Rainbow Six Siege Beginner Guide: 12 Tips for New Players

Rainbow Six Siege is a 5v5 tactical shooter where one team attacks and the other defends, and you usually get one life per round. Walls, floors and ceilings can be broken, so information and planning matter as much as aim. This beginner guide covers how a round works, what to play first and the habits that help new players most.

Last checked: November 9, 2026.

How a round works

Most modes, including Quick Match and Ranked, use the Bomb objective: attackers have to find one of two bomb sites and plant a defuser, and defenders have to stop them.

Each round has two parts:

1. Preparation Phase. Defenders reinforce walls and hatches, place their gadgets and set up around the objective. Attackers can't enter the building yet, so they drive small drones around to find the bomb sites and spot defenders. Friendly fire is off during this phase.
2. Action Phase. Attackers move in, open walls, clear rooms and try to plant. Defenders hold their positions or roam to catch attackers on the way in.

In Quick Match, the Preparation Phase lasts 45 seconds and the Action Phase 3 minutes. If you're eliminated, you're out until the next round, but you can still watch through cameras and drones and tell your team what you see.

A simple path for your first hours

Siege unlocks modes as your Clearance Level rises, which gives you a natural order to learn in:

Enlisted is only open until Clearance Level 18, so it's worth playing early. Players below Clearance Level 10 also deal reduced damage to teammates, which takes the sting out of early mistakes.

For more on each playlist, see our guide to Rainbow Six Siege game modes.

12 tips for new players

1. Always drone before you walk in

Drones are an attacker's best tool. Use them during the Preparation Phase to find the objective, then again before you push into a room. Knowing where a defender is matters more than having good aim.

2. Reinforce walls and hatches on defense

Reinforced walls are what stop attackers from opening the bomb site from every side. On defense, reinforce first and set up gadgets second, and ask your team which walls still need covering.

3. Play with headphones and listen

Sound is one of the most important sources of information in Siege. Siege X reworked the game's audio so footsteps, breaching and gadget sounds give a clearer sense of where something is and how far away. Headphones make a real difference.

4. Your shadow can give you away

Since Siege X, your operator casts a first-person shadow, which can reveal you as you step into a room or pass a doorway. Enemies in your line of sight also get an outline, so hiding in a dark corner isn't as safe as it used to be.

5. Start with simple operators

Ubisoft marks nine operators as Starter Operators: Striker, Sledge, Thermite and Glaz on attack, and Sentry, Mute, Smoke, Bandit and Kapkan on defense. Their gadgets are easy to understand and useful in most rounds. Our operators list shows every operator's official specialties.

6. Learn a few maps well

Don't try to learn every map at once. Pick one or two, walk them in Landmark Drill, then play them in Quick Match. Quick Match now has a mini-map too, which helps you keep track of where you are. Our guide to Rainbow Six Siege maps lists which maps are in each playlist.

7. Use the environment

Siege X added destructible objects to the updated maps:

• Gas pipes spray fire when shot, then explode after a short time.
• Fire extinguishers release a cloud of smoke and concuss anyone close by.
• Metal detectors make a loud noise when someone walks through them and can be destroyed or temporarily turned off.

All of them can help you or hurt you, so learn where they are on the maps you play.

8. Ping and use the communication wheel

You don't need a microphone to help your team. The communication wheel added with Siege X has preset pings for passing on common information quickly. A ping on a defender's location from a drone is often the most useful thing you can do in a round.

9. Play for the round, not your kills

Rounds are won through the objective or by eliminating the other team, and Ranked only rewards wins. Ubisoft has confirmed that kills, deaths and assists don't affect your rank.

10. Use rappel

Attackers can rappel up and around the outside of buildings. Since Siege X, you can also sprint along walls and move around corners while on rappel. Window and rooftop routes often catch defenders watching the doors.

11. Try operators before you buy them

Each week, Ubisoft lets everyone play six trial operators, three attackers and three defenders, in Quick Match, Unranked and other playlists. Use them to test operators before spending Renown. Our guide on how to unlock operators explains prices and the other ways to unlock them.

12. Keep your reputation clean

Siege tracks player behavior with a reputation system. A Disruptive standing cuts your XP and Renown by 25% and locks you out of Siege Cup. A Dishonorable standing cuts both by 50% and also locks you out of Ranked.

Can you start for free?

Yes. Free access gives you Quick Match, Unranked, Deathmatch, the AI playlists and training tools, plus 10 operators at the start and up to 26 through progression. Ranked and Siege Cup need a paid edition. Our guide to whether Rainbow Six Siege is free has the details.

When you're ready for competitive play, our guide to Rainbow Six Siege ranks explains how Ranked 3.0 works.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first in Rainbow Six Siege?

Play the attack and defense tutorials, then a few Enlisted matches against AI. Both unlock at Clearance Level 2, and Enlisted closes at Clearance Level 18, so play it early.

What operators should beginners use?

Ubisoft's Starter Operators are a good place to begin: Striker, Sledge, Thermite and Glaz on attack, and Sentry, Mute, Smoke, Bandit and Kapkan on defense. Their gadgets are simple and helpful in almost every round.

Is there friendly fire in Rainbow Six Siege?

Yes, during the Action Phase. Friendly fire is off during the Preparation Phase, and players below Clearance Level 10 deal reduced damage to teammates.

Can you play Rainbow Six Siege solo?

Yes. You can queue alone in Quick Match, Unranked and Ranked, and Enlisted and Field Training let you play against AI by yourself. Siege Cup is the exception, since it needs a full five-player squad.

How long is a round in Rainbow Six Siege?

In Quick Match, a round has a 45-second Preparation Phase followed by a 3-minute Action Phase. Arcade modes can be shorter, such as the 3v3 mode's 30-second Preparation Phase.

When can I play Ranked?

You need a paid edition of the game and Clearance Level 50. Until then, Unranked opens at Clearance Level 20 and uses the same rules.

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