Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege

Overview

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is a multiplayer-focused modern-military tactical first-person shooter developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on December 1, 2015.

A soft reboot of the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six franchise, Siege follows the rebuilding of RAINBOW in 2015 (three years after its disbandment) after the rise of an international terrorist group known as the White Masks. While the game has a small single-player campaign (Situations) and a co-operative PvE mode (Terrorist Hunt), the main focus is its 5v5 competitive multiplayer (with three asymmetrical objective-based game modes).

Powered by Ubisoft's Anvil Next game engine, the game features a heavy emphasis on tactical use of the game's environment (with breakable walls, bullet penetration, and the use of traps and fortifications). In addition to heavily-customizable player loadouts, Rainbow Six Siege takes its cue from MOBAs and features numerous unique selectable characters known as Operators, with each Operator having a unique gadget (such as Castle's bulletproof barricades and Twitch's shock drone).

Situations

Situations is the game's optional tutorial section, where players can get accustomed to the various classes and maps that they will eventually be using in multiplayer. These 10 single player missions (with introductions narrated by actress Angela Bassett) each deliver a different operator and objective, with other secondary objectives that earn additional Renown.

Once the player successfully completes the 10 Situations, they unlock Article 5, an 11th mission that drops the player into an online co-op match with 4 other players, tasking them with defusing two bombs on a college campus.

Terrorist Hunt

The game contains a player vs environment (PvE) Terrorist Hunt game mode where teams of five players cooperatively attempt to defeat maps filled with terrorist AI enemies. The goals in this mode change each round, and include disarming bombs, extracting hostages, killing all of the terrorists, or protecting an asset (defensive mode). There are different types of enemies including suicide-bombers, scouts, and general enemies. Scanning an enemy with a camera or drone will reveal the 'class' of that unit.

• Engineer: focuses solely on setting barricades and traps and other devices.
• Roamer: relies on setting up group attacks, and attempt to flank players at opportune times.
• Bomber: walks/charges towards players at all costs and self-detonate, they are heavily armored and strapped with explosives.

The game mode randomizes enemy positions, classes, and objectives, and promises "you will never have the same experience twice."

Terrorist Hunt can be played online in teams of 5, or players can select to go in as a "Lone Wolf." It contains three difficulty levels; Normal, Hard, and Realistic.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer pits 5 vs 5 in close quarter combat, with one team defending an objective (either a hostage, a biohazard container, or two bombs), while a counter terrorist Rainbow team attacks. The defending team must fortify their surroundings, reinforcing walls, creating traps, defensive systems and strategies to stop the attacking team. The attacking team must breach the fortified location and complete their objective using coordinated assaults and close quarters combat.

Playlists

The competitive multiplayer in Rainbow Six Siege is divided into four playlists.

• Quick Match: Previously called Casual, Quick Match is an unranked mode that contains the largest map rotation and all three game modes (Bomb, Hostage, and Secure Area).
• Unranked: A playlist that features the map rotation and ruleset of Ranked but without the skill ranking
• Ranked: The competitive playlist of Siege, Ranked features the smallest map rotation, longer matches, and a tier ranking system. Bomb is the only mode in Ranked.
• Newcomer: A three map Bomb playlist for players below level 50.

There is an additional "Discovery" playlist whenever a new map is launched that features only the new map.

Destruction

Siege features an advanced destruction model that allows for strategic (or total) destruction of walls and floor panels. Walls made of wood or plaster can be destroyed; concrete, stone, and other hard materials are indestructible. Firearms can be used to shoot through and destroy walls depending on the caliber of ammunition. For example, pistols firing 9mm rounds will leave small bullet holes, unlike an assault rifle which causes significantly more damage.

Regardless of Operator, all Defenders have access to two wall reinforcements that are used to harden a "soft" wall. A reinforced wall can only be breached by a "hard breacher" Operator like Thermite, Hibana, or Maverick.

Pick & Ban

Previously exclusive to esports play, Pick & Ban is a feature available in Ranked and Unranked. At the start of a match, both teams ban two attackers and defenders, preventing them from being played for the duration of the match. This feature was expanded in Year 5 Season 3 to include Map Ban.

In esports matches, both team compositions are revealed to all players prior to the start of the round. Each team has an opportunity to perform a "Sixth Pick," whereby one player secretly changes their operator.

Events

Siege has a dedicated playlist for new maps when they're released. This playlist is also used for limited time events.

Mad House

A Halloween event for October 2018, Mad House featured the standard Bomb mode on a reskinned version of House. Operator selection was limited to operators who had received special Halloween skins for the event.

Outbreak

Launching with Year 3 Season 1, Outbreak was a coop mode that saw teams of three fighting infected monsters across three maps featuring extensive outdoor areas. Similar to Left 4 Dead, the mode included special types of infected.

• Grunts: The most basic type of infected
• Breacher: An explosive enemy that can destroy reinforced walls when detonating
• Rooter: A fast-moving enemy that can use spikes to trap players
• Smasher: A gigantic brute that charges through and smashes everything in its way
• Apex: A long-range projectile enemy that can summon more infected into the fight

Rainbow is Magic

An April Fools' 2019 event running from April 1 to April 8, Rainbow is Magic introduced pink and rainbow-colored cosmetic items for Tachanka, Smoke, Blackbeard, and Montagne. It also featured a redecorated toy-sized version of the Plane map with the hostage wearing a teddy bear suit and a motherly narrator commentating the match.

Showdown

Launched in late June 2019, Showdown featured a 3v3 mode set in a new, small map with an old West theme. The event came with exclusive themed cosmetic items for several operators and their weapons.

Doktor's Curse

Launched on October 23, 2019 and lasting till November 6, Doktor's Curse was a Halloween-themed event with a 5v5 hide-and-seek mode on the map Theme Park. The attackers wield breaching hammers and have access to some abilities from multiplayer. The defenders have no weapons and must use traps and a limited-use invisibility power to survive until the round ends.

Money Heist

Running in late November 2019, Money Heist was a collaboration with Netflix to promote the new Netflix series of the same name. The event featured the Hostage mode on the Bank map and limited-time skins for certain operators.

Road to S.I. 2020

Launched on January 15, 2020 and lasting to February 16, 2020, the Road to S.I. 2020 event was a prelude to the 2020 Six Invitational annual esports tournament. The event included a new map, Stadium, designed as an in-universe shoot house with the game's operators participating as contestants, and a battle pass with 35 tiers of cosmetic items.

The Grand Larceny

Running for a few weeks in May 2020, The Grand Larceny featured a reskinned version of Hereford Base and a modified Secure Area mode wherein the attacking team must open 3 safeboxes to win.

M.U.T.E. Protocol

An event running for most of August 2020, M.U.T.E. Protocol featured a reskinned version of Tower and a modified Secure Area mode. In the event, attackers had unlimited drones and could teleport to their current drone's location. Defenders could teleport between bulletproof cameras placed around the map.

Operators

Alongside the special default Recruit, the game was initially released with 10 Attacker Operators and 10 Defender Operators (for a total of 21). Additional Operators were released over time as DLC. As of the release of both Nøkk and Warden, this total was brought up to 24 Attackers and 24 Defenders (for a total of 49).

While the Recruit is unlocked from the start, other Operators had to be purchased with either in-game currency (Renown) or premium currency (R6 Credits). While the 20 initial Operators are cheap, their price rises as more from the same CTU are purchased. DLC Operators are expensive, but are discounted the longer they remain available. DLC Operators can also be purchased in special season pass bundles and special game editions. From the Operation Chimera to the Operation Burnt Horizon seasons, all 20 initial Operators were unlocked from the start.

At the start of each round, each player selects an Operator, and no one may pick the same Operator as another player (other than the Recruit).

Recruit

The game's default unlocked Operator (for both Attackers and Defenders), Recruits use highly-customizable loadouts reminiscent of earlier Rainbow Six games. They have numerous differences from other Operators:

• Recruits are not unique characters, have no lore or backstory, and are not tied to a particular CTU.

• Multiple players can play as Recruits on the same team. Each Recruit player has a color-coded Operator icon (with unique beret colors).

• Recruits have no unique abilities, instead being able to equip a secondary gadget. While this makes them less specialized in tasks, it gives them more versatility.

• Players can choose from the five initial CTUs for their Recruit (SAS, FBI SWAT, GIGN, Spetsnaz, GSG 9), with each CTU granting them unique weapon options and armor ratings. Despite their limited gadget choices, they have access to many types of weapons.

• Recruits can not customize their weapons with attachments or weapon skins.

Attackers

Initial

• Ash (FBI SWAT, Light, AR) - Can use Breaching Rounds from her M120 Crem portable grenade launcher to breach from a distance.

• Blitz (GSG 9, Medium, Shield) - Can trigger the Flash Shield on his G52-Tactical Shield to temporarily blind enemies in front of him (similar to a flashbang).

• Fuze (Spetsnaz, Heavy, AR/LMG/Shield) - Can apply a APM-6 "Matryoshka" Cluster Charge on surfaces that pierce through them and release five small grenades on the other side.

• Glaz (Spetsnaz, Medium, MR) - Can toggle the HDS Flip Sight on his rifle that gives him extra magnification and thermal sight (allowing him to see through smoke).

• IQ (GSG 9, Light, AR/LMG) - Can use her RED MK III "Spectre" Electronics Detector to detect all nearby electronic devices (even through walls). Can only use her handgun while the device is in effect.

• Montagne (GIGN, Heavy, Shield) - Can extend his "Le Roc" Extendable Shield to grant him extra protection (at the cost of less maneuverability).

• Sledge (SAS, Medium, AR/SG) - Can use his "The Caber" Tactical Breaching Hammer to breach both up-close and quickly.

• Thatcher (SAS, Medium, AR/SG) - Can use his EG MKO-EMP Grenade to disable multiple electronics from a distance.

• Thermite (FBI SWAT, Medium, AR/SG) - Can use his Brimstone BC-3 Exothermic Charge to breach reinforced walls.

• Twitch (GIGN, Medium, MR/AR/SG) - Can deploy her RSD Model 1 Shock Drone that fires electronic shock darts capable of neutralizing enemy electronics and injuring enemies.

Post-Release

• Buck (JTF2, Medium, MR/AR) - Can use an under-barrel mounted SK 4-12 "Skeleton Key" semi-automatic shotgun designed for quick breaches. Added on February 2, 2016.

• Blackbeard (SEALs, Medium, MR/AR) - Can toggle his TARS Mk 0-Transparent Armored Rifle-Shield to shield himself from a few shots to the head while aiming. Added on May 10, 2016.

• Capitão (BOPE, Light, AR/LMG) - Can use his TAC Mk0 Tactical Crossbow to fire either asphyxiating bolts (creating a fire cloud that damages enemies inside) or micro-smoke grenades. Added on August 2, 2016.

• Hibana (SAT, Light, AR/SG) - Can use her X-KAIROS 40mm grenade launcher to fire remotely-detonated breaching pellets. Added on November 17, 2016.

• Jackal (GEO, Medium, AR/SMG/SG) - Can toggle his Eyenox Model III visor to reveal the footprints of enemies and scan them for their current location. Added on February 7, 2017.

• Ying (SDU, Medium, LMG/SG) - Can throw her Candela device to release a cluster of flashbang charges. Similar to Fuze's Cluster Charge, she can also deploy it at a breakable wall to release the charges on the other side. Added on September 5, 2017.

• Zofia (GROM, Medium, AR/LMG) - Can use her KS79 LIFELINE double-barrel grenade launcher to fire both Impact Grenades and Concussion Grenades. When she is downed, she can choose to Withstand once per round (reviving herself automatically at 1 HP). Added on December 5, 2017.

• Dokkaebi (707th SMB, Medium, MR/SG) - Can use her "Logic Bomb" Ballistic Armor Military Laptop to hack enemy phones (causing them to ring uncontrollably and give away their position, requiring them to spend time to shut it off). She can also hijack a dead enemy's phone to hack into the Defenders' camera feeds. Added on December 5, 2017.

• Finka (CBRN, Medium, AR/LMG/SG) - Can use her Adrenal Surge to send a signal to nanobots planted within her comrades that grants them a temporary health boost. This ability can also revive downed allies. Added on March 6, 2018.

• Lion (CBRN, Medium, MR/AR/SG) - Can use his EE-ONE-D aerial drone to scan the map for enemies who moved from their prior location (pinging that location to all allies). Added on March 6, 2018.

• Maverick (GSUTR, Light, AR) - Can use his Exothermic-S "Suri" Breaching Torch to silently cut holes on any breachable surface. Added on September 4, 2018.

• Nomad (GIGR, Medium, AR) - Can use the Airjab Launcher attached to her rifle to deploy non-lethal proximity sticky mines that knock down enemies. Added on December 4, 2018.

• Gridlock (SASR, Heavy, AR/LMG) - Can throw canisters that release clusters of spikes (or "Trax Stingers"), damaging and slowing enemies who traverse them. Added on March 6, 2019.

• Nøkk (Jaeger Corps, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can use her HEL Presence Reduction device to dampen her sound and erasing her image from camera feeds (with limitations). Added on June 11, 2019.

• Amaru (APCA, Medium, LMG/SG) - Can use her Garra Hook grappling gun for quick rappelling. Added on September 11, 2019.

• Kali (NIGHTHAVEN, Medium, MR) - Wields a custom bolt-action rifle capable of punching through breakable walls and downing enemies in one hit, or killing them outright with a headshot. Her rifle contains an underbarrel launcher that fires LV Explosive Lances, which can blow up most gadgets on either side of a wall it punches through, along with the wall itself (if not reinforced). Added on December 3, 2019.

• Iana (REU, Medium, AR)- Can use her Gemini Replicator to create a remotely-controlled holographic projection of herself that can be used to scout ahead and spot traps without setting them off (at the cost of leaving her defenseless). Added on March 2020.

• Ace (NIGHTHAVEN, Medium, AR) - Carries S.E.L.M.A., a throwable gadget that uses water pressure to blow up a wall, section-by-section, as it moves downward. Can blow up most surfaces, even reinforced walls (if two are used on the same surface). Added June 16, 2020.
  
  
• Zero (NSA, ???, AR) - The Argus allows him to shoot a remote camera into walls, even reinforced ones, that the Attackers can use. The camera can also fire a single laser to destroy gadgets or lightly damage enemies.

Defenders

Initial

• Bandit (GSG 9, Light, SMG/SG) - Can attach his CED-1 (Crude Electrical Device, or "Shock Wire") to metallic gadgets (such as reinforced walls and barbed wire), dealing damage to enemies who touch those gadgets and destroying other gadgets that come in contact with them.

• Castle (FBI SWAT, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can deploy his UTP1 (Universal Tactical Panel) Armor Panel that replaces normal barricades and are completely bulletproof. Those panels can only be destroyed by explosives or breaching gadgets, or several melee attacks with enough time.

• Doc (GIGN, Heavy, SMG/SG) - Can use his MPD-0 Stim Pistol to heal allies (including himself). Can revive downed but not out allies (also including himself).

• Jäger (GSG 9, Light, AR/SG) - Can deploy his ADS-MKIV "Magpie" Active Defense System that automatically intercepts and disarms enemy grenades and some gadget projectiles before they explode.

• Kapkan (Spetsnaz, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can deploy his EDD (Entry Denial Device) Mk II Trip Wire explosive device on any window or doorway, detonating when an enemy passes through the beam.

• Mute (SAS, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can deploy a GC90 "Moni" Signal Disruptor that jams communications for nearby enemy drones and remotely-triggered gadgets, causing them to not function until the jammer is destroyed.

• Pulse (FBI SWAT, Light, SMG/SG) - Can use his HB-5 Cardiac Sensor (Heartbeat Sensor) to detect enemy heartbeats within a short distance, even through surfaces.

• Rook (GIGN, Heavy, SMG/SG) - Can deploy his R1N "Rhino" Armor Pack that grants additional armor for his teammates.

• Smoke (SAS, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can deploy his remote-detonated Compund Z8 Grenade (Remote Gas Grenade) that releases a toxic cloud that damages all Operators and Hostages inside.

• Tachanka (Spetsnaz, Heavy, SMG/SG) - Can deploy his RP-46 Degtyaryov Machine Gun (Mounted LMG) that can be used by any Operator. While severely limiting the mobility of the gunner, it has a frontal shield that gives additional protection. Tachanka was massively reworked in Year 5, moving his RP-46 LMG to a primary weapon and adding an incendiary grenade launcher (the Shumikha Launcher) as his new gadget.

Post-Release

• Frost (JTF2, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can deploy her Sterling Mk2 LHT "Welcome Mat" trap that immediately downs enemies who traverse it and prevents them from crawling to safety. Added on February 2, 2016.

• Valkyrie (SEALs, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can throw her Gyro Cam Mk2 "Black Eye" sticky cameras onto surfaces, granting a live gyroscopic full-color surveillance feed to all allies. Added on May 10, 2016.

• Caveira (BOPE, Light, SMG/SG) - Can use her "Silent Step" ability to move around silently with her unique "Luison" suppressed handgun. She can also interrogate downed enemies to reveal the location of all other enemies. Added on August 2, 2016.

• Echo (SAT, Heavy, SMG/SG) - Can deploy his Yokai hover-drone to both act as an extra camera feed and release short-range ultrasonic bursts that disorient everyone nearby. Unlike other drones, the Yokai sticks to ceilings and cloak. Added on November 17, 2016.

• Mira (GEO, Heavy, SMG/SG) - Can deploy a "Black Mirror" one-way bulletproof mirror onto both breakable and reinforced walls to hide teammates. She can also optionally eject a portion of the mirror in order to shoot through it. Added on February 7, 2017.

• Lesion (SDU, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can throw his Gu auto-cloaking proximity mines on the ground that inject a toxic substance into enemies who step on them, slowing them down and damaging them until they yank the barb out. Added on September 5, 2017.

• Ela (GROM, Light, SMG/SG) - Can anchor her Grzmot Mines onto surfaces, releasing a concussive blast on enemy proximity that disorients them. Added on September 5, 2017.

• Vigil (707th SMB, Light, SMG/SG) - Can use his ERC-7 Electronic Rendering Cloak to hide his presence from all surveillance feeds. Added on December 5, 2017.

• Alibi (GIS, Light, SMG/SG) - Can deploy her Prisma devices to project a holographic projection of herself in an idle position. Acting as a decoy, it also marks enemies who attack it to her allies. Added on June 7, 2018.

• Maestro (GIS, Heavy, LMG/SG) - Can deploy his CLE-V Compact Laser Emplacement "Evil Eye" bulletproof thermal camera drone that doubles as an optional laser turret that can destroy enemy gadgets and injure enemies (at the cost of being vulnerable to standard attacks). Added on June 7, 2018.

• Clash (GSUTR, Heavy, Shield) - Can extend her Crowd Control Electro Shield (CCE Shield) to grant her extra protection. She cannot fire weapons or melee while extended, but she can use the shield's built-in taser to slow down and damage enemies. Added on September 4, 2018.

• Kaid (GIGR, Heavy, SMG/SG) - Can throw "Rtila" Electroclaw devices that electrify all nearby metallic gadgets (such as reinforced walls and barbed wire), dealing damage to enemies who interact with those gadgets and destroying other gadgets that come in contact with them. Added on December 4, 2018.

• Mozzie (SASR, Medium, AR/SMG) - Can use his Pest Launcher to launch autonomous bots (Pests) that latch onto enemy drones, allowing him to hijack their controls. Added on March 6, 2019.

• Warden (Secret Service, Heavy, SMG/SG) - Can use his Glance Smart Glasses to cancel out the effects of flashbangs and gain the ability to see through smoke (while standing still). Added on June 11, 2019.

• Goyo (FES, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can deploy a Volcán Shield that, despite looking and acting like a normal Deployable Shield, conceals an incendiary explosive on its back that can be fired upon, blowing up the shield and covering the surrounding floor in flames. Added on September 11, 2019.

• Wamai (NIGHTHAVEN, Medium, AR/SMG) - Carries throwable Mag-NET devices that attach to any surface, which attract most enemy thrown gadgets or grenades and detonate them on top of it. Added on December 3, 2019.

• Oryx (Unaffiliated, Medium, SMG/SG) - Can use his Remah Dash ability to crash through non-reinforced walls (suffering light damage) and knock over any enemies in his path, including shield Operators. He can also jump up to uncovered hatches and peek or lift himself up through them. Added on March 2020.

• Melusi (ITF, Light, SMG) - Her Banshee devices can be placed on most surfaces, slowing down enemies who move within their radius. Furthermore, they are bulletproof, and can only be destroyed by melee attacks, frag grenades, or some gadgets.
  
  
• Aruni (NIGHTHAVEN) - Sets up a Surya Gate, a device that can create a laser grid behind any doorway, window, or most walls. The laser grid will destroy most gadgets that pass through it, and deal up to 30 damage to any Operator who runs through it, but doing so will disable part or all of the laser grid.

Post-Release Content

All players will get additional maps as soon as they are released, and new Operators will be unlockable via Renown, though at a much higher cost than the standard Operators. Season Pass owners will get early access to the new operators and will not have to spend extra money or Renown to unlock them.

Year One

The first year contained four "seasons" of content. Each season included two new Operators, new weapons, and a new map. Additional modes and weapon skins were also included.

Year Two

Year Two was also planned to contain four seasons of new content, similar to Year One. However, Ubisoft decided to do a "maintenance season" in Season 2, in which instead of releasing a new map and set of operators, they would do a campaign to improve regular problems, like: server issues, glitch removal, faster matchmaking and overall gameplay improvements. Even though the season's map release was cancelled, the scheduled Operators were still released in staggered updates.

Year Three

In addition to new, HAZMAT-themed Operators, the first season of Year Three included a special time-limited, co-op PvE event called "Outbreak," during Operation Chimera. Selected Operators must fight a hoard of zombies in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, to destroy them before their virus spreads any further.

Season Three of this year saw the Defender side getting its first shield hero in Clash, and a complete rework of the Hereford map in lieu of a new one.

Year Four

In Year Four, only one new map was added (Outback), and the Road Map calls for the other seasons to rework existing maps instead.

In addition, extra background story was added in a new short film: The Hammer and the Scalpel. Harishva “Harry” Pandey, the psychological and cultural expert of the team, took over the duties of "Six" from Aurelia Arnot who left for a position within the US State Department. Ubisoft promised that similar stories would be added to expand the lore of the Rainbow Six Universe.

Year Four also sees the introduction of a Pick & Ban system to Ranked play, deployment options for attackers in Casual, a redesigned Operators screen in the main menu, and a new Ranked hub that will show players their stats and their MMR from the current and previous season.

Year Five

This Year's roadmap calls for new seasonal events to be added alongside new Operators and a new Battle Pass system that offers rewards for those willing to pay extra on top of the Season Pass. Unlike other Years, there will be no new maps, but reworks of existing ones. Several Operators saw their secondary loadouts changed during this year, and some Defenders now have the option of carrying a Proximity Alarm that emits a high-pitch beep whenever an enemy steps within their detection radius.

Seasons 3-4 will only introduce one new Operator each, as the development team plans to focus on reworking the existing codebase to fix bugs and update the engine (similar to Operation Health in Year Two). The developers also announced their plan to completely rework Tachanka to bring the little-used Operator in tune with the current Meta.

Season 3 came with a new breaching gadget that allowed for more operators to partially breach reinforced walls, new optics for various guns that allow for more custom sights, a change to the way Thatcher's gadget worked, and a change to the distribution of Defender reinforced walls. The same season debuted a reworked Tachanka: his RP-46, normally a mounted LMG that served as his gadget, would now become his main Primary weapon. His new gadget is the Shumikha Launcher: a grenade launcher that fires incendiary grenades that bounce off surfaces and explode after a short fuse, covering a modest area in flames.