Apex Legends' Niche Traversal Techniques Are Going Mainstream During This Update
The game developers has an exciting surprise prepared for Apex Legends gamers, perfectly timed for the holidays. Fans of this game's highly fluid movement can rejoice to discover that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when Season 27: Amped launches on Nov. 4.
Introducing Mantle Boosting
Named "Mantle Boosting" by Respawn, this ability gives players a surge of forward momentum when climbing over obstacles. According to key developer Eric Canavese, this technique was previously existed of the game for quite a while, 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. In this update, Respawn simplifies the process for players of all skill levels to execute these advanced speed-boosts.
"This technique have been in the game for a while, but executing it requires skill to pull off and a player might not realize it's possible without external guides," Canavese states. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so players can easily see when and how to activate the high-octane movement ability, making accessible the feature and introducing new ways to compete for a much wider base."
Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics
Why make a previously obscure technique available to all players? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan says the team aims for players to feel powerful — including ones who are new.
"Our community is doing advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we examined at other games, observed what our players execute, and we said, 'How can we provide these capabilities to more players?'" the designer explains. "Because right now, certain advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to access — you need to remap your keybinds and execute within precise timings. We proposed, 'What if we create a polished version?'"
The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility
Movement is largely the name of the game in this season, with Legends the gravity mage, Rampart, and Valkyrie all getting enhancements to help keep them in motion. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will propel players upward much quicker than before. Her defensive walls feature a roof and capability to grant speed boosts to those nearby. But the spotlight is on aerial this Legend receiving significant improvements this season, with various adjustments applied to make her more potent, quicker, and more lethal.
"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time is here," says Legend designer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt that she's been top-tier in the past, but with the introduction of new Legends, mobility perks, and Evac Towers, it seemed like she fell behind in today's the game. This presented an ideal chance for us to revisit multiple elements [of her kit] and essentially bring her back to her glory days."
Valkyrie's Upgrades
To reclaim her competitive status in the game's meta, Holstead notes the team evaluated each of her abilities and introduced some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, boosting her speed while airborne, and the jets themselves now recharge much quicker, allowing the player to remain longer in the air. She can no longer be harmed from her ultimate ability, which has also been upgraded to tag opponents who take damage from it. Her squad redeploy skill — which lifts teammates into the air for repositioning or retreat — now takes much less time to activate. She's also getting some new perk choices that users can choose to conserve resources, widen the area of her rockets, or further speed up her Skyward Dive takeoff time.
"Valkyrie's equipment fulfills the pilot experience," he says.
Olympus Improvements
Even the game's only floating arena, Olympus, receives a movement-friendly facelift, with an extensive redesign that opens up bottlenecks and renders securing elevated positions more manageable. The developers says Apex Legends Season 27 focuses on providing gamers the resources required to compete in the competition.
"Essentially, we were looking at the game's core identity as a fast-paced FPS," says principal designer the lead.
Apex Legends Season 27: Amped releases November 4th at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.