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Respawn Entertainment has a special treat prepared for the popular battle royale players, arriving just in time for festive season. Enthusiasts of the battle royale's super-slick traversal can rejoice to learn that a new movement mechanic is being implemented when Season 27: Amped launches on Nov. 4.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by the developers, this feature provides gamers a surge of propulsion when scaling ledges and walls. According to key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting was previously existed of the game for quite a while, usually referred to as "ledge boosting." However it's no easy feat for casual gamers, and typically employed by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or esports competitions. This season, Respawn is making it easier for everyone to successfully perform these tricky speed-boosts.

"Mantle Boosts existed in Apex for some time, but the movement requires skill to perform and gamers might not realize it's possible without external guides," the designer explains. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so players can clearly identify the timing to activate the fast-paced traversal skill, opening up the feature and introducing new ways to compete for more players."

The Reasoning Behind Make It Accessible

What's the reason for making a previously obscure technique accessible to everyone? Lead Legend designer the development lead says developers aims for players to experience empowerment — including ones who are new.

"Our community is doing advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we looked around at other games, observed what our players execute, and we said, 'How can we provide these capabilities to more players?'" the designer clarifies. "Since currently, some of these techniques are kind of janky to use — you need to remap your keybinds and hit one-frame windows. So we said, 'How about we create a more official version?'"

The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility

Mobility is largely the name of the game in Season 27, with characters Horizon, the defensive specialist, and Valkyrie all getting enhancements to maintain them in motion. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift has been decreased, and the Gravity Lift will boost users into the air faster than before. Rampart's Amped Cover feature overhead protection and capability to grant speed boosts to allies in range. But it's the high-flying this Legend receiving significant improvements now, with various adjustments applied to make her stronger, faster, and more lethal.

"In my opinion there's quite a consensus that her moment is here," says character developer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt that she's been top-tier in the past, but due to the addition of other characters, mobility perks, and redeployment tools, it felt like she fell behind in today's Apex. This presented an ideal chance for us to revisit multiple elements in her abilities and essentially bring her back to former prominence."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To reclaim her competitive status in the game's meta, the developer says the team evaluated each of her abilities and implemented some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, increasing velocity while airborne, and the jets themselves now recharge three times faster, enabling 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 opponents who take damage from it. Her Skyward Dive skill — which lifts teammates into the air for repositioning or escape — requires much less time to activate. Additionally, she gains recently added Legend Upgrades that players can select to reduce fuel consumption, widen the area of her rockets, or accelerate her Skyward Dive activation.

"Her jet pack fulfills the pilot experience," he comments.

Olympus Improvements

Additionally, the lone airborne map, this location, is getting a mobility-focused overhaul, with major changes that expands choke points and renders claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. Respawn state Apex Legends Season 27 focuses on giving players the tools required to keep up with matches.

"Really, we were looking at the game's fundamental nature as a fast-paced FPS," explains principal designer the lead.

The battle royale Season 27: Amped releases November 4th at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.