Apex Legends' Niche Traversal Techniques Are Going Mainstream During This Update
The game developers has an exciting surprise in store for Apex Legends players, arriving just in time for festive season. Enthusiasts of this game's super-slick traversal will be pleased to discover that a new movement mechanic is being implemented when the Amped season goes live on November 4th.
Introducing Mantle Boosting
Dubbed "Mantle Boosting" by Respawn, this feature gives players a surge of propulsion when climbing over ledges and walls. As explained key developer Eric Canavese, Mantle Boosting was previously been a feature of the game for quite a while, usually referred to as "ledge boosting." But it's challenging for the average player, and typically employed by pro gamers in competitive play or tournaments. This season, Respawn is making it easier for everyone to execute these advanced speed-boosts.
"Mantle Boosts have been in the game for a while, but executing it isn't easy to perform and gamers would never know it's possible without outside knowledge," the designer explains. "We're adding a visual cue so players can clearly identify the timing to activate the high-octane movement ability, making accessible the feature and introducing new ways to play for a much wider base."
Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics
What's the reason for making a previously obscure movement quirk available to everyone? Principal designer the development lead says developers wants gamers to experience empowerment β including ones who are inexperienced.
"[The playerbase] is doing other crazy stuff like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we looked around at our competition, looked at what our players execute, and we said, 'How can we provide some of this power to more players?'" Mohan clarifies. "Because currently, certain advanced [movement] mechanics are somewhat awkward to access β you need to remap your keybinds and hit one-frame windows. So we said, 'How about we create a more official implementation?'"
Season 27 Movement Focus
Movement is largely the name of the game in Season 27, with Legends Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie all getting enhancements to maintain them in motion. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will propel users upward faster than it used to. Her defensive walls feature overhead protection and the ability to grant speed boosts to allies in range. But the spotlight is on aerial Valkyrie who's getting significant improvements now, with various adjustments applied to make her more potent, quicker, and deadlier.
"I think many agree that Valkyrie's time is here," says character developer the designer. "There's no doubt that she's been top-tier previously, but due to the addition of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she fell behind in current the game. It was a really great opportunity for us to reexamine multiple elements [of her kit] and essentially restore her to her glory days."
Enhancements to the Aerial Legend
To restore Valkyrie's relevance in current strategies, Holstead says the team evaluated each of her abilities and introduced significant changes. Her jetpack have been upgraded, increasing her speed during flight, and this equipment regenerates much quicker, enabling the player to remain longer in the air. Now she won't be harmed from her ultimate ability, which has also been upgraded to tag enemies who are hit from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability β which launches teammates skyward for repositioning or escape β requires reduced delay to fire up. Additionally, she gains recently added Legend Upgrades that users can select to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her Missile Swarm, or accelerate her Skyward Dive activation.
"Her jet pack now delivers on that jet-fighter fantasy," Holstead says.
Olympus Improvements
Additionally, the lone airborne map, Olympus, is getting a movement-friendly overhaul, with major changes that opens up bottlenecks and renders claiming the high ground more manageable. The developers says Apex Legends this update is all about giving players the tools they need to keep up with the competition.
"Really, we examined Apex's fundamental nature as a movement shooter," says lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.
Apex Legends the Amped season releases Nov. 4 at the specified times.
