🔗 Share this article

The game developers has an exciting surprise prepared for Apex Legends players, perfectly timed for festive season. Enthusiasts of this game's highly fluid movement can rejoice to learn that a new movement mechanic is being implemented when the Amped season goes live on Nov. 4.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Named "Mantle Boosting" by Respawn, this ability provides gamers a burst of forward momentum when scaling ledges and walls. According to lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, this technique was previously been a feature of the game for some time, often called as "mantle jumping." But it's challenging for casual gamers, and typically employed by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or tournaments. This season, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to execute these advanced movement boosts.

"Mantle Boosts existed in the game for some time, but executing it isn't easy to perform and a player might not realize it's possible without outside knowledge," Canavese states. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so players can clearly identify the timing to trigger the high-octane movement ability, making accessible the feature and adding fresh strategies to play for a much wider base."

Why Make It Accessible

Why make a once niche movement quirk accessible to everyone? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan explains developers wants players to feel powerful — even those who are new.

"[The playerbase] performs advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we looked around at other games, looked at what the community are doing, and we said, 'What if we extend these capabilities to more players?'" Mohan clarifies. "Because right now, certain techniques are kind of janky to use — it requires to remap your keybinds and hit one-frame windows. So we said, 'How about we make a more official version?'"

Season 27 Emphasis on Mobility

Movement is primarily the central theme in this season, with characters Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie receiving buffs to help keep them in motion. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will boost players upward faster than it used to. Her defensive walls feature a roof and capability to grant movement bonuses to those nearby. However it's aerial this Legend who's getting the most attention now, with various adjustments applied to enhance her as more potent, quicker, and more lethal.

"I think many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says Legend designer Ian Holstead. "Certainly that she's been dominant in the past, but with the introduction of other characters, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it seemed like she's not very relevant in today's the game. This presented an ideal chance for us to revisit a bunch of aspects [of her kit] and essentially bring her back to former prominence."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To restore Valkyrie's relevance in current strategies, Holstead says the team assessed each of her abilities and implemented some powerful modifications. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, boosting her speed while airborne, and the jets themselves regenerates three times faster, enabling the player to remain longer aloft. Now she won't be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to tag enemies who take damage from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability — which launches her entire squad into the air for repositioning or escape — requires reduced delay to activate. She's also getting recently added perk choices that players can select to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her rockets, or further speed up her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on the pilot experience," he says.

Olympus Improvements

Additionally, the only floating arena, this location, receives a movement-friendly overhaul, with major changes that opens up choke points and renders claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers says the game this update focuses on giving players the resources required to keep up with the competition.

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

The battle royale the Amped season releases Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.