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The game developers have an exciting surprise in store for Apex Legends players, perfectly timed for the holidays. Enthusiasts of this game's super-slick movement will be pleased to learn that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when the Amped season goes live on November 4th.

Unveiling Mantle Boosting

Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by the developers, this feature gives players a surge of propulsion when climbing over obstacles. According to lead battle royale designer the design lead, Mantle Boosting was previously been a feature of the game for some time, usually referred to as "mantle jumping." However it's no easy feat for casual gamers, and typically employed by competitive players in Ranked Mode or esports competitions. This season, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these tricky speed-boosts.

"This technique have been in Apex for a while, but the movement requires skill to pull off and gamers might not realize it's possible without outside knowledge," the designer explains. "We're adding a visual cue so users can easily see the timing to activate the high-octane traversal skill, opening up the mechanic and adding new ways to compete for a much wider base."

Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics

What's the reason for making a once niche movement quirk available to everyone? Principal designer the development lead explains the team aims for players to experience empowerment — including ones who are new.

"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we looked around at other games, looked at what our players are doing, and we said, 'What if we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" the designer clarifies. "Since right now, some of these techniques are kind of janky to access — it requires to remap your keybinds and execute within precise timings. We proposed, 'What if we create a more official implementation?'"

The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility

Mobility is primarily the central theme in Season 27, with Legends Horizon, the defensive specialist, and the aerial combatant receiving buffs to maintain them in motion. Recovery time on her tactical ability has been decreased, and this skill will propel users into the air faster than before. Her defensive walls now include a roof and the ability to grant speed boosts to those nearby. However the spotlight is on aerial this Legend who's getting the most attention this season, with various adjustments implemented to enhance her as stronger, quicker, and more lethal.

"I think there's quite a consensus that her moment has arrived," states Legend designer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt that she's been dominant previously, but with the introduction of new Legends, movement[-based] passives, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she's not very relevant in current Apex. It was an ideal chance for the team to reexamine multiple elements in her abilities and sort of bring her back to her glory days."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To restore her competitive status in the game's meta, Holstead says the team assessed all her skills and introduced some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, boosting her speed while airborne, and the jets themselves now recharge three times faster, allowing the player to remain longer aloft. Now she won't be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to tag opponents who take damage from the missiles. Her squad redeploy skill — which launches teammates skyward for redeployment or escape — now takes reduced delay to fire up. She's also getting some new Legend Upgrades that players can choose to conserve resources, expand the spread of her Missile Swarm, or accelerate her ultimate takeoff time.

"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on the pilot experience," Holstead says.

Map Changes

Additionally, the only floating arena, this location, receives a movement-friendly facelift, with major changes that opens up bottlenecks and renders securing elevated positions more manageable. The developers says Apex Legends this update is all about giving players the tools required to compete in the competition.

"Really, we examined the game's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," explains lead Legend designer the lead.

Apex Legends Season 27: Amped launches Nov. 4 at the specified times.