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The game developers have a special treat in store for the popular battle royale players, arriving just in time for the holidays. Enthusiasts of this game's highly fluid movement can rejoice to discover that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when the Amped season goes live on Nov. 4.

Unveiling The Mantle Boost

Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by the developers, this feature gives players a surge of forward momentum when climbing over obstacles. According to lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, Mantle Boosting was previously existed of Apex Legends for some time, usually referred to as "mantle jumping." However it's challenging for casual gamers, and typically employed by competitive players in competitive play or tournaments. This season, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these advanced speed-boosts.

"This technique existed in the game for some time, but executing it isn't easy to pull off and gamers might not realize it [is in the game] without external guides," Canavese explains. "Now including a visual cue so users can clearly identify the timing to activate the fast-paced movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and introducing fresh strategies to compete for a much wider base."

Why Make It Accessible

Why make a previously obscure movement quirk available to everyone? Lead Legend designer the development lead says developers wants players to feel powerful — including ones who are new.

"[The playerbase] is doing advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we examined at other games, observed what our players execute, and we wondered, 'How can we provide some of this power to more players?'" the designer clarifies. "Because right now, certain advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to use — you need 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

Movement is primarily the central theme in Season 27, with characters Horizon, Rampart, and the aerial combatant all getting buffs to help keep them in motion. The cooldown period on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will propel players upward much quicker than it used to. Her defensive walls now include a roof and capability to grant movement bonuses to those nearby. However the spotlight is on aerial this Legend receiving the most attention this season, with multiple tweaks implemented to enhance her as more potent, quicker, and more lethal.

"I think there's quite a consensus that Valkyrie's time has arrived," states character developer the designer. "Certainly that she's been top-tier in the past, but due to the addition of new Legends, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it felt like she fell behind in current Apex. It was a really great opportunity for us to reexamine multiple elements [of her kit] and essentially restore her to her glory days."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To restore her competitive status in the game's meta, Holstead notes the team evaluated each of her abilities and introduced some powerful modifications. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, increasing her speed during flight, and the jets themselves regenerates much quicker, enabling the player to remain longer aloft. She can no longer be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which was enhanced to tag enemies who take damage from it. Her Skyward Dive skill — which lifts teammates into the air for redeployment or retreat — requires much less time to fire up. Additionally, she gains some new Legend Upgrades that users can choose to conserve resources, expand the spread of her rockets, or accelerate her Skyward Dive activation.

"Her jet pack now delivers on the pilot experience," he comments.

Olympus Improvements

Additionally, the only floating arena, Olympus, receives a mobility-focused overhaul, with major changes that expands choke points and renders securing elevated positions a bit less daunting. The developers says Apex Legends Season 27 is all about providing gamers the tools they need to keep up with the competition.

"Really, we examined Apex's core identity as a movement shooter," explains lead Legend designer the lead.

Apex Legends Season 27: Amped releases November 4th at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.