Free Fire releases new character Ray and shifts meta

Ronny Rolim
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:33:12 +0530

New character Ray is live on Advanced Server and will change combat pace in Free Fire. Full release confirmed for April 16.

Players can already test the new character Ray on the Advanced Server, gaining an immediate advantage with faster eliminations and multi-kill potential. The change directly impacts ranked matches and aggressive gameplay strategies.

Ray will be officially released on April 16, 2026, as part of the next Free Fire update, becoming the 65th character in the game and expanding the current roster.

The ability design favors high-speed combat, signaling a clear shift in the game’s meta toward offensive playstyles.

How the new character Ray works in Free Fire

Ray introduces a link mechanic that accelerates eliminations during direct combat.

Ray is designed for aggressive plays and multi-kills. His ability marks an enemy and creates a “link line,” allowing players to rapidly reduce the target’s health to a critical execution point.

If the marked enemy is eliminated during the effect, the cooldown resets instantly, enabling continuous kill chains.

Ray ability breakdown

Marks a specific enemy during combat

Creates a direct link between player and target

Accelerates damage until execution threshold

Resets cooldown after elimination

Grants healing bonus during activation

This makes Ray one of the most dangerous characters for close-range fights and aggressive pushes.

Ray already available on Advanced Server

The new character is currently playable on the Free Fire Advanced Server, where selected players can test abilities before the global release.

This testing phase is part of the OB53 update cycle and will define balance adjustments before launch.

Quotable context: Free Fire confirmed Ray on the Advanced Server to evaluate gameplay impact before global release, signaling a major shift toward faster combat and highlight-driven gameplay.

Release date and roster impact

Ray will be officially released on April 16, 2026. With this addition, Free Fire will reach a total of 65 playable characters.

The growing roster reflects Garena’s ongoing strategy to diversify gameplay styles and keep the competitive scene evolving.

Best skill combinations with Ray

Combo | Characters | Focus
Combo 1 | Ray + Jota + Dasha + Shani | Kill chaining and sustain
Combo 2 | Ray + Kairos + Rin + Luna | Damage boost and pressure

What players should do now

Players should test Ray on the Advanced Server and adapt to aggressive playstyles. Ignoring this shift could result in disadvantage in upcoming ranked matches.

Optimize your sensitivity for faster fights

Check active redeem codes and rewards