Ubisoft's latest free-to-play first-person shooter, XDefiant, is here, allowing players all around the globe to dive in and try it out for themselves. Though the game has a wide variety of features present in other shooters, there is still much to learn. Such is the case for the game's different factions.
XDefiant has a roster of unique factions that each provide various playable characters. Though each faction offers a nice cosmetic change, they also directly impact the faction abilities players have on hand to use. Some players who are fans of Ubisoft's previous projects may also recognize many of these faction members, for they have been featured in popular titles like Ghost Recon and Far Cry. But which faction should gamers play as exactly?
Updated on July 2, 2024, by Nathan Round: Season 1 for XDefiant has brought an additional faction into the game, one that was featured in Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege. This guide has been updated to detail everything there is to know about the GSK Faction, from their abilities to the scenarios the faction performs best.
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All Factions In XDefiant Explained
There are currently a total of 6 different factions available for XDefiant, with 4 being accessible right from the get-go. Each faction has its own unique Ultra, Active, and Passive abilities, each of which varies in usefulness depending on the situation. When choosing their faction at the start or throughout their match, players can choose between one of two Active abilities to make use of. These abilities can be used on the fly and will go into a short cooldown following each use. Ultra abilities, on the other hand, will need to be earned through gaining eliminations, capturing and holding objectives, or simply playing the game.
Cleaners
The Cleaners are Pyro Technicians with a great love of fire, acting as the primary choice among the factions in XDefiant. Similar to their counterparts in The Division, players aligned with the Cleaners can set the battlefield ablaze with a variety of abilities. Those who opt for the Cleaners will gain access to the following abilities:
- The Purifier (Ultra) - A handy Flamethrower that can be deployed for a limited time, capable of inflicting massive burn damage at short range. Its range is limited, requiring players to get up close and personal.
- Incinerator Drone (Activated Ability) - Deploys a drone that creates a path of napalm in its deployed direction before exploding. It's an effective way to cut off key flank routes for objectives.
- Firebomb (Activated Ability) - Detonates a Molotov Cocktail, causing explosive damage and igniting the surrounding area. It's an excellent area denial ability, useful for dealing with multiple enemies or swiftly dispatching a single enemy who gets too close.
- Incendiary Rounds (Passive Trait) - All weapons inflict burn damage at the expense of reduced range. Weapons like Assault Rifles, Marksman Rifles, LMGs, and Sniper Rifles are great to pair with this Passive, as they mitigate the reduction in range, along with dealing increased damage.
The Cleaners serve as XDefiant's primary DPS class, excelling at quickly dealing significant damage. They're also effective at flushing out enemies from objectives or choke points, along with providing excellent crowd control abilities like Firebomb and The Purifier. For players keen on an aggressive playstyle, the Cleaners are the perfect faction to go with. However, it's important to note that choosing this faction will limit your potential range, making Marksman Rifles and Assault Rifles the ideal weapons of choice.
Phantoms
The Phantoms are future soldiers of the Shadow Team, wielding a plethora of different abilities tailored towards reducing incoming damage and improving the player's longevity. Players who opt for the Phantoms will gain access to the following abilities:
- Aegis (Ultra) - Creates a bubble shield around the player when activated, along with a Scatter Gun. Provides players with the means to deal massive damage up-close along with blocking incoming damage, perfect for pushing objectives or keeping both you and your team protected.
- Mag Barrier (Activated Ability) - Creates a shield wall in the direction it is deployed. Blocks incoming damage but allows the player to shoot through it. This ability is perfect for setting up defense within objectives, along with providing an extra layer of protection when holding key chokepoints.
- Blitz Shield (Activated Ability) - Deploys a tactical shield capable of deflecting incoming damage. Weapons are stowed when the shield is active. However, players can perform a Shield Bash with the melee input action, providing an alternative means to inflict damage.
- Hardened (Passive Trait) - Provides an additional 20% health, boosting the player's overall health to 120. It can come in clutch during 1v1 gunfights when both players are on even playing fields.
The Phantom faction essentially fulfills the tank role for XDefiant's multiplayer, majoring in providing cover for the team along with additional health to fall back on when players are severely damaged. If you are looking for a class that likes to play more on the defensive, without outright dealing damage with abilities, then the Phantom faction is the one to go with.
Libertad
The Libertad faction is filled with honorary freedom fighters, boasting unique abilities that focus mostly on patching up both themselves and fellow teammates. Players who choose to run with Libertad will be able to use the following abilities;
- Medico Supremo (Ultra) - Deploys a medical backpack that provides a healing aura within a small radius. It boosts the player's health to 200 points, along with providing rapid healing abilities for a short period.
- BioVida Boost (Activated Ability) - Consume a healing item capable of regenerating the player's and surrounding teammate's health. Perfect for quickly healing either before or following an intense gunfight.
- El Remedio (Activated Ability) - Throw down a gas canister that provides a healing aura within a small radius. Quickly regenerates lost health for both the player and fellow teammates, making it a great item to use when pushing as a team or when defending an objective.
- Espiritu De Liberated (Passive Trait) - Allows both players and surrounding teammates to start regenerating their health much sooner. Works great for disengaging gunfights and healing, before engaging again when an enemy may be vulnerable.
The Libertad faction essentially fulfills the medic class for XDefiant, but is not completely defenseless. Running the Libertad faction provides ample abilities to quickly regain any lost health, thus proving remarkably effective for aggressive players looking to garner a lot of kills.
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Echelon
Serving as the Super Spies for XDefiant's roster of characters, Echelon majors in both stealth and gathering intel. For players who decide to choose this particular faction, here are the abilities you will be granted access to:
- Sonar Goggles (Ultra) - This bestows the player with a powerful 5.7 Pistol, along with revealing all opponents for a short period of time. Essentially, it acts as built-in wallhacks, allowing you to keep track of any opponents on the battlefield.
- Digital Ghillie Suit (Activated Ability) - A cloaking device that renders the player almost invisible. Aims to lower a player's profile to sneak up on unsuspected victims, or to move through the battlefield unseen. The usefulness of this ability is rather limited and is less effective whilst moving.
- Intel Suit (Activated Ability) - Unleashes periodic radar pings that reveal nearby enemies. Acts as partial wallhacks, providing players with the means to track nearby opponents through walls. Though powerful, players will need to be near their opponents to reveal them.
- Low Profile (Passive Trait) - Become immune to being revealed on the minimap. Provides players with the means to lower their profile, and synergizes well with the use of suppressors. This does not make you immune to an enemy's Sonar Goggles or Intel Suit, however.
Echelon essentially goes all out in boosting a player's stealth, while also providing the means to track down enemies without the need to use audio or visual cues. This faction is perfect for players who like to run and gun, and is great when paired with full-auto weapons like Submachine Guns and Assault Rifles.
DedSec
DedSec is one of two Faction's players will need to earn in XDefiant. Players can acquire this faction by earning 700,000 XP in total, or through the purchase of 1,000 XCoins. Players who decide to run with DedSec will gain access to the following abilities:
- Lockout (Ultra) - Disables the opponent's ability to utilize their Ultra and Active Abilities once deployed. Only enemies within the immediate vicinity are affected. Works well in countering many other faction's powerful abilities.
- Hijack (Activated Ability) - Allows players to hack opponent's abilities and make them their own. Only works on deployed abilities such as El Remedio and Mag Barrier.
- Spiderbot (Activated Ability) - Deploys a Spiderbot that will target nearby enemies and stun them. Great for neutralizing opponents and providing an opening for an easy kill. It can be destroyed by enemies or swatted away with a perfectly timed melee.
- Fabricator (Passive) - Allows players to replenish their devices every 12 seconds, great for players looking to continue to use frag grenades and other forms of lethal equipment without dying.
DedSec is essentially the best faction for players looking to stunlock enemies and turn their abilities against them. Unlike the Echelon and Phantoms factions, DedSec is rather versatile and can suit a multitude of different playstyles. If you are looking to go all out on disabling enemy Ultra and Active Abilities, then this faction may be the one for you.
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GSK
GSK saw its debut for Season 1 of XDefiant, and is currently the second earnable faction in the game. Players can unlock GSK either through purchase with 1,000 XCoins or via earning 700,000 XP. Players that run with the GSK Faction will be granted the following abilities:
- Flash Shield (Ultra) - Deploys an LED studded shield. Capable of blinding enemy players for a short duration and providing protection from enemy fire. Players can also make use of their Secondary while the ability is active, allowing players to return fire after blinding their opponents.
- Shock Wire (Activated Ability) - Deploy up to three Shock Wire traps at any time. Players who find themselves caught in this trap will take damage, along with having their movement speed slowed. Shock Wire can be destroyed via a melee or with explosives.
- ADS (Activated Ability) - Deploy an Active Defense System that is capable of destroying incoming enemy gadgets. Serves as a great way to fortify objectives and counter grenade spamming. This device can be thrown onto any surface but is susceptible to being hacked by DedSec's Hijack ability.
- Hard Hat (Passive Trait) - Provides all GSK Operators with a ballistic helmet, capable of reducing the damage taken from enemy headshots. Serves as a great way to counter one-shot headshots from Snipers and other powerful weapons.
GSK specializes in area-of-denial, cutting off key flank routes, or fortifying objectives with their powerful abilities. This makes them a great pick for players who regularly dive into objective-based game modes such as Zone Control, Domination, and Occupy. On top of fortifying areas, GSK is also great for players who simply want some added protection against Snipers, as they receive a much-needed buff to counter headshots from the enemy team.
XDefiant
- Released
- May 21, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft San Francisco
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- FPS
