Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (PEGI 18) was released at the end of 2015 and is still regularly supported with new updates which include gameplay changes, new maps and new characters on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
The main gameplay mode is online multiplayer. Two teams of five players, one attacking a location and the other defending it, with various objectives such as diffusing a bomb, securing an area, saving a hostage or eliminating all opponents within a set time frame. Online multiplayer can be played as a ‘Newcomer’ for new players, ‘Casual’ which is open to everyone with no ranking system and ‘Ranked’ which is a more competitive mode available after a certain amount of experience has been gained and includes a ranking system and more rounds in a match.
There is also a player vs AI mode called ‘Terrorist Hunt’ in which up to five players can play against waves of enemies. Difficulty levels are available for this mode. Another mode called ‘Situations’ is a good place to start to learn basic gameplay strategies. There are also occasional limited time game modes, such as ‘Showdown’ which recently appeared for a limited two week period in which 3v3 players online had to defend or loot a pile of gold in quick paced rounds.
In all these modes, you have one life. If your character is killed, you wait until the next round to rejoin. During this time you can spectate or, in some game modes, aid your team using ‘operation tools,’ such as surveillance cameras or drones to spot enemies.
In this post, we will be looking at the control inputs and settings in the game, starting with an overview and then more detailed information on gamepad controller inputs (Xbox One, PS4 and PC) and then keyboard and mouse controls (PC) further down.
Controls
During a 5v5 match, a round will start with a setup period in which each team prepares, with the defenders barricading the room(s) containing the objective and the attackers using their drones to find it and scout the location. After this initial setup period, as an attacker you use certain gadgets, abilities or interactions to help gain entry to the objective, whilst as a defender you use your gadgets, abilities or interactions to protect and barricade the objective you are defending. Damage to the environments on the different maps plays a large part in the gameplay and strategy of Rainbow Six Siege.
The required controls use most of the inputs available on a controller and include presses, holds and holds for a set duration for certain actions. For instance, when barricading a wall, X/Square (F on Keyboard/Mouse controls) must be held for a set duration, in this instance approx. 6 seconds, whilst when barricading a door it will be held for approx. 3.5 seconds until the animation/action is completed.
Interactions such as these that are location and context based and use X/Square (F) when prompted, such as when standing next to a wall or door which can be barricaded, have no alternative option to reduce this to a shorter press. However, primary and secondary gadgets which use LB/L1 (G or 3) or RB/R1 (Scroll Wheel Click or 4) can be deployed with a press, rather than a duration hold by changing the ‘Gadget Deployment’ in the settings menu (more below), if holding an input down for a length of time is difficult for you.
Full direction of movement (Left Stick / W,A,S,D) rather than using look controls to turn can be strongly beneficial as progress through entryways may require peeking, strafing, retreating, pushing etc as ground is gained and lost entering buildings and rooms.
The list below shows what action each input on the controller does within different contexts and whether the action requires a press, a hold, or a hold for a duration.
Default Gamepad Controller (Xbox One, PS4 or PC) Gameplay Inputs:
Left Stick = On Foot Movement (Hold), Drone Control (up = forward, down = back, left = left, right = right) (Hold)
Right Stick = On Foot Look/Aim, Look/Aim Operation Tool (drone/surveillance camera’s)
A/Cross = Vault (Press), Rappel (Hold for Duration approx. 1 sec), Drone Jump (Tap), Skip Kill Cam (Press), Climb Ladder (Press)
B/Circle = Change Stance – Crouch (Press), Prone (Hold for Duration), Rapelling Change Stance (Press – when rapelling)
X/Square = Reload (Press weapons auto reload at end of magazine/round), Interact (Hold for Duration) e.g. Plant Bomb Diffuser (approx 5.30 secs), Barricade Door (approx. 3.5 secs) Grab Hostage (approx. 1.0 secs), Slow Blood Loss (Hold).
Is also used when using ‘Gadget Deployment’ in ‘Toggle’ mode e.g. Deploy Barbed Wire (Hold for Duration approx 1.2 secs), Deploy Signal Disrupter or Battery (Hold for Duration approx 2.6 secs) . however, by using the ‘Hold’ mode option in the ‘Gadget Deployment’ setting these actions can be activated with a single press on LB/L1 & RB/R1 (X/Square is not needed to deploy them)
Y/Triangle = Weapon Swap (Press), Scan Enemies (Hold for Duration – approx. 1.2 secs)
RB/R1 = Unique Ability, Primary Gadget (Press or Hold for Duration (varying) depending on Gadget Deployment Setting), Cycle Through Observation Tool (Press)
LB/L1 = Generic Gadget, Secondary Gadget (Press or Hold for Duration (varying) depending on Gadget Deployment Setting), Cycle Through Observation Tools (Press)
RT/R2 = Shoot (Press or Hold depending on weapon)
LT/L2 (Left Mouse) = Aim (Hold – with toggle option available)
L3 (Left Shift) = Sprint (Press, toggle), Lean Left (Press whilst aiming, toggle – released when aiming is de-activated), Fast Decent (Hold whilst rapelling)
R3 = Melee (Press), Lean Right (Press whilst aiming, toggle – released when aiming is de-activated)
D-Pad Up = Switch Firing Rate (Press)
D-Pad Down = Observation Tool (Press), Switch view between observation tool and teammate (Press), Silence phone when being hacked (Hold for Duration – approx. 3.0 secs)
D-Pad Left = Spot (Press)
D-Pad Right = Drone (Press)
View/Touchpad = Scoreboard (Press)
Menu/Options = Bring up Menu
There is no remapping option available for individual controls when using a controller, but there are some layouts to choose from.
Alternative controller Layouts:
‘Southpaw’ = swaps left and right joystick actions from default (Left Stick = Look & Right Stick = Move)
‘Default – Lefty’ – Sticks remain default, but stick clicks swap (L3 = Melee & R3 = Sprint)
‘Southpaw Lefty’ – Sticks directions and stick clicks swap from default (Left Stick = Look, L3 = Melee, Right Stick = Move & R3 = Sprint)
Much of the menu navigation can be done with the left joystick and A/Cross and B/Circle buttons including those marked with shortcuts to tab (LB/L1 & RB/R1), but some menus do require these to be used to cycle them e.g. the Options menu. These are the list of the main controls used throughout the menus to navigate:
Controller Menu Controls:
Left Stick or D-Pad = Navigation
Right Stick = Open Pack
D-Pad = Scoreboard Navigation
A/Cross = Select
B/Circle = Back
LB/RB = Cycle Menu Sections (Left Stick/D-Pad can be used to do this in main menu, but not all others)
Menu/Option = Access Options Menu
Y/Triangle = Invite Players Menu
X/Square = Show Team Loadout & Details, Cycle News Feed in Main Menu
R3 = Reset to Default Controls
RT = Start Now (Custom Game)
Within the Controls Options menu, there are some options which can be changed to alter controller input. Mainy affect how the joysticks respond to movement. These are available for Gamepad Controller users:
Look Inversion – Disabled/Enabled (inverts Y-axis on look)
Vibration – Disabled/Enabled (is used tectically in certain scenarios such as being alerted to being scanned by an opponent)
Verticle Sensitivity -0-100 (adjusts sensitivity of y-axis in increments of 1)
Horizontal Sensitivity – 0-100 (adjusts sensitivity of x-axis in increments of 1)
Aim Down Sights Sensitivity – 0-100 (adjusts senstitivity of both axis when aiming in increments of 1)
Left Stick Deadzone – 0-100 (adjusts the point at which movement is instigated when moving the joystick in increments of 1)
Right Stick Deadzone – 0-100 (adjusts the point at which camera movement is instigated when moving the joystick inincrements of 1)
Controller Rotation – Classic (“Slow gradual progression until reaching full tilt”)/Updated (“More consistent progression of rotation speed”)
Aim Assist (only in vs AI modes) – Disabled/Enabled (helps direct aim towards AI when aim input is used)
Gadget Deployment – Hold/Toggle Whilst some gadgets will have their own interactions no matter which option you choose, as a rule using ‘Hold’ mode will use a press on LB/L1 or RB/R1 to deploy a gadget whereas in ‘Toggle’ mode, you initially need to press LB/L1 or RB/R1 to select a gadget and then hold X/Square (Interact) for varying durations to deploy it
Drone Deployment – Standard (automatically enter control of drone)/ Advanced (will need a secondary input to enter drone control after deployment)
On PC there are some additional options for Keyboard and Mouse users, such as additional toggle options amongst others.
Keyboard and Mouse Options (PC):
Raw Input – Mouse / Keyboard On/Off
Mouse Look Inversion – Enable/Disabled (inverts Y-axis on look)
Mouse Sensitivity Horizontal – 0-100 (adjusts sensitivity of y-axis in increments of 1)
Mouse Sensitivity Vertical – 0-100 (adjusts sensitivity of x-axis in increments of 1)
Aim Down Sights Sensitivity – 0-100 (adjusts senstitivity of both axis when aiming in increments of 1)
Mouse Scroll – Enabled/Disabled
Gadget Deployment – Advanced/ Standard. Whilst some gadgets will have their own interactions no matter which option you choose, as a rule using ‘Standard’ mode will use a press on G (or 3) or Scroll Wheel Click (or 4) to deploy a gadget whereas in ‘Advanced’ mode, you initially need to press G (or 3) or Scroll Wheel Click (or 4) to select a gadget and then hold Left Click for varying durations to deploy it.
Drone Deployment – Standard (automatically enter control of drone)/ Advanced (will need a secondary input to enter drone control after deployment)
Aim – Hold (default)/Toggle
Lean – Hold/Toggle (default)
Sprint – Hold/Toggle (default)
Crouch – Hold/Toggle (default)
Prone– Hold/Toggle (default)
Walk – Hold/Toggle (default)
On PC Keyboard and Mouse controls are fully remappable in gameplay, with the exception of look (mouse movement). You can also add a secondary input to use for each action. Below are the actions used in gameplay and their default bindings.
Keyboard and Mouse Inputs (PC – Remappable):
Character:
Move Forwards = W (Hold)
Move Backwards = S (Hold)
Strafe Left = A (Hold)
Strafe Right = D (Hold)
Look = Mouse (Cursor Movement)
Lean Left (toggled by default) = Q (Press)
Lean Right (toggled by default) = E (Press)
Sprint (Press – toggled by default), Fast Rappel (Hold) & Ladder Descent = Left Shift
Navigate (Vault, Rappel) = Space (Vault = Press, Rappel = Hold for Duration – approx. 1 sec)
Crouch (toggled by default) & Change Rappel Stance = C (Press)
Prone (toggled by default) = Control (Press)
Walk (toggled by default) = Alt (Press)
Shoot = Left Click (Press or Hold depending on weapon)
Aim (can be toggled) = Right Click (Hold or Press using optional Toggle)
Reload = R (Press – weapons auto reload at end of magazine/round)
Interact = F (Press or Hold for varying durations depending on situation e.g. (Hold for Duration) e.g. Plant Bomb Diffuser (approx 5.30 secs), Barricade Door (approx. 3.5 secs) Grab Hostage (approx. 1.0 secs), Slow Blood Loss (Hold).
Melee Attack = V (Press)
Primary Gadget = Gadget Deployment Standard Mode: Scroll Wheel Click or 4 (both Press) or Gadget Deployment Advanced Mode: Scroll Wheel Click or 4 (both Press or Hold for Duration depending on gadget) then Press or Hold Left Click or Scroll Wheel Click for a set duration, depending on gadget)
Secondary Gadget = Gadget Deployment Standard Mode: G or 3 (both Press) or Gadget Deployment Advance Mode: G or 3 (both Press) then hold Left Click or G for a set duration depending on gadget)
Enter Observation Tools = 5 (Press)
Deploy Drone = 6 (Press)
Select primary Weapon = 1 (Press)
Change Fire Rate = B (Press)
Weapon Swap = . (Press)
Ping (spot) = Z (Press)
Observation Tools Controls :
Enter Observation Tools – 5 (Press)
Forwards = W (Hold)
Backwards = S (Hold)
Strafe Left = A (Hold)
Strafe Right = D (Hold)
Look = Mouse (Cursor Movement)
Shoot = Left Click (Press)
Jump = Space (Press)
Enemy Scan = X (Hold for Duration approx. 1.2 secs)
Specific Action 1 = Left Click
Specific Action 2 = F
Specific Action 3 = B
Cycle Left = Q (Press)
Cycle Right = E (Press)
Group Cycle Left = 1 (Press)
Group Cycle Right = 3 (Press)
Exit observation Tools = 5 or Scroll Wheel Click (both Press)
When you have been eliminated in a round, you are able to either control observation tools or spectate teammates. There are some specific inputs for these:
Spectator Cameras:
Zoom In = Page Up (Hold)
Zoom Out = Page Down (Hold)
Move Up a Floor = Left Shift or Right Shift (both Press)
Move Down a Floor = Ctrl or Right Ctrl (both Press)
Toggle Follow Player = F (Press)
Follow Selected Player = Enter (Press)
Toggle View Mode = C (Press)
Browse Player Left = Q (Press)
Browse Player Right = E (Press)
Cycle AR Setting = V (Press)
Follow Player 1-10 = 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 (all Press)
On PC there are also some keyboard specific inputs for additional actions:
General:
Scoreboard = Tab (Press)
Vote Interface = 7 (Press)
Open Chat All = T (Press)
Team Chat = Y (Press)
Push to Talk = U (Press)
Mouse cursor movement and a left click gives you access to much of the PC menu. Cursor keys can be used to tab through the menu’s along with additional keys to select, go back, tab and more for specific actions.
Menu
Main Navigation/Selection = Mouse (Cursor Movement), and Left Click (Press – drag required for opening packs) or Arrow Keys, Enter, Esc and Tab (except Options and Invite Friends – mouse and left click are required and with Opening Packs mouse and left click and left click drag arerequired)
Select = Enter (Press)
Tab = Cycle menu tabs (Press)
Back/Pause = Esc (Press)
Default (reset changes in settings) = F9 (Press)
Apply (apply changes in settings) = Space
The information above is written accurately to the best of our knowledge. Updates to controls and gamplay may affect the accuracy of the information. Please visit https://rainbow6.ubisoft.com/siege/en-gb/home/index.aspx for up to date information on the games and https://rainbow6.ubisoft.com/siege/en-gb/game-info/index.aspx to find out more about gameplay.
If you have any questions, please visit the “contact us” page.
