In Valorant there is an exceptionally good weapon with the expensive assault rifle Vandal. Learn here why the rifle is so good and in which situations it’s worth using.
What is special about the Vandal? In the beta of Valorant, assault rifles are the top weapons. Because the assault rifles have decent damage values, hit at range, and are quite precise. This makes them optimal all-rounders that can help you master any situation with a bit of skill.
Besides the Phantom, the Vandal is the top assault rifle in the game. The weapon is among the top price category of assault rifles and mainly impresses with high damage at any range. But let’s take a close look at the gun.
If you want a rating of all weapons, you can find it here:
The Vandal – Top assault rifle for a lot of money
The stats of the Vandal: Here are the attributes of the Vandal at a glance.
| Cost: | 2,900 |
| Magazine: | 25 |
| Wall penetration: | Medium |
| Rate of fire (Primary/Secondary): | 9.25/8.32 shots per second |
| Damage 0 – 50 meters (Body/Head/Leg): | 39/156/33 |
| Primary fire mode: | Fully automatic |
| Alternate fire mode: | Zoom mode |
What is special about the Vandal? The Vandal is often compared by Counter-Strike veterans to the AK-47. Indeed, it resembles the Russian cultural icon somewhat and also has a similarly characteristic dull gunshot sound.
But the highlight of the Vandal is that it deals consistent damage at higher distances. Whether you hit from one or 50 meters: the opponent always receives full damage. Headshots are preferred here, as they almost always reliably kill, regardless of what armor the opponent wears. But the Vandal is deadly even with body shots:
- Hits to kill without armor: 3
- Hits to kill with light armor: 3
- Hits to kill with heavy armor: 4
What to watch out for: Since the Vandal tends to pull up quickly due to the high recoil, you should only use it with short bursts (tapping). The recoil pattern is very chaotic. The more you shoot, the higher the shot pattern “climbs” upwards, eventually wildly swaying left and right. So think of a sort of flat tree. Anyone wildly firing will just waste the already scarce ammunition. Especially against an opponent with the more precise Phantom, you will clearly be at a disadvantage.
So you see: You practically always get three shots (which are almost always lethal) centered when you just fire briefly. This is particularly effective in zoom mode, as the rate of fire and the recoil tend to decrease. But even here, you should only make short bursts.
In these situations, you should take the Vandal: The Vandal scores particularly well at medium range, as it also deals solid damage there. Compared to the major competitor Phantom, the solid damage at any range is a big advantage.
In close combat, you can also aim for the torso, as the recoil pattern rises up anyway and often creates headshots. However, always remember that you only have 25 shots and it’s better to conserve ammunition.
Which agents should use the Shorty? Basically, the Vandal is suitable for every agent in Valorant. Ideally, you should play the weapon with heroes who also act at medium range, so agents like Brimstone, Cypher, Sova, or Sage. Be sure to be cautious when visibility obstruction is in play. Wildly shooting through clouds is not sensible due to the low rate of fire and small magazine.
Are you interested in the big comparison between Vandal and Phantom? Then read our article comparing Phantom and Vandal and find out which of the two top-tier assault rifles pro streamer shroud prefers in his streams.
