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The game developers have a special treat prepared for Apex Legends players, arriving just in time for the holidays. Fans of the battle royale's super-slick traversal will be pleased to discover that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when Season 27: Amped goes live on November 4th.

Introducing Mantle Boosting

Named "Mantle Boosting" by the developers, this ability gives players a burst of forward momentum when scaling obstacles. According to lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, Mantle Boosting was previously existed 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, Respawn simplifies the process for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these tricky speed-boosts.

"Mantle Boosts have been in Apex for some time, but the movement isn't easy to perform and a player might not realize it's possible without external guides," Canavese states. "Now including a visual cue so users can easily see when and how to activate the high-octane movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and introducing new ways to compete for a much wider base."

The Reasoning Behind Opening Up Advanced Mechanics

What's the reason for making a previously obscure technique available to all players? Principal designer Josh Mohan says the team aims for players to experience empowerment — even those who are new.

"[The playerbase] is doing advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafing, and we looked around at other games, looked at what the community execute, and we wondered, 'How can we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" the designer clarifies. "Because currently, certain 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 Emphasis on Mobility

Mobility is primarily the central theme in this season, with characters the gravity mage, Rampart, and the aerial combatant all getting enhancements to help keep them mobile. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will propel players into the air much quicker than before. Her defensive walls feature overhead protection and the ability to provide movement bonuses to allies in range. However the spotlight is on aerial Valkyrie who's getting significant improvements now, with various adjustments applied to make her stronger, quicker, and deadlier.

"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says character developer the designer. "There's no doubt that she's been top-tier previously, but with the introduction of new Legends, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it felt like she fell behind in current the game. It was an ideal chance for us 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 the game's meta, Holstead notes Respawn evaluated all her skills and introduced significant modifications. Her jetpack received improvements, boosting velocity while airborne, and the jets themselves now recharge much quicker, allowing the player to remain longer in the air. She can no longer be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to tag opponents who take damage from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability — which lifts her entire squad into the air for repositioning or retreat — requires much less time to activate. Additionally, she gains some new Legend Upgrades that players can choose to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her rockets, or accelerate her ultimate takeoff time.

"Valkyrie's equipment fulfills that jet-fighter fantasy," Holstead comments.

Map Changes

Additionally, the lone airborne map, Olympus, receives a mobility-focused facelift, with an extensive redesign that expands choke points and makes claiming the high ground more manageable. Respawn says Apex Legends Season 27 is all about providing gamers the resources they need to compete in the competition.

"Really, we were looking at the game's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," explains lead Legend designer the lead.

Apex Legends Season 27: Amped releases Nov. 4 at the specified times.