Weapons

There are 6 weapon types in VALORANT that have their own advantages and drawbacks. With so many weapons to choose from it's definitely a good idea to know how much each weapon costs and what their characteristics are before heading into battle. VALORANT weapons are categorized into Sidearms, SMGs, Shotguns, Rifles, Snipers, and Heavy. In case you're unsure as to what will fit your gameplay style and economical situation best, here's a comprehensive guide to the weapons in VALORANT.

Sidearms

You have five choices of sidearms when heading into a round, all with their own set of perks.

Classic

First off, we have the Classic pistol. You will start every round with this semi-automatic pistol if you choose not to purchase another sidearm, no matter if you have died in the previous round or survived.

There are two firing modes on this pistol. Using your primary (Left Click) will fire singular bullets as a semi-automatic weapon would, which is best for more accurate shots. Alternatively you can use your secondary (Right Click) to fire three bullets at once, at the expense of accuracy and fire rate. This choice is much better suited to close range combat. The only way you can lose this pistol is by giving it to your best friend, who then throws it into the abyss, just so they can laugh at your screams when the enemy team comes searching for you.

• Price: Free
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic // Burst
• Magazine Size: 12
• Fire Rate: 6.75 rounds/sec // 2.22 bursts/sec

Shorty

The short-range entry into the Sidearms section is the Shorty. A favorite to a lot of the sneaky players who sit in dark corners waiting for you to appear, this sawed-off double-barrel shotgun is a great choice for those close-range encounters on eco rounds. By close-range, I mean you need to be essentially smelling your opponent to be sure that you're going to get the kill, but it is very much possible.

• Price: 300
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic
• Magazine Size: 2
• Fire Rate: 3.33 rounds/sec

Frenzy

The Frenzy is the only automatic pistol and it is a great option for those of you that just can't stop yourselves from going with a miniature SMG. This cheap and cheerful automatic pistol is a great option in close battles, as long as you can control its somewhat crazy recoil. What differentiates the Frenzy from the Shorty, is that it isn't completely useless at range. If you can manage to shoot in single-fire, which is harder than it looks due to the rate of fire, you'll be looking at a similar time to kill as the Classic.

• Price: 450
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic
• Magazine Size: 13
• Fire Rate: 10 rounds/sec

Ghost

Next up is the Ghost, another choice which is equipped with a silencer and a slightly larger magazine compared to the Classic. This sidearm does not feature a secondary burst fire option, but is a much more deadly choice for a player with an accurate shot and will allow you to hit a one-shot headshot against any opposition who made the mistake of not purchasing any armor.

• Price: 500
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic
• Magazine Size: 15
• Fire Rate: 6.75 rounds/sec

Sheriff

The final entry into the Sidearms section is the Sheriff. A revolver with the capability of a one-shot headshot up to 30m, this is a weapon that if perfected, can be incredibly deadly. Having a reliable shot with this weapon will allow you to make better use of the economy in VALORANT, as you can use this efficient weapon for just 800 Credits. The perfect choice for all of you mouse & keyboard demons, and perhaps soon to be controller royalty.

• Price: 800
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic
• Magazine Size: 6
• Fire Rate: 4 rounds/sec

SMGs

With a justifiable price, both options within this class are viable choices when looking to pave the way to, or clear out, a site. SMGs are frequently used for bonus rounds, force buys, or eco rounds if Credits permit.

Stinger

First up is the Stinger, the weapon with the fastest fire rate in the entire game, standing at 16 rounds/sec. Not only does this make it a great choice for the most skilled spray-and-prayers out there, it's also an option for mid-range fights also due to its more accurate secondary fire mode, the 4 round burst. Simply aiming down sight will enable this burst mode, and allow you to shoot more precise rounds at your enemies. With a quick time to kill, there are some negatives. The recoil whilst in automatic is incredibly difficult to control, and with only 20 bullets per magazine, you run the risk of having to reload in the middle of a gunfight. This is very much a high risk, high reward kind of weapon.

• Price: 1100
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic // Burst
• Magazine Size: 20
• Fire Rate: 16 rounds/sec // 2.118 bursts/sec

Spectre

Your other choice for an SMG is the Spectre. A silenced submachine gun with a larger magazine size, much more reliable time to kill at all ranges, and a recoil that won't make you stare into the sun after unloading a mag, this is a much less unhinged SMG compared to the former. Now I'm not calling you crazy for choosing to use the Stinger, we'll get into that soon enough, but the Spectre is definitely a weapon you can trust to be more consistent, with less input. From run and gunning, to holding angles whilst aiming down sight, you can rely on the Spectre to get the job done.

Overall, the SMG class is a perfect choice when in transitional rounds such as eco rounds.

• Price: 1600
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic
• Magazine Size: 30
• Fire Rate: 13.33 rounds/sec

Shotguns

Bucky

The cheapest primary weapon in the game, the Bucky is a dependable shotgun with two firing modes. Choose between firing a 15 pellet shell shot for closer ranges, or an alternative canister shot which travels 7.5m before detonating and spraying just five pellets. Not only does this mean that the gun is great when close to enemies, but that range can be extended with the alternate fire mode. When the canister shot detonates, those five pellets spread the same amount as if they were coming directly from the barrel, essentially adding an additional 15m to your range. The downside to this, is if that canister hits your enemy before that 15m detonation, it will do damage equivalent to just one pellet.

• Price: 800
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic // Canister
• Magazine Size: 5
• Fire Rate: 1.1 rounds/sec

Judge

Your alternative here is the Judge, a fully automatic shotgun with 7 rounds per magazine. An effective option when close range, this weapon is equipped with a 12 pellet shell shot and a 3.5 rounds/sec fire rate, making it extremely useful in those encounters in compact parts of the map. Compared to the Bucky, it is a lot more proficient at taking on several enemies due to the rate of fire, but can fall short when it comes to battles further than 15m - literally. Definitely worthwhile pairing this with a sidearm with decent ranged damage, like the Ghost.

• Price: 1850
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic
• Magazine Size: 7
• Fire Rate: 3.5 rounds/sec

Rifles

Bulldog

Fairly well priced, the Bulldog can sometimes be overlooked when it comes to Rifles, but can offer up some real positives to your gunplay. Featuring two firing modes, single-bullet automatic fire and a semi-automatic 3 round burst when aiming down sight, you can utilize both of these modes in different scenarios. The burst-fire is a capable two-burst kill to even those with heavy shields, whilst the automatic offers a more close-mid range alternative.

• Price: 2050
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic // Burst
• Magazine Size: 24
• Fire Rate: 10 rounds/sec // 2.105 bursts/sec

Guardian

For those of you who feel confident clicking heads, you can find solace in the Guardian rifle. This semi-automatic, one-tap machine will take down any opponent at any range with one precise headshot, or a maximum of three shots to the body. One thing to note with the Guardian, is that you will be at a severe disadvantage when in short range fights due to the lack of fire rate.

• Price: 2250
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic
• Magazine Size: 12
• Fire Rate: 5.25 rounds/sec

Phantom

The rifle with the fastest fire rate, at 11 rounds/sec, it's no surprise that the Phantom is one of the go-to weapons in VALORANT. Featuring a suppressor and 30 round magazine, you can trust that this weapon will mean that you definitely get yours. You're looking at a maximum of two accurate shots to the head to secure a kill at all ranges and a 1-shot headshot kill up to 15m. This means that you are at an advantage at close ranges due to the high fire rate. A huge perk of using the Phantom is that, like the Ghost, your bullets have no tracers and your position is concealed on the map.

• Price: 2900
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic
• Magazine Size: 30
• Fire Rate: 11 rounds/sec

Vandal

Finally, the forever reliable Vandal. Able to take down enemies at all ranges with a single headshot, it's no surprise that the Vandal is statistically the most selected during the recent VCT 2023 - Masters Tokyo. There's plenty of room for error with a 25 round magazine, but with a 9.75 rounds/sec you can be sure that you can transition between short and long range gunfights in a heartbeat. Although the Vandal is better at ranges over 15m, you will find that the Phantom is more reliable at ranges up to 15m.

• Price: 2900
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic
• Magazine Size: 25
• Fire Rate: 9.75 rounds/sec

Snipers

Marshal

A single zoom, low cost sniper rifle, the Marshal is a great early round option - especially for someone with an accurate shot. With this weapon in your hands, you can expect an efficient headshot kill. The 3.5x zoom ensures that you have the advantage over long ranges, and with a fire rate of 1.5 rounds/sec, it's not exactly slow in comparison to the other sniper option.

• Price: 950
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic
• Magazine Size: 5
• Fire Rate: 1.5 rounds/sec

Operator

Although slower than its alternative, the Operator is definitely the most deadly weapon in the entire game. Although only being able to fire one round per nearly two seconds, this sniper will ensure a one-shot kill to the body or higher in any round. Featuring a dual zoom function, allowing you for clear viewing at 2.5x or 5x zoom, the Operator is the perfect weapon for those longer ranges. Due to the high damage output, this is also great for holding angles on defense, and can almost instantly sway a game in your favor... If you're willing to part with 4,700 credits.

• Price: 4700
• Fire Mode(s): Semi-Automatic
• Magazine Size: 5
• Fire Rate: 0.6 rounds/sec

Heavy

Ares

With a 50 round magazine, the Ares is most definitely a gun you don't want to come up against. A huge gun with a 13 rounds/sec rate of fire and fantastic wall penetration, no one is safe when it's partnered up with an information gatherer such as Sova. With an incredibly fast time-to-kill, it does have a couple of downfalls. It takes a solid 3.25 seconds to reload, taking you out of the fight for a prolonged amount of time. If this reload comes in at a bad time, you can kiss goodbye to your Ace. Another huge flaw is the spray, because it really does a number on your accuracy if you don't learn how to control it.

• Price: 1600
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic
• Magazine Size: 50
• Fire Rate: 13 rounds/sec

Odin

You're going to have to get used to dragging your mouse off of your desk with these heavy weapons, because the Odin isn't any easier. With an impressive 100 rounds per magazine, this beast really does steal the show. A good tip when using this gun is to always try and aim down sight when firing. This is because without doing so, you start firing at around 3 rounds/sec slower than you would if you were aiming down your sights. This slight change could increase your time-to-kill by around 30%! There are some obvious downfalls to using a heavy weapon. You are approximately 0.3m slower per second when you have this weapon equipped, and it'll set you back 3,200 credits.

You will probably get some comments like, "damn ur using an odin big noob", but big gun go BRRRRR, so who cares?

• Price: 3200
• Fire Mode(s): Automatic
• Magazine Size: 100
• Fire Rate: 12-15.6 rounds/sec

Valorant Weapons in Esports

Now that you have a little bit more information on what to expect from each weapon, it's important that you know what the best players are using. You may be a seasoned veteran in VALORANT, or you may just be trying to get into the game; whatever level you are playing at, it's important that you take note of what the best players are doing so that you can improve yourself! Now we're not necessarily saying that these are the best weapons in VALORANT, as we all have our preferences. However, use this as a version of VALORANT weapon tier list of sorts, coming from only the best of the best.

For those of you wanting to know the best weapon for each agent in VALORANT, use our VALORANT Stats Page.

Valorant Weapon Skins

With so many ways to customise your weapon, it's hard not to get lost in the seemingly infinite choice when it comes to VALORANT weapon skins and their rarities, but let's try and get you on track.

Weapon skins are cosmetics that you can attain through various methods in the game, one of which is the store. Within the store, you will have to spend VALORANT Points to purchase singular weapon skins or bundles.

Another way you can obtain weapon skins, amongst other cosmetic items, is the Battle Pass. You will have to spend VALORANT Points to unlock a majority of the cosmetics in the Battle Pass, but there is a certain amount in which you can earn for free, just by playing the game!

Check out how to get free Valorant skins.

Once you have obtained the skins you want, you will notice that some of them are customizable. To do this, you will have to use Radianite Points to unlock the stages of customization first, such as Animation and SFX, before being able to change the color of your weapon. You can either use VALORANT Points to purchase Radianite Points, or earn Radianite Points through the Battle Pass.

Valorant Agent Weapon Skins

There are some exclusive weapon cosmetics that you can acquire that are linked to Agents, but this system changed in June so here's a quick rundown on how it works.

Every time a new Agent releases, it activates free event passes that stay active for 28 days from release date. Play through this time to reach the experience goal, and unlock the newest agent! Once you have unlocked this agent, you will notice that you have acquired Kingdom Credits along the way. Head to the Agents tab, and select the Agent you wish to unlock their weapon skin. Select "View Gear", and you can see the 10 Agent Gear Tiers in which you can use these Kingdom Credits to unlock their gear. The tenth tier is their weapon, so strap in and get grinding!

How To Change Weapon Side in Valorant

By default, your Agent will be holding their weapon in their right hand. If you want to change this to be in the left hand, simply follow these three simple steps:

• Open VALORANT, and click "Settings" in the top-right corner.
• In the "General" tab, scroll down to the section labeled "Other".
• Change the "First Person Handedness" option to "Left", located at the very top of the "Other" section.

How to drop a weapon in VALORANT

Near the start of this guide, we spoke about the Classic sidearm and how the only way to lose it is by giving it to your best friend who magically "lost'' it, so it's only fair if you get your payback, right? The keybind you are looking for by default is "G", but this can be changed to any key you want. Here's how:

• Open VALORANT, and click "Settings" in the top-right corner.
• Click on "Controls" along the top row, and select the "Equipment" tab.
• Scroll down to where it outlines "Equipment", and locate "Drop Equipped Item".
• Click on the current key bind, where it will then display "Choose Your Key".
• Press the key you wish to replace the key bind with.

Best VALORANT Weapons Practice

The best way to figure out which gun is best for you is by heading into the practice mode on "The Range." When in any of the practice modes, simply press B to be able to switch between any guns and equipment freely.