The choice between the Vandal and Phantom has always puzzled VALORANT players. At one end, you have the one-tap machine with a lot of kick, and on the other, a faster-firing but less powerful one. It’s the same AK-47 vs M4 debate we have seen in CS2 and other games. But, in VALORANT, the answer is not so simple.

Both weapons cost the same, and both sides have the option to buy them. The choice mostly comes down to the player, which is where things can get confusing. However, there is a clear winner between the two guns, and that’s what this guide is about.

Everything You Need To Know About the Phantom

Stats

• Fire Rate: 11 rounds/sec
• Mag Size: 30
• Reload Speed: 2.5 sec
• Damage (0-20m): 156 Head | 39 Body | 33 Leg
• Damage (20-50m): 140 Head | 35 Body | 29 Leg

The Phantom shines as the faster and more forgiving rifle. It has a quick firing rate of 11 rounds/sec, and you have a mag size of 30, which is more than Vandal. The Phantom also has great first-shot accuracy, which comes in handy when you swing from a corner to one-tap the enemy.

However, the Phantom can only deliver a one-shot headshot within the 20m range. The damage falls off to 140 per head if the enemy is further than 20m. You can combat this by firing in bursts over long range. Generally, because the Phantom has a good first shot accruacy you should be firing in burst.

However, the main strength of the Phantom comes from its suppressor. The noise of firing cannot be heard outside 40m, except in the direction you are firing. The Phantom also doesn’t have bullet tracers, which makes it perfect for spraying through smokes.

Related: A Tip for Each Weapon in Valorant

Recoil and Control

The recoil on the Phantom is much easier to control, and it’s better if you spray with this gun. The recoil is very forgiving, and the gun resets quickly, too. In order to control the recoil, just slightly move your cursor down and then watch the barrel of the gun. Move right if the barrel goes left and vice versa.

Key Strengths

• Easy to Control Recoil
• No Bullet Tracers
• Great First-shot accuracy
• Bigger magazine size

Main Weaknesses

• Inability to one-tap outside the 20m range

Everything You Need To Know About the Vandal

Stats

• Fire Rate: 11 rounds/sec
• Mag Size: 30
• Reload Speed: 2.5 sec
• Damage (0-20m): 156 Head | 39 Body | 33 Leg
• Damage (20-50m): 140 Head | 35 Body | 29 Leg

Vandal is the powerful, slow-firing one-tap machine of VALORANT. It’s the AK-47 in this game–deals a ton of damage but can be difficult to spray with. The main advantage of the Vandal and the reason why most players prefer it is that it can one-tap a headshot at any range.

However, you need to be really precise with the Vandal, you can spray much as the recoil is hard to control. It’s suitable for players who play very patiently and try to go for one-tap. The Vandal is considerably slower in fire rate compared to the Phantom but makes up for it in damage.

Related: The Best Way to Warm Up Like a Pro in Valorant

Recoil and Control

Being the AK-47 counterpart, Vandal’s recoil is difficult to control. In most cases, you should not be spraying with the vandal, and especially not through a smoke. The Vandal does not have a suppressor, so enemies can see where the bullets are coming from, and they can fire back.

The pattern is pretty similar to Phantom, but it’s just the recoil is stronger, so you will need to control it more.

Key Strengths

• One-tap at all ranges
• High Damage

Main Weaknesses

• Bullet Tracers
• Not suitable for spraying
• It can be difficult to spray transfer when there are multiple opponents.

Final Comparison - Which Weapon is Better

If we take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of both weapons objectively, the Phantom comes out as the stronger one. The only weakness of the Phantom is the inability to one-tap (post 20m), apart from that, it’s better than the Vandal in all areas.

However, the inability to one-tap at long range isn’t a weakness you can just toss aside. Think of it this way: if the enemy has a Vandal and both of you fire one shot to the head, you will die. The Vandal comes out stronger on maps with long angles, such as Breeze and Fracture.

But the Phantom is just more versatile and forgiving. It’s easier to spray transfer if you get peeked by multiple opponents, and the first shot accuracy makes hitting shots after moving easier. In short, the Phantom is just more consistent. It’s also the reason why you will see a lot of pro players pick Phantom in tournament matches.

Sure, the Vandal holds a special place in the heart of most players. You won’t get the satisfaction of a clean one-tap from the Phantom. The Vandal also looks good in clips and overall feels fun to use. But, if we are strictly objective, the Phantom is slightly better in most situations.

If you enjoy playing the Vandal, then keep playing it; the difference between the weapons isn’t night and day. After all, you should stick to the weapon you are better at.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the Phantom is better than the Vandal because it’s more forgiving, consistent, and overall provides more value. The Vandal still holds its spot as a solid main rifle for its one-tap potential. Despite the Phantom being better, a lot of players still stick to the Vandal because it’s just more fun to tap heads with it.