Operators Balancing
IQs gadget now has enhanced visual feedback
We have changed the way IQs device displays the environment and electronic devices. You can now see through the screen, and there will now be an outline of the detected devices. The effective detection distance is now 20 meters.
Tachankas LMG is now easier to place and easier to use
We have modified the placement zone so it is easier to deploy Tachankas Mounted LMG in tighter spaces, and while closer to walls or other objects. You will also be able to interact with the Mounted LMG much quicker than before (faster entry and exit time). This is a first step for Tachanka tweaks as we will continue to monitor and improve him.
Montagnes shield adds side protection
We are introducing added protection to Montagnes shield to cover his sides. We believe this will make him a more interesting option, by pushing even further his defensive capabilities. This will allow him to enter rooms more safely and provide even more cover to his teammates.
Frost no longer has a Nitro Cell
Building on the tweaks to Frosts Super 90 shotgun introduced with Patch 2.3, we have decided to replace her Nitro Cell with Barbed Wire. We saw that the reduction in range to the shotgun did not really affect her selection rate nor her win rate. Since she has a very good and useful unique gadget, we believe that this change will fit her role as a trapper better.
Buck gets grenades & reduced recoil, but his shotgun loses range
We are removing Bucks Breach Charges due to the increase of Bucks shotgun destruction radius. Instead, we are giving him frag grenades which we think will make him a more aggressive offensive Operator.
We are reducing the horizontal variation on the recoil for one of his primary weapons, the C8 rifle. That means that when you hold fully automatic fire, the gun will move a little less in the left/right direction.
We have slightly reduced underslung shotguns effective range by 2 meters, so it fits more as a tool than a clear-cut offensive weapon.
Thatchers EMP grenade gets a range reduction
Weve reduced his unique gadgets effective range from 7m to 5.2m. The intention is to keep him from clearing a whole room of gadgets, from the top, bottom, or even sides. We want to encourage players into thinking where the best spot is to throw the EMP. Additionally, Thatchers EMP now disables enemies sights completely for 10 seconds.
Sledge swaps Breach Charges for Stun Grenades
We have replaced his Breach Charges for Stun Grenades making his loadout options more versatile. We believe this change is for the best as Sledge has the equivalent of a better, reusable Breach Charge with him. He is also statistically almost never played with Breach Charges, which makes sense.
Thermite swaps Frag Grenades for Stun Grenades
We are swapping Thermites Frag Grenades for Stun Grenades. There are two reasons behind this change. The first reason is that Thermite has a very important unique gadget, making him one of the most pivotal Operators in an attacking team. The second reason is to limit the number of concurrent Operators that can bring Frag Grenades on the field. To us, two Operators with frag grenades is more than enough for an attacking team, and more than two would make it a lot harder for the Defenders to protect their objective. This will make Thermite slightly less offensive, while giving him more utility.
The FBI SWAT Recruit Shield loadout will now have heavy armor
The FBI SWAT recruit equipped with a shield is now bearing heavy armor, making him a 3 armor and 1 movement speed instead of 2 armor and 2 speed. We made that change for shield-wielding Operators to be consistent in speed. We saw what kind of aggression the Recruit Shield could bring and a skilled player taking full advantage of his loadout was too strong. This change should help making him on par with other shield-wielding Operators and effectively allow the newer Rainbow Six Siege players to get accustomed to the movement speed that shield-wielders have.
Gadget and Attachment Balancing
Introducing gadget placement cancellation controls
We have introduced a new flow for placing gadgets. Instead of holding a key or button and letting it go when you are ready to place the gadget, you can now press it to take out the gadget in your hands and then hold it to place the gadget. You can also cancel the placement at any time. This feature will need to be turned ON in the Options menu.
Red Dot & Reflex Triangle sights now more precise
The green triangle in the Reflex Sight and the red dot in the Red Dot sight are now much smaller for better precision.
Flash Hider & Compensator adjustments
We have reworked how the Flash Hider and Compensator function. We want them to have more significant roles, like the Silencer. The intention is to have each attachment reward a specific weapon wielding style.
Flash Hider
Besides still partially hiding the flash, we have opted to reduce the time it takes for the weapon to center back and reduce the first shot recoil. This attachment will now reward single-shot and short burst firing.
Compensator
We have added a cap on the maximum recoil this attachment allows for, making fully-automatic fire more potent.
Stun Grenades now detonate faster after contact
Stun Grenades now detonate 1 second after making contact with a surface instead of having a 3 second fuse. We wanted to make that change because we think it will add a surprise effect and will make them more effective.
Weapon Balancing
Pump-Action Shotgun rebalance
We have improved the pump-action shotguns by giving them more effective range for their maximum damage. This means that their full damage will begin falling off at a further distance than previously.
SDASS Compact
53 damage up to 3 meters -> 53 damage up to 5 meters
591A1
48 damage up to 5 meters -> 48 damage up to 6.5 meters
M870
60 damage up to 2 meters -> 55 damage up to 3.5 meters
This change was primarily due to feedback we received from the community and from workshops with Pro League players. Please note that the line is very fine between underpowered and overpowered for shotguns. We will be monitoring the change to these weapons closely.
