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There is no single best first operator in Rainbow Six Siege. Operators are tied to a side, so a new player’s first pick depends on whether they are starting on attack or defense. The simplest answer is Sledge for attack or Rook for defense. Both appear among the beginner choices in Epic Games Store’s February 29, 2024 beginner guide by Brittany Alva, and that guide’s main advice is to pick someone whose weapons and role you will enjoy.
Start with a side, then an operator
Rainbow Six Siege splits every round into attackers and defenders, and each side has its own roster with different weapons and abilities. A Standard match switches sides after round three, so a player will need to learn an operator for both roles within the same match. Choosing a first operator therefore means choosing a starting role first.
Beginner picks by side
Epic’s 2024 guide lists six beginner choices: Sledge, Thermite, and Hibana on attack, and Castle, Rook, and Caveira on defense. The table below narrows those to the two most commonly suggested starting points and then covers Ubisoft’s remastered Recruit alternatives.
| Operator | Side | Why it works as a first pick | Limits of that claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sledge | Attack | Named in Epic’s beginner guide; his ability gives a clear, direct way to interact with the map’s destructible walls. | The guide is from 2024. His current ability and loadout should be checked in the live game before giving detailed mechanics. |
| Rook | Defense | Named in Epic’s beginner guide and offers a straightforward defensive starting point. | The guide does not rank him above other defenders, and nothing in it establishes him as the strongest choice. |
| Striker | Attack | Ubisoft’s remastered Recruit role on attack. Per Ubisoft’s May 26, 2024 Operation New Blood announcement, she has no unique gadget and can select two different secondary gadgets. | Flexibility only helps if the player picks a useful secondary gadget combination. |
| Sentry | Defense | Ubisoft’s remastered Recruit role on defense, with the same two-secondary-gadget structure as Striker according to the New Blood announcement. | Sentry is not the original Recruit kit; the remaster replaced it. |
Striker and Sentry: what the remaster changed
Ubisoft’s New Blood announcement introduced Striker and Sentry as the Recruit roles in the remastered game. Neither carries a unique gadget. Instead, each lets the player choose two different secondary gadgets, which can make them a practical option for someone who does not yet know which gadgets suit their playstyle. If you see older community posts describing the original Recruit kit, those describe a different loadout.
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#1 Best Overall
- Get the Elite Edition of Rainbow Six Siege X to get access to all game modes and instantly unlock 16 additional operators!
- High stakes 5v5 attack vs. Defense - Alternate between attack and defense, adapting your approach to operators and maps. Feel the thrill and intensity of the action as you leverage next-level destruction and gadgetry to outsmart your opponents in every round.
- Tools of destruction - Destruction is more than chaos: it is a key tool for your success. Use the environment to your advantage – turn walls into windows of opportunity.
- Dual front: dynamic tactical 6v6 warfare - Engage in intense 6v6 battles, where attackers and defenders fight side by side and push to capture enemy sectors while defending their own.
- From recruit to elite - A solid onboarding journey for new players, including a new clearance level path that helps you learn the basics progressively and build the skills and confidence you need before jumping into tactical action.
How to choose among unlockable operators
Beyond the starter picks, a new player will eventually unlock more operators. Rainbow Six Siege Center’s attacker unlock guide, a third-party resource rather than an official ranking, suggests comparing operators on these points:
- Role: whether the operator suits aggressive entry play or supporting teammates.
- Ease of use: how much decision-making the unique ability demands.
- Versatility: how many situations the operator can cover.
- Weapon comfort: whether the operator’s weapons feel good to you personally.
- Current unlock cost: check the in-game unlock screen, since older price figures in guides may no longer apply.
What is not established
None of the sources reviewed establish a universal best first operator, a current competitive tier list, or a win-rate or popularity figure for any operator. The official roster confirms operator identities and descriptions but does not designate a starting choice. Balance changes, so an operator praised in a 2024 guide may play differently today. Treat Sledge and Rook as reasonable beginner suggestions, not as a current ranking.
Rank #2
- The Elite Edition includes: - Access to Quick Match, Unranked, and Dual Front game modes with a selection of operators - Access to competitive modes: Ranked playlists and Siege Cup* - Instant unlock of 16 additional operators
- Alternate between attack and defense, adapting your approach to operators and maps. Feel the thrill and intensity of the action as you leverage next-level destruction and gadgetry to outsmart your opponents in every round.
- Destruction is more than chaos: it is a key tool for your success. Use the environment to your advantage – turn walls into windows of opportunity.
- Engage in intense 6v6 battles, where attackers and defenders fight side by side and push to capture enemy sectors while defending their own.
- Access to Ranked and Siege Cup is unlocked at level 50. Dual Front mode is not supported on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
A practical way to decide
- Pick a side for your first match, or start with the side you are assigned in matchmaking.
- Choose one operator from the beginner list above for that side, based on the weapons and ability you find most appealing.
- Play several matches with that operator before unlocking others, so your choice rests on experience rather than guides.
- When you are ready to unlock more, compare them using the criteria above rather than picking the cheapest or the most popular name.
Epic’s guide reaches the same conclusion in plainer terms: find an agent you like and will enjoy playing, and the game becomes more fun.
Epic Games Store, beginner guide by Brittany Alva, February 29, 2024.
Rank #3
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Deluxe Edition is optimized for next gen (up to 4K and up to 120FPS).
- the Deluxe Edition includes: the full game (all maps and modes)
- all 8 Operators from year 1 (Frost, Buck, Valkyrie, Blackbeard, caveira, capitao, Hibana and Echo)
- all 8 Operators from year 2 (Jackal, Mira, lesion, ying, ela, zofia, dokkaebi and vigil)
- dive into explosive 5v5 gameplay, High stakes competition, and thrilling PvP team battles..Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege features an ever expanding experience with limitless opportunities to perfect your strategy and help lead your team to victory
Ubisoft, Operation New Blood announcement, May 26, 2024.
Rainbow Six Siege Center, attacker unlock guide, publication date not shown in the reviewed copy.
Rank #4
![Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X - Elite Edition [PlayStation 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/516gtNQSaXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Switch between attack and defense and adjust your approach to operator and maps. Feel the thrill and intensity of action as you outsmart your opponents in every turn with destruction and top-class equipment.
- Transform your surroundings into impregnable fortresses in defence. Use surveillance devices to track opponents and adapt to their tactics.
- Collect information on enemy positions and bomb location when attacking with your drones. Coordinate with your team to break through defenses and attack from unexpected angles.
- Destruction is more than just chaos: it is an important tool for your success. Use the environment to your advantage - turn walls into affordable occasions.
- The Rainbow Six Siege - Elite Edition includes access to all game modes, including "Rank" and Siege Cup, as well as the instant unlock 16 additional operators
Rainbow Six Siege is a live game, so the operator roster, gadget options and unlock prices can change after these sources were published. Check the in-game operator screen and Ubisoft’s current roster before relying on any specific detail.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Deluxe Edition is optimized for next gen (up to 4K and up to 120FPS).
- The Deluxe Edition includes: the full game (all maps and modes)
- All 8 Operators from year 1 (Frost, Buck, Valkyrie, Blackbeard, caveira, capitao, Hibana and Echo)
- All 8 Operators from year 2 (Jackal, Mira, lesion, ying, ela, zofia, dokkaebi and vigil)
- Dive into explosive 5v5 gameplay, High stakes competition, and thrilling PvP team battles..Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege features an ever-expanding experience with limitless opportunities to perfect your strategy and help lead your team to victory
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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