Vandal vs. Phantom: What Your Favorite Pros Are Using at Bangkok

In VALORANT, the battle between the Vandal and the Phantom has always been a topic of debate. Both rifles have their own strengths and weaknesses, making them viable choices depending on playstyle, map control, and strategy.

At VCT 2025 - Masters Bangkok 2025, the numbers tell a clear story of weapon preference among pros—but a deeper look at the stats paints an interesting picture.

For the purposes of this article, a ‘purchase’ or a ‘pick’ is when a player decides to start the round with that weapon. So if a player decides to start a round with a Classic, that will also count as a purchase (although it was technically free).

The Numbers: Vandal vs. Phantom

According to our amazing analysts at THESPIKE.GG, the difference in weapon pick rates is staggering. Out of a total 4,950 weapon purchases (including the free Classic):

• Vandal: 2,020 picks (40.81% pick rate)
• Phantom: 1,047 picks (21.15% pick rate)

The Vandal is picked almost twice as often as the Phantom. However, when we analyze the kill efficiency:

• Vandal: 2,749 total kills → 1.36 kills per buy
• Phantom: 2,587 total kills → 2.47 kills per buy

This suggests that Phantom users, on average, secure more kills per round. In fact, a Phantom player is expected to get a multikill per round, whereas a Vandal player is more likely to get a single, clean frag before either repositioning or being traded.

For context, the Ghost, the third-most-picked weapon, has 402 picks (8.12% pick rate) and 762 kills, averaging 1.89 kills per buy—a respectable stat, considering it’s mainly used in pistol rounds.

Map-by-Map Breakdown: Where Each Rifle Shines

Looking at how these rifles perform on different maps, we see interesting trends:

Key Takeaways from the Stats

• The Vandal is the most-picked rifle on all maps, but the Phantom still competes closely in kills despite its lower pick rate.
• Bind and Fracture stand out as the only maps where the Phantom outperforms the Vandal in kills, reinforcing the rifle’s effectiveness in close-range fights.
• Maps with longer sight-lines like Haven and Lotus favor the Vandal, while tighter maps like Bind and Pearl see the Phantom’s effectiveness shine.

Case Study: Team Vitality on Bind

One of the best teams on Bind at Bangkok, Team Vitality, showcases how the Phantom can be the superior choice in the right context. Running a standard Brimstone, Raze, Viper, Skye, and Tejo composition, Vitality opts for at least three Phantoms in buy rounds, with Nikita "trexx" Cherednichenko, Kimmie "Kicks" Laasner, and Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev preferring the silenced rifle.

Their execute-heavy playstyle, combined with their ability to isolate fights and control tight angles, makes the Phantom a perfect fit. The faster fire rate, better recoil control, and higher first-shot accuracy allow them to clear corners and take duels more effectively in Bind’s close-quarters engagements.

Why Pros Still Prefer the Vandal

Despite the Phantom’s advantages in certain situations, the Vandal remains the go-to choice for most pros for one major reason: damage consistency.

• Vandal’s 160 headshot damage means a one-tap kill at any range.
• Phantom’s 140 headshot damage beyond 20 meters leaves enemies at 10 HP, requiring a follow-up shot.

For maps with long sightlines like Haven, Lotus, and Pearl, this makes the Vandal the superior rifle. At the pro level, where precise headshots are second nature, the Vandal’s consistency is crucial.

Conclusion: Which One Should You Pick?

The Vandal vs. Phantom debate continues to be one of the most hotly contested topics in VALORANT, and Masters Bangkok has provided plenty of data to fuel the discussion. While the Vandal dominates in pick rate, the Phantom proves its worth with a higher kill-per-buy ratio, showcasing that both rifles are viable at the highest level of play.

From the statistics, we see that pros lean toward the Vandal for its one-tap headshot potential at any range, making it the preferred choice on maps with longer sightlines like Haven and Lotus. The Phantom, on the other hand, excels in close-quarters engagements and execute-heavy playstyles, as demonstrated by Team Vitality’s success on Bind.

That said, neither weapon is inherently “better” than the other—it all comes down to playstyle, positioning, and comfort. If you prefer holding angles, landing precise headshots, and taking long-range duels, the Vandal is the superior choice. But if you like to take close fights, spray through smokes, and move while shooting, the Phantom might suit you better.

Even though I personally prefer the Phantom, I recognize that both rifles are incredibly strong in their own ways. Instead of focusing on the meta or what the pros are using, choose the rifle that feels right for you. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about which weapon you use—it’s about how you use it to secure the win.

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Featured Image Source: Riot Games