Our Valorant Weapon Guide series continues with the second SMG in Valorant. Today, we'll be taking a closer look at the Stinger. Is it even worth buying?
Before we get into the Stinger,you might want to check out our previous Valorant guides:
Read More:
Stinger Weapon Guide
We've already covered the Spectre and labeled it as the superior SMG in Valorant. Is the Stinger useless then? When compared to its bigger brother it really pales, but it's still a good deal in some situations. Here's a quick comparison between the two weapons (Spectre in brackets)
- Stinger Fire rate: 16 rounds/sec (13.33 rounds/sec)
- Stinger Magazine capacity: 20 rounds (30 rounds)
- Stinger Wall Penetration: Low (Medium)
- Stinger Reload Speed: 2.25 seconds (2.25 seconds)
At first glance, the Stinger is the worse of the two weapons, but there are some upsides. The Stinger has a higher fire rate than the Spectre and that might be the difference between landing a kill, or getting killed, especially at close range. The weapon's spread and recoil are horrible and things don't get better in the damage department.
Stinger Damage
Despite not being a pistol, the Stinger's damage is similar to a sidearm. Calling it an automatic Classic wouldn't be too far from the truth. Here's how much pain it can cause depending on the distance and body part:
- 0m-20m: Body 27/Head 67/Leg 22
- 20m-50m: Body 25/Head 62/Leg 21
With 20 bullets in the magazine and a fire rate of 16 rounds per second, it takes roughly a second to empty a clip. If you have a twitchy trigger finger, you might need some time getting used to it. Make sure every bullet connects, and you'll have a better chance of surviving. As we've mentioned, the damage of the Stinger is mostly a joke at longer distances. Simply put, getting a kill with the Stinger at over 20m is a bloody miracle. At this point, you're probably thinking this weapon is utter trash, but there are some redeeming factors.
Stinger Alt-Fire
One of the main problems with the Stinger is the high rate of fire and the small clip. Aiming down solves this, as it grants you x1.15 zoom and turns the weapon from fully automatic to a 4-round burst. In addition, it also reduces spread. Here's the weapon's normal spread when not using ADS.
Stinger Price
Another redeeming quality of the Stinger is its low price. It was so low that Riot changed it from 1000 credits to 1100 credits. The Stinger is an absolute steal for the price tag, and it'll easily melt anyone with a sidearm (in most cases). In comparison, the Spectre costs 1600 which is almost 50% more expensive. For the extra 500 credits, you can get some utility.
- Read More: Valorant Is Officially Coming to Mobile
Conclusion
Out of the two SMGs in Valorant, the Stinger isn't the better one. It deals less damage and has a smaller clip, but it costs less and can still be a good pick for a half-buy round. The weapon's alternate fire mode is often underrated, but it can make it more efficient at mid-range. Overall, the Stinger only looks like a terrible choice, but it certainly has its uses.
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