Rainbow Six Siege — Crystal Guard. Presentation Details

In mid-August, game developer Ubisoft introduced a new operation for Rainbow Six Siege. We can expect reworked maps, updates to the operators’ gadgets, and a new defensive operator named Osa. The developers presented this new chapter just before the start of the Six Mexico Major 2021.

Osa, the new attacker, will have a bulletproof shield. This gadget is likely to add more tactical options for the attackers.

The attacker Anna will receive an additional point of armor and speed. Osa’s primary gadget will be the Talon-8, a transparent bulletproof shield that can be carried by hand and used to cover the operator’s head while in a seated position. This gadget can be deployed at various angles, even when the operator is rappelling.

It won’t be possible to set up the gadget at full height on objects; it can only be placed in windows and doorways. Double windows cannot be sealed with the shield, so additional reinforcements will be needed in such cases, such as Castle’s armor panels. The main advantage of the shield is protection against Kapkan’s traps, which deal significant damage. The drawback is its vulnerability to impacts and C4 explosions.

Anna Yankovich already has the 556xi assault rifle and the PDW-9 submachine gun in her arsenal. The attacker’s gadgets include flashbangs and the “Claymore” anti-personnel mine. According to some reports, smoke grenades will also be added. The first appearance of the operator in Crystal Guard took place on August 17 on the game’s test server.

Interface Changes and HP Enhancements

Operators’ armor will now convert into additional health points, increasing their overall health. When an operator has three armor points, their HP will be 125, and when they have two armor points, their HP will be 110. The lightest operators will have HP reaching 100. With Rook’s gadget, operators will gain an extra twenty health points.

Twitch now has a shock drone that can destroy any enemy gadgets.

With the upgrade of Twitch’s regular drone, which is used in the preparation phase of the attack, Maestro and Melusi will be seen in a new light. Previously, the shock drone could disable them for a short time, but this update allows disabling the operators until the end of the round. Additionally, the device is now only used during active movement on the maps. The drone can jump and disable all other devices.

Fuze can now easily breach reinforced walls.

Thanks to Cluster Charges

The functionality of the “Matryoshka” gadget (K3-6) has been expanded. In the Crystal Guard operation, it can penetrate any reinforced wall or hatch with ease. It’s worth noting that this penetration takes some time, so don’t expect it to trigger instantly. The animation, by the way, closely resembles Thermite’s charge. However, the use of the device for thinner walls remains unchanged.

IQ – the main threat to attackers Vigil and Mute. Enhancing her detector’s abilities can disrupt their potential

The D.E.D. gadget now features a Ping 2.0 system. This system pings opponents’ electrical items, and it can work on any surface. This means that it becomes possible for allies to expose static and dynamic enemy gadgets. It seems that from now on, IQ will be a counterpick for Mute or Vigil operators.

Enemy Highlighting – Farewell, Imbalanced Camouflages!

On the test server, they promised to add highlighting for all opposing team fighters. The innovation involves default contour highlighting of enemies. The introduction of this feature is aimed at preventing the use of colored camouflages, which hinder enemy identification during encounters. Those who prefer a more challenging game can always disable the feature in the settings.

“Bank,” “Coastline,” and “Club” Reworked. Wild Rushes and Spawn Peeks

The boulevard and alley on “Bank” will be divided by new terrain. Most likely, this will be a place where operators like Ash or IQ (other high-speed operators) can fully demonstrate their abilities. As for the transport at the main entrance, it will likely be shifted to the right to reduce runouts.

Skylights on the roofs will be closed, and arch-shaped windows, favored by Glaz and Kali, will be blocked. The architecture in one part of the alley will also undergo changes, with the removal of some spawn peeks. Thanks to the significant expansion of the elevators, more dynamic maneuvers can be performed inside them. A new hatch will be added in the hall, while the grates in the storage area will be removed.

The main feature on “Coastline” has also been mercilessly removed by Ubisoft. Attackers no longer have a “legal” cheat. With it, a deactivator was placed at the exit to the “Kitchen.” In the same place, a window in front of the computer table has been added. Changes to some textures on the roof will help eliminate unfair shootouts from gameplay.

The inner courtyard of the map will now have several blocked windows, while the rest can be barricaded. The VIP room window on the second floor has also been removed and REPLACED with a destructible wall.

On “Club,” a new point for the deactivator has been added – at the “Bar.” On “Warehouse,” only operators will move, no more. Rotation between the sites can be done using a door placed behind the bar counter. The dog kennel and graffiti connect to the updated route. “Club” has also received new decorations for all key points.

All three maps will also receive updates in terms of sound and lighting effects. Many players have complained about the sounds in the maps because different sounds during detonations made it almost impossible to hear how opponents were moving.

Good News for Ying and Blitz. Flash Mechanics Updated

In the Crystal Guard version, fully reworked flashbang and gadget blindness will finally appear. Due to their overpowered nature, Ying and Blitz will become frequent bans. In particular, this awaits the unfortunate shield-wielder, Ying. Now the blindness system takes into account the following conditions: tilt, the fighter’s location, and the distance to the target.

In other words, anyone the flashbang is directed at will be blinded. Turning to the wall while climbing stairs, for example, is now useless. The duration of the debuff will directly depend on the conditions in which it was used, as mentioned above.

About collectible sets and elite sets for heroes, a reference to Resident Evil

Customization of premium sets is available. The main thing is that the clothing is on the operator. A new elite set in the style of Resident Evil is already available for Lion, making him look like Leon Kennedy.

This fall, at least ten real-world Rainbow Six universe items will go on sale. The name of the brand new collector’s set: Siege Year 6 Collector’s Case. The number of sets is limited to seven thousand.

Crystal Guard will be available on both computers and consoles on September 7, 2021.