Rifles

VALORANT's arsenal is split between sidearms and primary weapons. Primary weapons include SMGs, shotguns, rifles, sniper rifles, and machine guns, but rifles are what you'll rely on during many full-buy rounds. There are now five VALORANT rifles: Warden, Vandal, Phantom, Bulldog, and Guardian. The Warden is the newest addition, joining the game in Patch 13.06 as another 2,900-credit option alongside the Vandal and Phantom.

All VALORANT rifles

*Phantom values shown are close-range damage and decrease over distance.

Warden, Vandal, and Phantom are the premium automatic choices, while Bulldog gives you a cheaper full-auto option. Guardian is different again, trading automatic fire for powerful semi-automatic shots.

Warden

The Warden is VALORANT's newest rifle, added with Patch 13.06 on September 22, 2026. It costs 2,900 credits and is designed primarily around longer-range engagements.

The biggest difference is its 2x scope and flat damage profile. Warden deals 200 head, 50 body, and 42 leg damage regardless of range. Its weakness is speed. With 18 bullets and a 6.5 rounds-per-second fire rate, missed shots are more punishing than they are with the Vandal or Phantom. It's particularly useful if you regularly hold long sightlines and prefer accurate shots over spraying.

Is the Warden better than the Vandal?

They fill slightly different roles. Both cost 2,900 credits and can one-tap a fully armored enemy at any distance. The Warden gives you a 2x scope and higher per-bullet damage, while the Vandal fires faster and is easier to use across different engagement ranges. If you're holding long angles and regularly ADS, the Warden makes sense. If you want a more conventional all-round rifle, the Vandal is easier to fit into most rounds.

Vandal

The Vandal is built around consistent damage at every range, making it one of VALORANT's strongest choices for players who trust their first shot.

The Vandal deals 160 head, 40 body, and 34 leg damage regardless of distance. That 160 headshot damage is the important number because it lets you kill a fully armored enemy with one clean headshot. It works particularly well for controlled taps and short bursts. Compared with the Phantom, however, its slower fire rate and smaller magazine make extended sprays less forgiving. The Warden now provides another option for long-range one-taps, but the Vandal remains more flexible when you don't know exactly what type of fight you're about to take. Pick the Vandal if: You want one-shot headshot potential at any range without committing to the Warden's slower long-range playstyle.

Phantom

The Phantom favors close and medium-range engagements, with a faster fire rate and larger magazine than the Vandal.

Unlike the Vandal and Warden, the Phantom has damage falloff. It can deal 156 head damage at close range, but that drops to 140 at longer distances. The advantage is its 11 rounds-per-second fire rate and 30-round magazine. Those extra bullets and faster shots make the Phantom more comfortable when spraying, transferring between targets, or fighting several enemies quickly. Its suppressed shots are also useful when firing through smokes because they don't produce visible bullet tracers for enemies. Pick the Phantom if: You prefer close-to-mid-range fights, spraying, smoke play, and a larger magazine.

Bulldog

The Bulldog is VALORANT's cheaper automatic rifle, costing significantly less than the three 2,900-credit options.

The Bulldog combines standard automatic hip-fire with an alternative burst mode when aiming down sights. Its biggest limitation is damage. 116 head damage isn't enough to one-tap a fully armored enemy, putting you at a disadvantage against rifles such as the Vandal or Warden if both players land their first headshot. But that's reflected in its price. At 2,050 credits, the Bulldog can make sense when you can't afford a premium rifle but still want something capable of handling several engagement ranges. Pick the Bulldog if: Your economy doesn't allow a full premium rifle buy but you still want automatic fire.

Guardian

The Guardian is VALORANT's semi-automatic precision rifle, rewarding accurate first shots rather than spraying.

Guardian deals 195 head and 65 body damage, giving it extremely high per-shot damage. It also has high wall penetration, compared with medium penetration on the other rifles. The downside is obvious: it's semi-automatic. Missing your opening shots against someone already spraying a Phantom or Vandal can quickly end the fight. The Warden now creates an interesting alternative for long-range players. Guardian is cheaper and offers high penetration, while Warden costs another 650 credits but gives you full-auto fire, a larger magazine, and a 2x scope. Pick the Guardian if: You trust your aim and prefer controlled long-range shots over automatic fire.

Warden vs Vandal vs Phantom: Which rifle should you use?

The Vandal is the all-rounder, offering one-tap headshots at any range. Phantom favors close and mid-range fights with faster fire and a larger magazine, while Warden specializes in long-range engagements with its 2x scope and 200 headshot damage. In short: Vandal for versatility, Phantom for spraying and closer fights, Warden for long-range precision.

What is the best VALORANT rifle for beginners?

The Vandal and Phantom are the easiest starting points because learning either teaches you fundamentals you'll use throughout VALORANT.

Vandal encourages good crosshair placement, stopping before shooting, and controlled bursts. Phantom is slightly more forgiving when you need to spray or fight multiple enemies. Warden becomes more interesting once you're comfortable taking deliberate long-range engagements. Its 18-round magazine and slower fire rate mean missed shots are more expensive. Bulldog and Guardian are also worth learning because you won't always have 2,900 credits available. Understanding VALORANT's cheaper rifles gives you more options when your economy isn't strong enough for a standard full buy. The addition of Warden ultimately makes VALORANT's rifle choice more interesting. Instead of the old Vandal-versus-Phantom decision, you now have a third premium rifle built specifically around long-range fights.