Black Ice Variants 2026: Every Color Explained
For the first time in 10 years, Black Ice comes in more than just blue. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Green, Red, Pink & Purple variants — drop rates, weapons, how to unlock them, and what this means for your account value.
Black Ice has been the most iconic weapon skin in Rainbow Six Siege since the very beginning. Originally released as a purchasable skin during Operation Black Ice — the game’s first-ever expansion in February 2016 — it became a status symbol after the season ended and the skin became unobtainable through normal means. For years, the only way to get one was through Alpha Packs, where it had roughly a 1-in-100 chance of dropping.
Now, in Year 11 Season 1 (Operation Silent Hunt), Ubisoft has done something they’ve never done before: they’ve added four brand-new color variants of Black Ice. Green, Red, Purple, and Pink — each with their own rarity tier. It’s the biggest shake-up to Siege’s most prestigious cosmetic in a decade.
Four new Black Ice colors (Green, Red, Purple, Pink) are available exclusively through Black Ice Packs in the Y11S1 Premium Battle Pass. You get exactly 2 packs per season — one at Tier 2 and one at Tier 100. Each pack gives a random weapon skin from 14 available weapons. Pink is the rarest at 10% drop rate. The weapon pool will expand throughout Year 11.
The History of Black Ice
From seasonal shop item to the most iconic cosmetic in competitive gaming — here’s how Black Ice became legendary.
Operation Black Ice launches — Siege’s first expansion. The Black Ice weapon skin is available for purchase with R6 Credits and can be applied to all weapons. New operators Buck and Frost join the game alongside the Yacht map.
Season ends, Black Ice disappears from the store. The skin becomes completely unobtainable. Players who bought it during the season are the only ones who have it.
Alpha Packs are introduced. Black Ice skins return — but only for specific weapons, and with approximately a 1-in-100 drop chance at Epic rarity. The skin is no longer universal; you need to pull it for each weapon individually.
Bravo Packs added. Premium Battle Pass owners get access to Bravo Packs with a curated pool of Black Ice skins. Drop rates are higher than Alpha Packs, making Black Ice more accessible — but also slightly less exclusive.
Six Invitational 2026: Color variants announced. For the first time ever, Ubisoft reveals Green, Red, Purple, and Pink Black Ice variants as part of the Year 11 roadmap. The community goes wild.
Operation Silent Hunt goes live. Black Ice Packs launch in the Premium Battle Pass with 14 eligible weapons and 56 total collectible skins across all four colors.
All 4 Black Ice Color Variants
Each color has a different drop rate. Pink is by far the rarest — and will likely become the most valuable on accounts.
10% drop chance — rarest variant. Only 0.71% chance per specific weapon. This is the one everyone wants. Expect Pink to become the new prestige marker — the “original Black Ice” of the color variants.
30% drop chance — 2.14% per weapon. Aggressive look that pairs well with weapon charms. The most visually striking variant on darker operators.
30% drop chance — 2.14% per weapon. Fits the Siege aesthetic perfectly. Purple already signifies Epic rarity in-game, making this variant feel right at home.
30% drop chance — 2.14% per weapon. The first variant shown at the Six Invitational 2026 reveal. Clean, distinctive, and immediately recognizable in-game.
If you get a duplicate Black Ice skin from a pack, it automatically converts into 15,000 Renown. With only 2 packs per season, getting a duplicate feels especially painful — so keep your fingers crossed.
All 14 Eligible Weapons (Y11S1)
Each weapon is available in all 4 colors — that’s 56 total skins to collect in Season 1. The pool will grow throughout Year 11.
Unlike some cosmetics, the new Black Ice variants are weapon-specific. If you unlock a Pink SMG-11, it works on every operator that carries the SMG-11 (Smoke, Mute, Amaru, etc.) — but you can’t apply it to any other weapon.
How to Unlock Black Ice Packs
There’s exactly one way to get them — and you only get two chances per season.
Black Ice Packs are exclusive to the Y11S1 Premium Battle Pass. You cannot buy them individually, you cannot earn them through Alpha Packs, and they don’t appear in the in-game store. The Premium Pass costs approximately €9 and is available through the in-game store or Ubisoft Connect.
There are exactly two Black Ice Packs in the current Battle Pass:
- Pack #1: Tier 2 (G2) — unlocked almost immediately after purchasing the Premium Pass.
- Pack #2: Tier 100 (J25) — requires significant Battle Pass progression to reach.
Each pack gives you one random weapon skin in one random color from the current Y11S1 pool. That means with your two packs, you’ll get 2 out of 56 possible skins. Ubisoft has confirmed the weapon pool will grow in future seasons throughout Year 11.
The original blue Black Ice skins haven’t gone anywhere. They’re still available through Alpha Packs and Bravo Packs as before. The new color variants are an addition — not a replacement. Your existing Blue Black Ice collection is safe.
What This Means for Account Value
Black Ice has always been a major value driver for R6 accounts. These new variants raise the ceiling even further.
The original blue Black Ice has been one of the top factors that make an R6 account desirable. Players actively seek accounts with multiple Black Ice skins — especially on popular weapons like Jäger’s 416-C, Ash’s R4-C, or the SMG-11.
The new color variants add another dimension to this. Here’s why they matter for account value:
- Extreme scarcity: Only 2 packs per season, and you can’t buy more. An account with 4+ colored Black Ice skins after one year would be exceptionally rare.
- Pink is the new trophy: At 10% drop rate and 0.71% chance per weapon, a Pink Black Ice on a popular weapon (like the SMG-11) is going to be one of the rarest cosmetics in the entire game.
- Stacking value: An account with multiple original Blue Black Ice skins plus new color variants signals a player who has been consistently active with Premium Battle Passes — adding to the “stacked” perception.
- Future expansion: As the weapon pool grows each season, early-season skins from Y11S1 will become the rarest — similar to how original Black Ice from 2016 became more valuable over time.
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