Valorant: The Best Guns For Console Players

Valorant’s expansion to console platforms has welcomed a new contingent of players keen to explore its unique blend of tactical gameplay and precise gunplay. Originally optimized for PC, transitioning to console play presents a distinct challenge, particularly in weapon mastery. The dynamics of console gaming alter the handling and effectiveness of firearms, meaning that the weapons favored on PC may not necessarily excel in a console setting.

In Valorant, choosing the right firearm is more than a matter of raw firepower; it’s about understanding which weapons excel in specific scenarios and how they complement different agents’ abilities. For console players, certain weapons naturally rise above the rest due to their enhanced usability and performance in the console environment. This article will guide you through the top picks for Valorant guns on console, highlighting those that offer the most reliability and effectiveness for this new player base.

#6: Judge

The Judge consistently ranks as one of the most controversial weapons in Valorant due to its potent combination of high damage and rapid fire rate—traits that don’t usually coalesce in a shotgun. Its minimal movement inaccuracy makes it exceptionally effective for console players who can maintain accuracy while on the move or even mid-jump, setting it apart in close-quarters combat.

For console players utilizing the Judge, precise aiming, particularly headshots, becomes less crucial, allowing them to focus more on strategic positioning and movement. However, the Judge does fall short in long-range engagements, a common limitation of shotguns. Mastery of this weapon on the console involves leveraging superior positioning and tactical awareness to close distances quickly, making the Judge a formidable choice for those who can skillfully navigate the battlefield and engage enemies at close range.

#5: Operator

The Operator stands as Valorant’s definitive sniper rifle, delivering unmatched damage with its capability to down an opponent with a single shot to the body. This makes it the most lethal weapon in terms of raw firepower.

On console, the Operator arguably gains an edge due to generally less erratic player movement compared to PC, allowing for more predictable targeting. This precision is crucial since the Operator discharges only one round at a time, emphasizing the importance of each shot. This characteristic can make or break engagements, as missing a shot due to the gun’s slow fire rate could leave the player vulnerable to counterattacks.

Despite its power, the Operator requires careful handling and strategic foresight. Its high cost makes it a significant investment in any match’s economy, necessitating judicious financial management and good positioning to maximize its potential. In capable hands, the Operator can dominate the game, making it a formidable tool for controlling sightlines and picking off opponents from a distance on console platforms.

#4: Sheriff

The Sheriff stands out as the quintessential sidearm for console players in Valorant, not only excelling in pistol rounds but also capable of competing with primary weapons if handled correctly. It inflicts 150 damage to the head within 0-30 meters and 145 damage at longer distances, often guaranteeing a one-shot kill with accurate headshots. Moreover, its substantial body damage means it only takes three shots to down a shielded opponent and two for an unshielded one.

This revolver’s combination of high damage, precision, and affordability makes it a top choice for those playing on consoles. While it demands precise crosshair placement and a solid understanding of aiming fundamentals, mastering the Sheriff can dramatically elevate a player’s effectiveness in early rounds or in economically constrained situations. Its main challenge lies in its demand for accuracy, but once players refine their shooting skills, the Sheriff becomes a formidable tool in their arsenal.

#3: Spectre

The Spectre often flies under the radar in Valorant, but this SMG shouldn’t be underestimated. It boasts a high fire rate and manageable movement inaccuracy, making it particularly potent for its cost-effective price point. The Spectre thrives on a run-and-gun approach, which plays to the strengths of console gameplay where tracking and recoil control can be more challenging with a controller.

Embracing the Spectre’s mobility allows players to remain highly agile in combat, making them difficult targets while they dish out significant damage. While the Spectre does suffer from reduced effectiveness at long range, its proficiency in close-quarters combat shines on more compact maps like Bind and Split, where engagements often occur at shorter distances. This characteristic makes the Spectre a formidable choice for aggressive, fast-paced playstyles, particularly on console where its strengths can be maximized to dominate short to medium range skirmishes.

#2: Odin

The Odin stands out in Valorant as a formidable machine gun, known for its rapid-fire capabilities and high damage output. With excellent wall penetration, it becomes a tactical powerhouse in the right hands, particularly effective on console where precision aiming can be more forgiving. This gun is ideal for laying down suppressive fire and penetrating through almost any barrier on the map, a feature underutilized by many new players.

Understanding the game’s mechanics, where nearly all walls are penetrable, opens up strategic possibilities for using the Odin. Players can leverage its intense firing rate and penetration power to ambush opponents through obstacles, maintaining control over key pathways or chokepoints. Mastering the Odin allows defenders to dominate by holding firm angles, ready to obliterate any adversary daring enough to challenge their position. This makes the Odin not just a weapon of brute force, but a tool for tactical superiority, especially in defensive scenarios on console platforms.

#1: Phantom

On console, the Phantom emerges as the definitive choice over the Vandal in the ongoing “Phantom vs. Vandal” debate that has captivated Valorant players. The Phantom’s design offers several console-specific advantages that tip the scales in its favor. Its tighter bullet spread facilitates easier recoil management, a crucial feature when using a controller, setting it apart from the Vandal’s more challenging control.

The Phantom also boasts a higher magazine capacity and faster rate of fire, enabling more forgiving and sustained engagements. Additionally, its silencer is a game-changer, eliminating bullet tracers and dampening firing sounds, which obscures the shooter’s location and confounds enemies at range. This stealth aspect, combined with the gun’s reliable performance at various distances, compensates for its inability to consistently kill with one headshot, unlike the Vandal.

This blend of stealth, ease of use, and effective damage output renders the Phantom especially potent on console platforms, where precision and stealth can often dictate the outcomes of skirmishes.

Conclusion

Valorant’s transition to console platforms brings with it a new set of dynamics and challenges, particularly when it comes to selecting the right firearm. The weapons highlighted in this guide—ranging from the robust close-quarters dominance of the Judge to the versatile and stealthy Phantom—illustrate the best choices for console players, tailored to maximize effectiveness in gameplay. Each gun has been selected based on its performance characteristics that align well with the nuances of console control schemes and gameplay style. By choosing the right weapon for the right situation and adapting to the console’s gameplay, players can leverage these tools to enhance their competitive edge and enjoy a more successful and rewarding Valorant experience on console.