Did Respawn Just Hand Us All a Magic Potion? Apex Legends Season 27 Unlocks Pro Moves
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Apex Legends Season 27, 'Amped,' is making previously niche, high-skill movement mechanics like 'mantle jumping' accessible to all players via 'Mantle Boosting' and introducing new indicators. Additionally, Legends like Valkyrie are receiving significant buffs to enhance their mobility, pushing the game further into its identity as a 'movement shooter,' as reported by Claire Lewis for Polygon.
Alright, you digital legends, gather 'round! Jeff's here, and I've just had a peek through the digital looking-glass at Apex Legends Season 27: Amped. And holy smokes, it seems Respawn is channeling its inner reality-bender, making some traditionally 'wizard-level' movement mechanics accessible to us mere mortals. Remember those elusive, jaw-dropping mantle jumps the pros would pull off, looking like they'd accidentally clipped through the matrix? Well, prepare yourselves, because according to Claire Lewis over at Polygon, that niche magic is about to go mainstream!
Dubbed 'Mantle Boosting' by Respawn – a snazzy new name for what was informally 'mantle jumping' – this beauty promises a burst of forward momentum when you clamber over ledges and walls. Lead battle royale designer Eric Canavese spills the beans, admitting it’s been lurking in the shadows, a secret handshake amongst the truly dedicated in Ranked and esports. But now? They're adding an *indicator*. An actual visual cue, like a helpful little glow showing you where to perform your digital parkour. It's like finding out your favorite secret spell has a handy 'Press X to Activate' prompt. On one hand, brilliant! More players get to feel like action heroes. On the other... what happens to the mystique, eh? Is the magic less magical when it's signposted?
Lead Legend designer Josh Mohan reckons they want players to 'feel powerful' and are extending some of the 'crazy stuff' (like super-gliding and tap-strafing) to a wider base, because those advanced mechanics are 'janky to access.' And while I appreciate the sentiment, it does make one wonder if the goal is truly empowerment, or just smoothing out the rough edges for a wider net. Are we just getting a polished version of what the truly dedicated could already do, but without the satisfying grind of mastering it? A classic 'easy mode' debate, perhaps? Still, if it means I can pull off a cool move without remapping my entire keyboard, I won't complain.
But fair dinkum, the real star of this movement show looks to be Valkyrie. Respawn reckons 'her time is here,' and they've given her more buffs than a wizard's potion cabinet! Legend designer Ian Holstead admits she's been a bit less 'relevant' recently, so they're bringing her back to her 'glory days.' Her VTOL Jets? Faster, and they recharge three times quicker – meaning more time zipping through the skies. Missile Swarm? No self-damage (thank the digital deities!) and now tags enemies. Skyward Dive? Zips up much quicker. Plus, new Legend Upgrades let players tweak her fuel consumption, expand missile spread, or further speed up that Skyward Dive takeoff. It's almost like Respawn saw her sitting in the corner, polishing her helmet, and said, 'Right, time to unleash the Kraken... or rather, the Valkyrie!' Horizon and Rampart are also getting some love to keep them in motion, with cooldown reductions and speed boosts respectively.
Even the floating city of Olympus is getting a movement-friendly facelift, with an extensive redesign that aims to open up choke points and make claiming high ground a tad less daunting. Mohan sums it up nicely: Apex's core identity is a 'movement shooter.' And Season 27: Amped, launching November 4th, seems to be doubling down on that, for better or for... well, for more accessible, anyway. Let's see what happens when everyone gets a taste of that high-octane wizardry, eh?
(Cheers to Claire Lewis over at Polygon for giving us the initial intel on this wild ride!)
Tags: Apex Legends, Battle Royale, Gaming News, Movement Mechanics, Season 27
Original article: Polygon