Siege's latest batch of Operator Changes will make Y6S3 an interesting season


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Rainbow Six Siege is about to enter Y6S3 and Operation Crystal Guard. There are quite a few changes coming across the board, but the Y6S3 Operator changes mentioned in Ubisoft's latest Pre-Season Designer's Notes are going to be the ones that really matter. Here's the latest...

Crystal Guard Operator Changes - Patch Notes

The latest set of Pre-Season Designer's Notes - highlighting everything changing in the Crystal Guard update - are an interesting read for a lot of Siege players. There are some key Operator changes coming in the Y6S3 update to IQ's Electronics Scanner and pings, Fuse's Cluster Charges, and Twitch's Shock Drones. Here's everything you need to know...

Fuse Operator Changes

  • Cluster Charges
    • Can be deployed on reinforced surfaces and Mira's Black Mirror
    • Charges take longer (3s) to pass through reinforcements
    • Reduced charge bounce after triggering
    • The extension tube is now vulnerable to damage
    • Added gadget light to signify a phase of activation
    • Added VFX for Cluster Charge triggering on soft walls and reinforced surfaces
    • Added SFX for Cluster Charge triggering on reinforced surfaces
  • Increased recoil on AK-12

Twitch Operator Changes

  • Equipped with a regular drone during Preparation Phase - only 1 regular drone available
  • Shock Drone can jump
  • Shock Drone's projectile changed to laser (from taser)
    • Deals 5hp damage (from 1)
    • Has infinite range
    • Does not disable electronic devices
  • Shock Drone has a larger bullet collision (double the size)

IQ Operator Changes

  • Electronics Detector
    • Can use Ping 2.0 through walls
    • Can ping operators with wearable electronic devices (Vigil, Counter-Defuser, etc.)

Finka Operator Changes

  • Added Frag Grenades (removed Hard Breach Charge)

Glaz Operator Changes

  • Increased OTS-03 magazine size to 15 bullets (from 10)

Iana Operator Changes

  • Removed 2.0x scope from G36C
  • Removed 2.5x scope from ARX200

Mute Operator Changes

  • Signal Disruptor
    • Disruption zone shape changed to a sphere with the same radius of 2.25m (from a cylinder)
    • Warning zone shape changed to sphere and radius reduced to 4.75m (from cylinder, 6m radius)
    • Added AoE VFX (red area removed)
    • Added new LEDs
    • Improved accuracy of bullet collision

Sledge Operator Changes

  • Removed SMG-11

When does Operation Crystal Guard start?

The next season of Rainbow Six Siege content - which will also reflect the following Y6S3 Operator Changes - is due to start as soon as the current season of content is over. This means Crystal Guard starts when North Star is due to end on August 30th.

UPDATE: The Test Server now reflects Crystal Guard content which would suggest the full release of Y6S3 is scheduled for September 7th, or later. We do not have confirmation of this yet.

If we're talking specifics, North Star released at the following time of the day:

  • Steam
    • Maintenance Time: 09:00 EST / 12:00 PST / 17:00 BST
    • Release Time: 10:00 EST / 13:00 PST / 18:00 BST
  • Uplay
    • Maintenance Time: 09:00 EST / 12:00 PST / 17:00 BST
    • Release Time: 10:00 EST / 13:00 PST / 18:00 BST
  • Xbox Consoles
    • Maintenance Time: 10:00 EST / 13:00 PST / 18:00 BST
    • Release Time: 11:00 EST / 14:00 PST / 19:00 BST
  • PlayStation Consoles
    • Maintenance Time: 11:00 EST / 14:00 PST / 19:00 BST
    • Release Time: 12:00 EST / 15:00 PST / 20:00 BST

Crystal Guard and Y6S3 should start at the same time of day - following an hour of Server Maintenance - on August 30th. We don't think Ubisoft is going to change their update schedule anytime soon.

Osa, Rainbow Six Siege's first transgender Operator, is spearheading the content offered by Ubisoft in Crystal Guard. Bank, Clubhouse, and Coastline are also going to undergo some changes.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Rainbow Six and More page.