win.gg
Win.gg Valorant Vandal or Phantom? Valorant agent Viper has a preference

Vandal or Phantom? Valorant agent Viper has a preference

Fariha Bhatti
Fariha Bhatti Published 14/02/2022

The infamous Vandal vs. Phantom debate may have died down for a bit, but Viper’s Valorant takeover has reignited it yet again. 

A whole year after the game’s release, players still can’t seem to find common ground for primary rifles. Valorant’s arsenal features two rifles, and both have their own fanbase. A new official poll proves that despite a well-developed meta, players are still torn between the two weapons. 

Riot Games has started an agent series, which provides a better look inside animated characters’ lives. Most recently, Viper took over the Valorant Twitter, piquing player interest. But, a particular twist in the story has torched a new argument. 

https://twitter.com/PlayVALORANT/status/1492945182760718336

In Viper’s story, the players are her assistant who must make the right choices to impress their new boss. The players managed to make all the correct choices, but one poll has caused a bit of discord. Fans failed to come to common ground when asked to pick Viper’s weapon. Almost exactly 50% of players chose the Vandal for her. The other half went for the Phantom, starting the same old argument anew. 

Thankfully, Viper seems to have a clear preference. After a whole day of back and forth, the Phantom came out as the better pick for the controller by a small margin. While the difference is almost negligible, players finally get a solid answer after an official poll. 

While the Vandal may be the more accurate weapon, it makes sense why the Phantom wins for an agent like Viper. Controller players often find themselves in close-range battles, which forces them to spray down. The Phantom is comparatively better at spraying with its higher rate of fire, making it the best pick for Viper. Moreover, it’s easier to finish off enemies wounded by poison using the Phantom’s fire rate. 

Which is better, the Phantom or Vandal?

The official Valorant poll has proven that there are more Phantom users, but it sure doesn’t prove that it’s a better weapon. Both the Vandal and Phantom are viable rifles based on the situation. 

For long-range duels on an agent like Sage, a one-tap cannon like the Vandal is preferable. However, an aggressive duelist like Jett may benefit from the Phantom since it does higher DPS in close-range battles. Whatever the case, both rifles are valuable, and there’s no way to resolve this argument. The weapon pick depends more on personal playstyle and the agent that is being played. 

Fariha Bhatti Fariha Bhatti
About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile
Read Also
Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE betting preview, odds, and best picks: VCT Pacific Stage 1 grand final predictions Valorant
Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE betting preview, odds, and best picks: VCT Pacific Stage 1 grand final predictions Owen Harsono FULL SENSE will take on Paper Rex for the VCT Pacific crown, as the two teams clash in the Pacific Stage 1 grand finals. The former made a clean run through the upper bracket, while the latter has been ramping up through the lower bracket. Here are our Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE VCT Pacific predictions. Tournament: VCT Pacific Stage 1 Stage: Grand Final Game: Valorant Format: Best of 5 ...
Valorant’s TenZ joins T1 as a content creator Valorant
Valorant’s TenZ joins T1 as a content creator Hannan Mundia After a long career with Sentinels, the former professional Valorant player TenZ joined T1 as a content creator. Riot Games’ FPS title Valorant has given rise to multiple names. However, few have earned the recognition and respect that Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo has. While he has retired from his career as a professional Valorant player, he continues to create content on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. While he’s most ...
Trainwreckstv’s Valorant ban has xQc and Riot Games quarrelling Valorant
Trainwreckstv’s Valorant ban has xQc and Riot Games quarrelling Hannan Mundia The popular Kick streamer Trainwreckstv has received a 30-day ban on Valorant for apparently boosting despite playing on his own account, sparking heated discourse in the community. The terms of service of online competitive games are usually shakily implemented. In particular, Riot Games is known for only occasionally giving players any punishment for actions such as boosting and smurfing. The primary exceptions to this matter are popular streamers who catch ...
Here are the real-life locations of every Valorant map Valorant
Here are the real-life locations of every Valorant map Owen Harsono Have you ever wondered why some Valorant maps feel familiar? That’s because they actually take place in real-life locations. That’s right, your favorite maps are based on real cities in our world. However, there’s also a little twist which we’ll go over. Below, we take a look at all Valorant map locations and what they’re inspired by. Before we dive into the list, there’s something you should know about Valorant’s ...
This is how to change your name and Riot ID in Valorant News
This is how to change your name and Riot ID in Valorant Owen Harsono Are you bored of your Valorant name and want to switch things up? Fortunately, Riot Games makes it very easy to change your name in Valorant. In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about how to change your Valorant name. A Riot ID is pretty much the same thing as your Valorant name. Riot IDs feature a combination of your in-game display name, as well as ...
Here’s why Riot Games banned canezerra for 12 months Valorant
Here’s why Riot Games banned canezerra for 12 months Khizar Mundia Riot Games is known to punish players when they violate the terms of service or cheat, and Alex "canezerra" Banyasz is the latest to fall foul of the rules — he has been banned for one year. canezerra rose through the ranks in the Tier 2 Valorant circuit and gained fame in the Challengers circuit while playing for Envy, qualifying for the VCT Americas after winning Ascension in 2025. canezerra ...
Best Valorant Streamers in 2026 Valorant
Best Valorant Streamers in 2026 Owen Harsono Sometimes, playing Valorant can be a little stressful and exhausting. That’s why many Valorant fans prefer watching someone else play the game instead. If you’re looking to sit back and watch some entertaining gameplay, here are the top Valorant streamers in 2026. Mixwell is a name that’s been hovering around first-person shooter games for a while. He kickstarted his career in professional Counter-Strike, where he played for a handful of ...