. Overall, the book didn't live up to the hype for me and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Mark - 1/5 - I really tried to enjoy "Mysterious Witch of Mayfair," but I found it incredibly boring and tedious. The pacing was off, with long stretches of nothing happening and then rushed, nonsensical resolutions. The plot meandered all over the place, without any clear direction or purpose. The writing was also lackluster, with awkward dialogue and cliched phrases. I wouldn't waste my time on this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 - "Mysterious Witch of Mayfair" fell flat for me. The story had a lot of potential, but it failed to deliver. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to care about their struggles. The plot felt disjointed, with random and unnecessary subplots that didn't contribute much to the overall narrative. The writing style was also mediocre, with awkward phrasing and unnecessary filler descriptions. I was left disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book.
4. Andrew - 1/5 - I found "Mysterious Witch of Mayfair" to be incredibly dull and unoriginal. The story followed the same tired tropes and predictable plot twists that have been done to death in the genre. The characters were flat and uninteresting, with their actions and motivations feeling forced and unrealistic. The writing style was also uninspired, with repetitive descriptions and cliched dialogue. Overall, the book was a disappointment and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
5. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Mysterious Witch of Mayfair," but unfortunately, it fell short. The story lacked depth and originality, feeling like a poor imitation of other paranormal romance novels. The characters were forgettable and lacked any complexity, making it hard to care about their relationships or struggles. The writing style was also lackluster, with cliched metaphors and awkward sentence structure. I wouldn't consider this book a standout in its genre.