VALORANT Competitive Action Returns in 2023
Exciting competitive action has returned to VALORANT in 2023. The season kicked off with thrilling tier two Challengers competitions across various regions. International VCT play is set to begin in mid-February. Early into the new campaign, a new trend has emerged in the form of the Stinger meta.
The Rise of the Stinger Meta
The Stinger meta has gained popularity following the 5.06 patch in September 2022. This patch reduced the weapon’s errors in both the primary and alternative fire modes, making it more reliable and controllable, particularly at short ranges. Before these changes, the Stinger was one of the least-used weapons in VALORANT, despite its affordable price.
Increasing Dominance of the Stinger
In professional matches, teams are now frequently opting for full Stinger buys, even after losing to opponents’ Stinger buys. This trend is apparent in NA VALORANT Challengers play between FaZe and G2, where the Stinger was the third most-used weapon, trailing only the Vandal and Phantom.
Why is the Stinger Meta Prevailing?
What sets the Stinger meta apart is its dominance in rounds that are not full buy rounds. In full buy rounds, where players have enough credits for complete armor, abilities, and preferred weapons like the Phantom or Vandal, the Stinger takes a backseat. However, in eco rounds, force buys, half buys, and bonus rounds, the Stinger becomes the ideal choice due to its affordability. With the recent changes, the Stinger has become a formidable weapon at close range, rivaling shotguns and offering better run-and-gun potential. Some even argue that the Stinger’s aim-down-sights fire is superior to the Spectre’s three-round burst.
Teams that favor aggression benefit greatly from the Stinger meta as they can rush sites and quickly eliminate opponents. Despite facing tougher situations in post-plants with Stingers, the team can rely on picking up better weapons from fallen opponents. Overall, the Stinger meta offers a versatile and powerful option for teams with aggressive playstyles.
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