Summary
The Cleaners are one of the original Factions inXDefiantand one of the easiest to get the hang of. They’re an underrated Faction by some; while not be the most well-rounded Faction there is, they are very capable in what they do.
The Cleaners are one of the mostdestructive Factions there is, with every single one of their abilities lighting enemies on fire one way or another. When put in the right situation, they are the best Faction for the job.
10Remember: You Deal The Highest Possible Damage
Cleaners Are Capable Of Incredible Damage
There’s no Faction in XDefiant more adept at dealing damage than the Cleaners. All of their abilities ignite something in one way or another, along with their passive, which ignites enemies with normal weapon fire (no pun intended).
Other Factions have a bit more specialized abilities or support abilities, but when it comes to putting the enemy down, nobody is better at it than a Cleaner. Even in situations where you lose, your enemy will be worse for wear than they would have been otherwise.
9Get Post-Mortem Kills With Incendiary Rounds
Easy Assists
Sometimes your Passive Ability is going to net you kills in fights you would have lost, even post-mortem. The Passive, Incendiary Rounds,ignites enemies with your bullets, dealing damage over time for a short period, even after you die.
This damage comes in at eight, which might not seem like a lot, but considering how many gunfights are decided by one bullet, thisPassive is actually going to make a big difference.
8Incendiary Rounds Delay Healing
Your Enemies Will Take Longer To Recover
Of an almost equally important note to the damage is the fact thatthe damage delays an enemy’s automatic healingbecause of the time it takes for the damage over time to finish. This forces an enemy to make a decision: whether to wait an extra couple of seconds to re-engage after they’ve healed or re-enter the fight at less than full health.
While this situation might still end with you dead, it will end with enemies dead more often than they would have been otherwise, too. You’ll net quite a few more assists, and the enemies will net quite a few more deaths.
7Deal With Stacks Of Enemies
Great For Occupy, Domination, And Escort
Cleaners are best suited for modes and situations where enemies have clustered together. Whether it’s with Domination,the Dog in Escort, or Occupy, multiple people do tend to cluster together in the same spot in these modes.
Regardless of whether you’re using the Drone or the Molotov,it provides a perfect opportunity to put all of them downwith a single ability use. It’s going to change the tide of the match fairly easily, and your teammates will thank you for it.
6Play High-Speed Molotovs
Play Fast To Get Your Molotovs Off
The best fit for a Cleaner using the Molotov Ability would bea weapon that’s very mobile and good for use at close-range. The Molotov isn’t an ability that you throw so much as it’s an ability you spike directly into the ground at your own feet, hurting every enemy in your vicinity.
to get in close like this,you’ll need good map knowledge, an idea of where the enemies have sight-lines held, and speed. Bringing something along like an SMG, or else running in with your pistol in your hand, is usually going to be your best bet.
5Play Mid-Range For Drone
Mid-Range Is The Right Range For Incinerator Drones
If you opt to use the Drone Ability instead of the Molotov Ability, you have more wiggle room when it comes to range. That being said,mid-range is usually going to be where the money is.
In mid-range, enemies don’t really have time to react to the Drone heading toward them, but they aren’t so close that getting the Drone off before you’re shot full of holes becomes a lot easier.Pair the Drone with anything good at the 15-45 meter range, and you’ll be set.
4Be Wary Of Your Counter Faction
One thing that throws a particular wrench into the gears for the Cleanersisthe Libertad Factionbecause of their Passive healing ability, more than anything. This Passive allows them to effectively and effortlessly heal off the DoT (damage over time) from your ignited bullets.
That’s not to say you can’t fight a Libertad as a Cleaner, but just be aware that it’s a fight you’ll have to finish fully before you move on to your next target, instead of relying on the fire to finish them off. On the bright side,when Libertad drops their El Remedio or Ultra, it makes for a great Molotov or Drone target.
3Flame Thrower When Surrounded
Your Flame Thrower Is Best For Groups
When you’re in a situation where you’re going to have multiple enemies in close-range, it’s a great time to pull out the Flame Thrower Ultra. This thing is utterly terrible for range,but inside it’s flame-zone, it’s absolutely brutal for enemies.
The central objective on Echelon HQ is a great example of a location that is ready-made for the flame thrower. Point it in the direction enemies are coming from, and they’ll either have to decide to burn, or wait.Either way, they aren’t getting the objective.
2The Flame Thrower Is Easy To Waste
Be Sure Before You Pull The Ultra Out
The Flame-Thrower Ultra is extremely easy to waste, unfortunately. It is, after all, a weapon that you have to be alive to use and not nearly as versatile as the pistol that comes with Echelon’s Ultra. You need to be in effective range to use this weapon; if you aren’t, you may as well be politely asking your opponent if they could take a seat.
But being in effective range for the Flame-Thrower means you have enemies in very close proximity.The Flame Thrower does take a second to pull out, and that second could be the difference between life and death. Make sure to whip out the Flame Thrower just before you need it. That way, it’s ready to go when you have someone in your sights.
1You Are A Phantom’s Worst Nightmare
You’ll Keep Phantoms Up At Night
Cleaners are the bane of Phantoms. The Phantoms rely on blocking damage, either with their Shield Wall, their Tactical Shield, or their Bubble Shield. All of these abilities can be negated by the Cleaner’s fire AoE attacks.
Have a Tactical Shield rushing you? Spike a Molotov at your feet. Is Shield Wall somewhere ahead? Enemies have probably grouped behind it, making it a prime target. Bubble Shield? Let’s see who’s the quicker draw when you rush inside, their weapon or your Molotov.
