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A n00b’s Guide to Rainbow Six Siege

A n00b’s Guide to Rainbow Six Siege

All right, so you just picked up Rainbow Six Siege , it’s installed, and you’re ready to blow in some doors and shoot some terrorists. Well, you go ahead and try, but it won’t take you very long to realize that you have a lot of learning and catching up to do before you’re squad-ready. This isn’t a run-and-gun affair, and if you don’t have anyone to show you the ropes then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been on both sides of the equation: I’ve been the man with the plan that had to watch it all fall apart because of one knucklehead, and I’ve been the knucklehead flash banging myself and barricading walls that don’t matter at all. There are a few things that you need to focus on straight out of the gate before you’re ready for PvP. Do these things and you’ll be a much better player for it. Do these things and your whole squad will be better for it.

Watch the Tutorial Videos

Watch the Tutorial Videos

Seriously. There are only three tutorial videos, they’re short (about a minute each), and they’re informative. These will show you the basics of the basics: setting up and destroying barricades, floors, and walls. Even if you’re a veteran and feel like you already have a solid grip on these mechanics, go watch the videos anyway because each one nets you 200 renown. Once you’ve watched all three you get an extra 200 renown, so that’s 800 renown for just a few minutes of your life. If you want to, you can even start the videos and then skip them right away and still get the renown rewards. So in about 15 seconds you can get the renown you need to unlock your first operator, which leads me to my second point…

Rock Out With the Recruit

Rock Out With the Recruit

In the beginning of the game while everyone only has a small handful of operators unlocked, there’s a good chance that someone is going to pick the only attacking or defending operator you have available and have practiced with. When this happens, don’t be a dick about it. Everyone wants to play as Thermite. When someone picks Thermite first, don’t throw a fit and team kill them, just choose the recruit. He has a varied arsenal and is every bit as combat capable as any of the operators. If you can’t contribute with the recruit then you’re not ready to play online.

Play Through the Situations

Play Through the Situations

Situations are basically the only offline, single-player experience the game has to offer, but they’re all really useful and fun. You’ll get to practice everything here, and even on normal difficulty some of the later situations can be really challenging. I remember running through the kill house in the original Rainbow Six over and over again just to perfect my frags and practice shooting. It was so much fun, and I definitely got that feeling all over again in Siege, especially because the first situation is a kill house. When you unlock the eleventh and final situation, find a friend or two to play with using mics. Trust me, you’ll need them. Speaking of which…

Plug in the Damn Mic!

Plug in the Damn Mic!

You’re going to experience this at least once. You and four random teammates will play through a perfect match where everyone plays to their operators’ strengths, communication is constant and simple, and downed allies get revived immediately after asking for help. Then it happens: the next match you’re placed with four randos without microphones plugged in. No one sticks together, teammates will walk over your still-dying body while you bleed out, or you’ll be fighting off defenders near a bomb while the guy with the diffuser is on the other side of the map. This game is infuriating when you get stuck with a squad who doesn’t communicate. So, for crying out loud, at least plug in your mic so you can listen and respond to the vets. You’ll level up faster and earn more renown that way.

Automatic or Semi-auto?

Automatic or Semi-auto?

The gunplay in Siege isn’t as fast-paced, snappy, or responsive as it is in a CoD game or in Destiny . It’s great, but there’s a learning curve for sure. One of the things that has helped me out immensely, and I remember doing this in the original Rainbow Six, is switching my rifles to fire semi-automatically. Recoil can really mess you up when aiming at faraway targets, so press up on the d-pad or ‘b’ on the keyboard to toggle single-shot or three-round-burst functionality. I’ve started to get a lot more kills after doing this, and I think you’ll find headshots a lot easier to pull off when you’re not firing in full-auto, at least in the beginning.

Stay Crouched or Stay Standing

Stay Crouched or Stay Standing

This really only applies when you’re in a group and you’re mobile. When about to breach a door or blow some cover, it’s natural and often wise for you and your squad to stack up, especially if someone chooses an operator that carries a riot shield. Often times you’ll find yourselves moving through tight spaces one behind another, and when doing this it’s common for the people in front to crouch so those in the back can fire over them when enemies appear or ambush you. This is a great idea, as long as you stay standing or crouching during the engagement. I always hesitate to let the noobs take point, even if they have a shield, because when the lead starts flying they’ll stand up to sprint to safety and immediately get team killed by everyone firing behind them. Keep your cool and hold your position.

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