Apex Legends' Niche Traversal Techniques Are Going Mainstream This Season
The game developers have a special treat in store for Apex Legends players, perfectly timed for the holidays. Enthusiasts of this game's highly fluid movement will be pleased to discover that a new movement mechanic will be introduced when the Amped season launches on Nov. 4.
Unveiling Mantle Boosting
Dubbed "Momentum Boosting" by the developers, this feature provides gamers a burst of propulsion when climbing over ledges and walls. As explained lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese, Mantle Boosting has unofficially been a feature of Apex Legends for quite a while, usually referred to as "mantle jumping." However it's challenging for the average player, and typically employed by competitive players in Ranked Mode or tournaments. This season, Respawn is making it easier for players of all skill levels to execute these advanced movement boosts.
"This technique existed in the game for some time, but executing it isn't easy to perform and gamers might not realize it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer states. "Now including a visual cue so users can clearly identify the timing to trigger the high-octane traversal skill, making accessible the mechanic and adding new ways to compete for a much wider base."
The Reasoning Behind Opening Up Advanced Mechanics
Why make a once niche technique available to everyone? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan says developers aims for players to feel powerful — even those who are new.
"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we examined at other games, observed what our players execute, and we wondered, 'How can we provide these capabilities to a broader audience?'" the designer explains. "Because right now, certain techniques are somewhat awkward to access — you need to change controls and hit one-frame windows. We proposed, 'What if we create a polished implementation?'"
The Amped Update Movement Focus
Mobility is largely the name of the game in this season, with Legends Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie all getting buffs to maintain them mobile. Recovery time on her tactical ability has been decreased, and this skill will propel players upward much quicker than before. Her defensive walls now include overhead protection and capability to grant speed boosts to allies in range. However the spotlight is on the high-flying Valkyrie receiving significant improvements now, with various adjustments implemented to enhance her as stronger, faster, and deadlier.
"In my opinion many agree that her moment is here," states Legend designer the designer. "Certainly that she's been dominant previously, but with the introduction of new Legends, movement[-based] passives, and redeployment tools, it felt like she's not very relevant in today's the game. This presented an ideal chance for the team to revisit a bunch of aspects in her abilities and sort of bring her back to her glory days."
Valkyrie's Upgrades
To reclaim her competitive status in current strategies, the developer says the team evaluated each of her abilities and introduced significant modifications. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, increasing her speed during flight, and this equipment regenerates much quicker, enabling the player to spend more time aloft. She can no longer take damage from her ultimate ability, which has also been upgraded to tag opponents who take damage from it. Her squad redeploy ability — which launches teammates into the air for redeployment or escape — now takes much less time to activate. She's also getting some new perk choices that users can select to conserve resources, expand the spread of her rockets, or accelerate her ultimate activation.
"Her jet pack now delivers on the pilot experience," Holstead comments.
Map Changes
Additionally, the only floating arena, this location, is getting a mobility-focused overhaul, with an extensive redesign that opens up choke points and renders claiming the high ground a bit less daunting. Respawn state Apex Legends this update is all about giving players the tools they need to compete in matches.
"Essentially, we examined the game's core identity as a fast-paced FPS," says lead Legend designer the lead.
Apex Legends Season 27: Amped launches Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.
