Season 27, “Amped,” introduces sweeping changes to Apex Legends with a focus on movement, vertical combat, and legend reworks.
In this guide we’ll cover:
- Complete Olympus map overhaul with four new POIs and reduced open space
- Major reworks for Valkyrie, Rampart, and Horizon, emphasizing combat mobility
- New universal movement system: Mantle Boost
- Trident vehicle upgrade with gliding, ramming damage, and separate health pool
- Arsenal shakeup: Skullpiercer and Accelerator removed, new Alternator hop-up, crate weapon updates
- Ranked improvements: fairer loot distribution, updated kill point values
- New systems: Wishlist feature, Supersonic Wildcard mode, Mythic R-99 SMG
- Cosmetics: reactive Sentinel, new Legendary skins, and a universal dual-katana heirloom
Legend Buffs & Meta Shifts in Apex Legends Season 27
The spotlight this season is on Valkyrie, Rampart, and Horizon—each receiving significant reworks aimed at modernizing their kits, expanding tactical options, and increasing their viability across all skill levels.
| Legend | Ability | Change Summary |
| Valkyrie | Passive – VTOL Jets | Recharge 3× faster; higher strafe and ascent speed; slight increase in initial fuel use |
| Tactical – Missile Swarm | No self-damage; ignores height limits; scans enemies and disables movement passives | |
| Ultimate – Skyward Dive | Faster activation (“Supersonic Mode”); can fire Missile Swarm mid-skydiving | |
| Rampart | Tactical – Amped Cover | Wall HP scales with Evo Shield level; adds roof; regenerates if undamaged |
| Passive Bonus | Teammates vaulting charged walls get a speed boost (offensive push mechanic) | |
| Amped Bonus | Firing from cover grants infinite ammo and faster reload speed | |
| Horizon | Tactical – Gravity Lift | Shorter cooldown; faster ascent; knockdowns grant a bonus charge |
| Passive – Lift Control | Crouch to dive fast; jump at top to glide (“Gravity Boots” + “Newt Scoot”) | |
| Ultimate – Black Hole | Increased HP; harder for enemies to destroy |
Valkyrie Buffs: Faster Jetpack, Supersonic Ultimate
Valkyrie‘s rework emphasizes speed and combat utility, turning her into a more aggressive aerial threat.
- VTOL Jets (Passive): Jetpack recharge time is now three times faster. Initial fuel use is slightly higher, but her strafe speed and maneuverability are significantly improved. A later upgrade can reduce overall fuel consumption.
- Skyward Dive (Ultimate): Activation time is shortened, allowing for near-instant liftoff. She can now fire Missile Swarm mid-skydive, enabling pressure from above during redeploys.
- Missile Swarm (Tactical): No longer causes self-damage, bypasses height limits, and now scans enemies it hits while temporarily disabling movement passives.
Playstyle Impact: Valkyrie becomes a direct counter to high-mobility legends and excels in fast aerial assaults. Her faster ultimate makes her a go-to pick for aggressive mid- and late-game rotations.
Rampart Buffs: Speed Boost Walls & Infinite Ammo
Rampart now supports dynamic pushes, with tools that reward proactive positioning and coordinated movement.
- Amped Cover (Tactical): Wall HP scales with Evo Shield level. Walls gain a roof and will regenerate if left undamaged.
- Offensive Speed Boost: Walls store energy from damage dealt. Teammates vaulting over charged walls receive a sprint-speed boost.
- Cover Bonuses: Firing through cover grants infinite ammo and faster reload speed when upgrades are unlocked.
Playstyle Impact: Rampart is no longer a bunker-only pick. Her setup now enables aggressive repositioning, allowing teams to launch pushes from fortified ground with ammo advantages and speed boosts.
Horizon Rework: Double Lift, Air Control, Stronger Ult
Horizon regains her vertical dominance through lift mechanics and a sturdier ultimate.
- Gravity Lift (Tactical): Shorter cooldown and faster ascent. Knockdowns grant a bonus tactical charge.
- Lift Movement Options: Players can crouch to dive quickly or glide outward by jumping at the lift’s peak—adding unpredictability in air-based fights.
- Black Hole (Ultimate): Increased durability makes it harder to destroy during crowd-control plays.
Playstyle Impact: Horizon thrives again in multi-level zones. Her lift gives more tactical depth, and her ultimate lasts long enough to impact team fights.
New Movement System, Trident Rework & Heat Shield Removal
Mantle Boost Movement Mechanic
A new universal movement mechanic is being added for all legends: the new official Mantle boost. Upon reaching the top of a climb, players can execute a forward burst of momentum. A timer-like graphic on the reticle will serve as a visual cue.
- Gameplay Impact: According to a Mantle boost dev note, this mechanic makes advanced mobility more accessible without replacing high-skill techniques like supergliding. It lowers the skill barrier for aggressive pushes and evasive maneuvers, making fights more dynamic across all skill levels, though precise timing is still rewarded.
Trident Vehicle Changes in Season 27
The Trident vehicle is receiving a major tune up this season. Its overall maneuverability and boost controls will be made easier to use, and it will gain a new ability to jump and glide over rough terrain.
- Gameplay Impact: The Trident is no longer a “safe taxi.” It now has its own dedicated health bar, a change that will unlock fixed health bars for vehicles. This means the driver and passengers trident can be targeted individually, making vehicle positioning and awareness more critical than ever. It will also now inflict ramming damage.
Heat Shields Removed in Season 27: Survival Strategy Update
In a major change to endgame strategy, Heat Shields have been completely removed from the core battle royale loot pool. This significant revision is designed to discourage camping in the storm and place a greater emphasis on active, in-zone rotations and positioning, making it a significant factor in late-game survival.
Olympus Map Rework: New POIs & Vertical Zones
The map of Olympus is undergoing a significant rework, with four brand-new Points of Interest (POIs) and a substantial redesign of areas that were previously large open space. The entire map will benefit from environmental audio improvements designed to add dynamic contextual awareness.
New POIs:
- Gravity Engine (Replaces Energy Depot): The added gravity engine POI, which was previously energy depot, is a central “movement lab” with zip rails and in-map Horizon Lifts.
- Somers University (Replaces Orbital Cannon): A large, multi-layered campus that serves as Horizon’s Town Takeover.
- Stabilizer (Replaces Docks): A lowered POI with more cover, trenches, and floating platforms.
- Dockyard: A new POI with an emphasis on extreme verticality.
How the New Olympus Changes Gameplay: Expect faster rotations and more high-ground skirmishes. The added verticality directly benefits the newly buffed legends.
Weapon Meta Changes: CQC Shift, New Hop-Ups, Crate Rotation
The season brings a deliberate shift away from long-range poke setups and back toward close-quarters combat through targeted weapon tuning.
| Item / Weapon | Change Summary |
| Skullpiercer (Hop-Up) | Removed from loot pool; impacts Wingman, Longbow, 30-30 |
| Accelerator (Hop-Up) | Removed; previously used with Flatline, Scout, CAR |
| Alternator | Gains locked Double Tap Trigger hop-up; fires both barrels at once |
| Peacekeeper | Reduced max damage; adjusted effective range |
| Triple Take | Returns to floor loot with slightly faster fire rate |
| CAR SMG | Moves to Care Package; can toggle between Disruptor and Hammerpoint rounds |
| Gold Laser Sight | New attachment; improves hip-fire spread with reverse-spread mechanic |
| Amp Loot (New) | Early-game pickups: Infinite Ammo and Over-Armor for temporary boosts |
Meta Direction and Gameplay Impact
With Skullpiercer and Accelerator removed, headshot-reliant and marksman loadouts take a back seat. The early-game loot pool now leans toward aggressive, high-mobility skirmishes.
- Alternator’s Double Tap turns it into a high-burst SMG-shotgun hybrid. Once unlocked mid-fight, it outputs close-range damage in quick volleys—ideal for ambush or bunker-down playstyles.
- Peacekeeper damage tuning and range adjustments reduce its dominance at mid-range, reinforcing its role as a true close-quarters finisher.
- CAR SMG, now in the Care Package, introduces ammo-mode switching between Disruptor and Hammerpoint rounds, letting players melt shields or flesh depending on context.
- The Triple Take returns to floor loot with a faster fire rate, but without Skullpiercer, its threat level drops—positioning it as a secondary poke weapon rather than a primary.
- Gold Laser Sights tighten hip-fire spread and apply a reverse-spread mechanic, making sustained fire more accurate—especially strong on SMGs in frantic close fights.
- Amp Loot—Infinite Ammo and Over-Armor—add explosive tempo to early-game contests, giving faster looting squads a real advantage in first pushes.
Ranked Changes: Loot Balancing, KP Tweaks & QoL Additions
Several key changes, designed to address community feedback, are aimed at improving the competitive experience and to maintain competitive integrity.
- Loot Harmonization: A drop zone loot overhaul will balance loot across all ranked drop zone POIs, making more landing spots viable from the start.
- KP vs. RP: A New Balance: Kill point values are being adjusted slightly in the final score calculation. This tuning is intended to improve the pacing and reward balance in high-tier lobbies.
- “Continue with Squad” Feature: A new option will allow players to immediately queue for the next match with good random teammates, rather than being limited to only their existing party.
Wishlist System, Supersonic Event & Season 27 Skins
A new features dev note outlines several additions aimed at generating positive player sentiment.
- Wishlist Feature: A limited-time system will be tested for two weeks. Players can mark preferred items to increase their chances of receiving them in special Amped seasonal packs, according to the dev notes.
- “Supersonic” Wildcard Event: A new event brings a Wildcard mode to Olympus with a temporary Mythic R99 that can fire a missile swarm.
- Battle Pass: The new Battle Pass will feature a reactive Sentinel skin and legendary skins for Wattson and Valkyrie, as well as the standard free Battle Pass tracks.
- New Heirlooms and Skins: A new Dual-Wield Universal Heirloom (a set of dual katanas) is expected as a collection event reward. The season launch will also bring an R99 Mythic Skin.
Season 27 Summary: Key Updates, Meta Direction & What’s Next
Season 27 is defined by a renaissance of mobility, an emphasis on verticality, and the modernization of older legends. The shift towards a dynamic, close-quarters meta will reward aggressive play and skillful movement. As always, the full details of all balance adjustments will be found in the official patch notes. Keep an eye out for mid-season updates, as speculation remains high for an Octane rework.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Apex Legends Season 27 called?
Apex Legends Season 27 is titled “Amped.” This season introduces sweeping gameplay overhauls, including a full Olympus map rework, significant legend rebalances, a new universal movement mechanic called Mantle Boost, and weapon meta changes focused on aggressive, close-quarters combat.
Which legends received buffs in Apex Season 27?
Valkyrie, Rampart, and Horizon are the focal points of Season 27’s legend reworks. All three received major ability upgrades to increase combat viability, repositioning options, and synergy with the new Olympus map’s vertical design.
How has Valkyrie changed in Season 27?
Valkyrie’s VTOL Jets now recharge three times faster and offer improved mobility due to higher strafe and ascent speed. Skyward Dive activates almost instantly in its new “Supersonic Mode,” and she can now fire her Missile Swarm mid-skydive. Her tactical also disables enemy movement passives and reveals targets briefly after impact.
What does Valkyrie’s Missile Swarm do now?
Missile Swarm no longer inflicts self-damage, bypasses vertical height limits, and scans targets on hit. Scanned enemies have their movement-based passive abilities temporarily disabled and their locations are revealed for a short time, creating strong counterplay against evasive legends.
How has Rampart’s Amped Cover changed in Season 27?
Rampart’s walls now scale their health based on her Evo Shield level and regenerate after not taking damage. A protective roof has been added for cover against overhead threats. Firing through the amped portion of her walls grants infinite ammo and faster reloads, turning her defenses into offensive platforms.
What is the new offensive ability tied to Rampart’s walls?
When teammates vault over a charged Amped Cover, they now receive a significant forward speed boost. This mechanic turns Rampart’s walls into launch pads, allowing teams to initiate pushes from fortified positions with sudden aggression.
What buffs did Horizon receive in Season 27?
Horizon’s Gravity Lift has a reduced cooldown, improved vertical speed, and gains a second charge when she knocks down an enemy. Her Black Hole ultimate is now more durable. She also gains new lift interactions: crouching in the lift performs a dive, while jumping at the peak enables a long glide.
What is the Mantle Boost in Apex Legends Season 27?
Mantle Boost is a universal mobility mechanic that allows all legends to burst forward when finishing a climb. A new timing indicator appears on the reticle to assist execution. It rewards precise input without replacing high-skill movement like supergliding.
What changed with the Trident vehicle in Season 27?
The Trident now features its own health bar and can no longer split damage among riders. It can jump, glide over terrain, and deal ramming damage to enemies. These changes make it more skill-intensive and increase the risk-reward for mobile rotations.
Are Heat Shields still in Apex Legends?
Heat Shields have been removed from the main battle royale loot pool. This decision is meant to discourage storm camping and force more deliberate zone rotations and endgame movement strategies.
What new POIs were added in the Olympus map rework?
Four new Points of Interest are added in Season 27’s Olympus rework: Gravity Engine, Somers University, Stabilizer, and Dockyard. Each POI emphasizes layered layouts, ziplines, and vertical mobility, tailored to the updated legend kits and faster pacing.
What changes were made to Apex Legends’ environmental audio?
Season 27 includes environmental audio improvements that enhance sound clarity, directional awareness, and consistency in vertical engagements. These updates aim to help players better detect enemies in complex, multi-level POIs.
What hop-ups were removed in Season 27?
Skullpiercer and Hammerpoint Accelerators were removed to reduce the dominance of long-range and burst-damage weapons. Their absence shifts the early and mid-game loadout dynamics toward more consistent close-range options.
What is the new Alternator hop-up in Season 27?
The Alternator now features a locked Double Tap Trigger hop-up. After charging through combat, it fires both barrels simultaneously, turning it into a high burst-damage SMG effective at close range. A new UI indicator shows its charge status.
What changed with the Peacekeeper shotgun?
The Peacekeeper received a max damage reduction and slightly reduced effective range. These changes bring it more in line with other shotguns and reduce its ability to dominate outside of close-quarters engagements.
What’s new in the Care Package weapon rotation?
The CAR SMG enters the Care Package and can toggle between Disruptor and Hammerpoint Rounds for added utility. Meanwhile, the Triple Take returns to floor loot with a slightly faster fire rate to improve early-game viability.
What is Amp loot in Apex Legends Season 27?
Amp loot consists of short-duration power-ups found early in matches. These include Infinite Ammo, which removes the need for reloading temporarily, and Over-Armor, which grants bonus shield health. They create high-tempo loot contests right off drop.
What changes were made to ranked kill point scoring?
Kill Point (KP) values have been slightly increased in final ranked score calculations. This adjustment aims to reward eliminations more proportionally, especially in high-tier lobbies where survival-only strategies often dominated.
What is the Continue with Squad feature?
This new quality-of-life feature lets players automatically requeue with compatible random teammates after a match, even if they aren’t in a party. It streamlines matchmaking for solo players and helps maintain good squad synergy.
What is the Wishlist system in Season 27?
The Wishlist is a limited-time system running for two weeks. Players can select preferred cosmetics for five legends and two weapon categories. These selections increase the chance of receiving targeted items in special Amped event packs, offering a break from the generic Apex Pack pool.
