Ubisoft’s latestfree-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.
XDefianthas 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 beenfeatured in popular titles likeGhost ReconandFar Cry. But which faction should gamers play as exactly?
Updated on June 11, 2025, 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.
All Factions In XDefiant Explained
There are currently a total of6 different factions availableforXDefiant,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 canchoose between one of two Active abilitiesto 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 earnedthrough gaining eliminations, capturing and holding objectives, or simply playing the game.
Cleaners
TheCleanersare Pyro Technicians with a great love of fire, acting as the primary choice among the factions inXDefiant. Similar to their counterparts inThe 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 Cleaners serve asXDefiant’sprimary DPS class, excelling at quickly dealing significant damage. They’re also effective at flushing out enemies from objectives or choke points, along withproviding 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
ThePhantomsare 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:
The Phantom faction essentiallyfulfills the tank role forXDefiant’smultiplayer, 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
TheLibertad factionis 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;
The Libertad faction essentiallyfulfills the medic classforXDefiant,but is not completely defenseless. Running the Libertad faction provides ample abilities to quickly regain any lost health, thus proving remarkablyeffective for aggressive playerslooking to garner a lot of kills.
Echelon
Serving as the Super Spies forXDefiant’sroster of characters,Echelonmajors in both stealthand gathering intel. For players who decide to choose this particular faction, here are the abilities you will be granted access to:
Echelon essentially goes all out inboosting a player’s stealth, while also providing the means to track down enemies without the need to use audio or visual cues. This faction isperfect for players who like to run and gun, and is great when paired with full-auto weapons like Submachine Guns and Assault Rifles.
DedSec
DedSecis one of two Faction’s players will need to earn inXDefiant.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:
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.
GSK
GSKsaw its debut forSeason 1 ofXDefiant, and is currently the second earnable faction in the game. Players can unlock GSK either through purchase with1,000 XCoinsor via earning700,000 XP. Players that run with the GSK Faction will be granted the following abilities:
GSK specializes in area-of-denial,cutting off key flank routes, or fortifying objectiveswith 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-neededbuff to counter headshots from the enemy team.
