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The game developers have an exciting surprise prepared for the popular battle royale players, perfectly timed for festive season. Fans of this game's super-slick traversal can rejoice to learn that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when Season 27: Amped launches on Nov. 4.

Introducing The Mantle Boost

Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this ability gives players a surge of propulsion when scaling ledges and walls. As explained lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, this technique has unofficially been a feature of the game for some time, usually referred to as "ledge boosting." However it's no easy feat for the average player, and is mainly used 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 tricky movement boosts.

"This technique existed in Apex for a while, but the movement isn't easy to pull off and gamers might not realize it [is in the game] without outside knowledge," the designer explains. "We're adding a visual cue so players can clearly identify the timing to activate the fast-paced traversal skill, making accessible the mechanic and adding new ways to compete for a much wider base."

Why Make It Accessible

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

"Our community is doing advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafes, and we looked around at other games, looked at what our players execute, and we said, 'What if we extend some of this power to more players?'" Mohan clarifies. "Since right now, some of these techniques are kind of janky to access — you need to change controls and execute within one-frame windows. So we said, 'What if we create a more official implementation?'"

The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility

Mobility is primarily the central theme in this season, with Legends the gravity mage, Rampart, and the aerial combatant receiving buffs to maintain them mobile. The cooldown period on Horizon's Gravity Lift has been decreased, and the Gravity Lift will propel users upward much quicker than before. Rampart's Amped Cover now include overhead protection and capability to provide speed boosts to allies in range. However the spotlight is on the high-flying Valkyrie who's getting significant improvements this season, with multiple tweaks implemented to enhance her as stronger, faster, and deadlier.

"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," states Legend designer the designer. "Certainly she was dominant in the past, but due to the addition of other characters, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it seemed like she fell behind in today's the game. It was a really great opportunity for the team to reexamine a bunch of aspects in her abilities and essentially restore her to her glory days."

Valkyrie's Upgrades

To reclaim her competitive status in the game's meta, the developer notes Respawn assessed all her skills and introduced some powerful modifications. Her VTOL Jets received improvements, boosting velocity during flight, and this equipment regenerates three times faster, allowing her to remain longer aloft. She can no longer be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to tag enemies who take damage from the missiles. Her Skyward Dive ability — which lifts her entire squad skyward for redeployment or retreat — requires reduced delay to activate. She's also getting some new perk choices that players can select to conserve resources, expand the spread of her Missile Swarm, or further speed up her Skyward Dive activation.

"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on that jet-fighter fantasy," Holstead comments.

Olympus Improvements

Additionally, the only floating arena, Olympus, is getting a movement-friendly facelift, with an extensive redesign that opens up choke points and makes claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. The developers state Apex Legends this update is all about giving players the tools required to keep up with matches.

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

The battle royale the Amped season releases November 4th at the specified times.