The ultimate Valorant rifle guide: The best use for each weapon
Almost every Valorant weapon has a purpose. This means that none of them are strictly bad. Players just have to find the proper use for each one, or figure out which weapon matches their personal preferences.
Rifles are one of the most popular weapon categories in Valorant. These are a bit more costly, but also more powerful than some of the other options. With the right mechanical prowess, most rifles can kill an enemy with a headshot from a safe distance. But each rifle has its own strengths and weaknesses, depending on certain scenarios and styles.
Which Valorant rifle is best?
Bulldog
The Bulldog is the cheapest of all rifle options at 2,100 creds. This makes the Bulldog the best rifle pick when players don’t have enough for the other rifles that round.
This weapon is automatic, but turns into a burst rifle when agents aim down its sight. It has a pretty good fire rate and its magazine holds 24 bullets. While it can definitely hold its own in a fight, the Bulldog does less damage than other rifles. To eliminate another agent, players will have to hit them twice in the head, or score five hits to the body or legs.
Players low on creds but with an abundance of mechanical skills will be able to properly utilize this rifle just as successfully as other weapons. It’s an accurate weapon with reduced recoil and spread when aiming down sight.
Guardian
The Guardian is 2,700 creds, making it the second-cheapest rifle in Valorant. This is a weapon for players capable of a bit more accuracy. Players confident in their aim will excel with this powerful weapon, which does more damage than all the other options. Firing at 6.5 rounds per second, the Guardian can get one hit KOs with headshots at any range, as well as four to the legs or three to the body.
This weapon is the only semi-automatic rifle in the game. This means it only fires once every time players click. This isn’t a problem for players with mechanical confidence, especially because it also has a 1.5x zoom. Fast and powerful, the Guardian is a great option for accurate sharpshooters looking for a punch.
Vandal
This rifle is often considered the best rifle weapon for the majority of Valorant players. At 2,900 creds, it has high damage per bullet and very little falloff damage at range. It’s pricey, but also powerful. This weapon will always kill in one shot to the head, five to the legs, and four to the body. Distance doesn’t matter.
This fully-automatic weapon can do a lot of damage, even from afar, but it has a higher spread and recoil than other rifles. It’s also has a slower rate of fire. This weapon is best utilized by players with sharp accuracy. Since it’s slower, fighting other agents can go wrong if players can’t land most every shot.
Phantom
The Phantom is also 2,900 creds, making it comparable to the Vandal. But instead of long-range damage, the Phantom is better for short-range accuracy. It falls off at long distances, but players will find a lot of success when rushing a site with the Phantom or when peeking around tight corners and hallways.
The Phantom has a decreased recoil and spread, meaning it’s more accurate than other rifles. Up close, the Phantom also does impressive damage, making it great for ambushes. It can eliminate another agent in one shot to the head. At longer ranges, it will take two shots to the head, six to the legs, or five to the body.
Valorant is continuing to pick up steam among FPS fans. Through the use of this and other Valorant guides, you can ensure that you’re at the head of the pack among your playing peers.
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
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