Today, we’ll be exploring the top 10 defenders in Rainbow Six Siege Year 9. This Rainbow Six Siege Best defenders list has been carefully crafted with input from Athieno and respected professional players such as Fox. These operators are essential picks for your strategy at the highest level of gameplay. Let’s get started!
1. Aruni
Aruni is my top pick. I chose the DMR for its strength which is equipped with a horizontal grip, muzzle brake, laser sight, and ACOG.
I prefer the bulletproof camera over barbed wire for better team intel. Aruni is like an improved Castle as her Surya Gates don’t block teammates. Her traps remain effective even after she dies.
Place the Surya Gates on entry points and position the camera for critical angles. Her punch ability allows for extra rotation and the DMR creates advantageous sightlines. Use her passively for tight angles and secure kills with a few hits. Master sight setups with Aruni for increased kills.
2. Lesion
The lesion is ranked second on this list. My recommended loadout includes the reflex sight, vertical grip, laser, and flash.
I suggest using the Super Shorty with a laser, and impact grenades. Consider the bulletproof camera if intel is lacking. Lesion can effectively anchor or roam and his impacts are useful against operators like Osa. Setting up sites and reinforcing walls is crucial for holding map control.
One of the most effective tactics with Lesion is using his Gu mines for temporary map control. Concealing Gu mines in less obvious spots enhances their effectiveness, similar to Kapkan traps, catching enemies off-guard. Lesion’s intel-gathering and disrupting abilities make him a valuable choice operator.
3. Tubarão
Number three on the list is Tuburão. I recommend equipping him with the ACOG scope, muzzle attachment, horizontal grip and laser.
Bringing C4 as a secondary utility is crucial. Tuburão earns his spot on this list due to his ability to waste a significant amount of the attackers’ time. With four canisters at his disposal, he can effectively stall attackers, which is crucial in the current meta where time management is key.
Combining his canisters with operators like Kaid or Bandit can further impede the breach process. Furthermore, his ability to freeze himself when tracked by Deimos adds another layer of tactical advantage.
4. Solis
Next up is Solis. The recommended loadout includes a holographic sight and flash hider, with laser.
Solis excels in the early phase by prioritizing hatches and drone collection. It’s crucial not to over-reinforce the site initially. Instead, focus on taking out the drones.
As a versatile operator, Solis emphasizes slowing down attackers’ intel gathering, denying plants, and capitalizing on adversaries’ mistakes, making her a formidable presence on the defensive front.
5. Smoke
Next up is Smoke, the OG defender. For Smoke, I don’t usually equip a sight, but you can choose one according to your preference.
With Smoke, barbed wire placement is crucial for effective sound cues, ensuring it’s not too far up. Smoke’s role revolves around denying entry points and controlling the tempo of the attack, whether it’s denying a default plant or delaying the enemy’s advance.
When playing Smoke, it’s essential to create strategic holes in walls, opting for a few well-placed openings rather than overly reinforced barriers. With his shotgun or SMG-11, Smoke offers flexibility, making him a staple pick in any team composition, especially for those looking to learn from top-tier Smoke players in the professional league.
6. Azami
For Azami, I recommend any 1x sight, a flash hider, vertical grip, and laser to optimize recoil control and ADS time.
Avoid using barbed wire; instead, equip impacts to facilitate aggressive plays. Despite Azami’s nerf, her bulletproof ability still poses a significant threat to attackers, requiring them to spend valuable time and ammo to destroy it.
When playing Azami, adopt a similar playstyle to Legion, focusing on aggressive map control. Practice creating one-way angles with Azami’s gadget and Deagle to catch attackers off-guard. Remember, Azami thrives on aggression, making it essential to stay active and capitalize on her disruptive potential throughout the round.
7. Fenrir
Fenrir is very very strong right now. For Fenrir’s loadout, I recommend the regular Holo sight, along with a laser and flash hider.
While the choice between barbed wire and a bulletproof camera is yours, I lean towards barbed wire for the extra intel it provides. Fenrir’s strength lies in its large radius mines, so be strategic in placement, tucking it away in high-traffic areas to catch attackers off-guard.
Use Fenrir to control crucial areas of the map, treating them like Malusi gadgets. Place them in contested zones to punish attackers attempting to gain map control. Avoid placing them too far from the site or in irrelevant locations; instead, focus on areas where they can have the most impact. With Fenrir, you can roam lightly, similar to Legion, but ensure you remain alive to capitalize on their disruptive potential.
8. Frost
Moving on to Frost, equip her with an ACOG sight, an extended barrel, a vertical grip and a laser.
While some may prefer the flash hider, I opt for the extended barrel due to Frost’s low recoil and the long-range gunfights she often engages in. Regarding gadgets, I typically choose the bulletproof camera over the deployable shield, as intel is crucial. Frost’s playstyle is best suited to anchoring on-site; roaming isn’t her forte due to her lack of additional utility.
Utilize Frost’s shotgun to create rotates and open up sightlines. It’s practically a golden rule in Siege to have at least one rotation when you have a shotgun at your disposal. Get creative with Frost mats; they should serve to assist you in gunfights rather than merely trapping unsuspecting enemies.
9. Kaid
Next up is Kaid, who stands as one of the top wall denial operators in the game due to his versatility.
Opt for Kaid’s TCSG shotgun as it offers reliable two to three-shot kills with minimal recoil, especially when equipped with an ACOG sight. Use the shotgun to create rotates and sightlines as needed. Remember to deploy your C4 strategically before meeting your end in a gunfight. With Kaid, your primary focus should be on anchoring defense, utilizing his gadgets and weaponry to hold down key positions effectively.
Proper Kaid placement is crucial; aim to position the Electroclaws in a way that allows you to cover multiple walls with one device. Additionally, consider clever placements to avoid EMPs, such as concealing the Electroclaw in unexpected spots like above the reinforcement.
10. Wamai
For Wamai, opt for the MP5 over the AUG, equipped with a magnified sight, laser, and flash hider for better performance.
Choose between impact grenades and proximity alarms based on your team’s information needs and the site’s requirements. Wamai’s gadget, the Mag-NETs, has a wide radius, allowing for creative placement to counter grenades and other projectiles effectively.
While Wamai can play aggressively with the MP5, prioritizing survival allows him to accumulate more utility over the round, enhancing his team’s defensive capabilities. Utilize the ACOG sight to leverage long-range engagements, making the most of Wamai’s versatility to adapt to various situations effectively.
