XDefiant is Ubisoft's entry into the free-to-play, first-person shooter space, providing players with fast-paced movement and powerful abilities. With a variety of Primary weapons such as Assault Rifles and Submachine Guns, it's only natural that players gravitate toward certain weapons over others. But what about Factions?
XDefiant currently features five unique Factions, each with different abilities at their disposal. While which Faction gamers decide to play as will largely come down to personal preference, some Factions are definitely more versatile than others. Here are all the Factions in XDefiant ranked!
XDefiant: Best ACR Loadouts
From early-game loadouts to the strongest long-range build using the best Assault Rifle in XDefiant, here are the best loadouts for the ACR 6.8.
5 DedSec
Expert Hackers That Can Disable Faction Abilities
DedSec Abilities:
Passive Trait | Activated Abilities | Ultra Ability |
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DedSec is currently the only unlockable Faction in XDefiant and is a decent option for players looking to counter a few niche abilities. For starters, Hijack can serve as the perfect counter to Phantoms, as hacking Mag Barriers effectively turns them against their users. DedSec's Ultra, Lockout, follows a similar pattern by locking enemies out of using their Ultra and Activated Abilities, which is great for disabling pesky abilities like the Firebomb or Intel Suit for a certain period.
When it comes to DedSec's Activated Abilities though, Hijack is rather limited to being situational, as players can only hack deployed abilities. Spiderbot, on the other hand, is slightly more versatile as it can scout out players on the battlefield and stun-lock them for an easy kill. The biggest redeemer for DedSec is their Fabricator Passive, which provides players access to more devices if they go on long streaks without dying. However, compared to other Factions, DedSec is arguably the least viable, as players cannot rely on their abilities too much to gain a competitive advantage.
4 Echelon
Intel Specialists & Masters At Stealth
Echelon Abilities:
Passive Trait | Activated Abilities | Ultra Ability |
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The Echelon Faction is a popular choice for players diving into modes like Domination and Occupy, as they can take full advantage of the Intel Suit when navigating more enclosed maps. The Intel Suit reveals players through walls, giving an edge when pushing objectives or scouting out players to kill in Hot Shot. However, it is less viable in Escort because larger maps don't necessarily synergize well with the Intel Suit's limited range.
Out of Echelon's two Activated Abilities, the Digital Ghillie Suit is the least useful as it is not very effective when moving or close to opponents. Low Profile is also one of the more situational passives available across all Factions, as its perk only lowers the player's profile to those who heavily rely on the minimap. Though Echelon's Ultra provides a nice benefit by revealing opponents through walls regardless of range, the 5.7 Pistol is heavily reliant on accuracy - which might put some players off.
XDefiant: Best Secondary Weapons, Ranked
From the M9 to the 93R, here is every secondary weapon in XDefiant, ranked!
3 Phantoms
Fortification Specialists With Increased Health
Phantoms Abilities:
Passive Trait | Activated Abilities | Ultra Ability |
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The Phantoms are easily the best Faction to use in modes like Zone Control and Escort due to their defensive abilities. While in other modes players are constantly moving, Escort and Zone Control put a great emphasis on targeting a specific objective, calling upon players to make use of abilities like the Mag Barrier. Speaking of the Mag Barrier, it can be a great tool in other modes when you need to quickly save yourself from incoming fire.
The Hardened Passive Trait also follows suit as one of the top perks of the Phantoms, as those 20 extra health points can help players win many gunfights if they are evenly matched, along with countering one-shot weapons like the M44. The Aegis Ultra is also great to deploy when players either need to make just a little more progress in Escort to complete the match, or for defending objectives with their team. The Blitz Shield, however, is pretty redundant and easy to counter with explosives, making it a near-useless ability.
2 Cleaners
Flame Lovers With A Proficiency In High Damage
Cleaners Abilities:
Passive Trait | Activated Abilities | Ultra Ability |
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The Cleaners are arguably one of the best Factions in the game due to their ability to deal a ton of damage with their abilities. The Incendiary Rounds, for example, is one of the most powerful Passive Traits available, boosting the damage output of all weapons, with the caveat of reducing damage range. This Passive is great for dealing with opponents who have bested players in a gunfight or for taking out fleeing targets, as the lasting burn damage can result in a kill if their health is low enough.
Speaking of high-damage abilities, the Fire Bomb is great for gaining instant kills up close and can eliminate multiple opponents at once who are grouped together on objectives. The Cleaners also boast one of the best offensive Ultras available, as the Purifier makes short work of opponents at close range and doesn't require much skill to use. Although the Incinerator Drone is the least viable part of the Cleaners' kit, the rest of their abilities provide aggressive players with the tools to farm kills quickly when paired with some of the best Assault Rifles in the game.
XDefiant: Best Settings For Better Performance
Having the best settings will boost your framerate and performance in XDefiant!
1 Libertad
Freedom Fighters With Healing Capabilities
Libertad Abilities:
Passive Trait | Activated Abilities | Ultra Ability |
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Finally, there is Libertad, the most versatile of the Factions in XDefiant. While Factions like the Cleaners mostly benefit themselves with their abilities, Libertad aids the team as a whole without forcing players to actively go out of their way to do so. The biggest aid Libertad brings to the team is their Passive Trait, which passively heals both the player and allies within the immediate vicinity. On an individual basis, this is great for disengaging from a fight to quickly regain health, but it also works well at saving other teammates from elimination.
Regarding Activated Abilities, each is similar in the fact that they heal players, but BioVida is more tailored for personal use, whereas El Remedio is more specific for healing teammates. Both are great for getting players and allies to tip-top condition, whilst also putting other Factions at a major disadvantage when considering how slowly they start regenerating their health. But that's not all, as Libertad's Ultra essentially works as an improved version of Phantom's passive, bestowing players with 200 health when in its area of effect. This is perfect for players looking to hold their ground on an objective or quickly provide a health buff while peeking key chokepoints.
XDefiant
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- May 21, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft San Francisco
- Genre(s)
- FPS
