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The game developers has a special treat prepared for Apex Legends players, arriving just in time for festive season. Fans of the battle royale's super-slick traversal will be pleased to discover that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when Season 27: Amped launches on Nov. 4.

Introducing Mantle Boosting

Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this ability provides gamers a burst of propulsion when climbing over ledges and walls. As explained key developer Eric Canavese, this technique has unofficially 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 typically employed by pro gamers in competitive play or esports competitions. This season, the team simplifies the process for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these tricky speed-boosts.

"Mantle Boosts existed in Apex for some time, but executing it isn't easy to pull off and a player would never know it's possible without outside knowledge," Canavese explains. "Now including a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify when and how to trigger the high-octane movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and adding new ways to play for a much wider base."

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 says the team wants gamers to feel powerful — even those who are inexperienced.

"[The playerbase] is doing advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we examined at our competition, observed what our players are doing, and we wondered, 'How can we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan explains. "Because right now, certain advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to access — you need to remap your keybinds and execute within precise timings. So we said, 'What if we create a more official version?'"

Season 27 Emphasis on Mobility

Movement is largely the central theme in Season 27, with Legends Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie all getting enhancements to help keep them in motion. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will boost players into the air faster than it used to. Her defensive walls feature a roof and the ability to grant movement bonuses to those nearby. But the spotlight is on the high-flying this Legend receiving significant improvements this season, with various adjustments implemented to enhance her as stronger, faster, and deadlier.

"In my opinion there's quite a consensus that her moment has arrived," states Legend designer the designer. "Certainly that she's been dominant previously, but with the introduction of new Legends, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it felt like she's not very relevant in today's the game. This presented an ideal chance for the team to revisit multiple elements [of her kit] and sort of restore her to former prominence."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To reclaim her competitive status in current strategies, Holstead says the team evaluated each of her abilities and introduced some powerful modifications. Her jetpack received improvements, increasing her speed while airborne, and the jets themselves regenerates three times faster, enabling the player to spend more time aloft. Now she won't take damage from her ultimate ability, which was enhanced to tag opponents who take damage from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability — which launches her entire squad into the air for repositioning or escape — requires reduced delay to fire up. She's also getting recently added Legend Upgrades that players can select to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her rockets, or accelerate her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

"Valkyrie's equipment fulfills the pilot experience," Holstead comments.

Map Changes

Additionally, the only floating arena, this location, receives a movement-friendly overhaul, with major changes that opens up choke points and renders claiming the high ground more manageable. The developers says Apex Legends Season 27 focuses on giving players the resources required to keep up with matches.

"Really, we were looking at the game's fundamental nature as a fast-paced FPS," says lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.

The battle royale the Amped season releases November 4th at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.