VIDEO: 20 minutes of new gameplay footage.

Rainbow Six Siege’s Operation Wind Bastion has finally been properly revealed, giving us a much better look at new operators Nomad and Kaid as well as Siege’s newest map: Fortress. Earlier this week, I spent a few hours with Wind Bastion and came away both excited and a little nervous. Both new Moroccan operators are fascinating and strong, but their capabilities raise interesting questions about Siege’s meta going forward.

Kaid

For Siege veterans, Kaid will definitely raise a few eyebrows. He’s the third 3-armor defender added this year, cementing Year 3 as the year of the anchor. His slower pace is an important distinction here, because his gadget, the Rtila Electroclaw, competes directly with Bandit’s Shock Wire batteries. When latched onto any surface, Kaid’s three Rtilas will electrocute anything within their short range.

Its simple function makes it viable for all sorts of defenses. Placed strategically, a single Rtila can do the work of three or four Bandit batteries: simultaneously zapping a wall, two bandit wires, and a deployable shield. But most importantly, sticking an Rtila within range of a reinforced hatch allows defenders to protect them against breachers above. 

It can’t be overstated how fundamental of a change this is for the Siege meta. Hatch breaching has been considered near-impossible to shut down, so many defense strategies are centered around the eventuality that they’ll be destroyed. Kaid flips this idea on its head and makes attackers reconsider where their resources are best used.

Kaid’s arsenal is a bit puzzling for a defender. He chooses between the AUG A3 SMG or the TCSG 12 shotgun with the .44 Mag Semi-Auto pistol backing him up. I used the AUG for the majority of my time, which feels like a competent and fairly controllable SMG. More interesting is the TCSG shotgun, which shoots slugs similar to Vigil’s BOSG shotgun from last year. Only instead of a double barrel setup, the TCSG has a 10-round magazine and can equip an ACOG scope. Each shot deals 84 damage(!) and can be fired as quickly as you pull the trigger. This makes it feel more like a powerful DMR than a shotgun, though it also boasts impressive destruction when used on soft walls. I didn’t spend too much time with it in combat, but my gut says this thing feels a bit too powerful. Anything is subject to change before release, so we’ll see.

The .44 magnum is also a unique beast for Siege. The high-powered pistol deals 74 damage per shot and comes mounted with a scope. The scope looks completely unique to other weapons, but Ubi says its zooming capability is equal to an ACOG. It’s a powerful weapon that I can already see players using to spawnpeek headshots (sigh), but it’s unclear whether it has the dramatic damage dropoff that most pistols share. The magazine only holds seven shots, so it’s not built for tense rapid-fire gunfights at close range.

The question my teammates and I kept coming back to is one that many players will likely be asking in the coming weeks: does Kaid make Bandit obsolete? The Rtilas can cover more walls than batteries, electrify barbed wire without exposing the gadget, and protect hatches from underneath. Ubisoft considered this too, and limited Kaid in a few key ways that still give Bandit relevance.

First, Kaid cannot bandit trick Thermite’s breaching charge thanks to the few seconds between placing the Rtila and its activation. Ubi said it is possible to negate Hibana’s breaching pellets, but only with exact timing. Secondly, Kaid doesn’t have the speed and roaming potential of Bandit. Roaming is an important role for the defense, so it won’t always make sense to take a slow-moving anchor. If anything, I think Kaid and Bandit will equally share the importance that Bandit has exclusively held since launch, but his batteries have become less useful because of the Rtila’s existence.

Nomad

Whereas Kaid fills a gap in the meta that has been sorely missing since the game’s launch, Nomad is something completely new. She’s a 2-speed attacker equipped with the Airjab Launcher, a weapon-mounted device that fires three “airjab” mines. The airjab mines can stick to any surface and can be activated from what looks like a 3-4 meter range by enemies. When detonated, the airjab emits a powerful air blast that sends its victims flying backwards onto the ground. The animation leaves you vulnerable for what seemed like 1-1.5 seconds. The trap deals no damage, but will decimate any soft wall nearby. When Nomad fires an airjab directly at an enemy, it will detonate midair similar to Zofia’s concussion grenades.

This simple set of rules makes Nomad incredibly versatile. She can set traps for roamers, plant an airjab near the ticking defuser, or force a defender rooted in a corner out into the open. Getting knocked down by the airjab isn’t always a death sentence. More often than not, they’ll be used as an alarm for incoming roamers. But if you are caught in blast while already in combat, it’s probably over for you. This is especially true for Clash, who can’t do anything about being knocked to the ground even with her shield fully deployed. Nomad is such a hard counter for her, that I suggest simply avoiding Clash at the moment.

But Nomad does have her own setbacks. While the airjab launcher is equipped, a bright yellow laser sight is activated that looks like a tape measure jutting out of her gun. This is surely meant to alert defenders when an airjab is about to fly into your area, but it also gives away Nomad’s position. Similar to Buck, Nomad’s weapon-mounted gadget means that she can’t take a stabilizing grip on either of her primary assault rifles.

Speaking of, Nomad’s kit is the first in a while with two different flavors of assault rifle. She can take the slower-firing AK-74M or the rapid ARX200. Both are new guns and seem viable, but the ARX has both a higher fire rate and slightly more damage, so it comes off as the easy choice if you can control the recoil. Like Kaid, her only secondary option is the .44 magnum. I like the concept of the pistol more with Nomad because it frees me up to equip close-range sights on my rifle while the pistol backs me up at long range.

Fortress

Accompanying the new operators is Fortress, a brand new map set in a Moroccan military training facility. It’s hard to get a proper read on a Siege map from only a few matches, but it delivers the level of detail that players have become accustomed to. At times, Fortress evokes the simplicity of Coastline thanks to its simpler two-floor layout. This is a strength in my eyes, as many recent maps like Villa and Hereford Base feel almost bloated by a high number of rooms. Something about Fortress is more digestible.

There are four bomb sites to choose from, two on the second floor and two on the bottom floor. We only played Bomb during the demo session, so it’s unclear how well the layout will translate to Secure Area and Hostage. But similar to Villa, Fortress has no bomb sites that border the outside to prevent the advantage from falling too easily into the attacker’s hands.

Walking away from my demo, I was much more excited about Wind Bastion than I was with Grim Sky. Call me a softy, but I’m tired of the dreary darkness and constant rain that has permeated Siege these past months. I’m ready for the bright Moroccan sun and two operators I really want to play. Kaid’s gadget, while possibly too useful at the moment, spices up the meta in ways I can’t wait to see play out. Nomad is going to be a lot of fun to experiment with and I’m always here for new ways to bully Caveira mains. Barring any game-breaking bugs that may emerge, Siege is wrapping up Year 3 in a good spot.

At first glance, you may think Rainbow Six Siege is an intricate tactical shooter. But at its core, we all know Siege is about one thing and one thing only: fashion. The game has a rich library of intricately detailed (and some not-so-detailed) weapon skins, uniforms, and charm keychains that hang from your gun, but it can sometimes be tough to track down the best stuff in Siege's menus. For your convenience, I’ve curated a list of my favorite cosmetics that are worth your hard-earned Renown and R6 Credits.

Rainbow Six Siege weapon skins

For my money, the best weapon skins are ones that don’t feel tacked-on to the weapon. It’s better when the simulated material or design feels like a carving or paint finish than a simple flat texture mapped onto the gun.

Royal - MP5 (pictured), F2, 417, P90, SG-CQB

Royal is by far one of my favorite skins in the game. I’ve garnered plenty of other options in my Siege career, but I also come back to Royal on any weapon that can use it. The rich blues and the intricate gold accents make it stand out among most skins.

Orb Weaver - MP5K

Exclusive only to Mute’s MP5K, Orb Weaver has some of the best color coordination you’ll find in Siege with its cool blue that fades into white and contrasts with black and red. The way the tree grows out of the base of the grip into the body of the gun demonstrates the advantage of skins designed for only one weapon in mind.

Salvamento Maritimo - C7E

Another skin that achieves a satisfying color balance. You won't find much orange and purple elsewhere in Siege. The colors aren’t too loud that it’s distracting in-game, but it’s still one of the more vibrant options in the game.

Majesty - Universal seasonal skin (T-5 SMG pictured)

The universal skins introduced each season tend to be simple designs that can work well across every weapon in the game. But Operation Grim Sky’s Majesty took a different direction, with  reflective bright colors and detailed accents placed immaculately on almost any weapon you slap it on. For fans of color, it’s an easy purchase. If you’re into realism, not so much. Pick it up before Grim Sky ends in December and it disappears forever.

Black Ice - Universal (R4-C pictured)

Black Ice is seen by many players as a perfect skin. It makes for a beautiful and detailed look with the added icy effect, but the only way to pick it up is with rare Alpha Pack drops. Siege could use more skins that simulate a unique texture like this one.

Ishi - 552 Commando

Another single-weapon skin, Ishi looks like a work of art. There’s not that much to it and it doesn’t alter the grip or other edges of the weapon, but it’s a highly affordable skin that looks better than most.

Chameleon - Sidearms (D-50 pictured)

Yes, Chameleon is a dumb skin. But it’s also objectively funny to camouflage your pistol like a Nerf toy. You’ll stick out like a sore thumb using it, but if you can get kills with it anyways, it’s that much better.

Damascus Steel - Universal (MP5K pictured)

Damascus Steel is the universal skin that comes free when you purchase the Year 3 pass. It’s a super simple skin that converts the normal gun steel into polished damascus steel fitting for a blacksmithed sword. The metal has glimmering layers and is accented well by wood.

Ceifador - M12, PARA-308

Ceifador is exclusively found on the primary weapons for both BOPE operators, Capitão and Caviera. What really stands out here is the simulated bone texturing towards the front of the gun and metal etching in the back. It’s some of the best detail work in the game and the fact that it’s noticeably 3D is impressive.

Dwyer Hill - CAMRS, C8-SFW

Dwyer Hill is hands-down the best use of wood finish in the game, and it’s a shame it’s only found on two guns I don’t like. Red accent has simulated paint fade on the surfaces that see the most wear and the embossed Canadian flag is a great touch.

Requin - F2

Requin is impressive top to bottom. You can tell how much fun the designer had making this one specifically for the F2 because of the way they use the grooves at the base of the gun to simulated shark teeth.

Uniforms and headgear

The uniforms and headgear of Siege are often hit and miss. Some uniforms are simple recolorings that aren’t worth it, but others can make your operator look like an entirely new character. You should also keep in mind that some outfits will make you more visible in darker map areas.

Chalkboard - Echo (headgear)

This is one of my favorite headgears of late because it makes Echo even more technologically advanced than he already was. What kind of advanced tactical vision does Echo gain with his advanced VR visor? Who knows, but it looks cool.

Lawful Good Bundle - Ying

The Lawful Good bundle doesn’t do Lesion many favors, but it sure overhauls Ying’s look to be more badass. Her unique base armor is given a black and green coat of paint that is complimented well by a new full head mask.

Lord Tachanka Bundle - Tachanka

Yes, Ubisoft played into the meme and gave Tachanka a fancy uniform set that outdazzles every other operator. No single part of this bundle, save the trinket charm, looks quite right without the whole set, so I suggest picking up the whole thing if you want to take your Tachanka trolling to the next level.

Old Commitment - Smoke

This is one that can be taken with just its headgear or with the full bundle, but either way you’ll be looking dapper. Smoke’s World War 1-era helmet and uniform is high quality and impressive, but it does feel a little weird celebrating chemical warfare.

Stunning Bundle - Twitch

The Stunning Bundle isn’t one of the more dramatic transformations for an operator, but the headgear at least is worth picking up here. It’s cool to see Twitch ditch the full head mask for a half mask that shows off her hairdo.

Blizzard Bundle - SAS Operators

This is the rare time when pretty much everything in a bundle is kind of perfect. The snow dusting on each operator’s uniform is nice, but it’s the headgears that are really worth the purchase. They look like they’re about to storm the tundra of Hoth, and I have to reward that.

Elite skins

Elite skins are only ever really worth it if you really love the skin and the operator. Each one costs a heavy $15 on its own and can’t be earned with renown or alpha packs. That said, elite skins are complete transformations that even cosmetically modify the operator’s gadget, which is my favorite part. Most of the ones released so far are pretty good, but these are my favorites.

Sledge - L Detachment

The outfit is cool and all, but I’m here for the hammer, or, should I say wrecking ball. Sledge’s namesake literally becomes a big wrecking ball on a stick and it makes every swing oh-so gratifying.

Doc - Trench Medic

Trench Medic is one of my favorites because Doc looks almost unrecognizable from his usual attire. The blue jacket is snazzy and his backpack has other goodies like a machete, medical supplies, and crutches physically reacting as he moves. But above all else, the reason to pick up this skin is Doc’s terrible, amazing thin moustache that you just can’t look away from.

Kapkan - Vympel

The Vympel was one of Siege’s first elite skins offered, and still one of its best. Kapkan takes on a slimmer getup here that better fits his increased speed since release. The best part, though? The custom victory animation that plays if you’re the MVP. Kapkan demonstrates a flurry of knife tricks that makes me wonder why the best he can muster is a simple swipe in-game.

Thermite - Vintage Bureau

Vintage Bureau is the only one on this list I don’t own, and the reason is simple enough: I don’t play enough Thermite. But if I did, I’d be all over this. The uniform is super snazzy, but the highlights are his cool satchel, detailed helmet, and downright baffling victory animation in which he magically sets his hands on fire and stares into the camera. You OK, bud?

Charms

There are a lot of charms in Siege. Many more than I will ever care to unlock. Many of them are gained through weekly challenges or other limited-time events, so there’s no point in showing them here. These are the best charms you can pick up any time in the in-game store when you’ve got some renown burning a hole in your pocket.

Streetwise

It’s a cute plush mouse with an eyepatch. It’s definitely on the list.

Glucksschwein

I won’t pretend to know how to pronounce this one, but I love the textured canvas of the piggy and his little hat. 

Ban Hammer

Get it? Cheesiness aside, it’s pretty cool to have a sledgehammer hanging from your gun at all times.

Maestro Chibi

Many operators have special chibi charms for purchase, but not a single one comes even close to Maestro’s. Look at him and sly grinning finger guns! He’s is the dad of all Siege operators and I won’t hear otherwise.

Suspicious Package

I wonder what it is!

Skating Skeleton

Skating Skeleton is a skating skeleton. It’s also made of paper mache and the skateboard is magically floating mid-kickflip. I consider these bonuses.

Bacon Strip

This one really is just a long strip of fatty bacon, but I really respect how detailed it is. I mean, that looks like a real piece of bacon right there, and it’s an accomplishment worth celebrating.

Unlockable Uplay Cosmetics

Apart from weapon skins that are traditionally unlockable with renown or R6 credits, there are a few special skins and charms that can only be unlocked by owning other Ubisoft games. There are skins for other Clancy games like Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, The Division, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, and Splinter Cell. The charms are all from other Ubi joints like Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey, Far Cry 5, and For Honor. If you have any of these games, you can unlock these bonuses for free within the Uplay app with these simple steps:

1. While Siege is running, press Shift+F2 to bring up the Uplay interface
2. Select the Club Rewards section
3. Redeem all of the skins and charms you're eligible for by using all of those weird gold Uplay coins you've been garnering over the years
4. Your cosmetics should show up in the game after this, but you may have to restart Rainbow Six Siege

Bonus round: The strangest skin combo I could find

We’ve been talking exclusively about really great cosmetics found in Siege thus far, but there's plenty of chaff as well. For you, the reader, I spent almost 30,000 renown looking for the worst look I can muster. And with Blackbeard, I think I’ve found it.

This is Blackbeard’s Peacock Spider headgear alongside the Terminal uniform, and I just hate it. The helmet is an awkward shade of blue, and the uniform is just ugly whitish tan squares repeated all over his body. This is a grizzled face only a mother could love. Maybe.

This article was supported by Ubisoft. Read more about supported content on PC Gamer.

Another free weekend of Rainbow Six Siege, which was somehow beat out by Fortnite for a "Best Esports" nomination at the Game Awards, will get underway tomorrow, giving the curious but not-yet-committed full access to all maps, modes and the original 20 operators.   

As always, any progress you make in the game during the free weekend will carry over into the full game, should you choose to purchase it. Ubisoft said that the various editions of Rainbow Six Siege will go sale during the free weekend as well, for up to 70 percent off, "depending on SKU and platform." The sale prices will be on until November 30. 

That's it—it's free, it's good, and if you like shooting people in videogames then you should probably give it a try. The Rainbow Six Siege free weekend begins tomorrow, November 15, and runs until November 18; and since I have your attention, don't forget that the Pro League Finals also runs this weekend, and will see the full reveal of the new map and operators coming in Operation Wind Bastion. 

And to veteran Siege players: happy hunting.

The first of Rainbow Six Siege's new Moroccan operators has been revealed as Jalal "Kaid" El Fassi, a Defender whose natural leadership skills led to a quick rise through the ranks of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie. When it came time to name a new commander of the Kasbah Sehkra Mania, the imposing fortress that serves as a training space for the country's special forces, he was a natural choice. 

As a grizzled "traditionalist," which I take as a nice way of saying "oldster," Kaid is apparently wary of relying too heavily on technology to get the job done. Nonetheless, he's a couple of handy-looking hi-tech party favors of his own, including a spider-inspired gadget, the "Rtila Electroclaw" that, when deployed, electrifies reinforced walls and hatches, barbed wire, and deployable shields. 

That's not the clearest description ever, but fortunately (and, let's face it, predictably) a teaser for Kaid leaked onto the Rainbow 6 subreddit. It's brief, but you can see that the electro-thing adheres to ceilings, and it looks like the sort of gizmo that's best not touched. 

Kaid's ability to electrify hatches will represent a meaningful change to the meta. Most objective rooms in Rainbow Six Siege have a vulnerable trap door in the ceiling that players can reinforce with a metal barrier. Protecting these hatches further will deny Thermite or Hibana from being able to blow them up, unless they're paired with a Thatcher or Maverick. 

Because Ubisoft can't keep a secret, a teaser for Kaid's Attacker counterpart, Nomad, also leaked onto Reddit. She apparently brings some kind of concussion or shockwave explosives to the fight that pops up enemies into the air. That's not really clear, since she hasn't been officially unveiled yet.

Kaid, Nomad, and the full reveal of Rainbow Six Siege: Operation Wind Bastion will take place during the Pro League Finals over November 17-18, and will be livestreamed on Twitch.