IQ: counters, combos and tips

Attacker · Nighthaven · intel, support for hard breach, trap scouting

No operator hard-counters IQ; it's countered by good play more than by a single pick. IQ counters Echo (beats Echo on entry), Valkyrie (beats Valkyrie on entry) and Mozzie (finds the Pests and stolen drones through walls). IQ pairs best with Thermite and Buck.

IQ's gadget: RED Mk III 'Spectre' Electronics Detector

Wrist scanner (22 m since Y11S2.1) that shows defender electronics through walls and floors and pings them for the team (Ping 2.0 since Y6S3); she holds only her pistol while it's up.

Who counters IQ?

Nothing in the game's research hard-counters IQ.

What does IQ counter?

• EchoHard counterBeats Echo on entry.
• ValkyrieStrongBeats Valkyrie on entry.
• MozzieSituationalFinds the Pests and stolen drones through walls.
• MuteSituationalfinds and pings jammers (and the hidden Bandit battery) so teammates can shoot them; she doesn't destroy them through reinforced walls. Finds the jammers through walls.
• PulseSituationalFinds Pulse through the walls.
• VigilSituationalsees the ERC-7 pack when it's active.

Best IQ combos

• ThermiteFind the hidden battery.
• BuckFind them, shoot down.

IQ myths

• IQ beats Mute (hard counter). She only finds and pings the jammer; someone still has to destroy it. Minor helper, strength 1.
• IQ > Echo. She sees the Yokai only while it is active; minor.

Key IQ facts (Y11S3)

• Detects Mute Disruptors, Bandit Shock Wires, Kaid Electroclaws, Jäger ADS, Wamai Mag-NETs, Kapkan EDDs, Ela mines, Melusi Banshees, Aruni gates, Maestro Evil Eyes, Valkyrie cams, Thorn shells, Fenrir mines, Alibi Prismas, Smoke canisters and more, through walls. (since Y6S3 (ping through walls))
• Detects only while active: Echo's Yokai, Mozzie-hacked drones, phones in use (incl. Dokkaebi hacks), Vigil's ERC-7, Clash's shield, Warden's watch, Solis's SPEC-IO. (since Y6S3)
• Y11S2.1: range 22 m (from 20 m). (since Y11S2.1)
• Y11S3: IQ can detect the targeted phone during a Jegeo Payload upload, and the upload is now interruptible. (since Y11S3)

Sources

1. How to Play EVERY OPERATOR in R6 (Poxonlox) at 22:11
2. How Operators REALLY Work in R6 Siege X - Beginner Breakdown (Poxonlox) at 9:29
3. How to Play EVERY OPERATOR in R6 (Poxonlox) at 33:31
4. This Coach Led His Team to NEVER LOSE on Oregon (Hybear) at 18:28
5. Rainbow Six Wiki: Mozzie
6. research/wave2/ops-def-2.json
7. feedback sweep 4 D13
8. Rainbow Six Wiki: IQ
9. launch feedback
10. Rainbow Six Wiki: Pulse (Siege)
11. feedback S25
12. Rainbow Six Wiki: Vigil
13. hotspawn.com
14. ggseason.com
15. mp1st.com

More attackers

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