With Rainbow Six Siege’s Y8S2 Operation Dread Factor, Ubisoft is bringing some exciting new content to the game. And one of these is the introduction of a brand-new gadget called the ‘Observation Blocker.’
Ubisoft first showed a glimpse of the Observation Blocker gadget during the Year 8 roadmap reveal in Six Invitational 2023. This new secondary gadget was supposed to release in Y8S3, but Ubisoft decided to introduce it earlier to balance out the content releases as the Frost Rework was delayed.
Observation Blocker: Base Stats
- Amount: 3 per operator
- Barrier maximum width: 5 meters
- Barrier height: 2.2 meters
- Type: Electronic
- Health: 1hp
- Vulnerabilities: Bullets, laser, melee, explosives
Observation Blocker Gadget: How Does it Work
As the name suggests, this gadget blocks the visuals of observation tools. The Observation Blocker gadget can be deployed on floors, and through the operator’s eyes, it will look like a small piece of gadget on the floor. However, when seen through an observation tool like an Attacker’s drone, the device projects an opaque gray wall taller than an Operator, blocking the camera’s view beyond it.
Not only drones, but this gadget will also affect other Attacker Observation tools like Iana’s hologram, Zero’s Argus cams, or default cams hacked by Dokkaebi, any visual intel that the Attacker can get access to.
When deployed on the floor, the arms of the device will adapt to the space available so that the projection won’t go through walls.
List of Operators with the gadget
According to the Y8S2 Test Server, the following operators will have access to the new Observation Blocker gadget. Some operators will get their previous secondary gadgets replaced with this new one, while for others, it will be added as a third option.
- Ela
- Rook
- Warden
- Caveira
- Kaid
- Maestro
- Pulse
- Alibi
- Jäger
How to use the Gadget?
In a game like Siege, visual intel is key in winning a round, especially in Attack. So, the new device is a really strong gadget, as it hinders Attackers from gathering necessary intel. This will allow defenders to get some easy kills, or just slow down the Attacking process until time runs out.
You can use this gadget in many places, but we suggest you deploy it near objectives, such as strong positions that need to be held during the round. You can also make use of the device to hide operators or your strategies, such as a Mira Window on a certain wall.
Paring the gadget with Mute or Mozzie might also be a great idea. You can hide Mozzie’s pest just behind a ‘blocker wall’ to hack it or prevent drones from jumping through it using a jammer. Defenders do not need to worry about seeing through this wall using their own observation tools unless Brava has hacked it. So using it with Maestro, Valkyrie or Bulletproof camera is a good option.
Players can try to make lines of sight on soft walls and use a blocker in front of the wall to surprise any Attackers. You can find an example in the video above.
How to Counter?
The Observation Blocker can be easily destroyed by a single bullet or any damage source on that matter. So Twitch’s Shock Drone and Zero’s Argus Cams can easily zap it from a distance.
Additionally, Brava can hack it to use it against Defenders, so when their view through Default Cams, Echo Drones, or Maestro’s Evil Eyes can get blocked.
Ubisoft believes that this new gadget won’t replace operators like Mute and Mozzie; instead, “it will reinforce the gameplay around denying information and allow for more flexibility when a dedicated operator is not required.”
While 3 Observation Blockers per operator seems too much as of now, it might be reduced before Y8S2 drops on the live servers. So make sure to follow us for the latest updates.
