Ubisoft has introduced a new update to Rainbow Six Siege’s PC-exclusive test server, a separate online environment where players can help try out features and tweaks before they’re pushed to the live game. This new update doesn’t change a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but if you enjoy playing as operators like Blackbeard, IQ, Dokkaebi, and Finka, you’ll want to pay attention to what it does change.
The update, which went live on the test server a few days ago, mainly focuses on tweaking specific operators. In some cases, these tweaks take the form of nerfs, and the operators affected include IQ and Blackbeard. IQ’s frag grenades have been swapped out for claymores and her unique Electronics Detector gadget has had its effective range lowered from 20 meters to 15 meters. This means that IQ players will no longer be able to put pressure on the defending team with frag grenades and they’ll have to move in closer if they want to detect any gadgets the defenders might have planted.
As for Blackbeard, his unique Gun Shield attachment has had its total health lowered from 60 HP to 50 HP, but he also now moves slightly faster with the shield up than he did before. Again, it’s not a huge change overall, but it does afford defender players an easier time of getting through Blackbeard’s shield, assuming they can consistently land shots on him of course.
Meanwhile, for Finka players, the new test server update is very good news indeed. Finka’s stun grenades have been swapped out for frag grenades, and her unique Nano Boost gadget is now more effective against Smoke’s gas canisters. Normally, a player caught in the gas cloud produced by Smoke’s canisters take double damage, but now they only take 50 percent increased damage if they’re under the effect of a Nano Boost.
Lastly, Dokkaebi’s claymores have been swapped out for stun grenades, taking away some of her lethality by also upping her ability to pressure and disorient defenders (something she was already pretty good at). Aside from the operator changes, the new test server update also makes some minor tweaks to the recoil pattern for certain guns (specifically the K1A1 and M249) and fixes a couple bugs.
Ubisoft was careful to note in the test server update announcement post that all of the tweaks introduced in this update are subject to change before they’re pushed to the live game, so players shouldn’t just assume that the new operator tweaks are final. For more on Rainbow Six Siege, be sure to read about the stricter anti-cheat measures Ubisoft is implementing and the Operation Para Bellum expansion that went live last month.