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The game developers have an exciting surprise prepared for Apex Legends gamers, arriving just in time for the holidays. Fans of this game's super-slick traversal will be pleased to learn that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when the Amped season launches on November 4th.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature provides gamers a surge of forward momentum when climbing over ledges and walls. As explained key developer Eric Canavese, this technique has unofficially been a feature of Apex Legends for some time, often called as "ledge boosting." But it's no easy feat for the average player, and typically employed by competitive players in Ranked Mode or tournaments. This season, the team simplifies the process for everyone to successfully perform these tricky speed-boosts.

"This technique have been in Apex for a while, but executing it 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 players can clearly identify when and how to activate the fast-paced traversal skill, making accessible the feature and introducing new ways to play for more players."

Why Make It Accessible

What's the reason for making a once niche technique accessible to all players? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan says developers wants players to feel powerful — even those who are new.

"Our community is doing advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we examined at other games, looked at what the community execute, and we said, 'What if we extend these capabilities to more players?'" Mohan explains. "Because right now, certain advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to use — it requires to remap your keybinds and hit one-frame windows. So we said, 'How about we create a more official version?'"

Season 27 Emphasis on Mobility

Movement is primarily the name of the game in this season, with characters Horizon, the defensive specialist, and the aerial combatant receiving enhancements to maintain them mobile. The cooldown period on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will propel players upward much quicker than before. Rampart's Amped Cover feature a roof and the ability to grant speed boosts to those nearby. But the spotlight is on the high-flying this Legend receiving significant improvements this season, with multiple tweaks applied to make her more potent, quicker, and more lethal.

"In my opinion there's quite a consensus that her moment has arrived," states character developer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt she was top-tier previously, but due to the addition of new Legends, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it seemed like she fell behind in current Apex. This presented an ideal chance for us to reexamine multiple elements [of her kit] and essentially bring her back to her glory days."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To restore her competitive status in the game's meta, the developer says Respawn evaluated all her skills and implemented some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, increasing her speed during flight, and this equipment regenerates three times faster, enabling her to spend more time aloft. Now she won't take damage from her ultimate ability, which has also been upgraded to tag enemies who are hit from it. Her Skyward Dive skill — which launches teammates into the air for redeployment or escape — requires reduced delay to fire up. Additionally, she gains some new Legend Upgrades that players can select to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her Skyward Dive activation.

"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on that jet-fighter fantasy," Holstead says.

Map Changes

Even the game's lone airborne map, Olympus, receives a movement-friendly facelift, with an extensive redesign that expands choke points and renders claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers says Apex Legends this update is all about giving players the tools they need to keep up with matches.

"Essentially, we examined Apex's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," explains principal designer the lead.

Apex Legends the Amped season releases November 4th at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.