Introduction
What we tried to achieve when creating below defenders rankings is to create a section that will be useful for new players (or relatively inexperienced) who are unsure which operators are:
- Valuable to the defending team
- Have good fragging potential
- Are easy to pick and utilize properly
Below categorizations of all defensive operators are our subjective opinion based on personal experiences.
In case you would like to learn more about each operator, please click their name to go to a dedicated page or click the below button to visit the list of all operators available in Rainbow Six Siege.
In sections that follow, we will rank all defenders in R6 Siege based on:
UTILITY RANKING
The Best Utility
This section of defensive utility ranking contains operators that have the potential of providing the highest utility benefit to the team.
Of course, it does not mean that other operators are not needed to the team’s success. Rainbow Six Siege is a complex game with tons of variables and essentially unlimited tactics. Below operators, however, can support their team in almost any situation.
In many cases, they are also vital to consistently winning rounds on the defensive side.
| Operator | The Best Utility |
| Jager | The best support operator on defense in Rainbow Six Siege; Utility protects nearby defenders from various offensive tools (i.e., grenades) |
| Mira | Area denial specialist; Her utility changed the game and META; One-sided mirrors |
| Echo | Intel-gathering and plant denial specialist; Echo brings to the table 2 unique Yokai drones |
| Lesion | Great intel-gathering trap oriented operator; Active utility that debuffs affected attackers and notifies about their position |
| Azami | Area denial specialist; Creates new angles and cover for defenders, with potential to eliminate strong offensive angles. |
| Bandit | Breach Denial; Denying breach to attackers is a game within the game in Rainbow Six Siege; Best at electrifying walls |
| Kaid | Breach Denial; The only operator capable of consistently denying breaching of reinforced hatches |
Good Utility
Moving on from the best utility operators, we enter the stage of useful, but not exceptional in every situation, group of operators.
Please note that in some scenarios operators in this group may be even more vital to winning rounds, than the best utility operators mentioned earlier.
| Operator | Good Utility |
| Maestro | Intel-gathering; 2 Evil Eyes that can serve as turrets and cameras |
| Wamai | Support defender; Mag-net pulls various offensive gadgets; Helps to secure areas and is capable of impacting attackers negatively |
| Aruni | Area-denial defender; Surya gates are good devices for “burning utility” and providing heads-up about attackers’ push |
| Rook | Support defender; Buffs defensive team by increasing their resistance to damage |
| Doc | Support defender; The only healer on defense in Rainbow Six Siege; 3 Stim shots that heal or revive affected operator |
| Mute | Intel & Breach denial specialist; Versatile operator who disables drones and remote detonation of electronics within his gadgets’ range |
| Mozzie | Intel denial and gathering defender; Able to hack attackers drones and use them for defenders’ advantage |
| Melusi | Area denial specialist; Slows down impacted attackers and gives audio cue about their presence |
| Goyo | Area denial operator; Equipped with 2 Volcan shields which are like default deployable shields, but with attached explosive tank; Covers nearby area in a fire on detonation |
| Valkyrie | Intel-gathering defender; 3 Black Eye cameras that can be placed basically anywhere on the map |
| Smoke | Area denial specialist; Becomes useful and deadly when the time of the round runs low; Able to deny plants |
| Pulse | Intel-gathering wall-hack; His Cardiac scanner identifies attackers within 9 meters, even through surfaces |
| Caveira | High-risk high-reward roamer; Silentsteps make her movement silent, while interrogation provides intel about remaining attackers location |
| Clash | Highly defensive intel-gathering shield operator; Slows down and damages enemies within ~12 meters |
| Castle | Area denial specialist; Equipped with 3 Armored Panels that act as glorified barricades; Can backfire when used wrongly |
| Thunderbird | Support operator; Offers static stations which offer healing and even revival |
Least team-oriented utility
Last, and in this case, least as well, the defensive operators who provide the lowest benefits in team perspective utility usage.
Such a categorization does not mean their utility is useless. In some cases, those operators are the best at what they do. However, they do not provide significant benefits to the team but rather enhance their own killing potential.
| Operator | Least useful utility |
| Alibi | Intel-gathering defender; Prisma provides intel about the location of “tricked” enemies |
| Vigil | Roaming specialist; Denies intel about his exact location for drones thanks to his ERC-7 |
| Oryx | Roaming specialist; Traverses map fast, breaches through walls and climbs hatches |
| Kapkan | Trap oriented defender; 5 EDD traps place-able in doors and windows. Damages impacted attackers |
| Ela | Trap oriented defender; 3 Grzmot concussion mines that disorientate influenced attackers |
| Thorn | Trap oriented defender; 3 Razorbloom traps which deal lethal damage to enemies caught in its radius |
| Frost | Trap oriented defender; 3 Welcome mats that down attackers who step into traps; The highest reward trap operator, with the lowest activation chance |
| Tachanka | The Lord is a category on his own; Deployable LMG with destructible protection covering the head of the player |
| Warden | Intel-gathering defender; Able to see through smoke and nullify flash/stun effect; Extremely situational |
Fragging RANKING
The Best Fraggers
R6 Siege is FPS, and thus at its core, every operator is a fragger.
In this section, you will find operators who are best suited to be the main fragger for defending team in Rainbow Six Siege.
| Operator | The best fragging potential |
| Jager | 2-speed; Great AR |
| Bandit | 3-speed; Great SMG; C4 |
| Maestro | 1-speed; LMG on defense with 80 bullets and good RPM… |
| Melusi | 3-speed; Good SMG; Utility supporting fragging |
| Alibi | 3-speed; Great SMG; Utility supporting fragging |
| Vigil | 3-speed; Very good SMG; Automatic secondaries; Utility supporting roaming |
Good Fraggers
Defensive operators listed in this ranking category are good at fragging, but either have their own limitations or are not centered around this function.
| Operator | Good fragging power |
| Wamai | 2-speed; Great but ugly AR |
| Thorn | 2-speed; Good SMG with UZK; Utility helps with frag potential |
| Azami | 2-speed; Good weapon options; Utility enhances angles for fragging |
| Thunderbird | 2-speed; AR on defense offers good fragging power; Healing capability |
| Lesion | 2-speed; Good SMG; Utility supporting fragging |
| Rook | 1-speed; Low recoil, 2.0x scope MP-5; Armour makes him more resistant |
| Doc | 1-speed; Low recoil, 1.5x scope MP-5; Ability to heal himself |
| Mira | 1-speed; Insane fire rate Vector; C4 |
| Echo | 1-speed; 1.5x scope silenced MP-5; Automatic secondary |
| Aruni | 2-speed; Very good SMG; Enhanced melee supporting rotation capability (opens hatches, etc) |
| Oryx | 2-speed; Good SMG; Utility supporting roaming and flanking potential |
| Mute | 2-speed; Versatile loadout options (shotgun/SMG; SMG/SMG); C4 |
| Mozzie | 2-speed; Very good SMGs; C4 |
| Goyo | 2-speed; Insane fire rate Vector/Sniper TCSG12 “shotgun”; C4 |
| Valkyrie | 2-speed; Headshot machine but peashooter MPX; Secondary Deagle; C4 |
| Smoke | 2-speed; Versatile loadout options (shotgun/SMG; SMG/SMG) |
| Pulse | 3-speed; Low recoil UMP with a low rate of fire; C4; Utility enhancing fragging potential |
| Kapkan | 2-speed; Low recoil decent SMG; C4; Trap utility with killing potential |
| Ela | 3-speed; High fire rate but insane recoil SMG; Trap utility support fragging potential |
| Kaid | 1-speed; 2.0x scope sniper TCSG “shotgun” or decent SMG with 1.5x scope; C4 |
Weakest fraggers
Below defensive operators are least exceptional at killing potential. They are hindered in gunfights due to their specifications, loadout, or design.
Each of them can get the job done but is not suited well to be the main fragging option for your team.
| Operator | Least fragging potential |
| Caveira | 3-speed; Bad primaries; High damage unique pistol; Utility supporting fragging potential |
| Clash | 1-speed; Extremely defensive focused shield operator |
| Frost | 2-speed; Low DPS & fire rate SMG |
| Tachanka | 1-speed; Unique weapon with low rate of fire |
| Castle | 2-speed; Low recoil UMP with a low rate of fire |
| Warden | 1-speed; Headshot machine but peashooter MPX |
Beginner-friendly ranking
The Easiest operators
Defenders listed in this group are easy to pick and play, especially as a new R6 Siege player.
They do not serve any vital role from the objective perspective and have a unique utility that is easy to use, at least on a basic level.
| Operator | The easiest operators |
| Rook | Mechanically the easiest utility in Rainbow Six Siege; Passive; non-vital utility; doesn’t require map knowledge |
| Aruni | Simple utility from mechanical perspective; Requires basic map knowledge for basic usage of the Surya gate; Does not back fire unlike Castle’s Armored panels |
| Doc | Mechanically more demanding than Rook’s, but still very easy; Active, non-vital utility; doesn’t require map knowledge |
| Kapkan | Mechanically simple; Limited placement options (doors/windows); Passive; non-vital utility; requires at least basic map knowledge |
| Ela | Mechanically simple; Flexible placement options; Passive; Non-vital utility; Requires at least basic map knowledge |
| Thorn | Mechanically simple; Flexible placement options; Passive; Non-vital utility; Requires at least basic map knowledge |
| Frost | Mechanically simple; Flexible placement options; Low chance of activating but high reward traps; Passive; Non-vital utility; Requires basic map knowledge |
| Thunderbird | Requires pre-planning more than Doc’s healing capability; Passive utility; Simple mechanically |
Moderate difficulty
This is where most operators fall into – the middle range of difficulty.
Operators listed below require a bit more practice but are not the hardest to pick and play in R6 Siege.
| Operator | Moderate difficulty operators |
| Bandit | Medium mechanical difficulty, with high skill ceiling; Can be active (“Bandit tricking”); Vital to team’s success; Map knowledge required |
| Jager | Mechanically simple, but potentially vital utility; Passive; Requires communication and understanding of a team’s plan |
| Melusi | Mechanically simple, but requires at least basic map knowledge for utility placement; passive utility |
| Azami | Mechanically simple; Utility requires good game sense and map knowledge to truly shine |
| Maestro | Simple to place, but difficult to utilize well; Non-vital utility; Active/passive ratio depends on situation & player; Map knowledge required |
| Wamai | Mechanically simple; Active utility, potentially vital utility; Requires understanding of gadgets interactions and game sense |
| Oryx | Easy mechanically, but requires game sense and map knowledge to utilize efficiently; Non-vital utility; Active usage |
| Alibi | Mechanically simple; Passive utility; Non-vital; Requires trickery mindset and game sense |
| Vigil | Mechanically simple; Active utility; non-vital; Requires game sense & good roaming skills |
| Mute | Mechanically simple; Passive; Vital to team’s success; Map knowledge required |
| Mozzie | Medium mechanical difficulty, with high skill ceiling; Active/Passive ratio depends on situation & player; Map knowledge required |
| Goyo | Simple to place, but difficult to know where; Passive utility; Non-vital but can backfire easily; Requires map knowledge and advanced tactical sense |
| Kaid | Medium mechanical difficulty, with high skill ceiling; Can be active (“Kaid tricking”); Vital to the team’s success; Map knowledge required |
| Tachanka | It is hard to discuss the Lord but let’s try to be serious: Medium mechanical difficulty, requires a specific placement to have any positive effect; Active; Clearly non-vital; Map knowledge required to place in a good spot |
The most difficult operators
Below defenders require more skill, experience, and often map knowledge to utilize them properly.
I do not recommend those operators for players who just picked up the R6 Siege.
| Operator | Difficult operators |
| Echo | Requires patience and advanced game sense; Active/Passive ratio depends on the situation & player; |
| Mira | Requires a lot of map, tactics & meta understanding; Vital to the team’s success and can backfire when used poorly; |
| Lesion | Mechanically simple, but requires good game sense and map knowledge for correct placement; Active utility; Gains significance as the round progresses |
| Valkyrie | High-skill ceiling; Great map knowledge needed for optimal usage; Passive utility |
| Smoke | Difficult to anchor with; Potential impact on round increases as time passes; High patience and game sense required |
| Pulse | High-skill ceiling; Great map knowledge & communication needed for optimal usage; Active utility; |
| Caveira | High risk-High reward operator; Requires advanced game sense, map knowledge & sneaky mindset to be effective; Active utility |
| Clash | Defense-oriented shield attacker; requires coordination, map knowledge, and game sense |
| Castle | Mechanically simple, but requires tactic, game sense and map knowledge to benefit the team; Can backfire when used wrongly |
| Warden | Underwhelming characteristics make him hard to play; Very situational usage; Active utility; Warden is not in a good place in R6 Siege |
TOP 6 operators
And the winners are...
After considering all the factors, we present to you our list of the best-defending operators in Rainbow Six Siege.
| Operator | The Best Defenders |
| Jager | A passive utility that helps anchors greatly. Jager also has an amazing primary weapon – AR – and is a 2-speed defender |
| Bandit | Excellent Breach Denial option with great SMG and versatile universal gadgets; 3-speed |
| Maestro | LMG on defense. If that wasn’t enough, Maestro has Intel-gathering utility; The only downside is his 1-speed |
| Mira | Provides a game-changing utility that revolutionized defense in Siege; Insane RoF of Vector makes her deadly from short distances |
| Echo | Invisible drones that can provide intel and debuff to enemies; plus plant denial potential; 1.5x scope; 1-speed |
| Azami | Powerful utility with area denial functionality and immense creativity potential; Good SMG; 2-speed |
