Rifles

Weapons are unquestionably the most crucial aspect of Valorant for changing the course of the matches in your favor. Since each of these weapons has its merits and drawbacks, players can attribute winning games more to ability than to chance. Furthermore, even though you have to be focused to climb up the ranks, weapons are what really make the game fun. In other words, being acquainted with weapons lifts you above where you are currently, and provides you a bit more self-assurance during skirmishes.

In a nutshell, there are two sorts of weaponry: sidearms and primary weapons, each of which requires a different amount of practice to master. All five pistols, which players typically like using when their rifles run out of ammo, are included in sidearms. On the other hand, primary weapons include SMGs, shotguns, rifles, sniper rifles, and machine guns, which are mostly used on defense rounds to push the enemy back. Each weapon has a different accuracy, fire mode, and fire rate. Going into more details, as its name already suggests, fire mode shows off the capability of fire in automatic or semi-automatic mode. On the other side, fire rate refers to how frequently your weapon can shoot the enemy and can vary depending on weapon condition.

As for accuracy, it refers to whether or not your weapon can fire the bullet where you want it to hit. Although shooting accuracy sounds complicated, it can save your life in fierce battles where you only have a limited time frame to discharge your ammo. Let's take a closer look at these weapons, starting with rifles such as the Bulldog, Vandal, Guardian, and Phantom.

Bulldog

Bulldog has never been the most common choice among rifles, but it still holds a lot of promise for players as a primary weapon. The Bulldog costs 2050 credits, which is significantly less than its competitors in this category. It's worth noting that the Bulldog is less expensive as it deals less damage, so players shouldn't miss their shots to take down the enemy. It can also diversify your gameplay by switching between two fire modes, standard automatic and semi-automatic burst mode. Players that are confident in their aim might choose the Bulldog when they do not have enough credits to buy stronger weapons.

Phantom

Phantom puts itself to another point in the views of players, as we observe both in the pro division and the solo queue. Phantom has more capabilities without restrictions, and it costs the same credits as Vandal (2900). Besides that, Phantom should be used in the middle range rather than close combat if players want to get the most out of it. Its ability to quickly spray down multiple enemies allows players to pick up the rounds. Being a perfect choice for clutch rounds thanks to its high accuracy, which players will need most against outnumbered opponents, Phantom has a better fire rate compared to Vandal.

Vandal

As the most used weapon in the VCT 2022 - Champions Istanbul, the high-cost (2900 credits) automatic rifle allows players to show off their combat skills in long ranges due to having no falloff. Vandal grew in popularity thanks to its massive damage to individual opponents, which made it essential for entry players. In contrast to Phantom, Vandal has a slower fire rate, so if you prefer to play slowly, Vandal might be the best option for you. Another thing to mention about Vandal is that due to its lower accuracy compared to Phantom, it is most effective against singular targets.

Guardian

If you are confident in your accuracy, Guardian can turn into a deadly weapon because it deals recognizable damage to the body, allowing players to take unexpected results. As a semi-automatic rifle with three magazines, each having 12 bullets, Guardian has high accuracy and penetration, making it a valuable pick in long-range combats.