Players looking for a team-based, strategic shooter game can enjoy more tactical matches with Rainbow Six Siege. Here, two teams of five players compete to achieve objectives in tight spaces where the slightest sound or movement can determine the outcome of the match. Like other first-person shooter games, Rainbow Six Siege tasks players with choosing operators who have unique gadgets designed to provide specific advantages on the map.
However, unlike other shooter games, Rainbow Six Siege requires more tactical skill in using operators. They are divided into more aggressive attackers or more cautious defenders, and players need to learn how to match each operator’s gadgets with their offensive or defensive playstyle. Additionally, there is an extra layer of strategy in knowing how operators’ gadgets can complement each other.
Fans of the game will see more tactical flexibility with operators like Striker, Sentry Recruits, Fenrir, and Solis, thanks to the modifications to their gadgets. Barbed wire has also been improved to make it a better defensive tool and a greater threat to attackers, making operator compositions more important than ever in the game’s meta. With these changes, players may want to consider using duos instead of relying on full teams, with some examples including pairs specializing in strike and retreat tactics, a mix of a strong anchor and attacker, double support setups, and even an enemy detector with backup support.
Thunderbird and Clash
Traditional Attack with Support
| Operator | Gadget |
|---|---|
| Thunderbird | Kona Station (deploys healing spheres to injured allies) |
| Clash | CCE Shield (frontal shield equipped with electric shocks) |
While Thunderbird shares healing capabilities with Doc, defenders in Rainbow Six Siege often choose Doc due to his higher mobility compared to Thunderbird’s location-dependent gadgets. However, if a Thunderbird player can find a cautious teammate, they can efficiently defend choke points and locations thanks to continuous healing abilities.
The key here is to position Thunderbird’s Kona Station in a safe defensive spot, while a more aggressive defender like Clash remains on standby. If attackers trigger traps set by allies, Clash can use her CCE shield to shock enemies and subdue them while maintaining sufficient protection during gunfights. If Clash falls, Thunderbird can finish the fight and provide enough suppressive fire for Clash to revive herself and repeat the process. This composition works best if Kona Station is close enough to Clash during engagements but far enough from enemy entry points so they cannot use the station to restore their health.
Doc and Rook
Enhancing team defense with healing and damage reduction
| Operator | Gadget |
|---|---|
| Doc | MPD-0 Stim Pistol (revives and heals injured allies) |
| Rook | R1N Armor Plates (deploys 5 plates providing 15% damage reduction each) |
The best team compositions in Rainbow Six Siege are ultimately those that keep players alive for as long as possible. Players who trust their ability to counterattack, even during defense, should choose Doc and Rook as support elements, offering teams extra resilience in tough rounds.
In essence, Doc and his MPD-0 Stim pistol can provide necessary healing for survivors of gunfights and even revive fallen allies, potentially altering the course of combat in emergencies. His high efficiency complements Rook’s strong Rhino Armor Plates, offering 15% damage reduction to make defenders harder to deal with while protecting sites. The additional time this duo provides in longer rounds can give the rest of the team time to reinforce defenses, flank attackers, and even defuse the bomb after planting.
Aruni, Fenrir, Jager, Melusi, and Mute
Securing sites with traps and detection devices
| Operator | Gadget |
|---|---|
| Aruni | Surya Laser Gate (detects anyone passing through) |
| Fenrir | F-NATT Dread Mine (releases gas impairing vision and slowing those within) |
| Jager | ADS-MKIV Magpie device (intercepts live grenades and thrown gadgets) |
| Melusi | Banshee Sonic defense (slows down trespassers and alerts allies to enemy entry) |
| Mute | Signal Disruptor jammer (can disable electronic devices on the site) |
A strong defensive setup in Rainbow Six Siege may rely on the team’s ability to secure and lock down areas, which can be useful for operators specializing in traps. Areas and choke points can be individually secured using the F-NATT Dread mines (from Fenrir) and Banshee Sonic defense systems (from Melusi), both capable of alerting defenders and slowing down attackers trying to pass through the area. While both operators can intervene and clear enemies, the rest of the team can ensure enemy reinforcements cannot advance.
These compositions can come in the form of early detection devices to gain an edge over enemies, such as Aruni’s Surya Laser Gate. Similarly, disabling abilities of attackers relying on throwing grenades can be done using Jager’s Magpie device to intercept them. Finally, Mute’s Signal Disruptor jammer can remove any opportunity for infiltration by disrupting electronic devices that may be used against defenders.
