Rainbow Six Siege is known for tweaking its operators regularly. The developers do this to make the Operators more balanced and also to change the meta. Year 5 Season 2, also known as Operation: Steel Wave, is now live on Test Server and it brings several balancing changes along with two new Operators, Ace and Melusi.
Clash’s SMG Red Dot is removed, and the reflex’s green triangle is added. Echo has been nerfed, the camera shake effect caused by Yokai’s concussion is removed, and moving while being concussed does not increase effect time. Effect time is now fixed for 10 seconds. His deployable shield has been replaced by Impact Grenades.
Kaid and Nomad both got new secondary weapons. The LFP586 has been added to Kaid's loadout and the PR892 to Nomad’s loadout. Oryx is slightly buffed, as he now only takes five damage from breaking walls and his bulletproof camera was replaced by the new secondary gadget, Proximity Mine. The concussion effect caused by Ela and Zofia's gadgets don't distort sensitivity anymore either.
Do keep in mind that all these changes are only active in the Test Server. The final changes in the main build might differ. You can read all the other buffs and nerfs made below and on the official site.
Operator Balancing
CLASH
- Clash's SMG will switch from having a red dot to using the reflex's green triangle.
ECHO
- Removed the camera shake effect from from Yokai's concussion effects.
- Length of concussion effect is no longer affected by movement. Now has a fixed duration of 10s and the intensity of the vision disruption stays fixed throughout the effect.
- Replaced the Deployable Shield with Impact Grenades.
FINKA
- Increased base hp to 30 (from five) for teammates revived by Finka's Nanoboost. DBNO Players will stand up with 50 hp (30 from own base hp + 20 from Finka boost).
KAID
- Added LFP586 secondary to loadout.
KALI
- Reduced LV Explosive Lance's fuse time to 1.5s (down from 2.5s).
- Improved CSRX 300 recoil through reduced weapon climb after each shot.
- Replaced P22 Mk5 with SPSMG9 in loadout.
NOMAD
- Added PR892 secondary weapon to loadout.
ORYX
- Reduced damage taken when dashing through walls to five (down from 10).
- Bulletproof Camera replaced with new Proximity Alarm secondary gadget.
- Added angled grip option to Oryx's MP5.
ELA, ZOFIA
- Eliminated the mouse sensibility modifier from concussion effect of the Bosak sisters' gadgets.
YING
- Removed a Candela to bring it down to three (from four Candelas). - Changed for PC on 04-30-2020.
