Our Valorant Weapon Guide series continues with the second SMG in Valorant. Today we will take a closer look at the Stinger. Is it even worth buying?

Before we get into the Stinger, you should check out our previous Valorant guides:

• Valorant Weapon Guide: Marshal
• Valorant Weapon Guide: Guardian
• Valorant Weapon Guide: Operator

Stinger Weapon Guide

We’ve already looked at the Spectre and called it the superior SMG in Valorant. So is the Stinger useless? It really pales in comparison to its bigger brother, but it’s still a good deal for some situations. Here’s a quick comparison between the two weapons (Spectre in parentheses).

• Stinger rate of fire: 16 rounds/sec (13.33 rounds/sec)
• Stinger magazine: 20 rounds (30 rounds)
• Stinger penetration: Low (Medium)
• Stinger reload speed: 2.25 seconds (2.25 sec)

At first glance, the Stinger is the inferior of the two weapons, but it does have some advantages. The Stinger has a higher rate of fire than the Spectre and that can make the difference between a kill or death, especially in close combat. The weapon’s dispersion and recoil are terrible, and things don’t get any better in the damage department.

Stinger Damage

Although it is not a pistol, Stinger’s damage is similar to that of a secondary weapon. To call it an automatic classic would not be too far from the truth. Here you can see how much damage it can do, depending on the distance and the body part:

• 0m-20m: body 27/head 67/legs 22
  20m-50m: body 25/head 62/legs 21

With 20 bullets in the magazine and a fire rate of 16 rounds per second, it takes about a second to empty a magazine. If you have a shaky trigger finger, you may need some time to get used to it. Make sure every bullet hits and you’ll have a better chance of survival. As we mentioned earlier, Stinger’s damage is a joke at longer ranges. Simply put, a kill with the Stinger at over 20m is a freaking miracle. At this point, you will probably think that this weapon is complete garbage. But it has its good points, too, I promise.

Stinger Alt-Fire

One of the main problems with the Stinger is its high rate of fire and small magazine. Aiming solves this problem as it grants you a x1.15 zoom and turns the weapon from full auto to a 4-shot burst weapon. It also reduces the spread. Here is the normal

Stinger price

Another positive feature of the Stinger is its low price. It was so low that Riot raised it from 1000 credits to 1100 credits. The Stinger is an absolute bargain for the price, and it will make short work of anyone running around with a secondary weapon (in most cases). In comparison, the Spectre costs 1600, which is almost 50% more expensive. For the additional 500 credits, you can buy some utility items.

Conclusion

Of the two SMGs in Valorant, the Stinger is not the better one. It does less damage and has a smaller magazine, but it costs less and can still be a good choice for a half-buy round. The gun’s alternate fire mode is often underrated, but it can make it more efficient at medium range. Overall, the Stinger looks like a terrible choice but certainly serves its purpose.

Valorant Beginner’s Guide

Overwhelmed with Valorant? No wonder… Without experience in similar games (such as CS:GO or Overwatch) the start in Valorant is difficult. But don’t worry, we are here to help you with our Valorant Beginner Guide.

Valorant is a special game. Many think that getting into the game is easy, but without shooter experience, you’ll quickly be on the ropes. Even CS:GO veterans can get into trouble… In Counter Strike, there are no flying knife-throwing things-people. But that’s why we are here.

This beginner’s guide is meant to help you get started in Valorant and introduce you to the world of Valorant. After that, the most important features should be clear to you, so that the fun in Valorant is not lost.

Valorant Beginner Guide: Basics

Let’s start with the meaning behind the game. In other words: What is Valorant anyway? Valorant is a first-person shooter in which two teams consisting of five players face off. The first team to win 13 rounds wins. Both teams have a different role – attacker and defender.

The goal of the attackers is to place a spike and protect it until detonation. This must happen on one of the three spots (A/B/C). In turn, the defenders must prevent the attackers from doing so.

Each match consists of two halves. After the first half (12 rounds), the two teams switch roles. The attackers become defenders, the defenders become attackers. Easy.

Agents

Before the start of a match, each player must choose an agent. Agents have unique skills, which in most cases also require a certain playstyle (offensive, defensive, support, etc.). Currently there are 16 agents in total, but new agents have already been leaked and should be added soon.

As a new player, you can initially choose between 5 free agents: Brimstone, Phoenix, Sova, Jett and Sage. To unlock more agents, you will have to sign contracts, which is mostly done via Daily Quests or earning experience points.

Valorant Beginner Guide: The best agent to start with

Phoenix is by far the easiest agent to start with in Valorant. His skills are not too complicated, can be combined well in any situation. But watch out with the flashbangs (aka your Q skill)! You’ll probably flashbang yourself and your mates quite often in the beginning, but practice makes perfect!

Valorant Beginner Guide: The best mode to start with

Stay away from Unrated mode for the beginning. This may sound strange, but especially the beginning of Valorant might be hard for you. Frustration will lead to quick quits, which in turn will get you involved in penalties and XP loss. That’s why you should start with Spike Rush first. An average game here lasts 8 minutes, while other modes can easily go over 50 minutes. In Spike Rush, you’ll be quickly released from suffering without having to take any penalties.

In addition, you don’t have to do any eco rounds in Spike Rush. This means that you’ll be able to try out your agents’ abilities, as well as the most varied weapons. Spike Rush is a great mode to learn the basics of Valorant. When you feel like you’re firmly in the saddle, you can try your luck in Unrated mode. After 20 matches in Unrated mode, you’ll gain access to Competitive mode, where you can earn ranks.

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