🔗 Share this article

The game developers have a special treat in store for Apex Legends gamers, perfectly timed for the holidays. Enthusiasts of this game's highly fluid traversal can rejoice to discover that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when Season 27: Amped launches on Nov. 4.

Introducing Mantle Boosting

Named "Mantle Boosting" by Respawn, this ability provides gamers a burst of forward momentum when climbing over obstacles. As explained lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, this technique has unofficially been a feature of Apex Legends for some time, often called as "mantle jumping." However it's challenging for the average player, and is mainly used by pro gamers in competitive play or esports competitions. This season, Respawn simplifies the process for everyone to execute these advanced speed-boosts.

"This technique existed in the game for a while, but executing it isn't easy to pull off and a player would never know it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer explains. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so users can easily see the timing to activate the fast-paced traversal skill, making accessible the feature and introducing new ways to play for a much wider base."

The Reasoning Behind Opening Up Advanced Mechanics

Why make a previously obscure technique accessible to everyone? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan says the team aims for gamers to experience empowerment — including ones who are inexperienced.

"[The playerbase] performs other crazy stuff like super-gliding and tap-strafing, and we looked around at our competition, observed what our players are doing, and we wondered, 'What if we provide some of this power to a broader audience?'" the designer explains. "Because currently, certain advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to use — you need to change controls and execute within one-frame windows. So we said, 'What if we make a more official version?'"

Season 27 Movement Focus

Movement is largely the name of the game in Season 27, with characters Horizon, the defensive specialist, and the aerial combatant all getting enhancements to maintain them in motion. The cooldown period on her tactical ability is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will boost players upward much quicker than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover feature overhead protection and the ability to provide speed boosts to those nearby. However the spotlight is on aerial this Legend receiving significant improvements now, with multiple tweaks applied to enhance her as stronger, faster, and more lethal.

"In my opinion there's quite a consensus that her moment has arrived," says character developer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt she was top-tier in the past, but with the introduction of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it felt like she's not very relevant in current Apex. This presented an ideal chance for the team to revisit multiple elements in her abilities and essentially restore her to former prominence."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To reclaim Valkyrie's relevance in the game's meta, the developer notes the team evaluated each of her abilities and implemented significant modifications. Her jetpack have been upgraded, boosting velocity during flight, and the jets themselves now recharge much quicker, allowing her to spend more time in the air. Now she won't take damage from her own Missile Swarm, which was enhanced to tag opponents who take damage from the missiles. Her Skyward Dive ability — which launches her entire squad into the air for redeployment or retreat — now takes much less time to activate. She's also getting some new perk choices that users can select to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

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

Map Changes

Additionally, the only floating arena, Olympus, receives a movement-friendly facelift, with major changes that opens up choke points and makes claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers says the game this update is all about giving players the resources they need to compete in the competition.

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

The battle royale the Amped season launches November 4th at the specified times.