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Respawn Entertainment has a special treat in store for Apex Legends gamers, perfectly timed for festive season. Fans of this game's highly fluid movement can rejoice to learn that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when the Amped season launches on Nov. 4.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature provides gamers a surge of forward momentum when scaling obstacles. According to key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting has unofficially 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 pro gamers in Ranked Mode or tournaments. In this update, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these advanced movement boosts.

"This technique existed in the game for some time, but the movement requires skill to perform and gamers might not realize it's possible without outside knowledge," Canavese states. "Now including a Mantle Boost indicator so players can clearly identify the timing to trigger the fast-paced traversal skill, opening up the mechanic and adding fresh strategies to compete for more players."

Why Make It Accessible

What's the reason for making a previously obscure movement quirk accessible to all players? Principal designer the development lead explains the team wants gamers to feel powerful — even those who are inexperienced.

"Our community is doing advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we looked around at our competition, observed what the community are doing, and we said, 'What if we provide some of this power to more players?'" the designer clarifies. "Since right now, some of these advanced [movement] mechanics are somewhat awkward to use — it requires to change controls and hit one-frame windows. We proposed, 'What if we create a polished version?'"

The Amped Update Movement Focus

Movement is largely the central theme in Season 27, with characters Horizon, Rampart, and the aerial combatant receiving buffs to maintain them in motion. The cooldown period on Horizon's Gravity Lift is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will boost players into the air much quicker than it used to. Her defensive walls now include a roof and the ability to grant movement bonuses to allies in range. But the spotlight is on the high-flying Valkyrie receiving significant improvements this season, with multiple tweaks applied to enhance her as more potent, quicker, and more lethal.

"In my opinion many agree that her moment is here," states Legend designer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt that she's been top-tier previously, but due to the addition of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it seemed like she fell behind in today's the game. This presented an ideal chance for the team to revisit a bunch of aspects in her abilities and sort of restore her to her glory days."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To restore her competitive status in current strategies, the developer says the team evaluated all her skills and implemented significant changes. Her jetpack have been upgraded, increasing velocity during flight, and this equipment regenerates three times faster, allowing the player to spend more time aloft. She can no longer take damage from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to mark opponents who are hit from it. Her squad redeploy ability — which lifts teammates skyward for redeployment or retreat — now takes reduced delay to activate. She's also getting recently added perk choices that players can choose to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her ultimate activation.

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

Olympus Improvements

Additionally, the lone airborne map, this location, is getting a movement-friendly facelift, with an extensive redesign that expands choke points and renders securing elevated positions a bit less daunting. Respawn state the game Season 27 is all about providing gamers the resources they need to keep up with matches.

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

The battle royale the Amped season launches Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.