Apex Legends' Niche Movement Mechanics Become Widely Accessible During This Update
The game developers has an exciting surprise in store for the popular battle royale gamers, arriving just in time for the holidays. Fans of the battle royale's super-slick traversal can rejoice to learn that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when the Amped season launches on Nov. 4.
Unveiling Mantle Boosting
Named "Mantle Boosting" by Respawn, this ability gives players a burst of propulsion when climbing over ledges and walls. According to lead battle royale designer the design lead, this technique has unofficially been a feature of the game for quite a while, usually referred to as "ledge boosting." But it's no easy feat for the average player, and typically employed by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or tournaments. In this update, Respawn simplifies the process for everyone to execute these tricky speed-boosts.
"Mantle Boosts existed in Apex for some time, but the movement isn't easy to pull off and gamers might not realize it [is in the game] without external guides," the designer states. "We're adding a Mantle Boost indicator so users can clearly identify the timing to trigger the fast-paced movement ability, making accessible the mechanic 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 all players? Lead Legend designer the development lead says the team aims for gamers to feel powerful — even those who are inexperienced.
"[The playerbase] is doing advanced techniques like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we looked around at our competition, observed what our players execute, and we wondered, 'What if we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan clarifies. "Since currently, some of these advanced [movement] mechanics are somewhat awkward to use — it requires to change controls and execute within precise timings. We proposed, 'How about we create a polished implementation?'"
Season 27 Movement Focus
Mobility is primarily the central theme in this season, with Legends Horizon, Rampart, and Valkyrie receiving enhancements to maintain them in motion. Recovery time on Horizon's Gravity Lift is shorter, and the Gravity Lift will boost players upward much quicker than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover feature a roof and the ability to provide movement bonuses to those nearby. However it's the high-flying Valkyrie receiving significant improvements now, with multiple tweaks implemented to make her more potent, faster, and more lethal.
"I think many agree that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says character developer the designer. "There's no doubt that she's been top-tier in the past, but with the introduction of other characters, mobility perks, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she's not very relevant in current Apex. It was an ideal chance for us to revisit a bunch of aspects [of her kit] and sort of restore her to former prominence."
Enhancements to the Aerial Legend
To restore her competitive status in the game's meta, the developer says the team assessed all her skills and implemented some powerful changes. Her jetpack have been upgraded, increasing velocity during flight, and this equipment regenerates three times faster, enabling her to spend more time aloft. Now she won't take damage from her ultimate ability, which was enhanced to tag opponents who are hit from it. Her squad redeploy skill — which launches her entire squad skyward for redeployment or retreat — requires much less time to fire up. Additionally, she gains recently added Legend Upgrades that users can choose to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her rockets, or further speed up her ultimate activation.
"Valkyrie's equipment fulfills the pilot experience," Holstead says.
Olympus Improvements
Even the game's lone airborne map, Olympus, is getting a mobility-focused facelift, with major changes that opens up bottlenecks and renders securing elevated positions more manageable. Respawn state the game this update focuses on providing gamers the resources they need to compete in matches.
"Really, we examined Apex's core identity as a movement shooter," says lead Legend designer Josh Mohan.
The battle royale Season 27: Amped releases Nov. 4 at the specified times.
