Weapon skins in a shooter game are a great way to personalize your experience. And, while weapon cosmetics have existed in games for quite some time, Valorant just does it better. With epic animations, sound design, and stunning colors, Riot has pushed the boundaries of what skins bring to the game. Of course, VALORANT skins don’t help you win games, but they definitely are a great way of dominating the lobby in style.

However, with new packs and battle passes being introduced every update, there are a lot of great skins to choose from. We sifted through all of them and decided to list the most iconic skins in Valorant for each weapon. Let’s dive down to see what makes these skins the best in the game.

Best Vandal Skins

The Vandal is one of the most popular weapons in the game. To hold to that, Riot Games made sure that it had the sleekest skins. Choosing the perfect skin for the Vandal isn’t an easy task since there are so many great options to choose from. But, after a lot of deliberation, these are our top two:

Reaver Vandal

The Reaver had to be on this list because it is quite simply the most iconic skin for the Vandal. It’s dark, edgy, and deadly. With a black and purple color scheme, it effortlessly pulls off the gothic vibe. On top of that, it’s easily a fan favorite because of its eerie sound effects.

The bundle was initially released during the beta phase. However, the skin got an official release in October 2020. Ever since then, the entire bundle has been extremely popular within the community. And it makes sense why. Even the skins for both the Phantom and Operator in this bundle are a must-have!

• Original Price: 1775 VP
• Rarity: Premium Skin Tier
• Variants: Original, Black, Red, and White

Prime Vandal

In the case of Vandal, the choice is always going to boil down between either the Reaver or Prime. Both of them are great skins, and it's somewhat hard to pick between the two.

While the Reaver has great aesthetics, the Prime Vandal has one of the most satisfying sounds. So, getting those headshots with it is like music to the ear. And, with its sleek white and gold design, the Prime Vandal screams luxury.

However, one downside to this otherwise great skin is that the variants don't quite live up to the expectations. They don’t fit well with the weapon’s aesthetic and take away the luxury feel. Other than that, It’s definitely in the top two for the best Vandal skin.

• Original Price: 1775 VP
• Rarity: Premium Skin Tier
• Variants: Original, Orange, Blue, and Yellow

Best Operator Skins

The Operator is the most sought-after gun in the game. It’s lethal at long-range and can be a game changer if you know how to wield it. But, you wouldn’t want to parade this deadly weapon in stock skins. So, to spice up your style, here are the best Operator skins in the game.

Elderflame Operator

If you like the idea of turning your stock Operator into a literal dragon, the Elderflame is the perfect choice for you. This bad boy transforms your everyday sniper rifle into a living creature of myth. With its intricate design of scales, roaring sound effects, and iconic fiery animation, you’ll feel like a dragon tamer on every kill.

However, the pricing on the Elderflame does put it on the higher end. Costing a whopping 2475 VP, the skin isn’t cheap. But, when you’re getting a fire-breathing dragon, it’s worth it.

• Original Price: 2475 VP
• Rarity: Ultra
• Variants: Red, Blue, Dark

Araxys Operator

Another great choice for the Operator is the Araxys. If you’re into more futuristic-looking designs, this is the best option available. Featuring futuristic sound effects that go along with the design to perfect animations, this skin is a sniper’s dream. Plus, the Araxys Operator by far has the best variants you can unlock.

Compared to the Elderflame, it’s cheaper and has a great finisher effect that makes landing those final blows even more satisfying. All in all, the Araxys Operator provides the perfect package if you want a smooth scoping experience with added style points.

• Original Price: 2175 VP
• Rarity: Exclusive
• Variants: Purple, Black, Silver

Best Phantom Skins

The debate between the Vandal and the Phantom has existed ever since the launch of the game. While both guns are great for various playstyles, choosing between them is even harder if we throw skins into the mix. Still, if you’re a Phantom fanatic, here are the two best options.

Oni Phantom

The Oni Phantom takes the cake when it comes to detailing. The skin has an ancient Japanese vibe to it that makes it so appealing within the Valorant community. With a sick red and white color scheme, the Oni Phantom is a thing of beauty. And, every time you get a kill with it, mystical energy flows.

The overall art on the skin is pristine, but the golden variant makes it even more luxurious. So, if you’re looking for a skin that seems like it was forged by ancient Japanese demons, go for the Oni bundle.

• Original Price: 1775 VP
• Rarity: Premium Edition
• Variants: Hana, Kumo, Tsubame

Recon Phantom

When it comes to the Recon, there is almost little to no argument for it being the best skin for the Phantom. It’s simply perfect in all aspects. Having a clean, sleek, and simple design, the Recon proves the point that you don’t need to overdo it.

As a bonus, it has great animations with an ever-better finisher. Overall, for players looking to keep it simple, the military aesthetic of the Recon provides a subtle look. And, the iconic sound effect is the icing on the cake.

• Original Price: 1775 VP
• Rarity: Premium Edition
• Variants: Red camo, Blue camo, Green camo

Best Knife Skins

While guns get their fair share of iconic skins, it’s good to see that the knives aren’t left behind. You can transform your basic stock knife into a katana, a baseball bat, and even a fist. So, with plenty to choose from, here are the best options in the game.

Kuronami No Yaiba

The Kuronami No Yaiba is a skin that dents your wallet. However, it’s certainly the one currently having the best animations in the game. The skin features two knives attached around a gold chain. And, when you strike, both the blades swing in an incredibly fluid animation that looks as beautiful as it sounds.

If that wasn’t enough, summoning the knife has an even cooler animation. Drawing the weapon creates puffs of smoke that evolve into the chain and the blade forming your weapon. However, the downside is the price. To experience these fancy animations, you’re going to have to drop a fancy buck as well.

• Original Price: 5350 VP
• Rarity: Ultra Edition
• Bundle: Kuronami Bundle

RGX 11Z Pro Blade

With this knife, it’s all about the details. However, even the sleek details aren’t its wow factor, it’s the animation that comes with it. The RGX 11Z Pro Blade has the best blade unsheathing animation, where your character pulls the blade from the handle.

On top of the sick animations, the blade also has a color-changing effect. And, if that isn’t enough, you can buy Radianite Points in the store to change the colors of the blade itself. While the skin provides no competitive advantage with its longer size, it’s going to make you feel like a pro.

• Original Price: 4350 VP
• Rarity: Ultra
• Bundle: RGX 11Z Pro Bundle

Conclusion

So, that concludes our list of the most iconic skins in the game. Keep in mind that this choice can be highly subjective since everyone has different preferences. However, all the skins in this list have something special going on for them and definitely deserve to be in your inventory. With that said, choose any one of these to spice up your weapons and get those wins in style.