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The game developers has a special treat prepared for Apex Legends gamers, arriving just in time for festive season. Fans of the battle royale's super-slick traversal can rejoice to discover that a new movement mechanic is being implemented when Season 27: Amped goes live on Nov. 4.

Introducing Mantle Boosting

Named "Mantle Boosting" by Respawn, this ability gives players a burst of propulsion when climbing over ledges and walls. According to lead battle royale designer the design lead, this technique has unofficially existed of Apex Legends for some time, often called as "ledge boosting." But it's no easy feat for casual gamers, and is mainly used by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or tournaments. This season, Respawn simplifies the process for everyone to execute these advanced speed-boosts.

"Mantle Boosts existed in Apex for a while, but executing it requires skill to perform and a player might not realize it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer explains. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so players can easily see the timing to activate the fast-paced movement ability, opening up the mechanic and adding fresh strategies to compete for a much wider base."

Why Make It Accessible

Why make a once niche technique available to everyone? Principal designer the development lead explains the team wants players to feel powerful — even those who are inexperienced.

"[The playerbase] performs other crazy stuff like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we examined at other games, observed what our players execute, and we said, 'What if we provide these capabilities to more players?'" Mohan explains. "Because right now, some of these advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to use — you need to remap your keybinds and execute within precise timings. So we said, 'How about we make a polished implementation?'"

The Amped Update Movement Focus

Mobility is primarily the central theme in Season 27, with characters Horizon, the defensive specialist, and the aerial combatant all getting buffs to help keep them mobile. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will boost users upward much quicker than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover feature overhead protection and the ability to grant speed boosts to allies in range. However it's the high-flying this Legend who's getting significant improvements this season, with various adjustments implemented to enhance her as more potent, faster, and more lethal.

"I think many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says Legend designer the designer. "There's no doubt she was top-tier previously, but due to the addition of other characters, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it felt like she's not very relevant in current the game. This presented an ideal chance for the team to reexamine multiple elements [of her kit] and essentially restore her to former prominence."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To restore Valkyrie's relevance in the game's meta, Holstead says the team assessed each of her abilities and introduced significant modifications. Her jetpack received improvements, boosting her speed during flight, and the jets themselves now recharge much quicker, allowing her to remain longer in the air. Now she won't take damage from her ultimate ability, which has also been upgraded to mark opponents who take damage from it. Her squad redeploy ability — which launches teammates skyward for repositioning or escape — now takes reduced delay to activate. She's also getting recently added perk choices that players can choose to conserve resources, widen the area of her rockets, or accelerate her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on the pilot experience," Holstead comments.

Map Changes

Additionally, the only floating arena, Olympus, receives a movement-friendly overhaul, with major changes that opens up choke points and makes claiming the high ground more manageable. The developers says Apex Legends this update focuses on giving players the resources required to compete in the competition.

"Essentially, we were looking at Apex's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," says lead Legend designer the lead.

The battle royale Season 27: Amped releases Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.