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The game developers has a special treat prepared for Apex Legends gamers, arriving just in time for festive season. Enthusiasts of this game's super-slick movement can rejoice to discover that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when the Amped season launches on Nov. 4.

Unveiling Mantle Boosting

Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature gives players a surge of forward momentum when scaling ledges and walls. According to key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting has unofficially existed of the game for some time, 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 tournaments. In this update, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these advanced speed-boosts.

"Mantle Boosts have been in the game for a while, but executing it isn't easy to pull off and a player would never know it's possible without outside knowledge," Canavese states. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify when and how to activate the fast-paced movement ability, opening up the feature and adding fresh strategies to play for more players."

Why Make It Accessible

What's the reason for making a once niche movement quirk accessible to everyone? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan says the team aims for players to feel powerful — including ones who are new.

"[The playerbase] is doing advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafes, and we looked around at our competition, looked at what our players are doing, and we wondered, 'How can we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan explains. "Since currently, some of these advanced [movement] mechanics are somewhat awkward to use — it requires to change controls and execute within one-frame windows. So we said, 'How about we create a more official version?'"

The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility

Mobility is primarily the name of the game in Season 27, with characters Horizon, Rampart, and the aerial combatant all getting enhancements to help keep them mobile. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift has been decreased, and the Gravity Lift will boost users into the air much quicker than before. Her defensive walls now include overhead protection and capability to grant movement bonuses to allies in range. But it's the high-flying this Legend receiving significant improvements this season, with various adjustments applied to make her stronger, faster, and more lethal.

"I think many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says character developer Ian Holstead. "Certainly that she's been top-tier previously, but with the introduction of new Legends, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it felt like she's not very relevant in current the game. It was an ideal chance for the team to reexamine multiple elements [of her kit] and sort of restore her to her glory days."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To restore her competitive status in the game's meta, the developer says Respawn assessed all her skills and implemented significant changes. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, increasing her speed while airborne, and this equipment now recharge much quicker, allowing her to remain longer in the air. She can no longer be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which was enhanced to mark enemies who take damage from it. Her Skyward Dive skill — which launches her entire squad skyward for repositioning or escape — requires reduced delay to activate. She's also getting some new Legend Upgrades that users can choose to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or accelerate her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

"Her jet pack fulfills that jet-fighter fantasy," Holstead says.

Olympus Improvements

Even the game's lone airborne map, this location, is getting a mobility-focused facelift, with major changes that opens up bottlenecks and renders claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers state the game Season 27 focuses on providing gamers the resources they need to compete in matches.

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

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