The Battle Royale's Specialized Movement Mechanics Are Going Mainstream During This Update
Respawn Entertainment has a special treat in store for the popular battle royale players, arriving just in time for the holidays. Fans of this game's highly fluid traversal will be pleased to learn that an innovative traversal feature is being implemented when the Amped season goes live on Nov. 4.
Introducing The Mantle Boost
Dubbed "Mantle Boosting" by the developers, this feature gives players a surge of propulsion when climbing over ledges and walls. According to key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting has unofficially existed of the game for quite a while, usually referred to as "mantle jumping." However 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 players of all skill levels to execute these tricky movement boosts.
"This technique existed in the game for a while, but executing it requires skill to perform and gamers might not realize it's possible without external guides," Canavese explains. "Now including a visual cue so users can clearly identify when and how to activate the fast-paced movement ability, making accessible the mechanic and adding new ways to play for more players."
The Reasoning Behind Make It Accessible
What's the reason for making a once niche movement quirk accessible to all players? Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan explains the team aims for players to feel powerful — even those who are inexperienced.
"[The playerbase] performs other crazy stuff like super-glides and tap-strafing, and we looked around at our competition, observed what our players execute, and we wondered, 'How can we provide some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan explains. "Because currently, some of these techniques are kind of janky to use — it requires to remap your keybinds and execute within precise timings. So we said, 'What if we make a polished implementation?'"
Season 27 Emphasis on Mobility
Movement is primarily the name of the game in Season 27, with Legends Horizon, the defensive specialist, and Valkyrie receiving buffs to maintain them mobile. Recovery time on her tactical ability is shorter, and this skill will propel users upward faster than it used to. Rampart's Amped Cover feature overhead protection and capability to grant speed boosts to those nearby. However it's aerial this Legend who's getting the most attention this season, with multiple tweaks implemented to make her stronger, faster, and deadlier.
"In my opinion many agree that Valkyrie's time is here," says Legend designer Ian Holstead. "Certainly that she's been top-tier previously, but due to the addition of new Legends, movement[-based] passives, and Evac Towers, it felt like she fell behind in current Apex. This presented an ideal chance for the team to reexamine a bunch of aspects [of her kit] and essentially bring her back to her glory days."
Enhancements to the Aerial Legend
To restore her competitive status in the game's meta, the developer notes Respawn evaluated each of her abilities and introduced significant changes. Her VTOL Jets have been upgraded, increasing velocity while airborne, and this equipment now recharge three times faster, enabling the player to remain longer aloft. She can no longer take damage from her own Missile Swarm, which has also been upgraded to mark enemies who are hit from it. Her Skyward Dive skill — which launches her entire squad skyward for redeployment or escape — requires reduced delay to activate. Additionally, she gains some new perk choices that players can choose to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her rockets, or further speed up her ultimate activation.
"Valkyrie's equipment fulfills that jet-fighter fantasy," he comments.
Map Changes
Additionally, the lone airborne map, Olympus, is getting a movement-friendly overhaul, with major changes that opens up bottlenecks and makes claiming the high ground more manageable. Respawn says Apex Legends this update focuses on giving players the tools they need to keep up with matches.
"Essentially, we examined the game's core identity as a movement shooter," explains principal designer Josh Mohan.
The battle royale the Amped season launches Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST.
