Rainbow Six Siege: 8 Operators That Were Literally Broken On Release

Summary

Ash had a tiny hitbox, a powerful gun, and breaching rounds that made her a force to be reckoned with.
Frost’s Super 90 shotgun could eliminate enemies from sniper range, paired with her deadly C4 explosives.
Kaid’s “sniper pistol” and overpowered electro-claws made him a dominating force until Ubisoft balanced him.

For nearly a decade now, the widely acclaimed tactical shooter game “Rainbow Six Siege” has been in existence, and during this period, over 50 distinct characters, or operators, have joined the team. While Ubisoft is renowned for consistently delivering updates and fixes, there have still been instances where some of these operators seemed to be faulty upon introduction due to their weapons and equipment.

Initially, these powerful characters might seem appealing due to their overpowered abilities. However, the developers will likely adjust and weaken them to maintain a balanced gameplay experience for everyone. These ‘game-ruining’ characters were challenging when they debuted, but now that they have been properly positioned, it’s worth considering how formidable these characters actually were when they first entered the world of Siege.

8. Ash

For Some Bizarre Reason, Hitting Ash In The Head Was Once Almost Impossible To Pull Off

Ash has been part of the Siege team since its inception, but shortly after the game’s launch, players started noticing an oddity regarding her hitbox. It turned out that Ash’s head hitbox was unusually small; it was about half the size of other operators’. This meant that even if a defender aimed perfectly, their bullets would often go right through her.

Combine this with a nearly recoil-free R4-C and her potent M120 breaching bullets, Ash made quite the destructive force in open game lobbies. However, she’s received several balance adjustments over time, and luckily, Ubisoft eventually rectified her problematic head hitbox – albeit after it became one of the most popular jokes among players.

7. Frost

Frost’s Shotgun Was Capable Of Picking Enemies Off From Sniper Range

Initially, Frost, together with Buck, entered the game as the initial post-launch operator. Although her Welcome Mat trap brought a refreshing twist, the issue lies with her Super 90 shotgun. This weapon, intended for close combat, surprisingly had the power to take down enemies from mid to long distances in a single shot, making her character overpowered.

Moreover, Frost was equipped with C4 explosives prior to their modification, enabling her to hurl them great distances without endangering herself. Over time, Frost’s weapons and Welcome Mats have significantly weakened, but she has consistently demonstrated her dependability as a trap operator, particularly in lower-ranked matches.

6. Kaid

Kaid’s ‘Sniper Pistol’ Allowed Him To Melt Health Bars With His Backup Weapon

During Kaid’s initial month in the game, it was his .44 magnum, rather than the electro-claws, that garnered him widespread popularity among fans. This SMG’s power was further amplified when Ubisoft equipped it with an ACOG sight, significantly enhancing its range and precision. Remarkably, this already potent firearm now boasted an even more impressive punch.

In the gaming community, this weapon is often referred to as the ‘sniper pistol’ due to its extreme power when it first came out. However, developers soon realized that it was too overpowered and made adjustments to Kaid’s magnum, making him more balanced for fairer gameplay. Nowadays, he remains a valuable teammate with his electrifying gadget.

5. Azami

Players Quickly Found Plenty Of Quirky Ways To Use Azami’s Barriers To Gain An Unfair Advantage

As a devoted Siege enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at how Azami significantly transformed the game dynamics when she made her debut in season 7. Her exceptional gadget, the Kiba Barrier, grants her the ability to establish circular fortifications that drastically altered the landscape of the game. Initially, these barriers were impregnable to bullets, enabling players to gain significant advantage by setting up unfair vantage points for observing adversaries, all while effortlessly dodging incoming fire.

Some players found creative ways to exploit the obstacles, using them as stepping stones to leave maps and access forbidden zones by placing them on ledges. Clearly, these barriers were causing problems, so Ubisoft chose to weaken them, allowing regular gunfire to now destroy them more easily, making them slightly less frustrating to handle.

4. Blitz

An Operator With A Shield That Can Flash Enemies. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Currently, Blitz remains a character who many gamers feel needs adjustments or modifications, however, in the past, he was significantly more problematic than he is now. Blitz’s unique feature involves pressing a button to flash enemies with a shield, but prior to his balance changes, these flashes would stun opponents even if activated from behind them. Additionally, the shield itself was both quicker and stronger back then.

In another phrase, during gameplay, Blitz can employ a handgun alongside his protective shield, but due to players being able to adjust their aim before the animation completes, it often results in them swiftly eliminating entire rooms while sustaining minimal harm themselves. Despite appearing more controllable after numerous adjustments, there’s still a strong possibility that Blitz will undergo a redesign in the future to make him more strategic and less of an operator who relies on run-and-gun tactics with his shield.

3. Ela

Three Speed Ela Was Pure Nightmare Fuel In The Early Years Of Siege

Initially, Ela might not have appeared extraordinarily powerful or unique, but players soon discovered that she could rack up kills more effortlessly than many defenders, thanks to her abilities and equipment. Notably, Ela was a three-speed operator at launch, which meant she could move swiftly across the map as if there were no obstacles in her way. Additionally, she wielded the Scorpion, a weapon that could eliminate opponents effectively, even when fired without aiming down the sights.

The best part of everything is her Grizmot Mines; these are tiny traps that temporarily blind and slow down any foes passing by them. This means players can easily choose Ela, deploy the Grizmot’s whenever an enemy gets close, and then shoot indiscriminately to rack up as many kills as they can. However, since then, changes have been made to Ela’s weapons and gadgets, and she moves more slowly than before, which makes her speed closer to that of other defenders.

2. Blackbeard

An Operator Who Could Protect His Head From Being Hit In A One-Shot-Headshot Game

Blackbeard, who’s had several adjustments in the past, has undergone a series of nerfs leading up to this point. In a game where one-shot headshots are essential, Blackbeard’s unique feature – a rifle shield for his head – can be quite annoying. The problem lies in the fact that an enemy would have to shoot multiple magazines into his shield before it breaks, allowing Blackbeard to move freely around corners and windows without fear of being harmed.

Initially, Blackbeard was overly powerful before receiving balance adjustments, often referred to as being “broken”. However, even when his shield’s durability decreased, Ubisoft continued to make further adjustments until he became less potent. It’s typical for operators in Siege to be weakened significantly if they are too powerful upon release. Fortunately, Blackbeard has experienced a significant comeback following his rework, which intends to make him much less irritating to play against.

1. Lion

The EE-ONE-D Was Once Able To Completely Break A Match, Making Lion A Must-Pick For Many Months

Back in Year 3, it’s almost unbelievable to me how Ubisoft considered Lion a balanced operator at his release, given his EE-ONE-D gadget. This drone allows me to activate it for a brief period, and any slight movement by the enemies reveals not just their location but their full body outline to my teammates.

It’s clear that this action sparked significant anger within the community, as attackers could now easily wall-bang defenders without them having any clue. To make matters worse, Lion’s drone could be used three times, rendering it nearly impossible for defenders to navigate the site without getting caught. In recent updates, the EE-ONE-D no longer displays a complete outline but instead shows a ping that moves every second, providing the enemy with a slight edge in the game.

2025-02-07 07:08