Has the Vandal Been Accidentally Nerfed?

Summary

The video explores the evolving debate between the Vandal and Phantom rifles in the game Valorant. It delves into the history of player preferences, the rise of the Vandal due to its one-shot kill potential, and how recent meta shifts, including new agents and utility usage, have subtly favored the Phantom. The video suggests that players should consider the Phantom for its ammo capacity and accuracy, especially in the current close-quarters and utility-heavy playstyle, and notes the weapon's resurgence in professional play.

Takeaways

• 🔥 The Vandal and Phantom debate in Valorant has been ongoing since the game's inception, with the Vandal initially less popular than the Phantom.
• 🏆 In early Valorant, pros preferred the Phantom over the Vandal, with a 62% to 38% pick rate during Berlin 2021.
• 🔄 The Phantom was favored for its versatility and forgiving mechanics, making it ideal for the game's early stages when players were still learning.
• 🔧 As the game evolved, players shifted towards the Vandal due to its one-shot kill potential, which became more valuable in higher-level play.
• 🚀 The rise of certain agents like Chamber, who had strong fragging abilities, contributed to the Vandal's popularity as it was better suited for countering these threats.
• 🔄 The meta has changed again, with better utility usage and new agents like ISO and Neo affecting how weapons are perceived and used.
• 🛡️ The Phantom might be gaining an edge due to its higher ammo capacity and better performance against utility-heavy agents and barriers.
• 💥 Recent changes to agents like ISO and Neo have made them harder to one-tap, favoring the Phantom's spray capabilities over the Vandal's one-shot potential.
• 📊 According to Riot's data, the Phantom outperforms the Vandal in close-quarters combat, while the Vandal still holds an edge in medium to long-range fights.
• 🔄 Pro players are increasingly choosing the Phantom, suggesting a shift in the meta that might be worth considering for competitive players.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the debate between choosing the Vandal and the Phantom as weapons in the game Valorant, and how recent changes in the game's meta might affect this choice.

What was the initial preference of the Valorant community regarding the Vandal and Phantom weapons?

In the early days of Valorant, the community preferred the Phantom over the Vandal, with Pros choosing the Phantom 62% of the time and the Vandal only 38% of the time during Berlin 2021.

Why did the Phantom initially have an advantage over the Vandal?

The Phantom performed better than the Vandal in almost every task except for tapping at range, offering benefits such as better fire rate, first shot accuracy, better recoil control, no tracers through smokes, and better running gun mechanics.

What caused the shift in preference towards the Vandal?

As players learned the game at a higher level, the benefits of one-tapping with the Vandal outweighed the drawbacks. The rise of the Vandal was also influenced by the release of new agents and the dueling meta, where the ability to stop anything instantly with one bullet became more valuable.

What is the 'dueling meta' mentioned in the script?

The 'dueling meta' refers to a period in the game where agents with strong one-on-one combat abilities, such as Jett and Chamber, were frequently used, leading to a preference for weapons like the Vandal that could instantly eliminate opponents.

How has the recent meta change affected the Vandal's popularity?

The recent meta change, with new buffs, agents, and maps, as well as improved utility usage by players, has led to a situation where the Phantom might be used more frequently, potentially affecting the Vandal's popularity.

What is the significance of the changes to ISO and Neo in the game?

The changes to ISO and Neo have significantly impacted the game's meta. ISO's shield changes have broken the meta, while Neo's slide changes have made her incredibly hard to hit, both of which are not ideal targets for one-taps, suggesting a shift away from the Vandal's strength.

How does the Phantom compare to the Vandal in terms of ammunition?

The Phantom has more bullets in its magazine compared to the Vandal, which means it uses a smaller portion of its magazines per ability, giving it an advantage in situations with a lot of utility and movement.

What is the 'Immortal Roap Program' mentioned in the script?

The 'Immortal Roap Program' is a coaching program mentioned in the script, where the speaker and a team of radiant coaches offer to help players climb 500 RR guaranteed in a 10-week course, with live lessons, scrims, and one-on-one sessions from VCT level coaches.

What does the script suggest about the current state of the Vandal and Phantom in professional play?

The script suggests that the Phantom is rising in the professional scene again, with an increase in its pick rate at events like Champs 2021 Madrid 2024, indicating that the professional players are also considering the switch to the Phantom.