The Battle Royale's Specialized Movement Mechanics Become Widely Accessible During This Update

Respawn Entertainment has a special treat prepared for Apex Legends players, perfectly timed for festive season. Enthusiasts of this game's highly fluid traversal will be pleased to discover that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when Season 27: Amped launches on Nov. 4.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this ability gives players a surge of propulsion when climbing over obstacles. According to key developer Eric Canavese, Mantle Boosting was previously existed of the game for quite a while, often called as "ledge boosting." However it's no easy feat for casual gamers, and typically employed by competitive players in competitive play or esports competitions. In this update, the team is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these advanced speed-boosts.

"This technique have been in the game for a while, but the movement requires skill to pull off and a player would never know it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer states. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify the timing to activate the high-octane movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and adding fresh strategies to play for more players."

Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics

What's the reason for making a once niche technique accessible to everyone? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan says the team aims for players to feel powerful — including ones who are inexperienced.

"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafes, and we examined at other games, observed what the community execute, and we wondered, 'How can we provide some of this power to more players?'" the designer explains. "Because right now, certain techniques are somewhat awkward to use — you need to change controls and hit precise timings. We proposed, 'How about we create a more official version?'"

The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility

Movement is largely the name of the game in this season, with Legends Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie all getting enhancements to help keep them in motion. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift has been decreased, and the Gravity Lift will boost users into the air faster than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover feature overhead protection and the ability to grant speed boosts to allies in range. But it's aerial this Legend receiving the most attention this season, with various adjustments applied to make her more potent, quicker, and deadlier.

"I think many agree that her moment is here," says character developer the designer. "There's no doubt she was dominant in the past, but due to the addition of new Legends, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it seemed like she fell behind in current the game. It was an ideal chance for us to reexamine a bunch of aspects [of her kit] and essentially restore her to her glory days."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To reclaim her competitive status in the game's meta, Holstead notes Respawn assessed all her skills and introduced significant modifications. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, boosting her speed during flight, and the jets themselves now recharge much quicker, enabling the player to remain longer in the air. She can no longer take damage from her ultimate ability, which was enhanced to tag opponents who are hit from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability — which launches teammates into the air for redeployment or escape — now takes reduced delay to activate. She's also getting some new perk choices that players can choose to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or accelerate her ultimate takeoff time.

"Her jet pack fulfills that jet-fighter fantasy," Holstead comments.

Olympus Improvements

Even the game's lone airborne map, Olympus, receives a movement-friendly facelift, with major changes that expands choke points and renders claiming the high ground more manageable. Respawn says the game Season 27 focuses on giving players the tools required to keep up with matches.

"Really, we examined Apex's fundamental nature as a fast-paced FPS," explains principal designer Josh Mohan.

Apex Legends the Amped season releases Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.