Logged in and started… Only with which weapon? Riot has finally released 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 continue with the Phantom.

Currently there are 17 weapons in Valorant, but we can expect more in the future. 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 Phantom – flexible at long range

A powerful sniper is all well and good, but the reload and rate of fire make it a poor choice for aggressive gameplay. If you like to keep all doors open and want to shoot fast, even at long range, it’s best to go for a rifle like the Phantom. Whether attacker or defender, the Phantom will be a good choice. It can be used to secure points or launch a surprise attack. Since it is quieter and fires faster than its direct competitor, the Vandal, it makes for a perfect run-and-gun weapon.

Damage, rate of fire, firing pattern

First of all, yes, the Phantom is a rifle. And yes, its rate of fire is high and effective. Nevertheless, one thing should never be forgotten: aiming. Because the damage difference between headshot and body is immense. Where a headshot does up to 156 damage depending on the distance, a body shot only does a maximum of 39, and a hit to the legs only does 33 damage. The magazine holds 30 rounds and 11 bullets are fired per second – in alternative fire mode it’s 9.9 bullets per second. Be careful with the recoil though, it may be tempting to hold the trigger down, but then the gun warps significantly. Initially, the Phantom pulls upward and then moves from left to right in the firing pattern. This is where a keyword comes into play: muscle memory. The firing pattern must be remembered and compensated for in combat without much thought. The recoil comes, the mouse moves with it. This is best practiced in the Valorant training area.

Phantom Strategies

This weapon is perfect for run-and-gun players. Surprise an opponent, take him out, and then quickly disappear. This works because the Phantom is quieter, unlike the Vandal. In return, it has less damage to dish out and so should avoid outnumbered fights.

When should you buy the Phantom?

At 2,900 credits, the Phantom is no bargain. But it is a perfect weapon for the middle to late rounds. We don’t recommend buying this rifle right at the beginning or in the first rounds, because it doesn’t pay off economically. Only when enough credits have been accumulated so that you can buy it every round, does it seem to make sense to us?

The Best Agents for the Phantom

The Phantom is an all-around talent, so every hero can use it, no matter if an attacker or defender. With it, you can hold a point as well as attack and flank well. Whether you use Brimstone to secure an area of the map, use your Smoke and then use the Phantom to fend off an attacker before getting to safety yourself, or use Viper to wrap enemies in poison and then target them, the Phantom suits everyone.

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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