Valorant Guns Tier List

Our Valorant Guns Tier List features every gun in the game and why you should (or shouldn’t!) use it.

Valorant: Riot Games’ 5v5 tactical shooter. It’s amassed a massive following since its official release in June 2020 and remains one of the most popular competitive shooters, alongside Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch.

Valorant also features a colorful cast of characters known as Agents. Each Agent sports a unique design that takes inspiration from different countries and cultures. They also have special abilities that could turn the tide of the round, if used correctly. Despite the variety in both design and ability, one thing is constant among all Valorant characters: the guns.

In this article, we’ll be sharing our tier list for the best guns in the game.

VALORANT GUNS TIER LIST

Valorant players can choose between 17 different guns — a mix of compact sidearms and heftier primary guns. In this Valorant Guns Tier List, we classified each weapon into one of four tiers: S, A, B, and C. Guns in S-Tier are the most well-rounded and are useful in both offense and defense rounds. On the other hand, guns in C-Tier are only useful in certain situations, so they aren’t worth picking up unless absolutely necessary.

S-Tier

• Operator
• Phantom
• Vandal

A-Tier

• Bulldog
• Ghost
• Marshal
• Odin
• Sheriff
• Spectre

B-Tier

• Frenzy
• Judge
• Stinger

C-Tier

• Ares
• Bucky
• Classic
• Guardian
• Shorty

VALORANT GUNS TIER LIST: THE DETAILS

S-Tier

Operator

Creds: 5,000
Gun Type: Sniper rifle
Magazine Size: 5
Penetration Level: High

You already knew the Operator would be in the top tier. Packing the most power in a single shot, this sniper rifle is ideal for holding key angles as it can down even armored enemies with one shot to the body.

Phantom

Creds: 2,900
Gun Type: Assault rifle
Magazine Size: 30 or 90
Penetration Level: Medium

The Phantom is perfect for players who like fast fire rates. It also comes with a silenced barrel, making it difficult for enemy players to pinpoint where shots are coming from.

Vandal

Creds: 2,900
Gun Type: Assault rifle
Magazine Size: 25 or 75
Penetration Level: Medium

The Vandal’s versatility makes it ideal for close-, mid-, and long-range shootouts. Plus, it has an extremely high kill potential because it can down opponents with a single shot to the head.

A-Tier

Bulldog

Creds: 2,100
Gun Type: Assault rifle
Magazine Size: 24
Penetration Level: Medium

Compared to the Phantom and the Vandal, the Bulldog has a smaller magazine and a slower fire rate. Still, its easy handling lands it a spot on the second-highest tier.

Ghost

Creds: 500
Gun Type: Sidearm
Magazine Size: 15
Penetration Level: Medium

The Ghost is the ideal weapon for sneaky players. It’s equipped with a silencer and is relatively cheap, making it a great early-game option.

Marshal

Creds: 1,100
Gun Type: Sniper rifle
Magazine Size: 5
Penetration Level: Medium

The Marshal is a cheaper alternative to the Operator. Though it isn’t as powerful as its S-Tier counterpart, it has better no-scope accuracy and allows for faster movement.

Odin

Creds: 3,200
Gun Type: Heavy
Magazine Size: 100
Penetration Level: High

The Odin is a force to be reckoned with, with its enormous magazine and high-speed fire rate. It’s perfect for players who want to mow down their opponents, even from behind a wall.

Sheriff

Creds: 800
Gun Type: Sidearm
Magazine Size: 6
Penetration Level: High

Despite its high recoil, the Sheriff packs a powerful punch as the most powerful sidearm in the game. It’s best for close- and mid-range shootouts because a single headshot grants you a kill.

Spectre

Creds: 1,600
Gun Type: Submachine gun
Magazine Size: 30
Penetration Level: Medium

The Spectre is, hands down, the best SMG in the game. It grants the player more accuracy with less recoil and even has a sizable magazine size. It’s a viable alternative if S-Tier guns are still too steep.

B-Tier

Frenzy

Creds: 400
Gun Type: Sidearm
Magazine Size: 13
Penetration Level: Low

Though it has a high damage output, Frenzy’s bullet spread can be hard to control. And with a limited magazine size, that can make it difficult for players to score a kill.

Judge

Creds: 1,600
Gun Type: Shotgun
Magazine Size: 7
Penetration Level: Medium

The Judge is the priciest shotgun in the game, and it has the damage output to justify it. However, since it’s best at close range, this gun only works for players who like rushing their opponents.

Stinger

Creds: 1,000
Gun Type: Submachine gun
Magazine Size: 20
Penetration Level: Low

The Stinger has an extremely fast fire rate, but can be difficult to control because of its bullet spread. So, like the Judge, it’s best for close-range shootouts.

C-Tier

Ares

Creds: 1,600
Gun Type: Heavy
Magazine Size: 50
Penetration Level: High

The Ares is in the lowest tier because it’s essentially a downgrade from the Odin. Both guns work the same way, except the Odin has considerably better stats. So, when faced with a choice, save up for the Odin instead.

Bucky

Creds: 900
Gun Type: Shotgun
Magazine Size: 5
Penetration Level: Low

The Bucky is the cheapest primary weapon and has the worst bullet spread in the game. So, it’s only really suitable for players who play exclusively for close-range shootouts.

Classic

Creds: Free
Gun Type: Sidearm
Magazine Size: 12
Penetration Level: Low

The Classic is the only free gun in the game. It has a decent damage output, but understandably, it’s best to switch it out with a paid gun that outperforms it.

Guardian

Creds: 2,400
Gun Type: Designated marksman rifle
Magazine Size: 12
Penetration Level: High

The Guardian is extremely powerful, but also extremely difficult to handle. With a specific shooting rhythm and small magazine size, one-topping with this gun requires a high skill level.

Shorty

Creds: 200
Gun Type: Sidearm
Magazine Size: 2
Penetration Level: Low

The Shorty is the cheapest gun in the game, and it shows in its stats. Its short-range and two-bullet magazine make it impossible to score multi-kills.

Conclusion

The colorful cast of Valorant agents may be unique in their own ways, but they all use the same guns. It’s up to you to pick the one that best fits your playstyle. This Valorant Guns Tier List should give you a pretty good idea of your best options in terms of firepower.

Pair your best guns with some tactical gameplay, and you’re sure to lead your team to victory! Get some practice in preparation for Valorant mobile, which is set to come out sometime this year.

If you liked this article, keep an eye out for our Valorant Tier List: Agents.