Rainbow Six: Siege – 10 Tips to Tackle Terrorists like a Pro

Going into Rainbow Six: Siege for the first time, I was full of confidence. I know my way around an FPS battlefield, I’ve answered the call of duty a hundred times, and I’ve mopped the alien scum off my fair share of ring-shaped deep space installations; and yet I, a veteran by all accounts, was not prepared.

I got shot. A lot. I ran into crossfires, blundered into barbwire, gave away my position with breach charges just because it’s awesome when they explode and the enemy goes bat-shit crazy. What I didn’t consider was that, even with a good team, this is no walk in the park. I don’t want you struggling like I did, so here are ten tips to keep you alive while you get your bearings in Ubisoft’s often unforgiving world of counter-terrorism and black-dyed leather.

1. Recon, recon, recon

Rainbow Six: Siege isn’t like other shooters out today. Running and gunning will see you perforated really fast, and your operative isn’t built like the Master Chief: a few hits to centrr mass will drop you like a bad habit. Instead, you’ll need to plan, think ahead, and recon an area. You have a few tools at your disposal, but while deployable cameras are handy in a tight spot, the often overlooked drone is an attacker’s best friend – if used correctly.

Deploying drones in multiple directions will allow you to scope out a given area much quicker, spotting defences and lurking enemies. Clever defenders will always be on the lookout for drones, and know the importance of taking them out immediately.

2. Communication is key

You don’t necessarily need an elite team of hardened gamers to do well in Siege. You certainly don’t need a mouthpiece “leader” dictating how to play or where to stand; what you do need is common sense and communication.

If you spot an enemy, talk to your team; if you have a clever idea on the fly, make everyone aware of it. If you suddenly see the need to change the play, realise the enemy has deployed drones or any of a half dozen other things that can and will happen dynamically as you play, vocalise your intent. If your team doesn’t know what you’re doing, you could lose the encounter for them. Lone wolf heroes won’t last long.

3. Don’t always go loud

It’s not always a good idea to blow a hole in a wall or start shooting the instant you tag an enemy. You tend to need quicker reflexes when playing competitive multiplayer as opposed to Terrorist Hunt or the Situations, but you don’t always have to twitch shoot everything that moves or use the breaching gear just because it’s cool.

Sometimes spotting a lone enemy simply means you haven’t spotted their support yet, and giving away your position with a burst of gunfire can end your operation in seconds. Likewise, it’s not always a good idea to use explosives when it’s slightly quieter to hammer down a breakable barrier instead.

4. Think outside the box

In addition to this, remember to be creative when possible. I’ve scored more than a few kills by being a morbid git and lying prone among a few dead bodies. Create lines of sight between rooms by taking out walls and floors, and vary your approach.

You can often rappel up the outside wall of a building and drop in from above, or find multiple routes to objective areas. Coordinating breaches with well positioned teammates is not only hugely effective, it’s also Siege at its absolute best.

5. Once you’re committed, follow through

Sooner or later, it’s time for a confrontation and, while it may seem prudent in the moment to turn tail and leg it for cover, you simply won’t have time unless you get really lucky.

When it’s time to go loud, go real loud, get the job done quickly and efficiently, watch your own back and cover your team. While Siege is mostly about planning, you’d be surprised how fast it can turn into an all-out firefight.

6. Run the Situations for practice 

Once you’ve played a few matches online with a team, the solo Situations can feel a bit stale by comparison. However, they’re a great place to train yourself and hone your instincts and tactics for the big show.

I can’t overstate the importance of getting a handle on when to breach and when to do more recon, or getting the hang of clearing rooms with fast, effective headshots. Cultivating these skills is essential for survival, and a great way to mix up your on-the-fly strategies.

7. Diversify your team

It’s also a good idea to clear all the objectives in each Situation to earn Renown, which unlocks new operatives. The more you have, the more options will be open to you, and some of the PCs have very cool unique gear.

Smoke can gas an area, for example, while Ash has the ability to blow doors and walls from a distance. If an Operator goes down, only the medic, Doc, can revive them mid-fight. You can’t take two of the same Operators into a mission either, so it behoves you to have a variety of unlocked badasses at your disposal.

8. Dig in and dig deep

As a defender, you have a host of tricks up your matte-black sleeves, but it’s not always ideal to overdo it. Placement and variety is much more important than simply hurling everything you can at every available entryway.

Reinforcing key walls and doors is paramount, while barricades can obstruct an attacker’s line of sight and barbwire will slow their movement considerably. It’s also important to remember the environment; just because a desk is ultimately destructible doesn’t mean it’s not a handy hiding place in a pinch, and going prone behind low obstacles is a good way to get the drop on encroaching insurgents.

9. Don’t underestimate the enemy

The AI in Siege is decent, but ultimately they will follow fairly standard FPS subroutines like using cover, burst fire, throwing grenades and occasionally running right at you. They’ll also often foolishly ignore you and try to go straight for whatever you’re protecting, be it a hostage or bomb defuser. All in all, they’re not a great challenge unless you’re on “Realistic” mode.

Enemy players are much more dangerous. Remember that they’ve likely used whichever tactic you’re considering, they’ll spot a reinforced wall by the hooks on the other side of it, they’ll have run the Situations and, most importantly, they’ll probably have experience handling a shooter. Think ahead, put yourself in the enemy’s shoes, try to outwit them rather than outgun them, and you’ll have a much higher rate of success.

10. Breathe and have fun 

Rainbow Six: Siege is no arcade shooter. You won’t be sliding into cover, ground-slamming, wall-running or jetpacking across terrain. You’ll need to think, plan and communicate, and in a ranked event it’s easy to get irritated by new players or bossy armchair tacticians. But for all its precision and attention to detail, it’s still just a game.

Approach it as such, accept its often strict demands and learn the physical rules of its world, and you’ll have a lot more fun. When it all comes together, either through sterling teamwork and preparation or by watching out for each other when something goes wrong and a shit-storm descends, Siege is one of the finest multiplayer shooters available. Just remember to breathe, and have fun.