The 9 Band tactical grenade returns to Call of Duty: Ghosts, but with a few new and interesting tweaks.

In Ghosts, the 9 Bang will use a tiered power system to determine the grenade’s effect on the enemy. The longer you hold or “cook” the grenade before throwing, the more potent its blinging effects will be. Additionally, a fully cooked 9-Bang will release an EMP blast that stuns nearby electronics.

“The 9-Bang’s power system challenges players to plan ahead and think more tactically when engaging enemies,” says Multiplayer Lead Tom Wells. “Caught unaware? You can still toss it right out like a traditional flash grenade in a hurry. Prep a fully charged 9-Bang, however, and you’ll disrupt defenses in a big way.”

Quick thinking will be required to decide what level of strength that is needed for the situation.

There are a few counters to consider, however, according to a recent developer blog update:

Tac Resist

Resistance to flash, stun and EMP effects.

The Tac Resist perk greatly increases resistance to the 9-Bang’s effects. This obviously benefits enemy targets, but it’s also worth considering if you plan on equipping the 9-Bang yourself.

Equipping Tac Mask reduces the penalty of deploying the 9-Bang in close proximity, allowing you to play more aggressively without as much worry about potential backfire.

Trophy System

Active defense turret that destroys two enemy projectiles.

The Trophy System Tactical equipment counters up to two projectiles, including the 9-Bang, fully charged or not. Be prepared to defend yourself if your equipment gets vaporized.

Night Owl

A companion drone that detects enemies based on proximity and protects you from explosives.

Found in the Support Strike Package, the Night Owl protects its user against multiple explosives, including the 9-Bang. At a cost of 10 points, they’re not something you’ll run into left and right, but they’re a real pain when encountered. Use a non-explosive weapon to take them out on sight.

Be sure to check out last week’s highlight that focused on the new Call of Duty: Ghosts game mode, Blitz.