Apex Legends' Specialized Traversal Techniques Are Going Mainstream This Season
The game developers have an exciting surprise in store for Apex Legends players, perfectly timed for festive season. Enthusiasts of the battle royale's super-slick traversal will be pleased to learn that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when Season 27: Amped goes live on November 4th.
Unveiling The Mantle Boost
Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this ability gives players a burst of forward momentum when scaling obstacles. As explained key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting was previously been a feature of the game for quite a while, often called as "mantle jumping." However it's no easy feat for the average player, and is mainly used by pro gamers in competitive play or esports competitions. In this update, the team is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these advanced speed-boosts.
"Mantle Boosts existed in the game for some time, but executing it requires skill to perform and gamers would never know it [is in the game] without outside knowledge," the designer explains. "We're adding a visual cue so players can easily see when and how to activate the high-octane traversal skill, making accessible the feature and introducing new ways to compete for a much wider base."
Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics
Why make a once niche movement quirk accessible to all players? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan says the team wants players to feel powerful — including ones who are new.
"Our community performs other crazy stuff like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we examined at other games, looked at what our players execute, and we said, 'What if we provide some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan explains. "Because currently, some of these advanced [movement] mechanics are somewhat awkward to use — you need to change controls and execute within one-frame windows. So we said, 'What if we make a more official implementation?'"
Season 27 Movement Focus
Movement is largely the central theme in Season 27, with characters Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie all getting buffs to maintain them in motion. Recovery time on her tactical ability has been decreased, and the Gravity Lift will boost players upward faster than before. Rampart's Amped Cover feature a roof and capability to grant speed boosts to those nearby. However it's the high-flying Valkyrie receiving significant improvements this season, with multiple tweaks implemented to enhance her as more potent, quicker, and more lethal.
"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time is here," states Legend designer Ian Holstead. "Certainly she was dominant in the past, but with the introduction of other characters, mobility perks, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she fell behind in today's Apex. This presented 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 Valkyrie's relevance in current strategies, the developer says Respawn evaluated all her skills and introduced significant changes. Her jetpack received improvements, boosting her speed during flight, and the jets themselves now recharge three times faster, enabling her to remain longer in the air. Now she won't be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which was enhanced to mark opponents who take damage from the missiles. Her Skyward Dive skill — which lifts her entire squad skyward for redeployment or retreat — requires much less time to fire up. She's also getting some new perk choices that users can select to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her rockets, or accelerate her Skyward Dive takeoff time.
"Her jet pack fulfills that jet-fighter fantasy," he comments.
Map Changes
Even the game's only floating arena, Olympus, receives a mobility-focused overhaul, with major changes that expands choke points and renders claiming the high ground more manageable. Respawn says Apex Legends this update is all about providing gamers the resources required to compete in the competition.
"Essentially, we examined the game's core identity as a fast-paced FPS," explains lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.
The battle royale the Amped season launches Nov. 4 at the specified times.
