Phantom vs Vandal: Which is Best in 2025?

In VALORANT, some rounds are determined in the blink of an eye, and the weapon you choose plays a huge role in that outcome. Though there are dozens of weapons available to use, two rifles consistently dominate conversations and lead to one key debate: the Phantom vs Vandal.

Both are premium rifles, costing the same (2,900 credits), and are viable in virtually any round. However, there is still heavy debate within the community on which is superior. In this article, we’ll explore the key aspects of each weapon and determine which one is best suited for you.

Vandal Overview

Between all weapons in VALORANT, the Vandal is the powerhouse of precision and raw damage. What makes this weapon so iconic is its no damage falloff, meaning it deals the same amount of damage at any distance. Whether you’re shooting point-blank or a person 50 meters away, one bullet to the head is all it’ll take.

Damage Profile

• Body Damage: 40
• Head Damage:160
• Leg Damage: 34

The Vandal’s damage profile is its strongest selling point. With 160 damage to the head, it guarantees a one-shot kill at any range. Body shots deal 40 damage, meaning only 4 hits are required to kill a fully-shielded enemy. Leg damage is lower, but it’s still competitive. Overall, the consistent damage across all ranges makes the Vandal a reliable choice all around.

Other Key Stats

• Fire Rate: 9.75 rounds/sec
• ADS Fire Rate: 8.775 rounds/sec
• First Shot Spread: 0.25
• Magazine Size: 25 rounds
• Recoil: Moderate to High

The Vandal fires at 9.75, which isn’t the fastest, and also goes slower when aiming down sights at 8.775. Its first shot spread is 0.25, also making it slightly less accurate than the Phantom for initial shots. With a 25-round magazine and moderate to high recoil, the Vandal is best for precision and controlled bursts, and is less forgiving in spray battles.

Strengths

• No damage falloff, making it ideal for long-range duels
• High burst potential, as one well-placed shot to the head ends a fight instantly
• Excellent for aggressive entry fraggers and skilled aimers at range
• Performs consistently across all maps and ranges

Weaknesses

• High recoil makes it harder to control in spray fights, making it difficult for beginners
• Less forgiving if you miss the first few shots due to the first shot spread
• Lower magazine size can be limiting when facing multiple targets

Phantom Overview

The Phantom shines in close to medium-ranged duels, offering higher fire rate, easier recoil control, and a silencer that the Vandal doesn’t. Its damage does fall off over distance, but in tight corners and checkpoints, it’s definitely superior.

Damage Profile

• 0 to 15 meters: 39 to the Body, 156 to the Head
• 15 to 30+ meters: 35 to the Body, 140 to the Head
• Leg Damage: Varies from 33.15 to 29.75 based on range

The Phantom delivers high damage at close range, dealing 39 to the body and 156 to the head. Though this is still inferior to the Vandal, we must remember that the Phantom shoots faster. However, damage falls off beyond that, with head damage even dropping to 140 at range, meaning it may not be lethal.

Other Key Stats

• Fire Rate: 11 rounds/sec
• ADS Fire Rate: 9.9 rounds/sec
• First Shot Spread: 0.20
• Magazine Size: 30 rounds
• Recoil: Low to Moderate (more forgiving than Vandal)

With a fire rate of 11 rounds per second and 9.9 while ADSing, the Phantom excels in fast-paced fights. Its first shot spread is just 0.20, allowing for better initial accuracy. A 30-round magazine is more reliable and offers more room for error. Overall, the Phantom is easier to control, making it perfect for gunning down multiple enemies.

Strengths

• Faster fire rate gives better Time-to-Kill (TTK) on body shots
• Silencer prevents bullet tracers – great for spamming through smokes
• Easier recoil control makes it beginner-friendly
• Excellent for holding angles, lurking, and close-quarter fights

Weaknesses

• Damage falloff limits one-shot potential at longer ranges
• Headshots at long range won’t kill fully-shielded targets
• Less effective in open spaces and long sightlines

Phantom vs Vandal: Diving Into the Comparisons

Now, let’s compare the two weapons:

Damage Output: Headshots vs Body Shots

Let’s run through the numbers and see which weapon is superior in damage output:

Headshots

• Vandal always deals 160 to the head, enough to instantly kill
• Phantom deals 156 (0 to 15m) and 140 (15 to 30m+) to the head, not enough to one-tap at range

This is arguably the Vandal’s most defining strength, as in VALORANT, time to kill can literally be zero seconds if you hit that clean headshot. With the Vandal, the potential never fades, making it ideal for players confident with their headshot aim.

Body Shots

If we assume a target has 150 HP (100 health + 50 shield):

• Phantom kills in 4 body shots at 0 to 15m, and still 5 at range due to the fire rate
• The TTK for Phantom: ~0.273s
• The TTK for Vandal: ~0.308s

So, while the Vandal clearly dominates in the one-taps, the Phantom outperforms in spray fights, especially if you’re aiming for centre mass.

Recoil and Accuracy

When it comes to recoil and accuracy, the Phantom takes an easy lead, since it has:

• Better first show accuracy: 0.20 vs 0.25 for the Vandal
• Lower max recoil spread 0.9 vs 1.0
• Smoother spray pattern that is easier for newer players to master

Since the patch in update v9.10, both weapons now share the same movement inaccuracy penalties:

• Walk Inaccuracy: 3
• Run Inaccuracy: 6

So, if you’re moving, both weapons suffer the same. However, the Phantom is still easier to recover your spray control with. The Vandal, on the other hand, punishes poor spray control and random movement more harshly.

Fire Rate and Magazine Size

The fire rate and magazine size stats may seem minor, but they can drastically affect outcomes in chaotic fights:

The Phantom’s extra 5 bullets per magazine allows for more room for error, more spam potential, and better success in multi-enemy engagements. The Phantom is especially useful on maps like Haven or Ascent, where spraying through common angles and smokes is frequent.

Silencer: The Phantom’s Advantage

One often-overlooked feature of the Phantom is its built-in silencer. This affects gameplay in several ways:

• No bullet tracers: Allows you to shoot through smokes without giving away your position
• Quieter shots: Makes it harder for enemies to locate you by sound, especially in chaotic situations

The silencer makes the Phantom a top-tier choice for defenders, lurkers, or players who play around utility and smokes.

Vandal vs Phantom: Which One Should You Choose?

All in all, both the Vandal and Phantom have their strengths and weaknesses. The choice should be made depending on your playstyle:

Vandal – For Confident Aimers

The Vandal is best for players who consistently hit headshots, meaning you’ll need a lot of confidence in your one-tap potential. It’s ideal for taking duels, peeking long angles, and aggressive entries. The Vandal is ideal for maps or agents that emphasize long-range fights, such as Chamber.

Phantom – For Defense and Strategic Sprays

The Phantom is best for players who hold angles, anchor sites, or play post-plants by spraying through smokes. The forgiving recoil makes it a great option when spraying down multiple enemies, and it is best for new players to get started with the game. It works well with smoke-based agents or lurkers who want to go undetected.

Pro players, content creators, and your typical ranked demons all favor different rifles – the community remains split in this debate, and that’s okay. The meta doesn’t force one weapon over another. Instead, personal preference plays a bigger role in choosing between the two.

Phantom vs Vandal: the Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a simple answer: there isn’t one.

Here’s a TL;DR breakdown:

Pick the Vandal if you:

• Trust your headshots
• Prefer long-range control
• Like playing aggressively

Pick the Phantom if you:

• Want easier recoil
• Play short to medium ranges
• Use smokes or lurk positions

At the end of the day, your comfort level and confidence with a weapon matter more than some mere numbers. Try both, learn their respective recoils, and pick the one that clicks with your rhythm!