Valorant has agents with abilities but weapons are still the most crucial aspect. Take a look at today's Valorant weapon guide, as we explore the Guardian.
At the moment, there are 17 weapons in Valorant but we can expect Riot to add even more in the future. The variety is there: from the sniper to the shotgun, all the way to the assault rifle. The tactical shooter lives up to its name but which weapon is suitable for which agent? Which strategy should one pursue with which weapon and what is the spray pattern, damage, and the rate of fire? Read on to find out.
The Guardian – Headshot, Win, GG
Although it is called "the Guardian", this weapon offers a lot more than just protection. The costly rifle is a true damage master for big brains – or more importantly, it is best used to aim at the enemy's head. Accuracy will give you the edge. If you have a good aim and don't waste much time placing your shots, you can sometimes wipe out an entire team on your own.
Damage, Fire Rate, Spray Pattern
Massive – this word probably best describes the Guardian's damage potential. A shot in the head, headshot, GG, ez! Two shots in the body achieve the same success. One can see that the rifle is actually a hidden sniper, at least in terms of damage.
The values for it are: From 0 to 50 meters, the Guardian does 195 damage with a headshot, 65 damage with a body shot and 49 damage with a leg shot. That's something to be proud of!
Even better: the fire rate is very solid with 6.5 shots per second. The only drawback is the magazine, which "only" holds 12 bullets. Don't worry, that's enough to take out a whole team – you just have to hit! And thanks to the shooting pattern, this works pretty well, at least for the first few shots – because that's where the gun remains very precise. Afterward, it moves up and down while shooting. The best choice when shooting would be one-taps, at least in the long range.
- READ MORE: Valorant Weapon Guide – Part 5: Marshal
Guardian Strategy
The Guardian is not a run-and-gun weapon. Players should use it to take up positions behind walls and objects and take out approaching enemies with a well-aimed headshot. However, the rifle is not only for defenders who secure a particular spot but can also be used by the attacker.
Here, however, the same applies: hide and go around corners with caution. Not that you will be sniped off yourself. Our best advice is to hit the training range and really get a good feel for the weapon. In general, you'll have an advantage in long-distance skirmishes since the Guardian has no damage drop off. This means that you'll only be outclassed by snipers – not bad at all.
When to Buy the Guardian
Since the rifle is the fifth most expensive weapon in the game, it's a commitment to buy it – 2700 credits is not something you can just walk away with.
Since you can only afford such expenses after a few rounds, you also have to consider how well your opponents are equipped and should have some change for shields and abilities. The Guardian is more of a mid- and late-game weapon.
The Best Agents for the Guardian
The weapon suits agents who tend to operate from a distance such as Sova, Brimstone, Raze and Breach, but a Cypher can also do a lot with it, depending on the play style. It's really one of those weapons where your aim matters the most, so if you prefer sniping out targets with pinpoint accuracy, don't be afraid to go for it on any agent.
Tune in next week when we'll continue with another Valorant weapon guide. Until then we have lots of Valorant news and more tips and tricks about the weapons in Riot's tactical shooter:
- Valorant Weapon Guide - Part 9: Judge
- Valorant Weapon Guide – Part 10: Stinger
- Valorant Weapon Guide – Part 11: Bucky
Stay tuned for more Valorant guides as there are still a lot of weapons to cover. Make sure to check out EarlyGame as well as our Youtube channel for more content.
