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The game developers has a special treat in store for Apex Legends players, arriving just in time for festive season. Enthusiasts of the battle royale's super-slick movement will be pleased to learn that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when the Amped season launches on November 4th.

Unveiling The Mantle Boost

Named "Mantle Boosting" by the developers, this feature gives players a burst of forward momentum when climbing over ledges and walls. As explained key developer Eric Canavese, this technique has unofficially existed of the game for some time, usually referred to as "mantle jumping." But it's challenging for casual gamers, and is mainly used by competitive players in Ranked Mode or esports competitions. In this update, the team simplifies the process for everyone to successfully perform these advanced movement boosts.

"This technique have been in Apex for a while, but executing it isn't easy to pull off and a player might not realize it [is in the game] without outside knowledge," the designer states. "Now including a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify the timing to trigger the high-octane traversal skill, making accessible the feature and adding fresh strategies to compete for more players."

Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics

What's the reason for making a once niche movement quirk available to all players? Principal designer the development lead explains the team wants players to experience empowerment — even those who are inexperienced.

"[The playerbase] performs other crazy stuff like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we examined at other games, observed what our players execute, and we said, 'What if we extend these capabilities to a broader audience?'" the designer clarifies. "Because right now, some of these techniques are kind of janky to access — you need to remap your keybinds and hit precise timings. So we said, 'How about we create a polished implementation?'"

Season 27 Emphasis on Mobility

Movement is primarily 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 has been decreased, and the Gravity Lift will boost users into the air much quicker than before. Her defensive walls feature a roof and the ability to provide movement bonuses to those nearby. But the spotlight is on the high-flying this Legend receiving significant improvements now, with multiple tweaks implemented to make her stronger, quicker, and more lethal.

"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," states Legend designer Ian Holstead. "Certainly that she's been dominant in the past, but with the introduction of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she fell behind in current the game. It was a really great opportunity for us to reexamine a bunch of aspects in her abilities and essentially restore her to her glory days."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To restore her competitive status in current strategies, the developer notes the team evaluated each of her abilities and implemented significant modifications. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, boosting velocity during flight, and the jets themselves now recharge much quicker, allowing the player to spend more time aloft. Now she won't take damage from her ultimate ability, which has also been upgraded to mark opponents who are hit from it. Her Skyward Dive ability — which launches teammates skyward for repositioning or retreat — now takes reduced delay to fire up. She's also getting recently added Legend Upgrades that users can choose to conserve resources, expand the spread of her rockets, or accelerate her ultimate takeoff time.

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

Map Changes

Even the game's only floating arena, this location, receives a mobility-focused overhaul, with major changes that opens up choke points and renders securing elevated positions more manageable. Respawn says the game Season 27 focuses on giving players the tools required to compete in matches.

"Essentially, we examined the game's fundamental nature as a fast-paced FPS," explains lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.

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