Rainbow Six Siege Operator tier list 2023: Best attackers and defenders tier list

Operation Solar Raid is well underway in Rainbow Six Siege, so we’ve put together a definitive R6 Operator tier list for both attackers and defenders as we delve deeper into Year 7.

With well over 60 operators to choose from in Rainbow Six Siege, it can be quite hard to keep up with the best options on both attack and defence. Colombian operator Solis dropped with Year 7 Season 4, known as Solar Raid.

The update brought a huge amount of balancing adjustments, overhauling operator speed and health. Plenty of the game’s characters, like Melusi and Sledge, have been slowed considerably. Others, like Dokkaebi and Zero, actually bucked the trend and received speed buffs.

That’s translated to our list, which is detailed below. For both attackers and defenders, we’ll run through the top three in no particular order, before sharing the tier list in full.

Rainbow Six Siege Operator tier list: Attackers

Best Attackers in Rainbow Six Siege

Ubisoft

Nomad, Zero and Thatcher are our picks for best attackers in Solar Raid.

Nomad

Nomad remains Siege’s best anti-roaming operator, a position she’s held for months. Her Airjab repulsion grenades are the ideal gadget for covering attackers’ backs once they’ve breached and are closing in on the bomb sites.

Her weapons – a choice of the AK-74M or ARX200 – are solid and complement her balanced play style well. She’s an obvious choice for every attacking team. 

Zero 

Zero is another well balanced and versatile attacker. One of the few offensive operators to have the option of a SMG (the MP7), his Argus cameras offer intel and threat to defenders. 

He was also one of very few operators to actually receive a speed buff with Solar Raid. That makes him even more difficult for defenders to manage. His speed and utility enable him to dip in, set up a cam and dip out. 

Thatcher

The only real downside of Thatcher is how frequently he’s banned in Rainbow Six multiplayer. It does reflect how strong he is though, with his EMP grenades comfortably the most useful offensive gadget. They continue to fry anything electrical within range and are nigh on impossible to counter. 

While his speed has been nerfed, his solid loadout options (most notably the L85A2) pair with his arguably overpowered gadget to make him probably the best attacker available.

Good luck getting him through the pre-match ban phase though.

Rainbow Six Siege Operator tier list: Defenders

Best Defenders in Rainbow Six Siege

Ubisoft

Valkyrie, Jager and Mira round off our best operator picks.

Jäger

Jäger is the one operator Ubisoft continue to nerf but who continues to defy expectation in-game. His Active Defence Systems are as reliable as ever and, despite no 2.5x scope still rankling veterans of Siege, the 416-C Carbine is a standout defender weapon. So long as he has that in his arsenal, the spawn-peek legend will live on.

Mira

Mira’s only downside is how difficult she is to play. The Spaniard is far from as simple to master as a Kapkan or Castle but, once you’ve sussed her mirrors and got on top of the Vector. 45’s volatile recoil, there’s not really a more annoying opponent for attackers.

Her Black Mirrors provide an insight into attacking teams’ strategies, while a Nitro Cell and shotgun secondary mean she can also be used for counter attacking plays and soft breaching.

Valkyrie

Another defender Ubisoft have been keen to nerf, Valk’s Black Eye cameras retain their strength even if they can no longer be thrown to maps’ exterior points. They are incredibly useful for monitoring indoor areas not covered by a map’s default cameras.

Throw in a solid SMG in the MPX and a Nitro Cell, and you’ve got yourself a must-pick operator.

That rounds off our best operator tier list! Be sure to check back in soon because, as the Rainbow Six Siege meta changes, so will this list.