The King of Destruction: Rainbow Six Siege Flores Breakdown

Flores is an attacker built around one job: removing defender utility from a safe distance. He does it with the RCE-RATERO, an explosive drone that you drive like a normal drone, then lock in place and detonate.

This Rainbow Six Siege Flores Breakdown covers who he is, what he carries, how his gadget works, what it destroys, and what stops it.

Who Flores is

Santiago “Flores” Lucero is an attacking operator introduced in the Crimson Heist expansion. He’s described as a medium health attacker with an explosive drone gadget called the RCE-RATERO.

He also has a simple personal rule about how he shows up to work:

“Even thieves wear uniforms. There's no excuse to look unprofessional.”

Flores’ biography

Lucero grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His father was a political activist who died when Lucero was young. His mother’s health declined over time, and as a teenager he joined organized crime to help provide for them.

He later chose to change course by enrolling in the Colegio Militar de la Nación. After graduating and earning a military engineering degree, he then left public sector work because it did not fulfill him. He returned to burglary, but aimed his crimes at powerful criminals and gave money back to poor communities. Operating in the Flores district of Buenos Aires, he gained the name “the Man from Flores.”

In 2016, crime lords traced stolen money back to him and learned it was supporting the community and paying for his mother’s hospital bills. They killed his mother, and he fled. Eliza “Ash” Cohen met him in Buenos Aires while investigating smuggling rings and offered him asylum in the United States in exchange for evidence against local crime lords. He accepted and started a new life in Los Angeles.

He ran a food truck and continued heists for five years. During that time, he met and married his husband. In early 2021, Ash sent Castle and Goyo to recruit him into Rainbow. After one last observed heist in Los Angeles, Ash brought him to Greece and explained she wanted him to join Rainbow to monitor Kali and understand what she planned. Lucero agreed and began reviewing confidential documents and training with other operators.

He dug for months and found nothing substantial. After Osa joined Rainbow, Lucero questioned Ace and learned about Osa’s background and her role in Nighthaven technology. He reported to Ash and said he still had not found anything suspicious, while also expressing doubts about Ash’s judgment of Kali and the organization. He agreed to keep looking.

Psychological notes that matter in matches

Dr. Harishva “Harry” Pandey describes Flores as stubborn and perfectionist. He struggles to separate personal and professional life, cracks jokes to put people at ease, and can overanalyze small situations. The report links this to the retaliation that killed his mother.

Harry also notes Flores cares about social issues and giving back to impoverished communities. He bonds with others through technology and food, and in particular builds ties with Dokkaebi and Gridlock.

None of this changes the hard numbers in a round, but it fits the way Flores plays. He rewards patience and planning, and he punishes rushed gadget use.

Loadout: what he brings

Primary weapons

He can run the AR33 assault rifle or the SR-25 marksman rifle.

Secondary weapon

His listed sidearm is the GSH-18 handgun.

Secondary gadgets

He can bring Stun Grenades (x2) or a Claymore (x2).

RCE-RATERO Charge: how it works

The RCE-RATERO is an explosive drone that Flores remotely controls like a standard drone. It’s designed to drive into defender setups and remove utility without exposing Flores to angles.

What you start with each round

Flores starts with one regular drone in the prep phase and another during the action phase. He also gets four RCE-RATERO drones during the action phase.

Key facts

• The RCE-RATERO can jump like a normal drone, with a 3-second cooldown between jumps.

• It has a 10-second set timer.

• It moves forward automatically once you enter its feed, and it cannot reverse or stop in place.

• Pressing the gadget button triggers a bulletproof armor state, then it detonates within 3 seconds.

• When it enters the armored state, it attaches to the nearest wall or floor and then explodes.

• If you leave control before it arms, it keeps moving straight and arms automatically when the timer ends, and you cannot regain control after that.

Explosion behavior and damage

The explosion deals heavy damage to allies and enemies. The damage is described as similar to a Nitro Cell. The explosion radius is 3 meters.

Soft destruction

If the drone latches onto an unreinforced wall, it creates an Impact Grenade-sized hole when it detonates. It can also break open unreinforced hatches immediately.

One clear exception

The RCE-RATERO does not affect Mira’s Black Mirror.

What the RCE-RATERO can destroy

The drone’s big value is utility removal. Your provided notes list a wide set of defender gadgets it can destroy within its blast radius, and they also state it can destroy friendly gadgets too.

Examples from the provided list include deployable shields, barbed wire, bulletproof cameras, proximity alarms, Mute jammers, Castle panels, Kapkan devices, Jäger ADS, Bandit wires, Frost mats, Valkyrie cameras, Echo drones, Lesion mines, Ela mines, Maestro Evil Eyes, Alibi Prismas, Kaid Electroclaws, Mozzie pests and hacked drones (if not destroyed first), Goyo Volcán shields, Wamai Mag-NETs, and Melusi Banshees.

Anti-projectile interactions

Your notes also state the RCE-RATERO can safely destroy anti-projectile gadgets like Jäger ADS and Wamai Mag-NETs because they can’t intercept the drone.

Using Flores well: timing and control

Flores works best when you treat each drone like a planned action, not a scouting drone. You get value by targeting gadgets that block entry or slow executes.

Don’t fight the “no reverse” rule

The drone’s forward-only movement is the rule that gets players killed. If you drive into a bad lane, you can’t back out. Use short paths and easy turns so you don’t lock yourself into a dead end.

Arm it with intent

Once the drone shifts into the bulletproof shell, it anchors and detonates soon after. That shell is the reason Flores can remove key utility even under fire. Use the armored state when the drone is close enough to attach where you want the blast.

Expect collateral

The explosion destroys friendly gadgets too. Keep that in mind near planted attacker utility or friendly setup you still need.

Team value: how the gadget supports pushes

Flores is at his best when he clears the way for other roles. Your provided synergy notes call out specific uses.

Clearing denial for hard breach

The RCE-RATERO can destroy Bandit Shock Wires and Kaid Electroclaws. It can also prevent “Bandit Tricking” at the same time, which creates openings for Thermite, Hibana, and Ace to breach reinforced surfaces.

Removing disruptive gadgets

The notes also state it can remove gadgets that disrupt attackers, such as Maestro Evil Eyes and Melusi Banshees. This helps your team take space without burning extra utility.

Creating extra entry options

Because it can open soft walls and unreinforced hatches, the drone can create new routes when your team needs a second way in.

Counters and what stops the RCE-RATERO

Flores has clear counters, and the notes spell them out.

Mute Signal Jammers

Mute’s jammers can prevent the drone from working if it’s caught in the jammer radius. This also prevents it from entering the bulletproof armor state. If the jammer gets destroyed while the drone is in the radius, the drone will not resume its timer. It will enter its bulletproof state and explode shortly after.

Damage before it arms

Before it enters the bulletproof armor, defenders can destroy it with gunfire. It can also be destroyed by touching electrified objects from Bandit Shock Wires and Kaid Electroclaws. The notes also mention devices with lasers such as Maestro’s Evil Eyes and Aruni’s Surya Gates as threats while it is moving.

Explosives even after it arms

Even in the bulletproof armor state, explosive damage can destroy it. The notes list examples such as Impact Grenades, Nitro Cells, Frag Grenades, Breach Charges, Claymores, Ash breaching rounds, Fuze cluster charges, Zofia impact grenades, Kali LV lances, and some gadget explosions.

Twitch can pick it off

Once armored, the notes state Twitch Shock Drone darts can destroy it.

Mozzie and Vigil interactions

Mozzie’s pests can hack the RCE-RATERO while it is still moving. The notes say it will harmlessly destroy it rather than letting Mozzie control it because the detonation sequence is active. Vigil’s ERC renders him invisible to the RCE-RATERO.

Device design notes

The device description frames the core purpose: controlled explosives with less randomness.

“With a remote-controlled function, this device counter-balances the usual unpredictability of explosives in a, dare I say, refreshing way.”

The evaluation text credits Ash overseeing the process and mentions collaboration with Mira and Fuze. It states a new casing helps secure the device when armed to protect it from firearms, and it mentions a fast-acting adhesive that lodges the explosive in place. The evaluation also says the base function remains and the device is now more reliable.

Trivia that matches his identity

Flores is listed as the first confirmed instance of LGBTQ representation in-game. His call sign translates to “Flowers,” and it comes from the Flores district in Buenos Aires. He leaves a calling card with a lock symbol and a large red “F” after a heist. He enjoys cooking, including a dish called perico, and he is known for empanadas.

What to focus on when you practice Flores

Flores rewards clean execution. The gadget’s rules force you to plan a path, commit, and detonate with purpose. If you want to get consistent value, treat each RCE-RATERO as a trade: one drone for one key piece of defender utility that blocks the round.

If defenders start adapting with Mute placements, explosives, or early drone hunting, that’s a sign you’re doing your job. The next step is refining your drone routes and timing so you keep forcing them to spend resources on the drone instead of your teammates.

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