Last week, I visited Ubisoft to go hands-on with Rainbow Six Siege’s new Operation Phantom Sight content. In addition to getting acquainted with the new content, and playing as new Attacker Nøkk, I got to play as new Defender Warden.
Warden is a member of the US Secret Service and despite being American gives off some very James Bond vibes.
His special ability is the Glance smartglasses that allow Warden to see through smoke and take away the attacking team’s cover advantage. In addition, the Glance smartglasses make Warden impervious to being blinded by flashes and removes any current flash blindness he may be suffering.
He’s suave and sophisticated.
Operation Phantom Sight Warden
Warden is best used as an anchor. He can remain in place and prevent Attackers from getting the drop on the Defending team. The Glance smartglasses are quite a powerful ability but they only work to enhance Warden’s vision while staying still.
If Warden starts moving, smoke will affect him just like everyone else.
The Glance can be used an infinite number of times but it has a cooldown timer and only lasts for a short period.
In Operation Phantom Sight, Warden can be equipped with an M590A1 Shotgun or an MPX Submachine Gun. His secondary weapon is either a P-10C Handgun or an SMG12 Submachine Gun and he can carry a Deployable Shield or Barbed Wire. Warden has three Armour and one Speed.
I’m a lapsed Rainbow Six Siege player and in my hands-on, FNATIC’s RizRaz was on the opposing team. That meant I was being deftly and swiftly murdered, though I did manage to get a good feel for both Nøkk and Warden.
The MPX Submachine Gun is a decent gun, but it doesn’t have the stopping power of the shotgun. And since my aim is terrible and I get flustered easily, using the shotgun was the way to go.
It’s especially useful if Warden is being used as an anchor as he can whip around with the shotgun and murder attackers as they come.
War…den. Huh! What is he good for?
After spending time playing Operation Phantom Sight I had a chat with RizRaz (Ethan Wombwell) about the new content. I asked him about the future of Rainbow Six Siege and how he thinks Nøkk and Warden will factor into the pro meta.
Warden the defender, he’ll slot in quite nicely but he won’t be a high pick like Nøkk.
Warden is quite situational. The Glaz and the Ying meta has kind of died down a little bit.
If that was still high Warden would be a high pick. For instance, since Ying’s and Glaz’s changes, I think they’re not picked as much.
Warden’s real name is Collinn McKinley and he was born in Kentucky in 1971.
Collinn McKinley enrolled in the Marine Corps at 18 and earned several commendations in his service jacket for his aggressive quick-thinking, achieving Master Sergeant despite a few minor infractions on his record.
After his third tour, he left the Marines and entered the Secret Service in close-protection detail. McKinley’s agility was instrumental in saving Secretary of State Baldwin’s life when insurgents attacked the U.S. diplomatic junket.
Baldwin later went on to win the U.S. Presidential and requested McKinley be assigned to the Presidential Protective Division
Additionally, in his psych report, Dr Pandey notes, “[Warden] knows how to manipulate; he deepens his Kentucky drawl when dealing with Republican senators, and plays the Southern gentleman around women. I was amused, watching him try to play to my personality… but I play the game too.”
Warden will be available in Operation Phantom Sight when it launches for Rainbow Six Siege.
Leo Stevenson travelled to Sydney as a guest of Ubisoft.
