UbisoftRainbow Six Siege‘s Year 10 Season 2 is here, and the meta has changed following Ubisoft’s most recent major update, which brought new balance changes into the spotlight.
Rainbow Six Siege is now in its tenth year, with over 70 Operators for players to choose from. With changes to the meta, it can be difficult to keep up with the best options on both attack and defense.
However, we’ve got you covered with an up-to-date ranking of which attackers and defenders are best in our Operator tier list for R6.
Rainbow Six Attackers tier list
| Tier | Operator |
|---|---|
| S | Ace, Ash, Blackbeard, Blitz, Brava, Buck, Deimos, Dokkaebi, Grim, Maverick |
| A | Montagne, Nomad, Ram, Striker, Thermite, Twitch, Zofia |
| B | Brava, Finka, Flores, Hibana, Iana, Kali, Osa, Sens, Thatcher, Ying |
| C | Capitao, Gridlock, IQ, Lion, Sledge, Zero |
| D | Amaru, Fuze, Glaz, Jackal, Nøkk, Rauora |
Our tiers explained
Here’s a brief explainer of how each tier in our Rainbow Six tier list works:
- S: The best Attackers in R6
- A: Great alternatives to S-Tier Attackers
- B: There might be situations where these Attackers can perform well
- C: These Attackers only perform well if your team has a foolproof strategy or the group comp is otherwise excellent
- D: Best to avoid unless you find yourself drawn to them
S-Tier Attackers
Ace
Ubisoft / DexertoComing to the S-tier attackers, we are starting with Ace, one of the hard breachers with an ideal combination of weapons and gadgets. Although you can’t breach the entire wall, unlike Thermite, his AK-12 packs enough punch.
He has three S.E.L.M.A Aqua Breachers that give you enough opportunities to blast open a hatch and a reinforced wall, but he is prone to getting Kaid-tricked if not timed or utilized properly. Ace is a great pick for maps like Kafe Dostoyevsky and Clubhouse.
Ash
DEXERTOAsh is the definition of a purebred fragger, built for speed, aggression, and raw killing power. Her lightning-fast movement allows her to take early map control, while her R4-C and G36C are among the best weapons for aggressive play, offering high DPS, low recoil, and fast handling.
Her Breaching Rounds add to her versatility, letting her quickly open soft walls, destroy defender gadgets, and clear key positions without slowing down. Unlike other fraggers, Ash doesn’t rely on utility to be effective—her gun skill and speed alone make her a constant threat.
A clear entry fragger and a relentless killing machine, Ash is a go-to pick for aggressive players who want to lead the charge, take fights, and disrupt defenders with nonstop pressure.
Blackbeard
DexertoEven after the recent adjustments, this powerhouse Operator still stands out thanks to his formidable shield, which remains one of the strongest tools in Siege. Despite expectations that he would have received significant nerfs by now, his overpowered ability to throw grenades from behind his shield and break through soft walls keeps him among the best picks in the game.
While he’s slower than many other Operators and has somewhat limited utility, his strong weaponry and overall package make him an exceptional choice as an Attacker.
Blitz
DEXERTOBlitz is a solid pick if you’re looking for an Operator that can support an aggressive playstyle. He’s got a shield and a flash grenade, which you can utilize to pressure enemies to reposition or catch them off guard by flanking.
As a character that thrives in close range, you should have no problem fully blinding them and then just spamming ADS shots to easily win 1v1s.
The only thing holding him back from being S-tier is that he’s not always viable if you’re playing solo queue. Although he’s mostly strong, it’s a lot more ideal to play as him when you have teammates who can coordinate.
Brava
Ubisoft / DexertoSure, Twitch allows you to break cams and gadgets using her Shock Drones, but Brava can do better – hack enemy gadgets! Want to take control of defender cams? You’d be able to do that. Suppose an enemy team has Maestro, and you want to make it yours. Use one of Brava’s Kludge Drones to get the job done.
If defenders are proactive, they will shoot the drone and get rid of it immediately. But if you’re lucky, your team will have a significant advantage by the time an enemy realizes you have control over their gadgets. This tactic can be deadly if there’s a Kapkan on the other team and you’re playing on Border or Chalet.
Buck
DEXERTOThis Canadian Attacker is like a one-man army. His C8-SFW Assault Rifle can deal great damage but comes at the cost of higher recoil. Want to counter that? Use the CAMRS Marksman Rifle instead. Both weapons have an alternative mode of fire, Skeleton Key, which makes holes in walls and floors.
So, if you’re new or a seasoned veteran who wants to outplay enemies by playing vertically, you can do that. Buck now has Hard Breach Charges, which means he also serves as a backup for breaching reinforced hatches or walls. Use his Stun Grenades to take control of the site, giving the rest of the team the space to plan their attacks freely. Despite these benefits, his utility is not strong enough to be ranked S-Tier.
Deimos
DEXERTOThe best thing about Deimos is that you can get intel so easily at the click of a button. Thanks to this miniature flying probe, he’s a solid pick to scan enemies, giving them pressure that would lead them to bad positions.
The only tradeoff is that you can only use the .44 Vendetta while doing so and that you’d also reveal your position to the Defenders. However, this can be easily solved if you sit outside the building and call out the exact position of the tracked person to your whole team.
Dokkaebi
DEXERTOThe South Korean operator is a gadget master and has the tools for most of the occasions that Rainbow Six Siege can throw up. The best allows her to call defenders anywhere on the map, allowing their locations to be spotted easily.
She is also able to allow her team to see through defenders’ cameras, while at the same time stopping dead defenders from checking for themselves for a limited period. One of the more streamlined support-style characters in the game, many of your teammates will love you for bringing Dokkaebi to the proverbial party.
Grim
Ubisoft / DexertoAfter his buff in Operation Dread Factor, Grim has become a strong Attacker and has ranked up in our tier list. He now has Hard Breach Charges, which makes him versatile in case Ace or Hibana goes wrong, his Kawan Hive Launcher now covers a larger area and lasts longer, which is super useful in bigger maps like Kafe Dostoyevsky.
Although 552 Commando may not be the best assault rifle in the game, now that Baliff has been added to his arsenal of secondary weapons, he can be a great choice for vertical gameplay in Kafe or Border.
Maverick
DEXERTOMaverick is an S-Tier Attacker thanks to his unparalleled utility, creativity, and adaptability in breaching defenses. When faced with Kaid’s electrified hatch or reinforced walls, and neither Habana nor Thatcher can get the job done, Maverick becomes the only reliable option.
His blowtorch can silently carve openings through reinforced surfaces, bypassing electrification and Mute jammers with precise control—something no other Operator can replicate. Unlike Kali, whose sniper rifle is rarely favored due to its impracticality in Siege’s fast-paced gunfights, Maverick offers a far more reliable alternative for hard breaching while still having access to powerful weapons.
A-Tier Attackers
Montagne
Ubisoft / DexertoMontagne is the Operator with a body-sized Extendable Shield that blocks anything coming his way – even a Nitro Cell! It may look harmless, but a well-coordinated full-stacked team will use him in the best and most annoying ways possible.
He can give you better live intel about defenders than Iana or Blitz, allowing the rest of the teammates to plan their attacks accordingly. He can even get full cover, thanks to his shield again while planting the Defuser and even safeguarding it in maps like Border and Clubhouse.
However, following significant shield nerfs, Montagne is not as effective as he once was, resulting in him still being a strong A-Tier pick, but not enough to be ranked S-Tier.
Nomad
DEXERTONomad continues to be one of the best attackers as it is both mechanically powerful and tactically essential. Her Airjab Launchers provide unmatched flank denial, essentially acting as a tripwire against roaming defenders. In a meta where map control and timing are crucial, Nomad allows your team to push safely without constantly worrying about being backstabbed.
Nomad’s kit allows her to play a flex role. She can assist in entry fragging, provide intel (when Airjabs are triggered), and even serve as a soft breacher. Her presence forces defenders to either stay locked in the site or waste time and utility trying to deal with her gadgets.
In ranked, she’s a comfort pick for many players who want a high-impact, low-risk Operator. In competitive play, her pick/ban rate remains extremely high.
Ram
Ubisoft / DexertoThe introduction of Ram has brought a new dynamic to Rainbow Six Siege. She rocks an R4-C like Ash, and her BU-GI Auto-Breacher wreaks havoc, to say the least.
For one, it’s loud and destroys any destructible wall or floor it touches, giving Attackers new ways of pushing into the bomb sites. The gadget being loud masks footsteps, allowing Ram to sneak up on enemies and give the team a man advantage.
Striker
DEXERTOStriker, one of the newest additions to the roster from Operation New Blood, brings a well-rounded and aggressive toolkit that rewards skilled fraggers.
His Special Deployable Shield creates instant cover, allowing him to quickly hold space or set up for crossfires. While not flashy, his ability to rapidly build pressure in chaotic moments makes him a dependable secondary entry in many comps. He also comes with a flexible loadout, giving him options for both ranged duels and close-quarters skirmishes.
Thermite
DEXERTOAmong all the hard breachers in R6, Thermite is a solid option to pick. He is also quite a beginner-friendly Attacker since his gadgets are simple, and the 556xi Assault Rifle deals great damage with a high fire rate, and controlling its recoil is a breeze.
His Exothermic Charges can breach an entire reinforced wall, unlike Ace, Hibana, or Maverick. No matter which map you’re playing, Thermite is an excellent pick among every type of player, well, maybe except Favela! The only reason why he’s not in the S-tier is due to how map-dependent he can be.
Twitch
DEXERTOTwitch is a decent disabler in the current meta, and it’s not just because of her drones. While it’s true that they’re extremely useful for taking out enemies’ gadgets and gathering intel, Twitch’s DMR can be used to shred through enemies, provided you hit your shots, of course.
With Twitch, you’ll want to clear the path and take out default cams to bring value to the team. Overall, she’s got a solid pick and deserves a spot in the A-tier in the current meta, as there are many Operators she can counter right now.
Zofia
DEXERTOZofia remains one of the most flexible Operators, and even after multiple nerfs to her loadout and concussion utility, she continues to thrive in most team compositions.
Her KS79 Lifeline allows her to fire both explosive and concussion grenades, giving her incredible adaptability. Her M762 assault rifle, while no longer overpowered, still hits hard and has one of the highest skill ceilings in the game for entry players.
One of Zofia’s biggest strengths is that she can revive herself from a downed state once per round, giving her a unique second chance in clutch situations. She’s also great at solo clearing roamers due to her powerful gun and ranged utility.
Rainbow Six Defenders tier list
| Tier | Operator |
|---|---|
| S | Azami, Clash, Fenrir, Kaid, Kapkan, Lesion, Melusi, Mute, Smoke |
| A | Aruni, Castle, Echo, Goyo, Mira, Valkyrie, Tubarão, Wamai |
| B | Bandit, Doc, Frost, Jäger, Maestro, Skopós, Vigil |
| C | Alibi, Caveira, Ela, Pulse, Warden |
| D | Mozzie, Oryx, Rook, Sentry, Solis, Tachanka, Thorn, Thunderbird |
Our tiers explained
- S: The best Defenders in R6
- A: Great alternatives to S-Tier Defenders
- B: There might be situations where these Defenders can perform well
- C: These Defenders only perform well if your team has a foolproof strategy
- D: Best to avoid unless you find yourself drawn to them
S-Tier Defenders
Azami
Ubisoft / DexertoWant to block off a wall breach hole by Ace or Hibana temporarily? Pick Azami. Her Kiba Barriers release as a Kunai, which later transforms into a barrier and gives you the much-needed hardcover when you need it the most. Use this with the right timing, and you’ll be able to clutch a lot of situations, making Azami a strong pick for Defender.
She has Impact Grenades, which are used to make rotations between sites or break a soft hatch and play vertically while flanking. As an alternative, Barbed Wires will provide intel about nearby Attackers, and she is a great choice for holding Catwalk or Rafters above the Clubhouse garage.
Clash
DEXERTOClash was previously far from being in a good spot, but that was before devs gave her a rework. It’s safe to say she’s now an absolute beast, with a lot of people often taking advantage of her deployable shield to shoot at enemies who are just coming out of spawn.
Additionally, thanks to the rework, she can now roam free, slow her enemies down with the taser, and even pick her fights easily. These, combined with how versatile she can be right now, are enough to move her up to S-tier instantly.
Fenrir
Ubisoft / DexertoFenrir and Omen from Valorant have something in common – they partially blind enemies using their gadgets or abilities. Thanks to the F-NATT Dread Mine, this Swedish Operator obstructs vision when an enemy enters its activation radius.
Combine that with a Bulletproof Camera, and you will provide intel to your flanking teammates. This strategy is useful when Attackers are pushing from the top of the Yellow Stairs in the Consulate, or the Catwalk or Rafters above the Clubhouse garage.
Kaid
Ubisoft / DexertoAlthough Kaid is older than Bandit, he’s a better choice than the latter in most cases. Yes, both electrify walls, but Kaid can electrify hatches – which is crucial when your team opts for a Thatcher ban. Although you have to be wary of Impact EMP Grenades, they prove to be a nightmare if the enemies are smart.
Picking up Electroclaws is easier than Bandit’s Shock Wires, but to do the Kaid trick, you have to practice quite a few times to get the timing right. You get to keep a Nitro Cell for adverse situations or blowing an enemy up from the floor below.
Kapkan
Ubisoft / DexertoKapkan, in the hands of the right player, is a nightmare for Attackers. His Entry Denial Devices deal great damage, and when you place two on one door frame and the attacker fails to notice them, you’re guaranteed an easy kill.
You may either keep Impact Grenades or Nitro Cell, as per your team’s needs and playstyle, but both are effective when the situation demands. Kapkan is a great choice for maps having many corners to check, such as Chalet, Border, and Clubhouse.
Lesion
Ubisoft / DexertoIf you have a versatile playstyle, such as you like to roam from time to time, or even play anchor and provide intel, Lesion is your go-to choice. This defender from Hong Kong uses his Gu Mines to detect enemy locations and also deal slight damage in return.
This damage can be deadly, especially when that enemy is down to the last 5 HP. In that case, you’ll get an instant kill. Sure, he doesn’t have Impact Grenades anymore, but you still have the T-5 SMG to kill enemies without breaking a sweat. A great choice for any map in R6. Despite being a great pick on paper, Lesion currently sits on A-tier due to the mines’ limited range.
Melusi
DEXERTOMelusi is an S-Tier Defender in Rainbow Six Siege, thanks to her disruptive Banshee Sonic Defenses, which provide constant intel and slow down attackers. While her MP5 isn’t the strongest weapon, it’s still reliable in close combat, and the lack of an ACOG scope, like Doc’s, weakens her slightly.
However, her ability to control areas and disrupt enemy movement makes her a solid choice that is incredibly annoying to play against, offering great support and creating constant pressure on attackers.
Mute
Ubisoft / DexertoIf an enemy team regularly plays Operators like Deimos, Dokkaebi, and Lion, Mute is the perfect antidote. His Signal Disruptor will keep you or your teammates within the gadget’s range undetected. It also jams Attacker drones or hard-breaching gadgets.
Most players prefer the M590A1 Shotgun and SMG-11 combo, as you get to keep a weapon for both short and medium-range gunfights. Combine them with a Nitro Cell, and Mute will be one of the most dangerous defenders to deal with.
Smoke
DEXERTOSmoke remains one of the most impactful anchors in Siege, thanks to its three remote-detonated gas canisters, which provide unmatched area denial late in rounds.
His toolkit is tailor-made for holding off plant attempts and forcing attackers into tight exposure windows. His gas deals continuous damage, making him a top-tier choice for denying objective pushes.
Smoke’s playstyle revolves around intel gathering, patience, and timing. While not as flashy as roamers, his sheer round-winning potential in final-site defense cements him firmly in the S tier.
A-Tier Defenders
Aruni
Ubisoft / DexertoAruni leads the A-Tier Defenders group in our Rainbow Six tier list. Aruni is the only Operator in R6 with a prosthetic arm. Use it to make holes, which is very efficient in making rotations between two sites, as you don’t need to spend shotgun bullets.
Her Surya Laser Gates, if active, deal damage to Attackers, absorb projectiles or even break drones. Her secondary gadgets include Barbed Wires or a Bulletproof Camera, which will provide intel to the team one way or the other, and is a great pick for maps like Border, Clubhouse, Chalet, and Consulate.
Castle
DEXERTOThanks to the new Pick and Ban system, Castle can now be a more viable pick, specifically in situations where the enemy team lacks characters with abilities that specialize in destroying utility and hard breaching.
Using his bullet-resistant barricades, you can stop enemies from pushing in and possibly wasting their resources trying to destroy them.
Right now, he sits in the A-tier because he requires a lot of game sense and map knowledge. Additionally, given that his barricades are limited, you need to be strategic when it comes to placing them. Overall, he’d be ideal with a coordinated team.
Echo
Ubisoft / DexertoThe defender from Tokyo can win a round for you even if he is away from the bomb sites. His primary gadget, Yokai, is a hovering drone that sticks to the ceiling, which cancels a Defuser plant using ultrasonic bursts that disorient the enemy. Despite his hovering drones having suffered a nerf, resulting in them no longer being invisible, they have still proven to be incredibly effective.
An Echo main would play away from the site (not as a roamer though), keep MP5SD SMG as his main weapon, and use his Yokai drones effectively during the last few moments of a round. Use it multiple times to deny plants, and the Attacker will start to panic when time’s running out.
Goyo
DEXERTOGoyo is a powerhouse on defense, capable of burning enemies for 90 seconds to two minutes with his Volcan Canisters, depending on placement. This creates persistent area denial, forcing attackers into tough decisions.
With one of the fastest fire rates in Siege and an ACOG for precision shots, Goyo excels at holding off attackers and picking off those who get too close. His Impact Grenades offer quick rotations or new sightlines, adding versatility.
Mira
Ubisoft / DexertoMira’s major downside is how difficult she is to play. The Spaniard is tough to master, but once you’ve sussed her mirrors and got on top of the Vector. 45’s recoil, there’s no more difficult opponent for attackers.
Her Black Mirrors provide an insight into attacking teams’ strategies, while a Nitro Cell and shotgun secondary mean she can also be used for counter-attacking plays and soft breaching. She’s one-speed, so Mira players have to tailor their playstyles to sticking by the bomb. The only thing stopping her from being in the S-tier, however, is that you’ll need to run a coordinated team with her.
Valkyrie
Ubisoft / DexertoIntel is key, especially while defending, as attackers can approach from any side of the map. Who else can provide it better than Valkyrie? Yes, she can’t throw her Black Eye Cameras outdoors anymore, but their placement indoors can make or break a round.
Combine them with your Nitro Cell to deny a plant. Her MPX SMG is easy to control, while the D-50 secondary deals great damage or creates holes in soft floors or walls.
Tubarao
ubisoftTubarao is a solid Defender to pick as his kit allows you to slow enemies and deny hard breaches. He comes with a Zoto Canister gadget that freezes devices from getting deployed, slows enemies caught in the area, and reveals their footprints, giving your team important information to play around them.
Thanks to his ability, he also pairs well with other Operators, including Bandit. The only reason he’s not higher in the tier list is because relatively easy to counter the canister and disable its effects.
Wamai
Ubisoft / DexertoFollowing Jaeger’s heavy nerfs, you have Wamai to handle incoming projectiles. The only difference is that his Mag-NETs attract the projectile, reset the detonation timer, and then explode it.
You can use either the AUG A2 or the MP5K as his primary weapon, which is excellent considering their fire rates. Depending on your team’s playstyle, both Proximity Alarms and Impact Grenades are excellent choices.
Meta Analysis
Though this isn’t the case with many games, pretty much every Operator in Rainbow Six Siege has some positives to fall back on. That said, the intrinsic design of some does enough to elevate them above their immediate peers.
After the dust has settled following the launch of Y10S2, the meta has shifted once again, mainly due to the new Pick & Ban system, which many have already been familiar with at this point in the season.
With this feature essentially forcing teams to strategize and adapt their comp each round, which adds to counterplay, some characters that previously were less popular, such as Twitch, Castle, and Kali, have all climbed up one tier in the list.
Still, regardless of that, with no new balance changes added yet, the best attackers to play right now still include some established names, such as Ace, Ash, Deimos, Blackbeard, Deimos, and Dokkaebi.
The same case applies to Defenders, with Smoke, Azami, and Clash still dominating the current meta. The latter is even often dubbed “broken” due to how versatile she is after the rework.
ubisoftTo recap, Siege welcomed Season 2 on June 10, 2025, which brought plenty of new additions and changes to the game, including balance updates for Sledge, Jackal, and Blackbeard.
Out of all the Operators in the current season, Clash was the only one who made a massive leap from being the worst to joining the S-tier thanks to her rework. The ability to deploy her shield, dash through barricades, sprint, and crouch while her shield is equipped, among others, makes it easier for her to shred through enemies after forcing them to waste their utility.
For this same reason, Sledge has also made a jump from previously being C-tier to B-tier as the latest balance update has now made his hammer even more powerful, allowing him to use it to knock a shield out in just one swing.
On the other hand, despite Blackbeard’s Adaptive Shield getting adjusted to make it easier to notice audio and visually, he’s still considered one of the best Attackers out there, especially if you’re running with a well-coordinated team.
Some Operators have also fallen on the list, with Alibi receiving the steepest drop of all, falling from B to C-tier due to her lack of utility and because her Holograms are generally easy to tell apart.
In a recent announcement, devs revealed they’ll introduce new balance changes for Year 10 Season 3 in the upcoming season reveal on Sunday, August 17, 1 PM ET. Additionally, a new Defender will join the roster, marking the first operator to be added to the game since the launch of Siege X.
With these in mind, the meta is expected to shift once again when the patch drops, and we’ll be sure to update this list to reflect that.
That rounds off our best Rainbow Six Siege operator tier list for Year 10 Season 2. You can check out our explainer on Rainbow Six Siege ranks, which also explains how you can rank up quickly in the game. You can also stay up to date with R6 server status to check when the servers are down.
