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The game developers have a special treat in store for Apex Legends gamers, arriving just in time for festive season. Fans of this game's super-slick traversal can rejoice to learn that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when Season 27: Amped launches on November 4th.

Unveiling Mantle Boosting

Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this ability provides gamers a surge of propulsion when climbing over obstacles. As explained lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, Mantle Boosting has unofficially existed of Apex Legends for some time, often called as "ledge boosting." But 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, Respawn is making it easier for everyone to execute these tricky speed-boosts.

"This technique have been in the game for a while, but executing it isn't easy to perform and a player would never know it's possible without outside knowledge," the designer states. "Now including a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify when and how to trigger the fast-paced movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and adding fresh strategies to play for a much wider base."

The Reasoning Behind Opening Up Advanced Mechanics

Why make a previously obscure movement quirk accessible to all players? Lead Legend designer the development lead explains the team aims for gamers to feel powerful — including ones who are inexperienced.

"[The playerbase] performs advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafes, and we looked around at our competition, observed what the community execute, and we wondered, 'How can we extend some of this power to more players?'" Mohan explains. "Because currently, some of these techniques are kind of janky to access — you need to change controls and execute within precise timings. We proposed, 'What if we make a polished version?'"

The Amped Update Movement Focus

Mobility is largely the central theme in this season, with Legends the gravity mage, the defensive specialist, and Valkyrie receiving enhancements to maintain them mobile. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will propel players upward faster than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover now include overhead protection and capability to grant movement bonuses to those nearby. However the spotlight is on the high-flying this Legend receiving the most attention now, with various adjustments applied to make her more potent, faster, and more lethal.

"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time is here," says character developer the designer. "There's no doubt that she's been top-tier in the past, but with the introduction of new Legends, mobility perks, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she's not very relevant in current the game. This presented an ideal chance for the team to reexamine multiple elements in her abilities and sort of restore her to her glory days."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To reclaim Valkyrie's relevance in current strategies, the developer notes Respawn assessed all her skills and implemented some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, boosting her speed during flight, and the jets themselves regenerates three times faster, enabling the player to spend more time in the air. She can no longer be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which was enhanced to tag enemies who are hit from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability — which lifts her entire squad skyward for repositioning or retreat — now takes reduced delay to activate. Additionally, she gains recently added perk choices that players can select to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or accelerate her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on that jet-fighter fantasy," he says.

Map Changes

Additionally, the lone airborne map, Olympus, is getting a mobility-focused overhaul, with major changes that opens up choke points and renders securing elevated positions more manageable. The developers state Apex Legends this update focuses on giving players the tools required to keep up with matches.

"Really, we examined the game's fundamental nature as a fast-paced FPS," says principal designer the lead.

Apex Legends the Amped season launches Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.