All XDefiant factions and their abilities listed, updated for Season 1

Every faction and their abilities

There are six factions in XDefiant. Each of them has unique roles, with abilities that help them fulfil these roles on the battlefield. You can switch between them mid-match so don’t hesitate to experiment. Weapons aren’t restricted to any faction outside of the special ultimate ones like the Purifier flame-thrower. Factions have three agents to pick from, although all with identical abilities. Here are the playstyles they slot into:

Libertad

This faction of revolutionaries from Far Cry 6’s Caribbean island of Yara focuses on healing skills. In addition to direct heals, they also have a neat passive that grants them health generation. Having at least one Libertad member on your team will greatly increase your odds of survival. If you want to support your team on their killing sprees, pick the Libertad’s freedom fighters. Their abilities are:

• El Remédio: Launch a revitalizing gas canister that heals friendlies until destroyed or canceled.
• BioVida Boost: A fortifying wave boosts total health and regen for you and nearby allies.
• Espíritu de Libertad: The contagious spirit of freedom slowly heals you and nearby allies. This is a passive ability.
• Médico Supremo: The Médico backpack provides a large healing boost for a short period of time. This is the Libertad’s ultimate ability.

Phantoms

These ex-Ghost Recon members have defensive skills and futuristic weapons. Expect the Phantoms from Ghost Recon Phantoms to excel at denying objectives from foes and protecting allies. The Aegis ultimate in particular is great at drawing away enemy fire. Here are the abilities you can take advantage of:

• Mag Barrier: An electromagnetic barrier blocks incoming enemy fire and grenades.
• Blitz Shield: Equip a tactical shield to protect yourself from enemy fire. Press the Melee button for a shield bash.
• Hardened: Health increased as a result of tailored gene therapies. This is a passive trait.
• Aegis: A spherical plasma shield combined with an electro-scattergun for close-quarters combat. Phantoms can unleash this ultimate ability to surprise opponents.

Echelon

These Splinter Cell spies focus on stealth and misdirection. Echelon members won’t pop up on enemy minimaps and can give allies intel on enemy positions. These perks are pretty useful in the Splinter Cell-inspired map where you can sneak through closed spaces and tight corridors. Here are their abilities:

• Digital Ghillie Suit: Renders the agent nearly invisible. Movement and aiming reduce the effect.
• Intel Suit: Shares the location of nearby enemies with your team.
• Low Profile: Agent does not appear on enemy minimaps. This is a passive effect.
• Sonar Goggles: Reveal enemies and hunt them down with the classic Third Echelon 5.7 pistol. It’s a lethal ultimate ability that will force enemies to go on the defensive.

Cleaners

These sanitation experts from The Division focus on fire-based attacks. With enhanced bullets that deal bonus fire damage and a heavy-duty flamethrower ultimate, pick the Cleaners if you want to step up your boom across multiple game modes. Finishing a player off with burn damage is great as long as you’re not on the receiving end of the damage. Check out the pyro technicians’ abilities:

• Firebomb: Detonate a Molotov cocktail, causing explosive damage and igniting the area.
• Incinerator Drone: A napalm-delivering drone burns everything in its flight path.
• Incendiary Rounds: Incendiary ammo inflicts extra burn damage but decreases weapon range.
• Purifier: A flamethrower ensures enemies are thoroughly sterilized. It packs quite a punch as the Cleaners’ ultimate.

DedSec

This Watch Dogs faction focuses on hacking and deploying drones in combat. DedSec members can mess with enemy HUDs, hack their abilities, and stun them with the SpiderBot. During the play session, I particularly enjoyed using the SpiderBot to surprise enemies. Here are their abilities:

• Hijack: Hack enemy-deployed abilities and make them your own.
• SpiderBot: Deploy a Spiderbot that will target and stun the nearest foe via face hug.
• Fabricator: After a device is deployed, the Fabricator prints a new one. This is a passive ability.
• Lockout: Disable the enemies’ HUD, minimap, and abilities in the affected area. This ultimate ability affects a large area.

GSK

Added in Season 1 of XDefiant, the GSK faction represents the members of Team Rainbow of Rainbow Six Siege fame. They focus on defence and survivability, yet their methods differ from the Phantoms. GSK specializes in area denial and their abilities will come in handy when you need to hold a perimeter at any cost. Here’s what these counter-terrorist operatives are working with:

• Active Defense System: Set up a gadget that will shoot down enemy throwables within its operational area.
• Shock Wire: Set up an area which will shock any enemies that cross the tripwire.
• Ballistic Helmet: Headshots on GSK operatives don’t apply the usual multiplier, dealing normal damage instead. This is their passive ability.
• G52-Tactical Shield: Deploy a protective barrier equipped with a front-mounted flashbang. This is the GSK team’s ultimate ability.

If more factions are made available when the full game releases, which we think will happen, we’ll be updating this article accordingly.