Although VALORANT is currently in closed beta testing, fans are already analyzing the wide range of weaponry available in the game. Players can carry a primary and secondary weapon in addition to their knife, so narrowing down choices is crucial in developing a distinct play-style. VALORANT has six weapon categories in total: sidearms, shotguns, SMGs, rifles, snipers, and heavies. Here is a full breakdown of the available arsenal!
Sidearms
There are five different sidearms available, each with their own situational uses. While they generally deal low damage, some have the capability to one-shot opponents.
ClassicThis is the standard sidearm that every player in the game starts with for free. As a result, it’s basic and weak, but at least it provides more range than a knife.
Sheriff – 800The most expensive sidearm, this revolver deals massive damage but is offset by its low ammo capacity and slow rate of fire. The Sheriff’s recoil may be a bit hard to control, but being able to kill with one headshot at almost any range/armor level makes up for it.
Ghost – 500This gun does impressive headshot damage and has a quick rate of fire. It also has a higher ammo capacity than any of the other pistols with its 15-round magazine. Unfortunately, it loses some of its accuracy as you fire thanks to the silencer. Still, one headshot to an unarmored foe will kill them.
Shorty – 200A classic double-barrel shotgun that can cause one-shot kills at close range, but is useless at distance. With only two shots before having to reload, you’d better hit your target. Interestingly, the Shorty is classified as a sidearm rather than a shotgun in VALORANT.
Frenzy – 400This automatic pistol has a high rate of fire and can be used to spray enemies in tight spaces. It deals low damage per shot, but the rapid-fire capability means you can empty the 12-round magazine in just over a second.
Shotguns
There are only two shotguns in VALORANT: Judge and Bucky. They are ideal for causing widespread damage in close-quarters, but lose their punch as the distance increases.
Judge – 1,500This automatic shotgun spews out pellets at a high rate and is ideal for locking down confined areas. Unlike The Bucky, it can penetrate walls, but it still has a relatively low range.
Bucky – 900The Bucky is a pump-action shotgun with a low rate of fire and a wide spread pattern. This shotgun has a slow reload time and cannot penetrate walls, but its alternate fire can one-shot unarmored opponents in the mid-range.
SMGs
SMGs provide a cheaper alternative to rifles. They have quick rates of fire and are good from close to medium range. VALORANT has two SMGs in its arsenal: Stinger and Spectre.
Stinger – 1000This budget gun deals low damage and has average accuracy. It also has a smallish 20-round magazine and relatively short range. The alternative firing mode features a 1.15x zoom mode and four-shot bursts. The Stinger is for players who are low on funds and needs something versatile and cheap.
Spectre – 1,600This SMG is ideal for stealthy players with its silencer. It deals decent damage, especially with headshots, and is fairly accurate at close range. Compared to the Stinger, it has a large ammo capacity with a 30-round magazine, but less wall penetration.
Snipers
Like it’s competitor, CS:GO, VALORANT only has two sniper rifles. Both options are perfect for long-range engagements but have very low rates of fire and small magazine sizes.
Marshal – 1,100This is the cheaper rifle of the two and packs less of a punch. Headshots are a one-shot kill, but if you miss it will give your enemy an easy chance to take you down. It can be hip-fired or using its 2.5x zoom scope.
Operator – 4,500This the most expensive gun in the game because it deals one-shot kills to enemies, aside from leg hits. The Operator can use both a 2.5x or 5x zoom level and has a five-round magazine. It isn’t the best for short-range skirmishes, but at long range, nothing can beat it.
Rifles
VALORANT has four rifles to choose from, the Bulldog, Guardian, Phantom, and Vandal. They are the most dominant type of gun used in the game due to their balance of accuracy, range, and rate of fire. All of the rifles have primary and alternative fire modes to help in different situations.
Guardian – 2,700This rifle only has a semi-automatic firing mode, but does solid damage. It has a better zoom than any of the other rifles with a 1.5x scope, yet only has a small 12 round magazine. It’s strong point is long-range shooting because there’s no drop-off in damage.
Bulldog – 2,100The Bulldog is the cheapest rifle in the game. It is automatic in its primary fire mode, and changes to four-round bursts in alternative fire. Although the weakest rifle, it is versatile and reliable.
Vandal – 2,900This is one of the most balanced guns in the game. It has good range and deals an impressive amount of damage. The Vandal is also quite accurate and has a large 30-round magazine and 1.25x zoom. It is easily one of the most popular guns in the game due to its all-around effectiveness and high one-shot potential.
Phantom – 2,900The Phantom has a faster fire rate than the Vandal and has less recoil. The drawback is that it has a shorter effective range with the damage dropping off at longer ranges. At the same price as the Vandal it is a great alternative for shorter ranges.
Heavies
The two heavy weapons in VALORANT are the Ares and the Odin. These machine guns have huge ammo capacity compared to the other guns in the game. They can be used for stopping aggressive teams with the sheer firepower they can unleash. The downside to these guns is that they require a brief spin-up time before they shoot at the maximum rate of fire.
Ares – 1,700The Ares has a large, 50-round magazine and is great at wall penetration. At its price point it can be a viable alternative to a rifle, although it causes slightly less damage. The rate of fire starts out at 10 rounds per second but increases to 13 rounds per second as you fire. It comes with a 1.25x scope for easier target acquisition.
Odin – 3,200This gun has a fast rate of fire coupled with an enormous 100-round magazine. Like the Ares, it also needs a moment to charge up starting off at 12 rounds a second and increasing to 15.6 rounds per second. This is the perfect weapon for defending a site and stopping enemies in their tracks.
This is the full list of the weapons that have been released so far for VALORANT. They may undergo some changes before the game is released, but for now players are already beginning to master the 17-gun arsenal.
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