Hello everyone! Today, I'll be discussing how to effectively harness the power of the Vandal in Valorant. We'll delve into why it's a riskier yet more rewarding choice compared to the Phantom and much more. While we've previously covered a Valorant aim guide, this time, we'll focus on the most widely used weapon in the game - the Vandal.
I'm a professional player, specifically a Valorant booster at GBoosting. I've elevated numerous accounts to Radiant, and I rely on the Vandal for 99% of my matches. Why? Because it offers a significant advantage over the typical Phantom user, and I'll explain why in detail.
So, without further delay, let's get started.
1. Pros and Cons of the Vandal:
To comprehend how the Vandal stacks up against the Phantom, let's start with the basics. We need to examine its strengths and weaknesses, primarily in terms of statistics.
As shown in the table above, the Vandal has no damage drop-off with range, unlike the Phantom, which means it deals consistent damage at all distances. However, this comes at the cost of a slightly lower fire rate. Additionally, the table provides information on the damage dealt based on the body part hit, with variations for head, body, and legs. The Phantom has a range drop-off.
This is where Time To Kill (TTK) comes into play, a crucial metric in shooter games. It tells you how long it takes to eliminate an enemy if all your shots connect. Let's calculate the TTK for both the Vandal and Phantom.
From the table above, we can see that at distances under 15 meters (close range), the Phantom outperforms the Vandal, delivering a one-shot headshot and a TTK of 0.27 seconds to the body. On the other hand, the Vandal excels at any range beyond 15 meters.
This tells us that when using the Vandal, it's advisable to position yourself at least 15 meters away from enemy players to gain an advantage in the initial engagement.
2. Vandal’s Recoil:
While the overall statistics favor the Vandal, there are other factors to consider, such as recoil. Unfortunately, the Vandal falls short in this department with a more challenging recoil pattern. However, with practice, you can mitigate this issue.
Here's what you need to know: The Vandal's first three shots land nearly in the same spot, with each successive shot climbing slightly above the previous one. With practice, you can learn to control this vertical recoil by pulling down slightly to keep all three bullets on target.
Beyond the ninth bullet, the recoil becomes increasingly unpredictable, veering left and right. You can't control the lateral recoil, but you can maintain consistent vertical alignment by continuing to pull down. In most cases, you'll be using three-shot bursts or single-tap shots. Only in close combat situations would you resort to spraying for survival.
3. Playstyle:
Vandal and Phantom demand different playstyles. With the Phantom, you'll often opt for controlled sprays, typically aiming for three or more bullets per target. In contrast, the Vandal requires precise shooting, with the goal of dispatching your target within the first three bullets.
Imagine you're wielding a Sheriff or Operator - you have limited shots to get the job done, and you can't afford to be reckless. Similarly, when using these weapons, avoid exposing yourself unnecessarily. Instead, hold tight angles, pop up, fire 1-3 bullets, and then seek cover again.
With the Phantom, you can adopt a more aggressive and less precise approach, crouching and spraying when encountering enemies. It offers more forgiveness, which is why I mentioned earlier that the Vandal is more rewarding but also more challenging to wield.
4. Counter-Strafing Method:
If you're unfamiliar with counter-strafing, it's a technique where you momentarily stop your agent's movement by switching from one strafe direction to the other. This brief pause results in increased accuracy, similar to standing still.
To employ this technique effectively, imagine you're about to pop up and fire a 1-3 burst shot. Initially, press 'A' to move left, but as you reach the point where you want to shoot, immediately press 'D' to start moving back right. During this split-second transition, your agent is momentarily stationary, ensuring precise shots. This technique requires practice but can be game-changing when mastered. It's also known as jiggle peeking and is detailed in our Peek and Check Corners guide. Use it when caught in the open to dodge enemy bullets while maintaining accuracy.
5. Positioning:
As previously discussed, optimal Vandal positioning involves playing from positions far back on the site, maximizing the distance between you and the enemy - similar to how you'd position yourself with an Operator. You want to exploit the damage falloff that enemies experience when not using Vandal or Operator.
For example, on Haven, consider holding the C site, a long-range site, while avoiding positions like the garage, where Phantoms can easily close the gap and push you. Similarly, on the A site, favor the long lane and avoid the sewers, where encounters are face-to-face. Always seek positions that create a substantial distance between you and the enemy.
6. Aiming Down Sights (ADS):
A common question, especially for new Valorant players, is whether to use ADS and at what range. ADS introduces three key changes:
- Reduces fire rate
- Alters recoil pattern
- Lowers movement speed
In 99% of cases, avoid using ADS. Reserve it for situations where you're engaging enemies at 40 meters or greater, where their visibility is severely limited. Alternatively, use ADS if you have visual impairments that affect short-range vision. Otherwise, refrain from using ADS due to its significant drawbacks.
When you do decide to ADS, remember that spraying becomes impractical. Opt for single-tap shots or nothing at all. To determine what constitutes 40 meters, think about how you'd play with an Operator - focus on those scenarios.
7. Allow Your Recoil to Reset:
As previously mentioned, use burst shots of up to three bullets, then pause to allow the recoil to reset. Many Valorant players make the mistake of not waiting for this reset. Here's a useful trick: head to the practice range and fire up to nine bullets without ADS. Your crosshair will naturally rise, but when you stop shooting, it will gradually return to its original position, indicating that the recoil has reset. The longer you fire, the longer it takes to reset, but after just three bullets, it resets relatively quickly. While it may be challenging to focus on this during real battles, practice will ingrain this timing into your muscle memory.
8. Do Not Spray Through Smoke:
Although spraying through smoke may seem like the only option at times, it's not advisable. The Vandal's lack of a silencer means that enemies can see the direction from which the bullets originate. This makes you an easy target when firing blindly through smoke. Instead, use this knowledge against opponents who may not be aware of this fact. Avoid indiscriminate spraying in smokes.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy refining your skills with the Vandal!
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