Logged in and started… Only with which weapon? Riot finally releases its tactical shooter Valorant – and here, besides the agent skills, the weapons are crucial. In our big weapons guide we want to take a closer look at them. Today we’ll start with the Spectre.

Currently there are 17 weapons in Valorant, but we can expect even more after the release on June 2nd. The variety is great: from the sniper, to the shotgun, to the assault rifle… The shooter lives up to its name. But which weapon is suitable for which agent? Which strategy should be followed with which weapon? And what is the firing pattern, how high is the damage and the rate of fire? We reveal.

The Spectre – SMG of dreams

Without a doubt, the Spectre is currently one of the best weapons in the game, at least until the meta changes with new weapons, nerfs and buffs. The SMG is terrific for an aggressive playstyle with a penchant for flanking, especially at short to medium range. It is also a real bargain as a fully automatic weapon for 1,600 creds: automatic rifles usually cost more.

Damage, rate of fire, firing pattern

First the bad news: body shots and leg shots do less damage with the Spectre than the cheaper Stinger SMG. The Spectre puts the focus on headshots, compensating for this small weakness. Just two to three headshots with the Spectre can take down an enemy from up to twenty meters away, which is considerable for a weapon designed more for close combat. Each headshot deals 78 damage, with a rate of fire of up to 13.33 rounds per second. A magazine offers 30 rounds, so you’ll have to reload often after an attack. In addition, there is one more difficulty: the firing pattern. After the first handful of bullets, aiming becomes increasingly difficult and recoil increases. If you keep firing, you’ll notice that the Spectre alternately jumps from left to right while aiming, at almost impossible-to-predict intervals.

Spectre Strategies

The Spectre is not a defensive weapon; those who want to defend a point longer should make another choice. Its high rate of fire and short range lethality make it an ideal choice for surprise attacks or if you are the defender ambushing the attackers. However, the Spectre should rather be played offensively.

When should you buy the Spectre?

For both attackers and defenders, this weapon is excellent. In a tactical shooter, every team, every player in Valorant must ask themselves when to buy which weapon. Economy is important! Sometimes it is necessary to buy only cheap weapons for one round to be able to afford the good ones later. Here there are much cheaper alternatives to the Spectre. There are also better options for the so-called full-buy rounds, in which the money for weapons is just blown out. So when to buy the Spectre? When you’re in between. You already have good money, can afford a better model in later rounds, but don’t need or want to play an economy round. In this case, the Spectre is the optimal choice. If the team makes a full buy, but you yourself are a little tighter on cash, the Spectre can also be a good choice.

The Best Agents for the Spectre

Since the weapon itself supports an aggressive playstyle, the agents using it should also be more geared towards one. Phoenix or Jett will find the Spectre a faithful companion when flanking, while Brim and Viper will be able to use it well in combination with their attacks – Smoke for Brim, Poison for Viper.

That was the first part of our Valorant Weapons Guide. Next week Sunday we will continue with part 2: and the Operator. Until then we have a lot of Valorant news about the release on June 2nd and which bugs we want to see fixed until then.

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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