Rainbow Six: Siege best defenders for each role

Fans entering the world of Rainbow Six: Siege may be intimidated by the number of operators and their different functions. R6 entered Year 5 Season 1 recently, introducing the new operators Iana and Oryx, and reaching a new level of esports interest. The dynamic roles of attackers and defenders in Siege make the tactical FPS game very unique. As all teams have an in-game leader, or a shot-caller, there are some other roles to be conscious of when making a play. Keep in mind that Rainbow Six: Siege defenders can fit multiple roles, depending on the situation and playstyle.

Anchors

There are two types of anchors on defense: on-site and off-site. These operators will defend the objective’s room or a room adjacent/above it. An anchor’s main job involves holding down the objective as the last line of defense. The most ideal operators for this task are 3-armor operators. Here are a few examples of who to choose.

• Doc: 3-armor and armed with an ACOG scope, he’s great for contesting objectives.
• Rook: Another 3-armor operator armed with an ACOG, his trauma plates help teammates and himself last longer in a gunfight.
• Echo: Though his drones make him more of an intel operator than an anchor, they can deny bomb defusals by disorienting enemies. Coupled with his ACOG, he can stand his own when contesting the objective.

Roamers

Roamers are exactly as the name implies. Opposite of anchoring, roamers rotate quickly all around the map. Their main objective is to expend as much of the attacking team’s manpower and time as possible hunting them. Roamers are also effective flankers and can make up the main killing force of the defending team. Many deadly choices are found as defenders.

• Caveira: A 3-speed operator, her pistol can subdue unsuspecting enemies. Her ability, Silent Step, can quickly and quietly carry her towards the enemy or away from them.
• Vigil: Another 3-speed operator, his ability to cloak himself from cameras and drones gives him the advantage in positioning.
• Oryx: His Remah Dash can create multiple rotations and paths to flank attackers. He can also jump through open hatches, granting vertical flexibility when roaming.

Support & Flex

Rainbow Six: Siege defenders get their backing from support operators. They carry a lot of utility to help out the rest of the team by relieving pressure from the attacking teams pushing in. Their gadgets are easy to place and require no supervision to use. This gives them the option to either anchor or roam according to their playstyle and what the situation calls for. Here are some helpful operators who fill this position.

• Jager: His ADS systems relieve pressure for anchors as they will eat a limited number of thrown projectiles.
• Wamai: Similar to Jager, his Mag-Net System wastes the attacking team’s utility by detonating them wherever they are placed.
• Clash: With her shield, she can slow the enemy with tasers. She’s useful for discouraging head-on gunfights, allowing teammates to find a better angle while they’re distracted.

Anti-intel & Breach Denial

Anti-intel and breach denial operators sometimes overlap but their main goal is to stop drones and breaching charges from following through. Since some of these operators’ gadgets are easy to set up, they can then anchor or roam as they please. These are operators with good potential as deniers.

• Mute: Mute’s jammers disable all electronics, including gadgets that need to be detonated remotely. The only thing that can’t be stopped are Thatcher’s EMP grenades, which destroy jammers.
• Kaid/Bandit: Their gadgets fortify reinforced walls, shields, and barbed wires with electricity. Breaching gadgets and drones will be destroyed upon impact.
• Mozzie: His electronic pests capture the attacking team’s drones, forcing them to either avoid the path or risk their drone. Mozzie can operate any captured drone.

Intel

Much like attacking operators providing intel, the defending team also has gadgets that help give an advantage throughout the game. More discreet than attacking operators’ gadgets, these operators can give away the enemy position. And with a little teamwork, they can be deadly. Here’s a few to consider.

• Pulse: His sensor can detect enemy heartbeats, but he must ping them out manually for his team.
• Valkyrie: Her Black Eye Cameras are small and can be thrown a good distance, letting the rest of the team utilize the cameras to their full advantage.
• Lesion: Not only do his Gu Mines give a sound cue when triggered, they also prohibit the victim from running until they pull it out.

Area Denial

As the name suggests, these are operators who carry gadgets made to deny movement in an area. These operators force the attacking team to consider using their utility or work around the obstruction. Some operators to be aware of are below.

• Goyo: When the Vulcan shields are popped, the immediate area around it is engulfed in flames for 12 seconds, denying entry and forcing attackers to waste extra time.
• Castle: His Armor Panels can be used to block off doorways or entire rooms that could otherwise be easily broken into.
• Mira: Mira’s bulletproof Black Mirrors allow her to see through a reinforced wall. The attacking team will need to contest Mira or else find another way to the objective.

Defending the objectives in the various game modes requires teamwork. With a better understanding of how Rainbow Six: Siege defenders are composed, more options open up whether players attack or defend the objective. These roles are not concrete and many operators fit more shoes than others. Find the perfect playstyle and the objective should be safe.

Written by Emily Tang