Apex Legends' Specialized Traversal Techniques Are Going Mainstream During This Update
The game developers have a special treat in store for Apex Legends gamers, arriving just in time for the holidays. Fans of the battle royale's super-slick movement will be pleased to learn that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when Season 27: Amped goes live on November 4th.
Unveiling The Mantle Boost
Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature gives players a surge of propulsion when scaling obstacles. According to lead battle royale designer the design lead, this technique has unofficially been a feature of the game for some time, usually referred to as "ledge boosting." But it's no easy feat for the average player, and typically employed by pro gamers in competitive play or esports competitions. This season, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to execute these advanced movement boosts.
"This technique have been in Apex for a while, but the movement requires skill to perform and a player might not realize it [is in the game] without outside knowledge," the designer states. "Now including a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify the timing to trigger the fast-paced movement ability, opening up the feature and introducing new ways to compete for more players."
Why Make It Accessible
Why make a previously obscure movement quirk available to all players? Principal designer Josh Mohan says the team wants gamers to feel powerful — even those who are new.
"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafing, and we examined at other games, observed what the community are doing, and we said, 'What if we provide these capabilities to more players?'" Mohan clarifies. "Because right now, some of these techniques are kind of janky to use — you need to change controls and execute within one-frame windows. We proposed, 'What if we make a polished implementation?'"
Season 27 Movement Focus
Movement is largely the central theme in Season 27, with Legends the gravity mage, Rampart, and the aerial combatant all getting enhancements to help keep them in motion. Recovery time on her tactical ability has been decreased, and this skill will boost users into the air much quicker than before. Her defensive walls now include a roof and the ability to provide movement bonuses to those nearby. But the spotlight is on aerial Valkyrie who's getting the most attention this season, with multiple tweaks implemented to make her more potent, faster, and deadlier.
"In my opinion there's quite a consensus that her moment is here," states character developer Ian Holstead. "Certainly she was top-tier in the past, but with the introduction of other characters, mobility perks, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she fell behind in current the game. It was an ideal chance for us to reexamine a bunch of aspects [of her kit] and essentially restore her to former prominence."
Enhancements to the Aerial Legend
To restore Valkyrie's relevance in current strategies, Holstead says Respawn assessed all her skills and introduced some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, increasing velocity while airborne, and this equipment now recharge three times faster, allowing the player to remain longer in the air. She can no longer be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to tag opponents who take damage from it. Her squad redeploy skill — which launches teammates skyward for repositioning or retreat — requires reduced delay to activate. She's also getting recently added perk choices that users can choose to conserve resources, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her ultimate takeoff time.
"Her jet pack now delivers on that jet-fighter fantasy," Holstead says.
Map Changes
Even the game's only floating arena, Olympus, is getting a movement-friendly overhaul, with major changes that expands choke points and renders claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers state the game this update focuses on giving players the tools they need to keep up with matches.
"Really, we were looking at the game's fundamental nature as a fast-paced FPS," says principal designer Josh Mohan.
The battle royale Season 27: Amped launches November 4th at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.
