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The game developers have a special treat in store for Apex Legends gamers, perfectly timed for festive season. Fans of this game's super-slick traversal will be pleased to learn that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when the Amped season launches on Nov. 4.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Named "Momentum Boosting" by the developers, this feature gives players a burst of forward momentum when scaling ledges and walls. According to key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting was previously existed of the game for quite a while, usually referred to as "mantle jumping." However it's challenging for casual gamers, and typically employed by competitive players in Ranked Mode or tournaments. In this update, the team simplifies the process for players of all skill levels to execute these advanced speed-boosts.

"This technique existed in the game for a while, but the movement requires skill to perform and gamers might not realize it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer explains. "Now including a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify the timing to activate the fast-paced movement ability, opening up the mechanic and introducing fresh strategies to compete for more players."

The Reasoning Behind Make It Accessible

What's the reason for making a once niche movement quirk available to everyone? Principal designer the development lead explains the team wants players to feel powerful — even those who are inexperienced.

"Our community is doing advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we examined at other games, looked at what our players are doing, and we said, 'What if we provide some of this power to a broader audience?'" the designer clarifies. "Since currently, certain techniques are somewhat awkward to access — you need to remap your keybinds and execute within one-frame windows. We proposed, 'What if we create a more official implementation?'"

The Amped Update Movement Focus

Mobility is largely the name of the game in this season, with characters the gravity mage, Rampart, and Valkyrie all getting buffs to help keep them mobile. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift has been decreased, and this skill will boost users upward much quicker than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover now include a roof and the ability to grant speed boosts to those nearby. But it's the high-flying Valkyrie who's getting significant improvements now, with various adjustments applied to make her more potent, faster, and more lethal.

"In my opinion there's quite a consensus that her moment has arrived," states Legend designer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt she was dominant previously, but due to the addition of new Legends, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it seemed like she's not very relevant in current the game. It was an ideal chance for us to revisit multiple elements [of her kit] and essentially bring her back to former prominence."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To reclaim her competitive status in the game's meta, the developer says Respawn evaluated each of her abilities and implemented some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, boosting her speed during flight, and this equipment regenerates much quicker, enabling her to spend more time aloft. She can no longer take damage from her ultimate ability, which was enhanced to mark enemies who take damage from the missiles. Her Skyward Dive ability — which launches her entire squad into the air for repositioning or escape — requires much less time to activate. She's also getting recently added perk choices that players can choose to conserve resources, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her ultimate takeoff time.

"Her jet pack fulfills the pilot experience," Holstead comments.

Olympus Improvements

Additionally, the lone airborne map, this location, receives a mobility-focused facelift, with major changes that expands choke points and makes securing elevated positions a bit less daunting. The developers says Apex Legends this update is all about providing gamers the tools required to keep up with the competition.

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

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