In Rainbow Six Siege X (R6 Siege) you start with a selection of operators that Ubisoft tags as Starter Operators on its official website. As of 20 October 2026 there are nine of them: Attackers Sledge, Thermite, Glaz and Striker, and Defenders Smoke, Mute, Bandit, Kapkan and Sentry. Here you will find their roles, what those roles mean, how to try more operators for free every week and how many you need for ranked. This applies to PC and consoles alike.
How Siege works
Each match is played by two teams of five. One team attacks (Attackers), the other defends (Defenders), and the destructible environment is part of the tactics. Before each round every player picks an operator, a character with their own loadout and ability.
The game eases newcomers in. The PlayStation Store describes a new Clearance level path (your account level) that “helps you learn the basics progressively”. You also need Clearance level for ranked, more on that below.
Starter Operators according to Ubisoft
The official list on the Ubisoft website has 78 operators and a Starter Operators filter. The table shows everyone in that filter as of the verification date, with roles taken from the same list.
| Operator | Side | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Sledge | Attacker | Breach, Anti-Gadget |
| Thermite | Attacker | Breach, Support |
| Glaz | Attacker | Intel, Support |
| Striker | Attacker | Support |
| Smoke | Defender | Anti-Entry, Trapper |
| Mute | Defender | Anti-Gadget, Crowd Control |
| Bandit | Defender | Anti-Entry, Anti-Gadget |
| Kapkan | Defender | Anti-Entry, Trapper |
| Sentry | Defender | Support |
You will not find a tier list or a “best” operator here. Starter Operators are the selection the game gives you for your first matches, and the order in the table means nothing. Which one suits you is something you find out by playing.
What the roles mean
Roles are filters in the official list and tell you what an operator does for the team. The descriptions follow Ubisoft’s own wording:
- Breach – creates entryways and lines of sight in breakable or reinforced surfaces to expose opponents and help teammates reach the objective.
- Anti-Gadget – destroys or disables enemy gadgets, making opponents more vulnerable and protecting teammates.
- Anti-Entry – uses abilities, gadgets and reinforcements to stop opponents from entering a room and reaching the objective.
- Crowd Control – disrupts opponents with physical effects such as slowed movement or stuns.
- Intel – gives teammates audio or visual information about opponents, including through Observation Tools.
- Support – provides teammates with physical protection or extra utility to complete objectives.
- Trapper – defends the objective from unusual angles with gadgets that work without the operator standing nearby.
- Front Line – goes through the door first so teammates can enter a room safely.
- Map Control – takes out opponents roaming the map and protects against flanks and runouts.
Among the Starter Operators you will find Breach, Anti-Gadget, Support, Intel, Anti-Entry, Trapper and Crowd Control. Front Line and Map Control are not represented.
Weekly rotation: 6 free operators
Since season Y11S2 (2 June 2026), Ubisoft lets you try six operators for free every week, three Attackers and three Defenders. After a week the selection changes. It is the cheapest way to find out whether an operator fits you before you spend anything on them.
How many operators each edition includes
The number of operators depends on your edition. Prices and a full comparison are in our guide on whether Siege is free.
| Edition | Operators |
|---|---|
| Free Access (free) | starting selection (Starter Operators) |
| Elite Edition | plus 16 operators from Year 1–2 |
| Ultimate Edition | plus 54 operators from Year 1–10 |
How many operators you need for ranked
Ranked unlocks once you have at least 10 Attackers and 10 Defenders. You also need the Elite or Ultimate Edition, Clearance level 50 or higher and 2-Step verification on your account. The full checklist for PC and consoles is in our ranked requirements guide.
The newest operator: Noor
The newest operator is Noor, a Defender from season Y11S3 and, according to Ubisoft, the first Egyptian operator. The Horus Lance Launcher gadget fires five projectiles that pierce shields and destructible surfaces and then burn, which makes Noor a counter to shield Attackers. According to the season page, the loadout is the Commando 9 or ALDA 5.56, the 1911 TACOPS or Bailiff 410, and a Deployable Shield or Barbed Wire. Everything else the season added is in our current season guide.
Join our Discord to find teammates and try the Starter Operators in relaxed Quick Match games: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
Ubisoft has a Starter Operators filter in its official list. As of 20 October 2026 it includes Attackers Sledge, Thermite, Glaz and Striker and Defenders Smoke, Mute, Bandit, Kapkan and Sentry.
Every week you can try six operators for free, three Attackers and three Defenders. The rotation has been running since season Y11S2 and changes once a week.
The Elite Edition adds 16 operators from Year 1 and 2. The Ultimate Edition adds 54 from Year 1 to 10.
At least 10 Attackers and 10 Defenders. You also need the Elite or Ultimate Edition, Clearance level 50 and 2-Step verification.
The official Ubisoft list shows 78 operators as of 20 October 2026. The newest is the Defender Noor from season Y11S3.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are in our Rainbow Six Siege section.