Valorant weapon tier list – ranking the best guns for latest patch

Valorant weapon tier list

Best weapons in Valorant ranked

Here’s how we’ve picked out the best weapons in Valorant:

• S-Tier: The optimal picks for a round that will devastate your opponents.
• A-Tier: Solid options that are great in most circumstances.
• B-Tier: Effective guns that are pretty good in general.
• C-Tier: Situational guns that are outclassed by other weapons.
• D-Tier: Avoid these guns unless you know what you’re doing.

S-Tier – Operator

• Cost: 4700 credits
• Penetration: High
• Damage: 255/150/120 (head/body/limbs)
• Dropoff distance: NA
• Fire rate: 0.6
• Run speed: 5.13
• Reload Speed: 3.7
• Magazine: 5

The Operator is a massive and intimidating weapon to equip. You only have 5 bullets per magazine to get that opening kill so your team can play the number advantage. No other gun in the game promises this one-shot kill potential. Boasting 150 damage per body shot, this weapon is very effective when it comes to holding angles where an enemy is supposed to peek. Even a body shot with this gun can knock out an agent with full shields. Be careful though as holding an Operator tends to make you vulnerable when it comes to short distances. Playing agents like Jett or Chamber who can dash out and teleport after a shot is also recommended to give you that extra edge.

S-Tier – Vandal 

• Cost: 2900 credits
• Penetration: Medium
• Damage: 160/40/34 (head/body/limbs)
• Dropoff distance: NA
• Fire rate: 8.775-9.75
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 2.5
• Magazine: 25

The Vandal is one of the most used weapons in-game. It’s favored by players when it comes to one-tapping their enemies at a long range. Choosing between the Vandal or Phantom is mostly based on how you want to pick your fights. The Vandal has a smaller magazine of 25 bullets, compared to the Phantom’s 30-bullet magazine. It is also slower when it comes to fire rate as well but don’t let this stop you from choosing this deadly weapon. It offers a consistent damage output and can one-shot an enemy with a headshot at any range.

S-Tier – Phantom

• Cost: 2900 credits
• Penetration: Medium
• Damage: 156/140/124 or 39/35/31 or 33/29/26 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 15-30m
• Fire rate: 9.9-11
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 2.5
• Magazine: 30

The Phantom is best used when fighting multiple enemies at close to medium distances. It is easier to control than the aforementioned Vandal in terms of recoil. That’s why we often see players with clips of “spray transfer” using this weapon as it allows you to spray down multiple enemies at once. The Phantom is also our weapon of choice if you want a slightly larger magazine and a better fire rate. 

Another great feature of the Phantom is the silencer it is equipped with. The silencer ensures your bullets and positioning will be much harder to determine when firing inside vision blocker abilities such as smokes, Viper’s pit, and Cypher’s cages. One downside would be that its damage does fall off when used in long ranges, reducing your chance of one-shot kills.

S-Tier – Outlaw

• Cost: 2400 credits
• Penetration: High
• Damage: 238/140/119 (head/body/limbs)
• Dropoff distance: NA
• Fire rate: 2.75
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 2.3-3.8
• Magazine: 2

Valorant’s newest weapon took no time to climb our Valorant weapon tier list once it dropped in Episode 8. The Outlaw is a sniper rifle that is cheaper than most rifles but packs a deadly two-shot attack. It can eliminate any player with light shields in a single hit, making it great for eco rounds. While some pro players began to adopt the ‘light shield meta,’ the Outlaw appears to be Riot’s answer to that line of thinking. It’s a great pick for half-buys and is close to the Operator in terms of power at a fraction of the cost. This weapon is great on maps like Ascent and Lotus where open spaces can be contested with a sniper’s keen aim.

A-Tier – Spectre

• Cost: 1600 credits
• Penetration: Medium
• Damage: 78/66/60 or 26/22/20 or 22/18/17 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 20-50m
• Fire rate: 12-13.33
• Run speed: 5.73
• Reload Speed: 2.25
• Magazine: 30

The Spectre is your go-to gun when it comes to the round after pistols. It gets the job done, especially since you can literally run and gun using Spectre and get away with bursting headshots at short-medium distances. Buying this gun after a win on the pistol round is a great way to keep your team’s momentum going and secure rounds one after another. Although that’s not always the case, it’s still a gun advantage. At range, it falls short when compared to the high-cost automatic rifles such as the Phantom or Vandal.

A-Tier – Sheriff

• Cost: 800 credits
• Penetration: High
• Damage: 159/145 or 55/50 or 46/42 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 30m
• Fire rate: 4
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 2.25
• Magazine: 6

The Sheriff is the most pricey sidearm in Valorant for a reason. If you are a highly skilled player with good aim, this pistol is made for you. Its headshots deal a whopping 159 headshot damage at short-medium distances, making it deadly even for enemies with full armor. The Sheriff has also a high wall penetration so you can knock out enemies even before they peek. It’s similar to the Operator’s mode of one-shot combat so pair the Sheriff with a gun that has a high rate of fire. But its high cost means that you shouldn’t get this during pistol rounds as it holds you back from getting utilities.

A-Tier – Guardian

• Cost: 2250 credits
• Penetration: High
• Damage: 195/65/48 (head/body/limbs)
• Dropoff distance: NA
• Fire rate: 5.25
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 2.5
• Magazine: 12

The Guardian sits below the Phantom and Vandal in terms of combat prowess. It doesn’t have a powerful scope but the semi-automatic rifle can still deal lethal headshots. It’s great for checking smokes thanks to how much damage it can deal. Its low fire rate can’t contest with most rifles so make every shot count. While it can knock out a light-armored player in two shots, most players prefer the new Outlaw to this rifle.

A-Tier – Marshal

• Cost: 950 credits
• Penetration: Medium
• Damage: 202/101/85 (head/body/limbs)
• Dropoff distance: NA
• Fire rate: 1.2-1.5
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 2.5
• Magazine: 5

The Marshal is favored by players right after winning a pistol round thanks to its low cost. A single body shot can kill an unarmored opponent, making it a solid pick early on. Its hip-fire accuracy is also decent for a sniper rifle, letting you peek at corners during the first couple of rounds. You’ll still be a sitting duck if a player with an automatic rifle catches you off-guard. Pair it with the best crosshair codes in Valorant to gain an edge against most opponents.

B-Tier – Bulldog

• Cost: 2050 credits
• Penetration: Medium
• Damage: 115/35/29 (head/body/limbs)
• Dropoff distance: NA
• Fire rate: 6.3-10
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 2.5
• Magazine: 24

The Bulldog sits squarely below the Phantom and Vandal. With a decent fire rate and a neat burst mode, you can potentially knock a player out if you land a headshot and body shot. And thanks to its scope, you can take out foes who pick the Stinger or Spectre SMGs. It’s a decent pick but the Bulldog can’t compete with premium weapons.

B-Tier – Odin

• Cost: 3200 credits
• Penetration: High
• Damage: 95/77 or 38/31 or 32/26 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 30m
• Fire rate: 12-15.6
• Run speed: 5.13
• Reload Speed: 5
• Magazine: 100

Odin is a highly suppressive machine gun in Valorant. It has a large magazine capacity and high wall penetration, which is catastrophic when paired with initiator agents such as Fade and Sova. This is mostly done in Ascent where we often see players fall victim to this tactic. Odin is also great for holding sites after planting the spike. But it doesn’t hold a candle to a Vandal or Phantom player at medium ranges. You’re also vulnerable against sniper fire unless you’re taking precautions to flank your foes.

B-Tier – Stinger

• Cost: 950 credits
• Penetration: Low
• Damage: 67/57 or 27/23 or 22/19 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 20m
• Fire rate: 8.5-16
• Run speed: 5.73
• Reload Speed: 2.25
• Magazine: 20

While its spread holds it back, the Stinger is among the better weapons you can pick right after winning a pistols-only round. Its solid fire rate will let you rack up kills as long as you keep track of its spray pattern. Its small magazine also means that you’ll have to be mindful about reloads. But it’s still a decent pick against enemies who might opt for the Marshal sniper rifle instead.

B-Tier – Ghost

• Cost: 500 credits
• Penetration: Medium
• Damage: 105/87 or 30/25 or 25/21 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 30m
• Fire rate: 6.75
• Run speed: 5.73
• Reload Speed: 1.5
• Magazine: 15

The Ghost is a good pistol pick because it can knock out an unarmored opponent with a single headshot. Its silencer also makes it harder for enemies to detect you, which is great during the earlier rounds of a match. But outside that, the Sheriff is definitely a better option thanks to its damage output.

C-Tier – Judge

• Cost: 1850 credits
• Penetration: Medium
• Damage: 34/20/14 or 17/10/7 or 14/8/5 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 10-15m, 50m
• Fire rate: 3.5
• Run speed: 5.06
• Reload Speed: 2.2
• Magazine: 7

Explosively rapid firing at 3.5 rounds per second, the Judge is one of the most annoying weapons to come across in Valorant. Capable of decimating anyone that gets too close, this gun is favored in situations where you want to play corners and wait for enemies to appear in your line of sight. Agents like Jett and Raze are notorious for utilizing this gun so they can instantly cross the distance to get to an enemy and blast their heads off. It’s a highly situational weapon though and punishes you for missing a shot.

C-Tier – Classic

• Cost: Free
• Penetration: Low
• Damage: 78/66 or 26/22 or 22/18 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 30m
• Fire rate: 6.75
• Run speed: 5.73
• Reload Speed: 1.75
• Magazine: 12

All players start with the trusty Classic pistol at the beginning of a Valorant match. Pairing it with a half-shield lets you conserve your credits for the next round. A recent nerf weakened its alt fire, meaning that you’re better off upgrading to another pistol once your economy allows it. We can’t complain too much because you’re getting this weapon for free. Just remember that it’ll take a good number of shots to knock an opponent out. In the beginning of a match, you might find yourself looking to agent abilities to support your Classic shootouts. Check out our Valorant agent tier list if you haven’t picked a main yet.

C-Tier – Frenzy

• Cost: 450 credits
• Penetration: Low
• Damage: 78/63 or 26/21 or 22/17 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 20m
• Fire rate: 10
• Run speed: 5.73
• Reload Speed: 1.5
• Magazine: 13

While the Frenzy was once a good option, nerfs and a price increase have made it lose its spark. It can still dish out decent damage thanks to its high fire rate but you still have to land most of your shots to secure kills. Meanwhile, a Sheriff only needs one headshot to knock you into the next round.

C-Tier – Ares

• Cost: 1600 credits
• Penetration: High
• Damage: 72/67 or 30/28 or 25/23 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 30m
• Fire rate: 13
• Run speed: 5.13
• Reload Speed: 3.25
• Magazine: 50

The Ares is supposed to be an entry-level Odin with a lower price and weaker stats. But its poor accuracy and spread make it a highly unreliable weapon. You’re better off getting an SMG like the Stinger instead if you want a high fire rate.

D-Tier – Shorty

• Cost: 300 credits
• Penetration: Low
• Damage: 22/12/6 or 11/6/3 or 9/5/2 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 7-15m, 50m
• Fire rate: 3.33
• Run speed: 5.4
• Reload Speed: 1.75
• Magazine: 2

Nerfs have dropped Shorty to the bottom end of our Valorant weapon tier list. While it does have solid damage, the shotgun is a situational item that can be countered easily. It’s hard to justify getting this, especially when you want to conserve credits. Stick to the basic pistol or consider the Ghost instead of this gun.

D-Tier – Bucky

• Cost: 850 credits
• Penetration: Low
• Damage: 40/26/18 or 20/13/9 or 17/11/7 (head or body or limbs)
• Dropoff distance: 8-12m, 50m
• Fire rate: 1.1
• Run speed: 5.06
• Reload Speed: 2.5
• Magazine: 5

The Bucky might just have the worst alt fire in our Valorant weapon tier list. Its regular gunshots are lethal at close range but its small magazine punishes poor aim. While its low cost might tempt you, it’s a far cry from the Judge when it comes to close-quarters combat. Avoid this gun unless you’ve picked an Agent who favors close engagements and has the right abilities for the job.

Valorant weapon tier list FAQs

What is the best weapon for medium-range fights in Valorant?

The Vandal and Phantom are the best rifles for the job.

Will Valorant get more weapons?

Since Valorant is a highly competitive game, don’t expect new weapons to drop often.