Apex Legends' Specialized Traversal Techniques Are Going Mainstream During This Update
Respawn Entertainment has a special treat in store for the popular battle royale players, perfectly timed for the holidays. Fans of the battle royale's highly fluid movement can rejoice to learn that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when Season 27: Amped launches on November 4th.
Unveiling The Mantle Boost
Dubbed "Mantle Boosting" by the developers, this ability provides gamers a surge of propulsion when scaling ledges and walls. According to key developer the design lead, this technique was previously existed of the game for quite a while, often called as "ledge boosting." However it's no easy feat for casual gamers, and typically employed by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or esports competitions. In this update, Respawn is making it easier for everyone to execute these advanced speed-boosts.
"This technique have been in the game for some time, but the movement isn't easy to perform and gamers 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 when and how to activate the fast-paced movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and introducing fresh strategies to compete for a much wider base."
Why Make It Accessible
Why make a once niche technique available to everyone? Principal designer Josh Mohan explains the team wants gamers to experience empowerment — even those who are inexperienced.
"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we examined at other games, observed what our players are doing, and we said, 'How can we provide these capabilities to a broader audience?'" the designer explains. "Because right now, some of these techniques are somewhat awkward to access — you need to remap your keybinds and execute within one-frame windows. We proposed, 'How about we create a polished version?'"
The Amped Update Movement Focus
Mobility is primarily the name of the game in this season, with characters the gravity mage, the defensive specialist, and Valkyrie all getting buffs to help keep them mobile. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will boost users upward much quicker than it used to. Her defensive walls feature a roof and the ability to grant movement bonuses to allies in range. But the spotlight is on aerial this Legend receiving significant improvements now, with multiple tweaks implemented to make her stronger, faster, and deadlier.
"I think many agree that her moment is here," states Legend designer the designer. "Certainly she was top-tier previously, but with the introduction of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it felt like she's not very relevant in today's Apex. This presented an ideal chance for the team to revisit multiple elements [of her kit] and sort of restore her to former prominence."
Valkyrie's Upgrades
To restore her competitive status in current strategies, Holstead notes Respawn evaluated all her skills and introduced some powerful changes. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, boosting velocity while airborne, and the jets themselves now recharge much quicker, allowing the player to spend more time aloft. Now she won't take damage from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to mark enemies who are hit from it. Her Skyward Dive ability — which launches her entire squad skyward for redeployment or retreat — now takes reduced delay to fire up. Additionally, she gains some new perk choices that users can select to conserve resources, widen the area of her rockets, or further speed up her ultimate takeoff time.
"Her jet pack fulfills the pilot experience," he says.
Map Changes
Even the game's only floating arena, Olympus, is getting a mobility-focused overhaul, with an extensive redesign that expands bottlenecks and renders securing elevated positions a bit less daunting. The developers state Apex Legends this update is all about giving players the tools they need to compete in matches.
"Really, we were looking at Apex's core identity as a movement shooter," explains lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.
Apex Legends the Amped season releases Nov. 4 at the specified times.
