Review and ranking (Siege)
The SAS unit in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is made up of four original operators: Sledge, Thatcher, Smoke, and Mute.
They’re built around fundamentals. Breaching, denial, control. Nothing flashy, just tools that directly affect how rounds are played. That’s why even years later, they’re still relevant.
Lore wise, SAS unit are some of the most grounded operators in the game. Proper military backgrounds, no over-the-top personalities, just experienced soldiers who’ve been doing this for years. Mike Baker especially stands out as a veteran figure who mentors others and has a decorated military career .
Community wise, people always say the same thing about SAS unit. They feel “real”. Even recently, players were saying they’ve got the most “aura” because they actually look like proper special forces, not the newer, more stylised operators .
4. Smoke
(Good, but not for everyone)
Smoke is one of those operators that’s insanely strong but only if you actually know what you’re doing.
His gas grenades are perfect for denying plants and locking down areas. In the right hands, he can win rounds on his own just by stalling time. That’s why high-level players rate him so highly.
But if you’re not experienced, he feels useless. You throw gas too early, you waste it. Too late, round’s already gone.
Community opinion is pretty consistent here. Smoke is “strong but hard”. You don’t casually play him, you learn him.
So yeah, he’s deadly. Just not beginner friendly.
3. Mute
(One of the most important defenders)
Mark R. Chandar is one of those operators that doesn’t look exciting but wins games.
His signal jammers block drones, gadgets, and intel. That alone makes him massive because Siege is built on information. If attackers can’t drone, they’re guessing.
Lore-wise, he’s exactly what you’d expect. Proper tech genius, Cambridge-level intelligence, works in signals intelligence and cyber operations . Doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to.
Community-wise, people respect Mute. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable. There’s even players saying he’s the reason they got into the game in the first place just because of how he looks and plays .
He’s one of those operators where if you remove him, the whole defensive setup feels weaker.
2. Thatcher
(Old but still relevant)
Mike Baker is basically the definition of old-school Siege.
EMP grenades that disable electronics. Simple idea, massive impact.
Back in the day, he was almost mandatory. Every serious attack needed a Thatcher because he made breaching possible. Now, he’s not as essential because alternatives exist, but he’s still one of the safest picks you can bring.
Lore-wise, he’s one of the most respected operators in Rainbow. Long military history, medals, leadership role, proper veteran energy.
Community opinion is interesting. Some people think he’s been power-crept. Others still swear by him because of how simple and effective he is.
He’s not exciting, but he’s always useful.
1. Sledge
(One of the best attackers in the game)
Let’s be real here. Sledge isn’t number one because of a funny hammer kill, even though that’s class.
He’s number one because he gives you control.
There was this one round on Coastline, and it’s basically the perfect example of why Sledge is so good if you actually play him properly.
We were attacking Hookah/Billiards. My teammate starts taking a gunfight through Hookah window, proper loud, shots going everywhere, full attention on him. Most people would just swing that or try trade it.
Instead, I went underneath into Sunrise, cleared it out, then just waited for a second. You can hear everything on that map if you’re paying attention. I knew someone was holding close, probably thinking the only pressure was coming from window.
So I go up the stairs, slow, no sprinting, just walking it.
You can hear the fight still going on above, so I know their focus is completely split. That’s the moment.
I come up behind him, he’s still aimed at the window, doesn’t even turn.
And instead of shooting, I just pull the hammer out and swing.
One hit and he was sleeping
Seamus Cowden is a soft breacher, but that description doesn’t really do him justice. His hammer lets you open up the map however you want. Floors, walls, angles, rotations. You decide how the fight happens.
And that’s why good players rate him.
His kit is simple. L85A2, solid recoil, reliable damage. Nothing fancy, just consistent. His gadget never runs out of value either. As long as there’s soft surfaces, he’s useful.
Lore-wise, he fits it perfectly. Strong, direct, no nonsense. Known for breaching expertise and physical strength, even holding records during his SAS career . He’s also one of the easiest operators to work with, which lines up with how he plays. Straightforward, effective.
And yeah, being from Scotland adds something. He feels grounded. Like an actual bloke rather than a character.
The Jacobite elite skin as well, that’s not just cosmetic. That’s history tied into the operator. It fits him.
Community-wise, Sledge is always respected. You never hear people say he’s bad. If anything, people joke about nerfing him because of how consistently good he is .
He’s not flashy. He just works.
Final ranking
- Sledge
- Thatcher
- Mute
- Smoke
Final thoughts
SAS is probably the most “real” unit in Siege. No gimmicks, no overdesigned abilities, just operators that affect the core of the game.
Sledge lets you shape the map. Thatcher lets you break setups. Mute stops intel. Smoke controls time.
If you’re playing Sledge, you’re not just running around smashing walls for the sake of it. You’re opening angles, creating pressure, and forcing defenders to move. That hammer isn’t a meme, it’s control.
And yeah, sometimes you do just walk up behind someone and cave their head in with it. But the reason it works is because everything else he brings makes that situation possible in the first place.
That’s why he’s number one.
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