Valorant: Phantom vs. Vandal – Professional Shroud explains which weapon he takes

In Valorant, the question “Phantom or Vandal” divides the community. Both top assault rifles are popular among fans. But what are the differences, and how do professionals like shroud decide?

What are the two weapons about? In Valorant, assault rifles are considered the optimal all-round weapons, usable in any situation. Sure, shotguns perform better at close range, sniper rifles excel with precise headshots from a distance, and LMGs can suppress enemies well. But in pure versatility and kill potential, assault rifles are unmatched among all weapons in Valorant.

However, when looking at the two most expensive assault rifles, there are 2 weapons that cost the same and have a few significant differences: The Vandal with pure firepower and the slightly more precise and quieter Phantom. But which weapon is better and how does a top player like the pro shroud decide?

Vandal or Phantom – Which weapon is better?

Before we get to shroud’s favorites, here are the details of the two weapons.

The Vandal – The Kalashnikov of Valorant

The stats of the Vandal:

What makes the Vandal special? The Vandal is often compared to the AK-47 from Counter-Strike. It impresses with consistently high damage that is not reduced by distance. Therefore, the Vandal delivers devastating one-hit-one-kill shots and is especially deadly with headshots. However, since the Vandal has a tendency to recoil quickly, you should only use it with short bursts (tapping). Otherwise, due to its erratic deviation pattern, you’ll miss a lot and waste ammunition and valuable time.

That’s why you should choose the Vandal: If you want to deal good damage – even at longer ranges – and simply enjoy seeing your opponent drop after a few hits, then the Vandal is your weapon. But make sure to learn how to shoot short bursts and don’t use it full-auto.

The Phantom – The M4A4 of Valorant

The stats of the Phantom:

What makes the Phantom special? The Phantom is an assault rifle that, according to many players, resembles the M4A4 from Counter-Strike. In contrast to the Vandal, this weapon has a three-tier damage drop over distance. At a range of 50 meters, headshots against armored enemies are no longer automatically lethal. However, the Phantom has a better deviation pattern and a faster fire rate.

That’s why you should choose the Phantom: If you like to spray at medium and close range, meaning you want to fire fully automatic and hold down the trigger, you’ll enjoy this weapon. The Phantom has less recoil and outputs a lot of bullets. Since many battles in Valorant currently take place in winding corridors and tight spaces, the Phantom has an advantage here. Additionally, it is quiet due to the suppressor.

This is how shroud decides

The former CS:GO pro shroud is also considered a human aimbot and is known for his high precision. One might think he prefers the Vandal, given that it guarantees one-hit kills. However, in his streams, the pro is often seen with the Phantom. Therefore, fans on Twitter asked what shroud actually prefers and why.

Shroud briefly explained: “Phantom for spraying through smoke, Vandal for short tap bursts. It’s actually quite simple. Personally, I think the Phantom is better.”

In further tweets, shroud elaborated more on how he makes his selection. It also depends on the role you play in the team, your position, which agent you have, and how the opponents are positioned. There are situations where one weapon might be favored over the other.

But in the end, both weapons are good, and you should definitely be comfortable with both: “You never know what you’ll pick up from the enemy.”

By the way, there is a big tier list of all weapons and their ratings:

More on the topic

Valorant: Weapons Tier List – Which guns are the best?

von Jürgen Horn

Want more advice from pro and top streamer shroud? Then check out our article on shroud’s settings. There, the successful streamer explains how he adjusts his mouse, keyboard, and crosshair to become even more successful. Have fun replicating it.