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Mastering the Art of Countering Echo in Rainbow Six Siege

Echo, the Japanese defender known for his Yokai drones, can be a formidable opponent in Rainbow Six Siege. His ability to disorient attackers and provide intel makes him a popular and powerful pick. However, he’s far from invincible. Countering Echo effectively requires a combination of awareness, strategy, and the right operator choices. The most effective ways to counter Echo involve:

Destroying his Yokai drones: This eliminates his ability to stun and provide intel.
Disabling his drones: Rendering them temporarily useless disrupts his control.
Using operators with intel-gathering abilities: This helps you locate and avoid the drones.
Exploiting his weaknesses: Namely, his immobility while operating his drones and the drones’ limited range.
Coordinating with your team: Teamwork is crucial for identifying and eliminating Yokai threats.

Strategies and Operator Choices for Shutting Down Echo

Defeating Echo involves a multi-pronged approach. You need to address both the drones and the operator himself. Here’s a breakdown of strategies and specific operators that excel at countering him:

Eliminating the Yokai Drones

The most direct approach is to destroy Echo’s Yokai drones. These little buzzing menaces are his eyes and ears, and crippling them significantly reduces his effectiveness. Here’s how:

Frag Grenades: A well-placed grenade is a classic and effective way to clear out a Yokai drone. Pay attention to common drone hiding spots and cook your grenades appropriately to avoid giving Echo time to react.
Impact Grenades: Similar to frags, but quicker to deploy, making them useful in fast-paced situations.
Ash’s Breaching Rounds: Ash’s gadget is perfect for destroying Yokai drones from a distance. Since the Yokai is often placed on ceilings, it can be difficult to shoot effectively without exposing yourself, but Ash’s Breaching Rounds can destroy them without getting close.
Zofia’s Impact Grenades: Zofia’s concussion grenades can first disorient Echo, giving you an opportunity to destroy the drones.
Shooting the Drones: While often difficult due to their small size and cloaking ability, skilled players can shoot down Yokai drones with precise aiming. Listen for the distinct buzzing sound they emit to pinpoint their location. Keep in mind the Yokai now have lights that show only when NOT cloaked, use this to your advantage.

Disabling the Drones

Rather than destroying the drones outright, some operators can temporarily disable them, giving your team a window of opportunity to push:

Thatcher’s EMP Grenades: Thatcher’s EMPs are a fantastic counter to any electronics, including Yokai drones. A well-placed EMP will disable the drone, leaving Echo vulnerable. The range of the EMP is quite large, making it effective even when you don’t know the exact location of the Yokai.
Twitch’s Shock Drones: Twitch’s drones can target and disable Yokai drones from a safe distance. This forces Echo to reposition his drones, disrupting his plans and potentially exposing himself.
Kali’s LV Explosive Lance: Kali’s gadget can disable electronic devices from a distance, providing a similar function to Thatcher, although with a smaller area of effect.

Intel Gathering to Outsmart Echo

Information is power in Rainbow Six Siege. Operators with strong intel-gathering capabilities can help you anticipate Echo’s movements and locate his drones:

IQ’s Electronics Detector: IQ is a direct counter to Echo. Her gadget allows her to see the Yokai drones through walls, making them easy targets for herself or her teammates. She can also pinpoint Echo’s location if he’s actively using the drones. Remember that IQ can detect their presence with her Electronics Scanner.
Jackal’s Eyenox Model III: Jackal can track Echo’s footsteps, giving you valuable information about his location and movements. This can help you anticipate his rotations and catch him off guard.
Lion’s EE-One-D: Although easily countered by remaining still, Lion’s scan can reveal Echo’s position if he’s moving while controlling his drones or repositioning himself.
Dokkeabi Logic Bomb: Since Echo can now be called by Dokkaebi, this can be an effective way of disorienting him and forcing him to reposition. Dokkeabi’s logic bomb will force Echo to turn off his phone, and if he is killed, access to the Yokai cameras is also granted for Attackers.

Exploiting Echo’s Weaknesses

Every operator has weaknesses that can be exploited. Here are some of Echo’s:

Immobility: While controlling his Yokai drones, Echo is vulnerable and immobile. Coordinate with your team to push when you know he’s distracted with his drones.
Limited Range: The Yokai drones have a limited range. If you can push beyond that range, you can deny Echo valuable intel and prevent him from using his stun ability.
Vulnerability to Flanks: Echo often positions himself in relatively safe locations to control his drones. However, this can make him vulnerable to flanks. Use operators like Nomad or Gridlock to cut off his escape routes.
Deafness: While not a gameplay mechanic, Echo’s lore indicates he is deaf. In a lore sense, this is his weakness.

Coordination is Key

No single operator or strategy guarantees victory against Echo. The key is to coordinate with your team. Communicate the location of the drones, call out when Echo is using his ability, and work together to eliminate the threats.

FAQs: Demystifying Echo Counters

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of how to effectively counter Echo in Rainbow Six Siege:

Can Echo’s Yokai drones be hacked by Dokkaebi? Yes, Echo can now be called by Dokkaebi. If Dokkaebi hacks defender phones, Echo will be forced to turn his off. When hacked, access to the Yokai cameras is also granted for Attackers. The Yokai drone lights will also change to reflect that it is hacked.
Does Mute’s jammer affect Yokai drones? No, Mute’s jammers do not affect Yokai drones. The drones are not affected by the jammer field.
How can I tell if a Yokai drone is cloaked? Yokai now has lights that show only when NOT cloaked,
What’s the best way to deal with a Yokai drone that’s concussing me? The best response is to find cover immediately. The concussing effect impairs your aim and movement, making you vulnerable. Communicate your situation to your team so they can provide support or eliminate the drone.
Is it better to destroy or disable a Yokai drone? It depends on the situation. Destroying a drone removes it permanently, while disabling it offers a temporary advantage. If you have the opportunity to destroy it safely, do so. If not, disabling it can create a window to push or reposition.
Does shooting Echo in the head instantly kill him? Yes, like all operators in Rainbow Six Siege, a headshot will result in an instant kill (unless the operator has Rook armor).
How can I counter Echo if I’m playing solo? Focus on using operators with strong intel-gathering abilities, like IQ or Jackal. Communicate with your team as much as possible, even if they aren’t actively communicating back.
What’s the best secondary weapon to use when countering Echo? Any reliable secondary weapon will do. Many players like to use machine pistols to assist in quickly taking down the Yokai drones.
Can Echo use his Yokai drone while downed? No, Echo cannot use his Yokai drones while downed.
How fast does Echo move with his 2 speed? Echo has 2 Health and 2 speed He has average mobility for a defender. It’s crucial to understand the speed tiers to anticipate enemy movements.
Is Echo a good operator for beginners? No, Echo is generally considered a more advanced operator due to the strategic thinking required to effectively use his Yokai drones.
Does Echo have any hard counters? IQ is the closest thing to a hard counter for Echo, due to her ability to easily detect Yokai drones.
What is Echo’s real name? Masaru Enatsu, is Echo’s real name.
Which map favors Echo’s playstyle? Maps with tight corridors and multiple objective sites, such as Clubhouse and Bank, often favor Echo’s playstyle.
Where can I learn more about game strategies and competitive play?

For more insights into game strategies and competitive play, be sure to explore resources like the Games Learning Society, at GamesLearningSociety.org.

How to counter Echo r6?