🔗 Share this article

The game developers has an exciting surprise prepared for Apex Legends gamers, perfectly timed for festive season. Fans of this game's super-slick traversal will be pleased to discover that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when Season 27: Amped goes live on Nov. 4.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature gives players a burst of forward momentum when scaling obstacles. As explained key developer the design lead, this technique has unofficially existed of Apex Legends for some time, often called as "mantle jumping." However it's no easy feat for the average player, and typically employed by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or tournaments. This season, the team simplifies the process for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these tricky speed-boosts.

"Mantle Boosts existed in the game for a while, but executing it requires skill to pull off and a player would never know it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer states. "Now including a visual cue so players can easily see when and how to trigger the fast-paced movement ability, making accessible 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 accessible to all players? Principal designer the development lead explains the team aims for gamers to experience empowerment — including ones who are new.

"[The playerbase] is doing other crazy stuff like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we examined at our competition, observed what our players execute, and we said, 'How can we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan clarifies. "Since currently, certain techniques are kind of janky to access — you need to change controls and execute within one-frame windows. We proposed, 'How about we make a more official version?'"

Season 27 Movement Focus

Movement is primarily the central theme in Season 27, with characters the gravity mage, the defensive specialist, and Valkyrie receiving buffs to maintain them mobile. The cooldown period on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will boost users upward faster than before. Her defensive walls now include overhead protection and the ability to provide speed boosts to those nearby. But it's the high-flying Valkyrie who's getting significant improvements this season, with various adjustments implemented to make her stronger, faster, and more lethal.

"In my opinion there's quite a consensus that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says character developer the designer. "There's no doubt she was dominant previously, but due to the addition of new Legends, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it felt like she's not very relevant in today's the game. It was a really great opportunity for us to reexamine a bunch of aspects [of her kit] and sort of restore her to her glory days."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To reclaim her competitive status in current strategies, Holstead says the team assessed each of her abilities and introduced significant modifications. Her jetpack have been upgraded, boosting velocity during flight, and the jets themselves regenerates three times faster, enabling the player to spend more time in the air. Now she won't be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to mark enemies who take damage from it. Her squad redeploy ability — which lifts teammates into the air for repositioning or retreat — now takes much less time to fire up. Additionally, she gains some new Legend Upgrades that users can choose to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her Missile Swarm, or accelerate her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

"Her jet pack now delivers on that jet-fighter fantasy," he says.

Map Changes

Additionally, the lone airborne map, this location, is getting a movement-friendly facelift, with major changes that opens up choke points and renders claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. Respawn state the game this update focuses on giving players the resources required to keep up with the competition.

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

Apex Legends the Amped season releases November 4th at the specified times.