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How many weapons are in VALORANT?
Riot’s official Arsenal lists 20 weapons, including the Tactical Knife. The current Patch 13.06 roster contains 21: the same lineup plus the Warden, whose introduction Riot confirmed in its September 22, 2026 patch notes. The roster spans sidearms, SMGs, shotguns, rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns, and the knife.
Riot’s Arsenal is the best source here for official names and short role descriptions: VALORANT Arsenal. Riot’s Patch 13.06 notes establish the Warden’s addition and specifications: Patch 13.06 notes. The Arsenal page does not provide a complete current price-and-damage table for every weapon.
Full VALORANT weapon list and roles
These descriptions focus on what each category and official role description suggests tactically. They are not a ranking: a weapon’s usefulness depends on the round, range, position, and credits available.
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Sidearms
- Bandit: A sidearm option in the current Patch 13.06 roster.
- Classic: The familiar all-purpose sidearm option.
- Shorty: A close-range surprise weapon, best suited to a concealed position or a tight angle where opponents must approach.
- Frenzy: A rapid-fire sidearm option for close engagements.
- Ghost: A sidearm option for players who want to take more deliberate shots.
- Sheriff: A high-impact sidearm choice that rewards careful aim.
SMGs
- Stinger: A compact automatic weapon for close-to-mid-range fights.
- Spectre: An automatic option for players prioritizing mobility and close-to-mid-range pressure.
Shotguns
- Bucky: A close-range shotgun option for holding tight spaces.
- Judge: A shotgun choice for defending confined approaches or taking close fights.
Rifles
- Bulldog: A rifle option for players seeking a middle ground in a buy.
- Guardian: Suited to a patient shooter who can make deliberate shots.
- Phantom: Riot uses the Phantom to illustrate a preference for shooting through smokes.
- Vandal: Riot cites the Vandal as the choice for players who prefer the possibility of a one-tap at distance.
- Warden: A 2,900-credit rifle with a 2x scope, designed as a distinct long-range tactical option. Its verified specifications are detailed below.
Sniper rifles
- Marshal: Riot describes it as an angle-holding sniper, suited to watching a lane and taking a considered shot.
- Operator: A sniper rifle option for players building a round around long-range picks.
- Outlaw: A sniper rifle in the current roster.
Machine guns and knife
- Ares: A machine gun option for sustained fire.
- Odin: A machine gun option for sustained fire and pressure.
- Tactical Knife: The roster’s melee weapon.
Warden price, damage, and specifications
Riot’s Patch 13.06 notes, dated September 22, 2026, list the Warden at 2,900 credits—the same price tier as the Vandal and Phantom. The official specifications in those notes are:
| Specification | Warden |
|---|---|
| Category | Rifle |
| Cost | 2,900 credits |
| Scope | 2x |
| Magazine | 18 bullets |
| Damage per bullet | 50 body damage at any distance |
| Head damage | 200 |
| Leg damage | 42 |
| Fire rate | 6.5 bullets per second |
| Reserve ammunition | 36 |
| Reload time | 2.5 seconds |
| Wall penetration | Medium |
These are Riot’s listed Patch 13.06 figures, not a general claim that the values will remain unchanged in later patches. Check the live patch notes if you need to confirm current balance after a subsequent update.
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How to choose a gun for the round
Riot’s weapon-design guidance frames the arsenal around trade-offs between power and economy, not a single best weapon. Its example contrasts the Phantom for shooting through smokes with the Vandal for players who want to one-tap at distance. Treat those as illustrations of intended differences, not proof of professional pick rates or a promise that either gun wins every matchup. Riot explains its design approach in VALORANT Arsenal: Weapon design.
Start with your credits and the team’s buy
Consider how much you can spend without leaving the team short in the next round. A weapon’s strength is only useful if the purchase fits the round’s economy and you can buy the other equipment your plan requires. The evidence cited here does not establish a current price for every weapon, so check the in-game shop rather than relying on a remembered price list.
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Match the weapon to the likely distance
- Tight space or close hold: A Shorty or shotgun can fit a position where opponents have to enter close range; it is less suited to a long lane.
- Smoke pressure: Riot specifically identifies the Phantom as an example for players who like shooting through smokes.
- Patient angle-holding: The Guardian and Marshal’s official descriptions point toward deliberate shots from a held position.
- Long-range tactical rifle: The Warden’s scope and role make it a distinct long-range option, but its 18-round magazine and 6.5-bullets-per-second rate are meaningful constraints to weigh.
- Sustained fire: Machine guns such as the Ares and Odin fill a different role from precision rifles; choose them when sustained pressure suits the position.
Account for accuracy, capacity, and damage
Damage is not a single number: it can vary with hit zone and distance, while fire rate, recoil, magazine size, and accuracy affect whether a weapon is practical in a real fight. For most weapons, the official sources cited here do not provide a complete current numerical comparison across those factors. Avoid treating an uncited or patch-mismatched table as definitive, especially when comparing body shots, headshots, armor thresholds, or range falloff.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to verify current prices and damage
Use Riot’s official Arsenal for the roster and concise role descriptions, and the latest Riot patch notes for changes and newly introduced weapon specifications. A fan database lists a Patch 13.06 comparison table with prices, damage by distance and hit zone, fire rate, magazine size, reload and equip times, first-bullet accuracy, wall penetration, and ADS. It identifies itself as unofficial: VALORANT Wiki weapon data. That can help with comparisons, but it should not be represented as Riot’s official table; confirm consequential figures in-game or against Riot’s current patch documentation.
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