Logged in and started… Only with which weapon? Riot’s tactical shooter Valorant is still hyped – and here, besides the agent skills, the weapons are crucial. In our big weapons guide we want to take a closer look at them. This time we’re talking about the Spectre’s little brother: the Stinger.

There are currently 17 weapons in Valorant, and 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 Stinger – Following in the footsteps of the Spectre

It is often described as one of the worst weapons in the game, yet the SMG can be a real beast in close combat. Sure, the Spectre, the other SMG, is quite a bit more powerful, but it also costs more. The Stinger can be combined with shields and agent abilities to form a very good basic weapon. So the Stinger should not be underestimated.

Damage, rate of fire, firing pattern

The Stinger’s damage is rather low, especially compared to the competition – the Spectre – or to the Classik Pistol, which can do a similar amount of damage. From 0 to 20 meters, a head shot does 67 damage, a body hit does 27, and a shot to the legs does 23. Between 20 and 50 meters it’s 62, 25, 21 damage. On the other hand, the SMG convinces with its rate of fire: 18 bullets per second make up for the difference in damage compared to other main and secondary weapons. However, the magazine can only hold 20 bullets – so it wouldn’t make sense to just hold it. Not even because the gun has a rather chaotic firing pattern: After a few shots, the gun pulls upwards and then unpredictably to the left and right. So it’s better to fire a few shots in a row – if you hit it, the target is already down. Important: After switching to ADS mode, the Stinger turns off the fully automatic mode and switches to burst mode – here a certain number of bullets are fired in a row, but with a higher firing frequency.

Stinger Strategies

The Stinger is definitely a melee weapon and especially suited for attacking – although defenders can also set traps to surprise opponents. The magic word is run-and-gun. Sneak around corners and point, run and down. Aim is important, also because of the firing pattern, but since it takes time to deal out enough damage anyway, it’s better to fire one shot more than less in the direction instead of aiming for a long time. Those who compete with the Stinger should be prepared for a lot of running – the gameplay is fast and requires quick comprehension and decision-making. For this, you shouldn’t rely only on the Stinger and the secondary weapon. The agent abilities should be used efficiently and shields are also part of the setup – if you are regularly involved in close combat, you will also get the odd bullet…

Tip: Even in run-and-gun it is sometimes advisable to sneak while shooting to improve the accuracy of your weapon – this applies to pretty much all weapons in Valorant.

When should you buy the Stinger?

At 1000 credits, the Stinger is a good weapon – even for the first few rounds before switching to more expensive and better weapons. Still, don’t forget to have some savings left over to equip yourself with shields and skills. As long as it’s enough for that, there’s nothing standing in the way of an aggressive melee round.

The Best Agents for the Stinger

Which agent benefits from Stinger’s stats? Indeed, all those who support the aggressive gameplay of the weapons with their abilities – melee and run-and-gun. This includes Pheonix, Jett, Omen, and Viper in particular. A healer like Sage, on the other hand, would be a rather poor choice. But more important than the agents are the individual playstyle: aggro, risky, fast!

Next week on Sunday we will continue with the next part of our Valorant Guide. Until then, we’ll have plenty of Valorant news and more tips & tricks on the weapons in Riot’s tactical shooter:

• Valorant Weapons Guide: Judge
• Valorant Weapons Guide: Vandal
• Valorant Weapons Guide: Bulldog

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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