There’s just shy of 70 operators in Rainbow Six Siege following the implementation of Fenrir and Year 8 Season 2. It can be very tough to separate the best from the rest, but that’s where we can help. Here’s the ultimate Rainbow Six Siege Operator tier list, detailing the best attackers and defenders in Year 8.
Operation Dread Factor has now succeeded Commanding Force in Year 8, bringing brand new Swedish operator Fenrir into the mix. It also brought a Consulate rework, Observation Blocker tool for defenders and a series of tweaks to the existing operator pool. Among the most notable operator changes in Y8S2 was a major overhaul to Grim and a series of Thunderbird tweaks.
Before our tier list for attackers and defenders, we’re running through our favorite for each role.
Ultimate Rainbow Six Siege Operator Tier List
Best Attackers in Rainbow Six Siege Year 8
Attackers in Siege need to be powerful and adaptable, navigating defenders’ equipment while closing in on the objective. Throw in taking out opponents as you go and it’s no surprise that the best attackers are typically the most versatile.
Thatcher is still our pick for the best attacker in Rainbow Six Siege. The SAS Operator’s EMP grenades have long been one of the best (probably the best) attacking gadgets in the game. Just throw one vaguely near enemy utility and you’ll take anything electrical out of action, at least in the short term. The response to his in-game viability has been a move towards banning him, especially in Ranked and higher-tier Siege. If he gets through though, he’s a must have on any attacking outfit.
As an alternate, we’re opting for Zero. His Argus Launcher, despite the nerfs it’s had since it was first implemented, is very powerful when it comes to information gathering. You’re also able to play more aggressively with his SMG, the MP7. If that doesn’t take your fancy, the SC3000K remains a standout weapon in all of Rainbow Six. The GONNE-6 and a Hard Breach Charge round off an Operator who’s a strong candidate whatever your playstyle and ability level.
Brava, Commanding Force’s Operator, is stuck in B-Tier as the playerbase figures out her Kludge Drones and how best they can be countered. Grim is also staying put in B-Tier. We’re yet to see a marked improvement in his performance despite the rework he received in Dread Factor. Ace and Dokkaebi are both in A-Tier, even if the latter takes some practice to perfect.
Our full Rainbow Six Attacker Operator Tier List for 2023 is detailed below:
| Tier | Operators |
|---|---|
| S | Ace, Thatcher, Nomad, Zero |
| A | Ash, Dokkaebi, Hibana, Iana, Jackal, Maverick, Sledge, Twitch |
| B | Blackbeard, Brava, Buck, Capitao, Finka, Flores, Grim, IQ, Lion, Osa, Thermite, Zofia |
| C | Amaru, Fuze, Gridlock, Kali, Nøkk, Sens, Ying |
| D | Blitz, Glaz, Montagne |
Best Defenders in Rainbow Six Siege Year 8
Defenders need be robust and reliable; difficult for attackers to break down but multitalented enough to manage the wealth of situations Rainbow Six can throw up.
Our choice for the best Defender in Rainbow Six Siege is Jäger. The 416-C Carbine is still an outstanding weapon among defenders, with most still restricted to a SMG of some sort. It’s long since proven it doesn’t need the old fashioned ACOG (2.5x) Scope to be a dominant weapon. Jäger’s firepower is complemented by his Active Defence Systems, which are incredibly easy to use and decent enough against enemy projectiles. Just throw them down around the objective and let them do the rest while you prowl and ambush unsuspecting attackers.
If you’re not fancying Jäger for any reason, our alternate is Valkyrie. Her Black Eye Cameras, despite some recent nerfs, still make you rich in Rainbow Six Siege’s most valuable currency: information. There’s no better tool to work out what the enemies’ strategy is and how they’re approaching your defences. She’s not all gadgets though, with her Nitro Cell and MPX SMG giving her more than enough to hold her own in gunfights.
In terms of other attackers, we’re bumping Kapkan into S-Tier (although he’s being banned more and more), Castle moves up to B-Tier, where the recently added Solis remains. Thunderbird stays in B-Tier too, although the changes to her Kona Stations could yet move her higher up.
New Operator Fenrir debuts in A-Tier, but that could change as he beds in. There’s potential for him to go higher as players glean as much as possible from his F-NATT Dread Mines. There’s also the potential for him to fall as players work out how to counter them. That’s the beauty of Rainbow Six.
Our full Rainbow Six Defender Tier Operator List for 2023 is detailed below:
| Tier | Operators |
|---|---|
| S | Jäger, Kapkan, Valkyrie |
| A | Aruni, Azami, Bandit, Ela, Kaid, Mira, Mute, Mozzie, Smoke, Wamai |
| B | Alibi, Castle, Echo, Lesion, Maestro, Melusi, Pulse, Rook, Solis, Thorn, Thunderbird, Vigil |
| C | Doc, Frost, Goyo, Oryx, Tachanka, Warden |
| D | Caveira, Clash |
There you have it – the ultimate Rainbow Six Operator Tier List and details on the Best Attackers and Defenders in Rainbow Six Siege right now. Be sure to check back in soon because, as new updates and operators drop, this list will change. Year 8 Season 3, for example, is set to bring a Korean Operator and Quick Match 2.0. We’ll be here when it drops.
About the author
