Our Valorant Weapon Tier List has come again in light of Valorant's Episode 5 Act 2 that just dropped Aug. 23. Though there were not any major changes to game mechanics, it is still important to stay-up-to-date with how to optimize cost and performance in the current ranked meta. To kick off the new month, here is an updated ranking of the best (and worst) Valorant weapons.
The road to Champions continues with Patch 5.04 and the start of Episode 5 Act II. https://t.co/5yq6VKhHrD pic.twitter.com/TOJRUSfzHZ
S Class
The Phantom, Vandal, and Operator are priced at the perfect cost/effectiveness ratio. The versatility of these guns makes them valuable options on all maps in both offense and defense rounds. Most suitable for new players, the Phantom is a great choice for its accuracy and high fire rate. Priced at the same as the Phantom, the Vandal has a higher potential of a one-shot, one-kill, making it more effective at tapping opponents. The Operator is a high-risk and high-reward gun. Though this adequate option has the highest cost, it gives skilled players an advantage when first firing at an opponent due to this gun's ability to have one-shot kills to the body.
A Class
The Spectre, Sheriff, and Marshall are also viable options when picking a weapon. These guns are more affordable than the S Class weapons and will reward players that use them effectively. The Spectre is the best SMG in the game for its low cost and accuracy. The Bulldog is the cheapest rifle in the game and players can utilize the gun's fully automatic and burst shots. Although the Sheriff and Marshall differ in the ranges they are the most effective at; they are both powerful guns when landing headshots.
B Class
Though these guns are not as effective as their higher-class counterparts, they are still useful in-game. The Classic is the default and starting pistol in the game, making it the only free gun. The Ghost is a cheap sidearm equipped with a silencer which is great for players who want to "fly under the radar." The Frenzy is a low-cost automatic pistol with high kill potential with a tradeoff of low accuracy. The Shorty is the cheapest purchasable gun in the game and is a sidearm shotgun that is most effective at short-range combat. For players that are skilled at controlling their shot, for a low cost, the Stinger can easily kill any player at a close range. Most effective at long ranges, the Guardian is a moderately-priced semi-automatic rifle.
C Class
These lowest-ranking guns underperform their higher-tier variants. Their price does not match their effectiveness in-game. Though they might have their situational uses, there are far better options, especially in competitive gameplay.