Rainbow Six Siege’s tactical, team-focused gameplay hits different when you’re playing with other people, whether you’re queuing with friends or matching with random players across the globe. If you’re new to the game, figuring out how to play multiplayer in rainbow six siege can feel overwhelming at first, with tons of game modes, squad settings, and unwritten rules to wrap your head around. This guide breaks down every step you need to take to jump into matches, plus actionable tips to make your first multiplayer runs fun and successful.
Step 1: Set Up Your Multiplayer Preferences Before Queuing
Before you jump into any match, take 2 minutes to adjust your settings to fit your playstyle and who you want to play with. First, toggle crossplay on or off depending on your platform and preferences – console players who don’t want to match against PC mouse and keyboard users can disable crossplay entirely, while players who want a wider pool of teammates and faster queue times can leave it on. Next, pick which game modes you want to queue for.
New players should start with Quick Match or Unranked first before jumping into ranked, because ranked has stricter rules and harsher penalties for leaving early or team killing. You can also filter out game modes you don’t want to play, like hostage rescue, if you’re still learning the ropes. Double check your mic settings too – push to talk is recommended if you have background noise, so you don’t distract your team with unwanted audio during rounds.
How to Queue Multiplayer With Friends or Random Players
If you’re playing with friends, you can send invites through the in-game friends list, or connect via your platform’s native friend system (Ubisoft Connect, Steam, Xbox Live, PSN). Once you have a squad assembled, the squad leader picks the game mode and starts the queue, and everyone will get a notification when a match is found. If you don’t have friends online, you can use the in-game squad finder tool to match with players who have similar playstyle preferences, like people who want to complete weekly challenges or climb ranked ranks.
Using the squad finder filters can cut down on toxic or uncooperative teammates by letting you pick players who have the same goals as you, instead of getting matched with people who are only playing to troll. If you have a few minutes while waiting for your queue to pop, you can mess around with loadout customization, watch short pro gameplay clips, or take a quick break to reset your focus between matches. Many players like to play casual, quick-round games to pass the wait time, and Spinbetter is a popular option for short, low-stakes entertainment that fits perfectly into 3 to 5 minute queue gaps without pulling your focus away from the match when it starts.
Once you get into a match, make sure to communicate with your team right away, even if you’re just saying what operator you’re picking so you don’t double up on roles. Always pick an operator that fills a gap in your squad composition – if no one picked a hard breacher, go for Thermite or Hibana instead of another fragger, to give your team a better chance to access the objective site.
Unwritten Multiplayer Rules All New Players Should Follow
Rainbow Six Siege has a strong community with a set of unwritten rules that make matches more fun for everyone, regardless of skill level. Breaking these rules won’t get you banned, but it will make you less likely to get invited back to squads or get help from teammates during matches. Some of the most important rules include:
- Don't team kill or team damage on purpose – accidental team hits happen, but intentionally killing teammates will get you kicked from matches fast, and can lead to temporary bans if you do it repeatedly.
- Don't leave matches early unless it's an emergency – leaving before the match ends gives your team a massive disadvantage, and you'll get a penalty that stops you from queuing for a few minutes after.
- Call out enemy positions when you see them, even if you're already dead – dead players can give live teammates critical info that wins rounds, so don't mute your mic or leave the match as soon as you get eliminated.
- Don't waste utility on random walls or floors early in the round – save your breaching charges, flashes, and smoke grenades for when you're pushing the objective or defending a site, so you don't run out when you need them most.
A lot of new players skip these rules because they don't realize how much they impact the rest of the team, but following them will make your multiplayer experience way more enjoyable, and you'll make more friends to queue with long term. If you're not sure about a specific community norm, just ask your teammates at the start of the match – most experienced players are happy to give new people tips if they're polite.
Tips to Improve Your Multiplayer Win Rate Fast
Even if you're still learning the maps and operators, there are small changes you can make to win way more matches right away. First, focus on the objective first, not getting kills. Rainbow Six Siege is an objective-based game, so getting 10 kills doesn't matter if your team doesn't plant the defuser or defend the site. Always stick close to your squad when pushing a site – going in alone almost always gets you killed, and leaves your team short one player for the rest of the round.
Second, learn the basic camera spots on the most popular maps first, like Clubhouse, Oregon, and Bank. Knowing where the enemy is likely to place cameras lets you destroy them early, so the other team can't track your movements. Third, practice using your operator's unique ability in training grounds before you use it in multiplayer, so you don't waste it or use it on the wrong thing during a round. For example, if you're playing Bandit, practice tricking hard breachers in training so you can stop Thermite from opening up a wall on site during a real match. You don't need to memorize every operator's ability right away, but learning 2 or 3 attackers and 2 or 3 defenders really well will make you a much more valuable teammate.
At the end of the day, Rainbow Six Siege multiplayer is all about having fun and working with your team to pull off cool tactical plays. Once you get the hang of how to play multiplayer in rainbow six siege, you'll be able to jump into any mode, from casual quick matches to high-stakes ranked lobbies, with confidence. Take it slow, ask for tips when you need them, and don't get discouraged if you lose your first few matches – even the best pro players started out where you are now.
