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The game developers has a special treat in store for the popular battle royale gamers, perfectly timed for the holidays. Fans of this game's super-slick traversal can rejoice to learn that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when the Amped season launches on November 4th.

Unveiling The Mantle Boost

Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature provides gamers a surge of forward momentum when climbing over obstacles. According to lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, this technique has unofficially existed of the game for some time, often called as "mantle jumping." But it's challenging for the average player, and typically employed by competitive players in competitive play or esports competitions. This season, the team is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these tricky speed-boosts.

"Mantle Boosts have been in Apex for a while, but the movement isn't easy to perform and a player might not realize it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer explains. "Now including a visual cue so users can clearly identify when and how to activate the fast-paced traversal skill, making accessible the feature and adding new ways to compete for a much wider base."

The Reasoning Behind Make It Accessible

Why make a once niche technique available to all players? Principal designer Josh Mohan says the team aims for players to feel powerful — including ones who are inexperienced.

"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we looked around at our competition, looked at what our players execute, and we wondered, 'How can we provide some of this power to more players?'" the designer clarifies. "Since right now, some of these techniques are kind of janky to use — it requires to change controls and execute within precise timings. We proposed, 'What if we create a polished version?'"

Season 27 Emphasis on Mobility

Mobility is largely the central theme in this season, with characters Horizon, the defensive specialist, and the aerial combatant receiving enhancements to maintain them in motion. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift is shorter, and this skill will boost users into the air much quicker than before. Her defensive walls feature overhead protection and the ability to provide speed boosts to those nearby. But the spotlight is on aerial Valkyrie receiving significant improvements this season, with various adjustments applied to enhance her as stronger, faster, and more lethal.

"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time is here," states Legend designer Ian Holstead. "Certainly she was top-tier previously, but due to the addition of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it felt like she fell behind in today's the game. It was an ideal chance for us to revisit multiple elements in her abilities and essentially bring her back to her glory days."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To restore Valkyrie's relevance in the game's meta, the developer says the team evaluated each of her abilities and implemented significant changes. Her jetpack received improvements, increasing her speed while airborne, and this equipment regenerates much quicker, enabling the player to spend more time aloft. She can no longer take damage from her own Missile Swarm, which was enhanced to mark enemies who are hit from the missiles. Her Skyward Dive skill — which launches her entire squad into the air for repositioning or escape — now takes much less time to fire up. Additionally, she gains recently added perk choices that players can choose to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her rockets, or further speed up her ultimate activation.

"Her jet pack now delivers on that jet-fighter fantasy," he says.

Map Changes

Additionally, the lone airborne map, this location, is getting a mobility-focused overhaul, with major changes that expands bottlenecks and renders claiming the high ground more manageable. The developers state the game this update is all about giving players the tools they need to keep up with matches.

"Really, we were looking at the game's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," says lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.

Apex Legends Season 27: Amped releases November 4th at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.