Rainbow Six Siege is split between two sides – Attackers and Defenders. There are unique Operators for each side of the fight, and for the most part, the ‘best’ Operators on either side of the line can be considered subjective. It must be stressed that everyone has their favourite Operator, but going by numbers, utility, weapons, and abilities, we can typically lock down the best Defender in Rainbow Six Siege.

Or at least, we can list out the contenders for that title. There are plenty of Operators to choose from – and more are being added all the time by Ubisoft. It can make it tough to lock down a ‘best’ anything – or a ‘worst’ anything – but we can give it a solid try. In this breakdown, we’ll talk about the best Defender in Rainbow Six Siege, but instead of naming the ultimate best, we’ll throw out some of the contenders for the top spot, allowing you to choose using your own insights.

Are you ready to stand firm?

Best Rainbow Six Siege Defender

In Rainbow Six Siege, it’s the goal of the Defender to… Well, defend. Typically, their abilities and gadgets will be built around keeping back the Attacker Operators, slowing them down and hindering their progress at every turn. They’re a broad mix, though – and like Attackers, there’s a diverse array of characters to choose from and purchase. Once you’ve got past the base selection of Operators in the game, you may be wondering which Defender to unlock next.

How about one of these? They’re the contenders for the title of the best Defender in Rainbow Six Siege.

Read More: How To Unlock Operators in Rainbow Six Siege

Mira

Who is the best Defender in Rainbow Six Siege? If that question is asked, then plenty of players will say ‘Mira’. She was introduced in Operation Velvet Shell, emerging as a hyper-talented Spanish operative with tier-three health, making her a stalwart Operator. She wields a powerful ITA12L shotgun and a rapid-fire Vector SMG, but her abilities are what make her a great pick as a Defender.

She uses a unique ‘Black Mirror’ device that can be deployed to act as one-way windows through walls, which means that Defenders can literally see through walls that Attackers cannot. Not only can Mira take a few punches, but she can also deal damage, and that ability is an absolute game-changer for Defenders in Rainbow Six Siege.

Valkyrie

Image Credit: Ubisoft

As a middle-of-the-road Operator, Valkyrie boasts a 2-2 build from the get-go, but her abilities excel her above the majority of the roster where Defenders are concerned. She can deploy ‘Black Eye Cameras’ – of which she carries three – absolutely anywhere, and they can be seriously difficult for Attackers to spot.

Her weapons aren’t the best in the game by a long shot, but her gyroscopic cameras bring so much to the table that she’s easily a contender for the title of the best Defender in Rainbow Six Siege. She offers up near-unparalleled observation opportunities, helping characters that like to roam to explore the map in relative safety.

Jager

Jager is one of the best Defenders in Rainbow Six Siege who is available from the start. He’s a legendary character in the game, entering the fray from Germany’s GSG 9 squadron. He’s a talented Operator that has suffered from some questionable changes over the years, but he and his loadout remain capable, effective, and powerful.

For instance, he makes use of active defence systems that intercept projectiles, quite literally serving to defend his teammates. He has observation blockers and a bulletproof camera – both valuable pieces of equipment, and with his 416-C assault rifle and M870 shotgun, he stakes his claim to some of the best weapons in Rainbow Six Siege.

Smoke

As an instantly-recognisable character in Rainbow Six Siege, Smoke is also one of the preferred Defenders in the game. He’s from the British SAS, a world-famous, notorious regiment best known for its ranking as the most lethal military unit on Earth. He has been around since Rainbow Six Siege was first released way back in 2015, and he’s an adept, skilled Operator – provided the player controlling him knows what they’re doing, of course.

He totes a deployable shield, remote gas grenades that can be triggered at any point, barbed wire to slow down even the best Attackers in the game, and he has access to some seriously effective weapons. Like Valkyrie, Smoke is a 2-2 Operator, which means he can move quite fast and still take a little bit of damage.

And The Worst Defender in Rainbow Six Siege?

Those are some of the best Defenders in Rainbow Six Siege, but who is the worst? Again, it’s considered subjective, but this is certainly one of the least-liked Defensive Operators in the game.

Warden

Image Credit: Ubisoft

He may look fantastic, but Warden is definitely one of the worst picks for the Defenders. He was introduced in Operation Phantom Sight, coming into the fight from the Secret Service, and as an Operator, he’s more or less bang average. He’s middle-of-the-road with his 2-2 rating, but both his weapons and his abilities are so poor that he simply never gets picked – even by inexperienced players.

He makes use of an MPX sub-machine gun – which is inherently underpowered – and his ‘Glance Smart Glasses’ are a pointless inclusion. They enable him to defend against stun and smoke grenades, but they’re almost entirely pointless because they’re not passive – they need to be activated before they’ll work. So, if your timing is off, you’ll still be impacted by non-lethal nades.

Do you agree with our picks? Who do you think deserves the title of the best Defender in Rainbow Six Siege? Let us know, and feel free to check out our platform for the latest Rainbow Six esports news.