Apex Legends' Specialized Movement Mechanics Are Going Mainstream This Season
The game developers have a special treat prepared for Apex Legends gamers, arriving just in time for the holidays. Fans of the battle royale's highly fluid movement can rejoice to discover that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when the Amped season launches on November 4th.
Unveiling The Mantle Boost
Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this ability provides gamers a surge of propulsion when climbing over ledges and walls. According to key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting was previously been a feature of Apex Legends for quite a while, usually referred to as "mantle jumping." But it's challenging for the average player, and is mainly used by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or esports competitions. In this update, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these advanced speed-boosts.
"Mantle Boosts have been in Apex for a while, but executing it requires skill to perform and gamers would never know it [is in the game] without outside knowledge," the designer explains. "Now including a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify when and how to activate the high-octane traversal skill, making accessible the mechanic and introducing fresh strategies to compete for more players."
The Reasoning Behind Make It Accessible
Why make a once niche technique available to everyone? Principal designer the development lead says developers wants gamers to experience empowerment — including ones who are new.
"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we looked around at other games, observed what our players execute, and we said, 'What if we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan clarifies. "Because right now, some of these advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to access — you need to remap your keybinds and hit precise timings. So we said, 'What if we make a polished implementation?'"
The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility
Movement is primarily the central theme in Season 27, with characters Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie receiving enhancements to help keep them mobile. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will boost users into the air much quicker than it used to. Her defensive walls feature a roof and the ability to grant speed boosts to those nearby. However the spotlight is on aerial Valkyrie receiving the most attention this season, with various adjustments implemented to make her stronger, faster, and more lethal.
"In my opinion many agree that her moment is here," says Legend designer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt that she's been dominant previously, but due to the addition of new Legends, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it felt like she fell behind in current Apex. This presented an ideal chance for us to revisit a bunch of aspects [of her kit] and essentially restore her to former prominence."
Enhancements to the Aerial Legend
To restore her competitive status in current strategies, Holstead says the team assessed each of her abilities and introduced some powerful changes. Her jetpack received improvements, increasing velocity while airborne, and this equipment regenerates much quicker, 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 mark opponents who take damage from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability — which lifts teammates skyward for repositioning or escape — now takes reduced delay to activate. Additionally, she gains recently added perk choices that players can choose to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her ultimate activation.
"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on the pilot experience," he says.
Olympus Improvements
Additionally, the only floating arena, this location, is getting a movement-friendly facelift, with major changes that opens up bottlenecks and makes claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers state Apex Legends Season 27 is all about providing gamers the resources they need to compete in matches.
"Essentially, we were looking at Apex's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," says principal designer the lead.
The battle royale the Amped season launches Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.
