• Patch 1.09 to bring a big operator nerf
  • Changes include: price increase to 5000, scoped movement reduction, decreased fire rate and increased equip time

After the Raze nerf in patch 1.08 and some hints that the Operator was next on the chopping block, we now have it confirmed that the Operator is receiving it’s long-expected nerf. We’ve seen a lot of weapon and agent balancing in the last few weeks (from the guardian and vandal buffs to the raze and sage nerfs) and this is merely a continuation of that balancing.  

The headline change is a price increase of 500 (taking the cost from 4500 to 5000 credits). In addition, scoped movement speed has been reduced from 76% to 72%, the fire rate is dropping from 0.75 to 0.6 and the equip speed has increased from 0.3 seconds to 0.5. Finally the weapons “deadzone” has been changed from 30% movement speed to 15%, which essentially means you’ll have less leeway in movement transitions if you want to be accurate (wait longer to shoot after stopping).

As always, these changes are going to be controversial and will be loved or hated depending on whether you are normally the one getting shot or doing the shooting. As to whether it’s going to make the game better and players are going to like it we are just going to have to wait and see.

  • Price increased to 5000
  • Scoped movement reduced to 72% from 76%
  • Fire rate reduced to 0.75 from 0.6
  • Deadzone changed from 30% to 15%
  • Equip speed changed from 0.3 to 0.5seconds

How big an impact will the changes have?

We can make a few assumptions though from the stats alone. The main takeaway is making the op more of a stationary weapon with the main nerfs being movement related, which in turn makes it a more defensive weapon. It will be harder to move round corners and clear sites as at attacker. Equally, the decrease in fire-rate will increase the necessity of long-range plays as the Op player will need to make it harder for the opponent to close the distance after a missed shot.