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The game developers has a special treat prepared for Apex Legends players, arriving just in time for the holidays. Enthusiasts of this game's highly fluid movement can rejoice to discover that a new movement mechanic is being implemented when Season 27: Amped launches on Nov. 4.

Unveiling Mantle Boosting

Named "Momentum Boosting" by the developers, this ability provides gamers a burst of forward momentum when scaling obstacles. As explained key developer Eric Canavese, Mantle Boosting has unofficially existed of the game for some time, often called as "mantle jumping." But it's no easy feat for the average player, and typically employed by competitive players in competitive play or tournaments. This season, the team simplifies the process for everyone to execute these tricky movement boosts.

"Mantle Boosts existed in the game for some time, but the movement requires skill to pull off and a player might not realize it [is in the game] without external guides," Canavese states. "We're adding a visual cue so users can clearly identify when and how to activate the high-octane movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and introducing new ways to compete for a much wider base."

Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics

What's the reason for making a once niche technique available to everyone? Lead Legend designer the development lead explains developers wants players to experience empowerment — including ones who are inexperienced.

"[The playerbase] performs advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafing, and we examined at our competition, looked at what the community execute, and we said, 'How can we provide these capabilities to more players?'" Mohan clarifies. "Since currently, some of these advanced [movement] mechanics are kind of janky to use — you need to change controls and hit one-frame windows. We proposed, 'What if we create a more official version?'"

The Amped Update Movement Focus

Movement is primarily the central theme in this season, with characters Horizon, the defensive specialist, and the aerial combatant all getting buffs to maintain them mobile. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will boost users into the air faster than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover now include overhead protection and capability to provide speed boosts to those nearby. But it's the high-flying this Legend who's getting the most attention this season, with various adjustments applied to enhance her as more potent, faster, and more lethal.

"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says Legend designer Ian Holstead. "There's no doubt she was top-tier in the past, but due to the addition of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and redeployment tools, it felt like she's not very relevant in current the game. It was a really great opportunity for us to reexamine multiple elements [of her kit] and sort of bring her back to her glory days."

Enhancements to the Aerial Legend

To restore Valkyrie's relevance in the game's meta, the developer notes Respawn assessed all her skills and introduced some powerful modifications. Her jetpack have been upgraded, increasing her speed during flight, and the jets themselves regenerates three times faster, enabling the player to spend more time aloft. Now she won't take damage from her ultimate ability, which was enhanced to tag opponents who take damage from the missiles. Her squad redeploy ability — which lifts teammates skyward for repositioning or retreat — requires reduced delay to activate. She's also getting recently added perk choices that users can choose to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her Skyward Dive takeoff time.

"Valkyrie's equipment fulfills the pilot experience," Holstead says.

Olympus Improvements

Additionally, the lone airborne map, Olympus, receives a mobility-focused facelift, with major changes that opens up bottlenecks and makes claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers says Apex Legends this update focuses on providing gamers the tools required to keep up with matches.

"Essentially, we examined the game's core identity as a movement shooter," explains lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.

The battle royale the Amped season releases Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.