Logged in and started… Only with which weapon? Riot has finally released its tactical shooter Valorant – and here, apart from the agent skills, the weapons are crucial. In our big weapons guide we want to take a closer look at them. Today we are talking about a sniper: the Marshal.

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 Marshal – The “Little Black” for all Snipers

What does today’s well-groomed sniper wear? Exactly, the Marshal. Instead of making a loud BOOM like the other sniper in the game, the Operator, the Marshal dissects her opponents quietly and stylishly. Get there fast, snipe and adios! For this, you need good aim and agility. Run-and-gun meets sniping.

Damage, rate of fire, firing pattern

Unlike its noisy big brother, the Marshal is slightly weaker against shields. A headshot always brings the desired kill, but a body hit doesn’t – at least not if the target is shielded. In return, there are no damage deductions, as is typical for snipers, when it comes to distance. A headshot delivers 202 damage, a hit to the torso 101 and to the legs 85. Also common for this weapon category is the slow rate of fire: just 1.5 bullets per second. This makes the Marshal the second slowest weapon in the game. It needs to be reloaded after five shots. With the zoom, the accuracy can be measured at 100 percent, and there is also no strong recoil or other firing pattern to watch out for. Although aiming is helpful, it works less well in dicey situations where you don’t want to wait until you have the target in your crosshairs. The good thing is that the Marshal also hits well from the hip.

Marshal Strategies

Hide, aim, shoot. This is true for many snipers, the Marshal is different. Because while we usually prefer to lie in wait with sniper rifles, the Marshal is such an agile choice that you’d rather use it to hold points or even take them. Coming around the corner with a well-aimed shot and taking out the enemy in the process makes much more sense with this sniper than waiting for the enemy to find you.

When should you buy the Marshal?

1,100 credits is the price of this sniper, which makes it affordable for pretty much any round. Especially in rounds where people tend to save up for the Big Boys, this weapon is a good choice. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict which buy choice the enemy will make, but should it become apparent that many enemies are fundamentally concerned with shields, the Marshal is not a good choice, as they intercept damage too much, leaving only headshots for the kill.

The Best Agents for the Marshal

Agents who secure certain points well but move around the map less should go for another weapon, here the Operator is well suited. Agile legends who are still good at peering around corners or into hidden angles are best here – with newcomer Reyna leading the way. With her “eye” she has a good view of potential enemies. But what players should keep their eyes on is their own bank account. Because if you play Reyna, don’t forget that her empties also cost you.

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 roles – 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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