R6Guide

Defender/Anti-Entry · Trapper

BestSmokeLoadout · Rainbow Six Siege

Expert recommendations and community choices for the current patch.

Read Smoke's round plan and practice guide

Y11S3Last reviewed 2 Sep 20260 community votes

Recommended loadout

Y11S3
  • Expert recommended

M590A1 + SMG-11

Iron Sights · No Barrel · Laser: equipped

Deployable Shield

Vote on this loadout

Primary weapon

Attachments · M590A1

Secondary weapon

Secondary attachments · SMG-11

Gadget

  • Barbed WireNo votesSlows and announces attackers moving through a choke point.
  • Proximity AlarmNo votesPassive intel on a flank you cannot watch yourself.
  • Deployable ShieldNo votesExpert pickCreates cover for an anchor angle or blocks a common run-out path.

M590A1 with Iron Sights and laser for close-range denial, SMG-11 with Holo A, Flash Hider, Vertical Grip and laser as a full backup, and Deployable Shield as the default utility.

Why it works

Smoke's decisive fights happen inside the site, usually after his gadget has already committed the attackers to a bad position, so the M590A1's raw stopping power at close range matters more than reach. The laser speeds up aiming down sights for those close trades. The SMG-11 is the real second weapon here: Flash Hider keeps its vertical climb controlled, and Holo A and the laser keep target acquisition fast.

Who it is best for

Players anchoring site and playing for the post-plant.

Attachment roles: the laser aids aiming speed, the angled grip aids reload speed, and the horizontal grip aids movement speed. Ubisoft attachment rework. Check available options in game.

Put Smoke's loadout into practice

Deny a committed attacker route while keeping yourself alive to use the remaining gas. Choose a throw position with cover and a view of the contested area. Gas used to interrupt a real push is more useful than gas spent because the round has reached a familiar time.

Weapon and utility choices

The M590A1 with the SMG-11 divides site preparation and close fights from controlled automatic bursts. The FMG-9 provides an automatic primary if that division is uncomfortable. Practise a short SMG-11 burst followed by returning to cover before adopting the shotgun pairing. Your secondary gadget should support the chosen hold or warn of its blind side.

A round plan

Finish essential preparation, identify the intended gas landing area, and agree who watches your position while you deploy. Use current information to judge whether attackers are committing. Return to your weapon after deployment so the team can contest a different route if the attack changes.

A mistake to avoid

Saving every canister for a perfect final moment while the team loses the position needed to use them. Preserve utility, but spend it when holding the route now is what keeps the defense playable.

Try this with a teammate

Practise a throw from cover and check its landing from the attacker's side. Then have a teammate vary the approach timing. Decide whether gas is needed or whether simply holding the angle answers the threat.

R6Guide tactical guidance. These practice routines are suggestions, not measured match results. Ubisoft operator reference.

How to test an attachment change

Not sure what to change? Compare attachments with a repeatable practice routine.

Other defenders who fill an overlapping role.

Viewing Y11S3. Showing all community votes for this patch.