Ranking all of Valorant's sidearms

#2 - Sheriff (800)

Image via Riot Games

The Sheriff is the most potent Valorant sidearm when taking all ranges into account. In its most effective range, the gun is a one-shot headshot to players with a full shield. Of all the sidearms, the Sheriff is the only weapon that can take out a player with more than 105 total HP.

This gun has high wall penetration, unlike most other sidearms. A wall won’t save anyone from it.

Of all the pistols, the Sheriff is definitely the most difficult to use. The low fire-rate gives players a low margin for error. In lower ELO, players will likely have a difficult time using the Sheriff. In higher ELO, though, the weapon in good hands can effectively match a Rifle.

Related: 3 Best Valorant Agents for CS: GO players

The Sheriff's back in town pic.twitter.com/Sdg1VhlvAN

— TSM Subroza 🇲🇦 (@Subroza) September 14, 2020

This gun is used much more in save-rounds than normal pistol rounds in Valorant. Since it costs 800 credits, players can’t buy any abilities if the Sheriff is purchased. However, although pricey, it can be worth it with the right user.

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#1 - Ghost (500 Credits)

Image Via Riot Games

The Ghost, for 500 Credits, deals 100 headshot damage at its most effective range.

Since most players don’t purchase a shield in the opening rounds, the Ghost will likely kill with a click to the head. Additionally, it has high wall penetrating rounds and a reasonable fire rate. It’s also the only silenced sidearm in Valorant.

Although the Classic and Sheriff outperform the weapon in many situations, the Ghost is more versatile. The one-shot to the head at mid-ranges makes it a better option than the Classic. On the other hand, the higher fire rate and lower price make this gun a better purchase than the Sheriff in regular pistol rounds.

Related: Ranking all the Valorant Sentinels

At 500 Credits, the Ghost is Valorant’s second-most pricey sidearm. However, there’s still a bit of wiggle room to purchase abilities. This firearm, complemented with abilities, can be the best recipe for success in opening rounds.

The effectiveness of these guns largely depends on two things: the situation and the player’s skill. Each one is effective in specific scenarios, while some firearms are useless at times. When considering abilities, the weaker guns like the Frenzy and Shorty can be just as powerful as the Sheriff.

With the more powerful weapons, players bear the risk of breaking the bank. They must remember that more expensive doesn’t always correlate to more success. It may take some experimentation to decide what sidearm is the best for different players.

Related: Valorant’s best duelist on each map

All stats have been taken from zilliongamer.com

Note: This article reflects the author’s opinion, and what may seem the best to one may not be so to someone else.