In VALORANT, the choice between the Phantom and Vandal rifles has been a topic of debate among players. Vandal fans appreciate its insta-kill headshot damage and long-range effectiveness, while Phantom lovers favor its recoil control and spray stability.
The Stats, Pros, and Cons
According to Riot, the Vandal is the more commonly used rifle, used in over 70% of full buy rounds in both competitive and pro play. However, the Phantom tends to deliver more kills at shorter ranges (up to 20 meters), while the Vandal performs better at longer distances (20 meters and beyond).
The Phantom
Phantom Stats
- Cost: 2,900
- Fire mode: Fully automatic
- Head damage: 156, 140, 124
- Body damage: 39, 35, 31
- Leg damage: 33, 29, 26
- Range: 15/30/50 meters
- Magazine size: 30
- Fire rate: 11
- Penetration: Medium
Phantom Pros
- Faster fire rate
- Effective in close to medium range encounters
- Controllable spray
- Larger magazine
- Suppressed fire
- No bullet tracers
- Good spray transfer
Phantom Cons
- Damage falls off at 15 to 30m mark
- Further damage reduction at 30 to 50m range
- Headshot not an instant kill at 15+ meters
The Vandal
Vandal Stats
- Cost: 2,900
- Fire mode: Fully automatic
- Head damage: 160
- Body damage: 40
- Leg damage: 34
- Range: 50 meters
- Magazine size: 25
- Fire rate: 9.75
- Penetration: Medium
Vandal Pros
- Better damage range with no damage falloff at longer distances
- One-shot, one-kill headshots up to 50m
- Perfect for tapping
Vandal Cons
- Slower fire rate
- Erratic spray pattern
- More difficult to control
- Smaller magazine
- Unsuppressed fire
- Less effective spray transfer
Which Rifle is Better?
If we discount personal preferences, neither the Phantom nor the Vandal is objectively better than the other. Each rifle excels in specific situations.
The Vandal is the superior option for longer-range encounters and players with precise headshot accuracy. The spray control and spray transfer of the Vandal are less important when it comes to long-range head taps.
On the other hand, the Phantom is the more viable choice for close encounters and smoke sprays. Its fast fire rate and larger magazine result in significant damage. The lack of bullet tracers also provides an advantage, especially when shooting through smokes or while moving. According to Riot, even after frustrating 140 damage headshots, Phantom users still win those duels 78% of the time.
VALORANT, rifles, Phantom, Vandal, stats, pros, cons, gameplay