Hello everyone! Today, I'll be discussing how to effectively harness the potential of the Vandal in Valorant. We'll delve into why it's a riskier but more rewarding choice compared to the Phantom and more. While we've previously covered the Valorant aim guide, this time, our focus narrows down to the game's most popular weapon, the Vandal.
As a professional player and a Valorant booster at Boosting Factory, I've elevated numerous accounts to the Radiant rank, relying on the Vandal for 99% of my gameplay. In this article, I'll explain why I favor the Vandal over the Phantom and how you can maximize its potential.
Without further delay, let's get started.
1. Pros and Cons of Vandal
To comprehend how the Vandal stacks up against the Phantom, we need to start with the basics. Let's examine the statistics that set the two rifles apart.
As depicted in the table above, the Vandal boasts no damage dropoff with range, unlike the Phantom, which means it maintains consistent damage output across all distances. However, this comes at the cost of a slightly lower fire rate. Additionally, you'll notice different damage values for headshots, body shots, and leg shots, and the Phantom exhibits a range dropoff.
This is where the concept of Time To Kill (TTK) comes into play. TTK is a vital metric in shooter games, indicating the time required to eliminate an opponent with all bullets hitting the target. Let's calculate the TTK for both the Vandal and Phantom.
From the table, it's clear that within 15 meters (close range), the Phantom outperforms the Vandal, delivering a one-shot headshot and a 0.27-second time-to-body shots. Beyond 15 meters, the Vandal takes the lead.
This information underscores the importance of positioning yourself with the Vandal at ranges greater than 15 meters to gain an advantage in initial confrontations.
2. Vandal’s Recoil
While the Vandal has the statistical edge, it's essential to consider factors like recoil. The Vandal faces a steeper challenge in this aspect, featuring a more intricate recoil pattern. However, with practice, you can master it and adapt your playstyle.
The first three shots fired by the Vandal land relatively close together, with each subsequent shot slightly climbing above the previous one. To maintain precision, practice a slight downward pull to align all three bullets.
Between shots 3 and 9, the recoil pattern becomes more unpredictable, veering left and right. Learning to control this randomness is challenging, but your focus should be on keeping the shots at the same vertical level while dealing with the horizontal unpredictability.
Beyond the 9th bullet, recoil management becomes significantly challenging, making it unwise to continue firing without resetting the recoil. In most scenarios, stick to three-shot bursts or single-tap shots. Reserve full spraying for close-quarters combat when survival is paramount.
3. Playstyle
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Vandal and Phantom gameplay styles differ substantially. The Phantom encourages controlled spraying, aiming for at least three bullets per target. Conversely, the Vandal excels in a different manner, favoring the elimination of your opponent within the first three shots.
Think of it as playing with the Sheriff or Operator – you have limited shots, often just one or two to secure a kill, and your life depends on it. When using these weapons, adopt a cautious, angle-holding approach, firing 1-3 bullets before seeking cover.
On the contrary, the Phantom allows for a more aggressive and forgiving playstyle, enabling crouch spraying and less precise shots. It's important to note that the Vandal offers greater rewards but demands more precision from the player.
4. Counter-strafing Method
If you're unfamiliar with counter-strafing, it involves quickly transitioning from moving in one direction to the opposite direction to momentarily stabilize your agent's position, similar to "jiggle peeking."
For example, if you want to pop up and fire a precise 1-3 shot burst, you'd press 'A' to strafe left and, as soon as you're ready to shoot, press 'D' to move back to the right. During this brief moment of transition, your agent remains still, ensuring your shots are as accurate as if you were standing still.
This technique requires practice but can be a game-changer in your gameplay. It synchronizes your movements and shooting at the perfect moment, enhancing your accuracy. It's especially effective for dodging enemy shots while maintaining precise fire during engagements. Incorporate this technique when firing 1-3 bullet bursts during your transitions from left to right and vice versa.
5. Positioning
As previously mentioned, optimal Vandal gameplay involves positioning yourself as far away from the enemy as possible, similar to how you'd play with the Operator. You want to exploit the damage falloff mechanic to your advantage.
For instance, on Haven, holding the C site offers a lengthy sightline where you can stand at the back, ensuring that enemies without Vandal or Operator will suffer damage reduction at range. Conversely, positions like the garage might favor Phantom users, so it's wise to avoid such spots. Seek out locations that maximize the distance between you and your opponents.
6. Aiming Down Sights (ADS)
One common question I receive from my Valorant rank-boosting clients, especially newcomers to the game, is whether they should use ADS and at what range. ADSing in Valorant comes with some trade-offs:
- Reduces fire rate
- Alters recoil pattern
- Slows down movement speed
In the vast majority of cases, avoid using ADS. Reserve it for situations where you're engaging targets at a range of 40 meters or more, or if your vision is impaired. For most engagements, ADS is not advisable due to its drawbacks.
When you do opt for ADS, limit your shots to one-tap attempts or precise single shots, as spraying becomes impractical. To gauge when to use ADS, think about scenarios where you'd use the Operator, and apply a similar approach.
7. Allow Your Recoil to Reset
After firing 1-3 bullet bursts, it's crucial to be patient and allow your recoil to reset. Many Valorant players make the mistake of not paying attention to this important aspect.
Here's a neat trick to understand recoil reset: head to the practice range and fire up to 9 bullets without using ADS. As you shoot, you'll notice your crosshair naturally rises, but when you stop shooting, it gradually returns to its original position. Once it reaches that position, your recoil is reset.
The duration it takes for recoil to reset increases the longer you shoot. After just 3 bullets, the recoil resets relatively quickly. While it may be challenging to focus on this during actual combat, with practice, you'll develop the muscle memory to gauge recoil reset timings.
8. Avoid Spraying Through Smoke
Spraying through smoke may seem like the only option at times, but it's generally not a good idea, especially with the Vandal. The Vandal lacks a silencer, which means that when you fire through smoke, enemies can discern your position based on the bullet tracers.
Phantom users, on the other hand, have a distinct advantage as their silencer conceals their location. Therefore, refrain from indiscriminate spraying through smoke. Instead, capitalize on this knowledge when facing opponents who may not be aware of this mechanic.
Thank you for reading, and may your journey with the Vandal in Valorant be filled with success and improved skills!