VALORANT is expanding its weapon arsenal for the first time in two years with the introduction of the Bandit, a new precision sidearm arriving in Season 26.
Designed as a budget-friendly option in VALORANT that sits between the Ghost and the Sheriff, the Bandit brings one-tap headshot potential to the players who want a little bit of power to take down enemies to get their crucial pistol rounds. With Bandit, players can one-shot an enemy with a light shield, which makes it a great weapon without exhausting all of their credits.
If you want to know everything about the new weapon in the upcoming Season 26 update, we’ve got you covered.
Bandit weapon price and stats explained
The Bandit is a sidearm that costs 600 credits and features no attachments. With medium wall penetration, it allows players to deal meaningful damage through common surfaces like wooden panels and thin walls, making it easier to punish enemies holding tight angles or retreating behind cover during light buy rounds without committing to a full investment.
The weapon comes with an eight-round magazine backed by a 24-round ammo reserve, reinforcing its identity as a precision-focused sidearm rather than a spray-heavy option. A 1.5 second reload time keeps it competitive during quick resets between fights. The 0.75 second equip time allows players to draw the weapon quickly when switching from abilities, making it well-suited for calculated engagements in light buy situations.
Where does the Bandit fit between Ghost and Sheriff?
Compared to the Ghost, the Bandit trades sustained fire and a larger magazine for higher lethality, rewarding accurate shots rather than prolonged duels. Against the Sheriff, it lowers the barrier of entry by costing fewer credits and being more forgiving in follow-up fights, making it less punishing when shots miss. The lower credit cost is especially clutch, as it frees up resources to purchase an extra ability or two, something the Sheriff often does not allow.
This positioning gives players more flexibility to invest in utility or lean fully into gunplay during light buy rounds, depending on their approach and agent choice. The developer also stated that they’ll keep the emphasis on gunplay and have a more “holistic look at the arsenal and core gameplay loop” and make adjustments in 2026.
