Operation Split Fire is igniting its way into Rainbow Six Siege on September 1. Revealed during the Esports World Cup, the new season emphasizes high-stakes and competitive gameplay with a new shield-countering Egyptian Defender, balancing updates for Kali and Dokkaebi, a special event, a limited-time 3v3 Arcade mode, a new ranked playlist for competitive players, and more.
New Operator: Noor
Noor is an Egyptian Defender who uses his fiery Horus Lance Launcher to devastating effect, especially against shield-wielding Attackers. When a Horus Lance projectile hits a shield, it will burrow in and then ignite, spouting flames directly towards the Attacker. The flames are powerful enough to kill an Operator in a few short seconds, so to survive, an afflicted Attacker must take a moment to move his shield to the side and remove the Horus Lance. This creates a moment of vulnerability that Noor or his teammates can capitalize on, giving Defenders a powerful new way to counter incoming shields.
Horus Lances can also stick into other surfaces – namely soft or reinforced walls and hatches, soft floors, deployable shields, or Operator gadgets like Osa’s shields, Castle’s barricades, or Azami’s barriers – where they will spout flames in two directions, creating a fiery hazard on both sides of the barrier. If they land on a surface that can’t be penetrated, like a door- or window-frame, flames will only jet out of one side of the device. Used wisely, Noor’s gadget can create strong area denial, and even destroy hard-breach gadgets if timed correctly.
In addition to Castle and Azami creating ready-made Horus Lance locations, Pulse is an excellent teammate for Noor, as his Cardiac Sensor can alert the new Defender to enemy locations. Plus, Tubarão’s Zoto Canister and Melusi’s Banshee Sonic Defense can slow Attackers caught in the Horus Lance’s flames, maximizing the burn damage.
Noor’s Stats and Weapons
Noor is a two-speed, two-armor Defender. Choose between the Commando-9 Assault Rifle or the Alda 5.56 LMG as his primary weapon, and the 1911 TACOPS or Bailiff 410 make impactful secondary weapon options.
His gadget options are the deployable shield and barbed wire, both of which can be carefully placed to slow down an enemy – who can then be hit with the Horus Lance Launcher for an extra crispy victory.
Operator and Weapon Balancing Updates
While Noor is the only new face on the Rainbow Six Siege roster this season, Operation Split Fire is giving more familiar Operators a rebalance. Check it out:
Kali
- Long range scopes are now 3.5x and 8x (from 5x and 12x)
- Decreased time between CSRX 300 shots
- Total ammo increased
- Switching to LV Explosive Lance no longer interrupts aiming down sights or impact leaning distance
Dokkaebi
- Can use Breach Charges instead of EMP Grenades
- Jegeo Payload is now interruptable by Mute Jammers
- Tablet must remain active throughout Jegeo Payload updload
Lion
- EE-ONE-D scan warning time is decreased
Echo
- Yokai Drone’s sonic burst recharges faster
Kapkan
- Entry Denial Device damage increased
Finally, the AR 15.50, MK 14 EBR, and SMG 12 machine pistol are receiving adjustments to their damage, recoil behavior, and ammo capacity.
Targeted Map Update – Villa
Operation Split Fire will also bring a targeted map update to Villa, moving the widely underused Living Room/Library bomb site from the first floor to the basement. The move will be accompanied by major renovations to the basement map layout to create new interior spaces, new rotations, and new tactical challenges.
Season 3 continues Siege’s modernized maps initiative, bringing upgraded visuals and destructible elements to more maps and locations, including:
- Stadium Alpha
- Stadium Bravo
- House
- Shooting Range
- Tutorials
3v3 Arcade Mode
From September 8 – 21, squad up with two of your friends and put your three-pronged attack strategies and triangular defensive tactics to the test. This mode is built around smaller, fast-paced matches, offering a fresh way to experience Siege while staying true to the game’s tactical DNA.
Wasteland Circuit Event
Put your drone racing skills to the test in this limited-time event, running September 23 – October 12. Set in the Wasteland Circuit, this event will put your recon gadget skills to the test as you race your drone through custom-built tracks filled with obstacles, shortcuts, and high-speed challenges. The Wasteland Circuit Collection will offer new dieselpunk-themed cosmetic items to unlock as well.
Legends Division
Coming mid-season, this solo queue playlist was made just for Champion-level players. It features advanced security measures, unique rewards, and a fully visible leaderboard.
Play Rainbow Six Siege today on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC through the Ubisoft Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store, or with a Ubisoft+ subscription, and don’t miss Operation Split Fire when it launches on September 1!