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The game developers have an exciting surprise prepared for Apex Legends players, perfectly timed for the holidays. Fans of this game's super-slick movement will be pleased to learn that a new movement mechanic is being implemented when the Amped season goes live on Nov. 4.

Unveiling The Mantle Boost

Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature gives players a burst of forward momentum when climbing over obstacles. As explained key developer Eric Canavese, this technique has unofficially existed of Apex Legends for quite a while, often called as "ledge boosting." However it's no easy feat for the average player, and typically employed by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or tournaments. This season, Respawn simplifies the process for players of all skill levels to successfully perform these advanced movement boosts.

"Mantle Boosts 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 outside knowledge," Canavese states. "We're adding a visual cue so users can easily see the timing to trigger the fast-paced movement ability, opening up the feature and adding new ways to play for more players."

The Reasoning Behind Make It Accessible

What's the reason for making a previously obscure technique accessible to everyone? Principal designer the development lead explains developers aims for gamers to feel powerful — even those who are new.

"Our community is doing advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafes, and we examined at other games, observed what our players execute, and we wondered, 'What if we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" the designer explains. "Because currently, some of these techniques are somewhat awkward to access — you need to change controls and execute within precise timings. We proposed, 'What if we make a more official implementation?'"

Season 27 Movement Focus

Mobility is largely the central theme in this season, with characters Horizon, the defensive specialist, 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 propel players into the air faster than it used to. Her defensive walls now include overhead protection and capability to grant movement bonuses to those nearby. But the spotlight is on the high-flying Valkyrie receiving the most attention this season, with multiple tweaks implemented to make her more potent, faster, and deadlier.

"I think many agree that Valkyrie's time is here," states Legend designer the designer. "Certainly she was top-tier previously, but with the introduction of new Legends, mobility perks, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she's not very relevant in today's the game. This presented a really great opportunity for us to revisit a bunch of aspects in her abilities and sort of restore her to former prominence."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To reclaim Valkyrie's relevance in current strategies, the developer says Respawn evaluated each of her abilities and implemented some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, boosting her speed during flight, and this equipment now recharge much quicker, allowing the player to remain longer in the air. Now she won't be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to tag enemies who are hit from it. Her Skyward Dive skill — which launches her entire squad into the air for repositioning or escape — requires much less time to activate. Additionally, she gains some new Legend Upgrades that users can select to conserve resources, widen the area of her rockets, or further speed up her ultimate takeoff time.

"Her jet pack now delivers on the pilot experience," he comments.

Map Changes

Additionally, the only floating arena, Olympus, is getting a movement-friendly facelift, with an extensive redesign that expands choke points and makes claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. Respawn says Apex Legends Season 27 is all about providing gamers the tools they need to keep up with the competition.

"Essentially, we were looking at the game's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," explains principal designer Josh Mohan.

The battle royale the Amped season releases Nov. 4 at the specified times.