Apex Legends' Specialized Traversal Techniques Become Widely Accessible During This Update
The game developers has a special treat in store for the popular battle royale gamers, arriving just in time for the holidays. Fans of this game's highly fluid movement can rejoice to discover that an innovative traversal feature will be introduced when the Amped season launches on Nov. 4.
Introducing The Mantle Boost
Named "Momentum Boosting" by Respawn, this feature gives players a surge of forward momentum when scaling ledges and walls. According to key developer the design lead, Mantle Boosting was previously existed of the game for some time, usually referred to as "ledge boosting." However it's challenging for casual gamers, and typically employed by pro gamers in Ranked Mode or esports competitions. In this update, the team is making it easier for players of all skill levels to execute these tricky movement boosts.
"This technique have been in the game for some time, but the movement isn't easy to perform and a player would never know it's possible without outside knowledge," the designer states. "We're adding a visual cue so players can clearly identify the timing to trigger the high-octane traversal skill, opening up the feature and introducing fresh strategies to play for more players."
Why Opening Up Advanced Mechanics
Why make a previously obscure technique accessible to all players? Lead Legend designer the development lead explains developers aims for gamers to feel powerful — even those who are new.
"Our community performs advanced techniques like super-gliding and tap-strafing, and we looked around at other games, looked at what our players are doing, and we wondered, 'What if we extend some of this power to a broader audience?'" Mohan explains. "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 make a polished implementation?'"
The Amped Update Emphasis on Mobility
Mobility is largely the central theme in Season 27, with Legends Horizon, the defensive specialist, and Valkyrie receiving buffs to help keep them in motion. The cooldown period on her tactical ability has been decreased, and this skill will boost players upward much quicker than before. Rampart's Amped Cover now include a roof and the ability to grant movement bonuses to those nearby. However the spotlight is on aerial Valkyrie who's getting the most attention now, with various adjustments applied to make her more potent, quicker, and more lethal.
"I think there's quite a consensus that Valkyrie's time has arrived," says character developer the designer. "Certainly she was dominant in the past, but due to the addition of other characters, mobility perks, and redeployment tools, it seemed like she fell behind in current Apex. It was a really great opportunity for the team to revisit multiple elements [of her kit] and sort of restore her to her glory days."
Enhancements to the Aerial Legend
To reclaim her competitive status in current strategies, the developer notes the team evaluated each of her abilities and implemented some powerful modifications. Her jetpack received improvements, boosting velocity during flight, and the jets themselves regenerates three times faster, enabling the player to spend more time in the air. Now she won't be harmed from her own Missile Swarm, which was enhanced to mark opponents who are hit from the missiles. Her Skyward Dive ability — which launches teammates into the air for repositioning or escape — requires reduced delay to activate. Additionally, she gains some new perk choices that users can select to reduce fuel consumption, expand the spread of her rockets, or further speed up her Skyward Dive activation.
"Valkyrie's equipment now delivers on the pilot experience," he says.
Olympus Improvements
Even the game's lone airborne map, this location, receives a movement-friendly overhaul, with an extensive redesign that opens up bottlenecks and renders securing elevated positions a bit less daunting. The developers says Apex Legends this update focuses on providing gamers the resources they need to compete in the competition.
"Essentially, we were looking at Apex's core identity as a movement shooter," explains lead Legend designer the lead.
The battle royale Season 27: Amped launches November 4th at the specified times.