The new co-op shooter Rainbow Six: Extraction is set to release on January 20, 2022. The playable characters (“Operators”) should be familiar to fans of the series from Siege. MeinMMO presents the 18 Operators from Extraction.
What are Operators? The playable characters in Rainbow Six: Extraction are called Operators. They roughly represent a sort of “class”, as each has special abilities that can be more or less useful in a team.
All Operators come from the PvP shooter Rainbow Six Siege, where their abilities are also put to use. Extraction is a kind of standalone PvE mode from Siege featuring the same heroes.
A team consists of up to three Operators, allowing for different combinations of abilities. Since Extraction fully revolves around co-op, the combination of abilities plays a significant role and can either aid or hinder your gameplay. You can find more information in our hub about co-op and crossplay for Rainbow Six: Extraction.
You can also level up the Operators and unlock new weapons. The twist: if an Operator goes down during a mission and is placed in “Stasis”, you cannot play as them until you rescue them. The character remains captured until you do.
Update from January 18, 2022: We have expanded the list with all playable Operators and added some videos.
All 18 Operators of Rainbow Six: Extraction
On Ubisoft’s official site, all Operators that you can play are presented (via Ubisoft.com). We have listed the characters along with their abilities for you here.
Finka
Finka is a microbiologist and expert in fighting plagues. She appeared in Rainbow Six Siege for Operation Chimera, during which the “Outbreak” event also took place as part of that mission. The game mode of “Outbreak” is the basis for Extraction.
What can Finka? Finka’s ability boosts the combat power of her teammates with an adrenaline boost. Players receive additional temporary health in Siege and likely, the ability works similarly in Extraction. Downed teammates are also revived with the boost.
What is her role in the team? The biologist supports the team as a kind of healer. She also provides assistance in intense situations when all players are having trouble. If you are under attack from all sides, Finka can help you survive.
Pulse
What can Pulse? The FBI agent is an expert in reconnaissance and biological data collection. He uses a heart sensor that typically shows opponents’ heartbeats even through walls, but in Extraction, it is directly focused on the opponents, the Archaeans.
What is his role in the team? Since Pulse can detect and track enemies even through walls, he serves as a scout in situations where drones alone cannot do the job. With Pulse, you can devise plans for a stealthy attack or an ambush or even take down enemies undetected through a wall, if possible.
Doc
What can Doc? The French medic is equipped with a pistol that fires a special stimulant. These “shots” heal allies hit by them and can even revive them if they are downed.
What is his role in the team? Doc serves the team more as a healer than Finka, as he can restore health points. Otherwise, he also fulfills the role of a supporter. The downside is that he can only heal one person and must hit accurately.
Sledge
What can Sledge? Sledge is armed with a sledgehammer of the same name, which he can use to tear down wooden walls and stun enemies. The tool is wielded in both hands.
What is his role in the team? With his hammer, Sledge can create alternative paths for his team, allowing them to bypass dangerous enemies or enable a flanking attack. Through the stunning effect, he is also useful in combat to give allies a breather.
Alibi
What can Alibi? Alibi’s PRISMA device creates a likeness of the agent that looks strikingly similar to her. Alibi can throw the device to create a copy of herself at the desired location. Enemies that attack the likeness are also scanned.
What is her role in the team? Alibi’s ability serves to distract enemies, either to separate them, lure them to another location, or prepare for an ambush.
Vigil
What can Vigil? Vigil uses an “ERC”, a cloaking device that makes him invisible to enemy perception. He cannot be tracked for a certain period but must recharge this ability over time.
What is his role in the team? It is still difficult to say how Vigil fits into a team. In Siege, he can detect enemies without being detected by devices, approach them, and take them out. In Extraction, his role could be similar, by eliminating dangerous enemies that would otherwise trigger an alarm.
Hibana
What can Hibana? Hibana’s X-KAIROS are special grenades that can destroy walls. The explosive sticks can be detonated remotely and the explosions can even penetrate armor.
What is her role in the team? Hibana serves as a sort of “heavy hammer” against enemies. As she can penetrate armor, she is presumably primarily designed for fights against heavily armored elite enemies. However, it remains unclear whether she can also destroy reinforced walls like in Siege.
Ela
What can Ela? Ela uses GRZMOT mines, which are rather unconventional weapons that can incapacitate enemies. The mines stick to surfaces and are triggered by proximity to stun nearby enemies.
What is her role in the team? With the mines, Ela can prepare ambushes to lure one or more enemies in. The enemies stunned by the detonation are easier to eliminate.
Lion
Just like Finka, Lion was also part of the original “Outbreak” event. The French specialist in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare also finds a place in Extraction.
What can Lion? Lion fights with a special drone that hovers above the combat zone and can scan enemies. By using the ability, all moving enemies in an area are detected.
What is his role in the team? With his drone, Lion serves as a scout. Unlike Pulse, he cannot locate enemies that are standing still but can cover a larger area. This way, he can warn of patrols or suggest alternative paths if an area is heavily guarded.
Tachanka
What can Tachanka? Tachanka’s special ability is his LMG DP-28. This machine gun is a weapon that the Operator sets up and can be used by the entire team.
What is his role in the team? Tachanka serves as a defender, primarily to hold positions. His LMG can prove extremely useful when you need to hold a position against many or particularly strong enemies.
Tachanka is one of the oldest Operators from Rainbow Six Siege and was for a long time virtually useless, merely a “meme pick”. A complete rework was supposed to change that, but it didn’t help much – except for some particularly clever players:
Fuze
What can Fuze? Fuze’s APM-6 scatter charge can be attached to walls. By remote detonation, it fires several explosive grenades that flood the corresponding room.
What is his role in the team? Fuze is an attacker who can clear rooms from a safe distance before his team even enters. The remote detonation also allows him to support in combat or set traps, especially against elite enemies.
Capitão
What can Capitão? Capitão has a special weapon: a crossbow that he loads with “TAC Mk0” bolts. These bolts cause either smoke clouds or poison enemies upon impact.
What is his role in the team? The Operator primarily serves for stealth. Proceeding cautiously can be a useful tactic in Extraction, and especially Capitão’s smoke bolts help with that. They are easier to place than smoke grenades, for example.
Rook
What can Rook? Rook’s armor plates protect his team. Teammates who go down with armor are not knocked out. This is a significant advantage, especially when you are in the middle of a mission.
What is his role in the team? The armor plates protect the team throughout the entire round, making Rook a true all-rounder. Depending on team composition and preferred playstyle, you can pursue any strategy with him.
IQ
The specialist is Monika “IQ” Weiß, one of two German Operators in Extraction. Like Jäger, she is a former member of GSG 9. Her specialty is reconnaissance.
What can IQ? With her R.E.D. SPECTRE, IQ can detect electronics. In Extraction, she discovers REACT gear (like ammunition crates) and obstacles even through walls.
What is her role in the team? IQ’s operational capabilities initially seem limited, as she primarily fights against Archaeans, who typically do not use REACT technologies. However, IQ can prove useful in missions where you need to search for specific items. This way, you can better plan your route right from the start and avoid detours.
IQ may become particularly important when you play the endgame mode of Extraction, which is said to be quite challenging. In the Maelstrom Protocol, you are required to complete triple the amount of tasks and face tougher enemies. Good planning is a huge advantage in this regard.
Jäger
As the second German specialist, Jäger will be playable in the new Rainbow Six. In Siege, he is a feared defender capable of neutralizing grenades and projectiles.
What can Jäger? Jäger’s ELSTER defense system also intercepts projectiles in Extraction. He needs to place the device to monitor a certain area. It is best suited at doors or tight “choke points”.
What is his role in the team? Jäger is a defender who is most efficient when you need to hunker down. Thanks to his automatic defense system, you are largely safe from long-range attackers and can focus on dangers in your immediate vicinity.
Gridlock
What can Gridlock? Gridlock’s Trax stinger traps can make an entire area inaccessible to enemies. Enemies slowed down by the traps take damage if they move through them.
What is her role in the team? Gridlock can be used to reinforce a position and force choke points or secure a retreat. Since she slows down enemies, you have more time for planning, escaping, or reassessing priorities in situations.
Nomad
What can Nomad? Nomad fires proximity mines that activate after a short time. If an enemy moves into the protected area, they are pushed back, eliminating threats in the corresponding area.
What is her role in the team? Since Nomad fires her stun grenades from a distance, she can secure pathways exceptionally well. As you move through a complex, Nomad can, similar to Ela, block access points and protect you from ambushes.
Smoke
What can Smoke? The British specialist fights with a special gas mixture that he throws in the form of remotely detonated grenades. The gas damages all enemies within it.
What is his role in the team? Similar to Gridlock, you can use Smoke to secure a retreat or, like Fuze, plan an attack. Use his gas to hinder pursuing enemies, eliminate grouped foes, or shift the focus in larger fights.
Rainbow Six: Extraction is scheduled for release on January 20, 2022, as the first co-op shooter of the year. The hype surrounding the game is relatively low in advance, but especially fans of the Outbreak mode are looking forward to it. They are curious about how well the implementation as a standalone game will turn out. In our hub, you can find all important information about the game:
The first new co-op shooter of 2022 is coming – All about the release of Rainbow Six: Extraction
