Bandit vs Classic vs Ghost vs Sheriff: Headshot and Bodyshot Damage Compared

With the Bandit finally joining Valorant’s sidearm pool in Season 2026, pistol rounds and eco rounds feel completely different. If you want to win more low-credit rounds, you need to understand exactly how Bandit’s headshot and bodyshot damage stack up against Classic, Ghost, and Sheriff in real match situations.

In this guide, we’ll break down raw damage numbers, range breakpoints, and practical scenarios so you know when to pick each pistol and how to play around their strengths.

Raw Damage Numbers: Headshot vs Bodyshot

Let’s start with the core stats most players care about: how hard each pistol hits at different ranges. For sidearms, headshot damage, bodyshot consistency, and range falloff decide whether a gun feels like a true win-condition or just a backup weapon.

Bandit damage profile

Bandit is designed as a high-impact, aim-rewarding pistol that sits between Ghost and Sheriff in cost but much closer to Sheriff in kill potential:

• Short range (0–10 m): lethal one-tap to the head through full armor in most situations.
• Medium range (10–30 m): still one-tap capable with a small damage drop-off.
• Long range (30+ m): noticeable falloff; headshots can start to feel less reliable versus fresh armor.

The key point is that at realistic pistol-round distances, a clean Bandit headshot deletes opponents instantly, while bodyshots require multiple hits but still chunk hard.

Sheriff damage profile

Sheriff remains the raw damage king of sidearms. It is expensive, unforgiving, and devastating when used well.

• Extremely high headshot damage that one-taps through armor across most of the map.
• Very strong bodyshot damage that can three-shot even armored targets at distance.
• Harsh recoil and low fire rate, making misses incredibly punishing.

Sheriff is the weapon you buy when you fully trust your crosshair placement and plan to take long or off-angle fights where a single bullet should end the duel.

Classic and Ghost damage basics

Classic and Ghost sit on the lighter side of the spectrum and trade raw power for economy and comfort.

• Classic: Free pistol with modest damage and an alternate burst fire. You usually need multiple bodyshots to kill armored targets and often two headshots at range.
• Ghost: Higher per-bullet damage and better accuracy than Classic. It can one-tap unarmored enemies to the head at typical pistol-round distances, but falls behind Bandit and Sheriff against full armor.

The main takeaway: Bandit and Sheriff exist to reward decisive, accurate headshots, while Classic and Ghost lean more toward consistency, comfort, and economy.

Time-to-Kill and Fire Rate: Who Wins the Duel?

Raw damage is only half the story. In actual duels, time-to-kill (TTK) and how forgiving a weapon feels after a missed shot often decide which sidearm wins.

• Bandit: Snappy fire rate with enough bullets in the magazine to correct your aim after a small misalignment.
• Sheriff: Slower fire rate and tiny magazine; one whiffed bullet can cost you the round.
• Classic: High fire rate but low damage, so it relies on spray and close-range burst fire.
• Ghost: Stable fire rate and clean recoil, ideal for controlled, multi-shot engagements.

If both players hit the first headshot, Bandit and Sheriff feel very similar: the opponent dies instantly. The difference shows up when you miss. Bandit lets you fire a fast follow-up shot, while Sheriff’s slower handling and stronger recoil make recovery much harder. Classic and Ghost give you more spam, but they rarely beat a clean Bandit or Sheriff headshot.

Practical Scenarios: Which Pistol Should You Buy?

To turn all of this into easy in-game decisions, let’s look at typical rounds and how each pistol performs.

1. Pistol round on attack

If you’re playing aggressive roles like Jett, Reyna, or Raze and you back your aim, Bandit is a strong first-round purchase. It gives you one-tap potential against armored opponents at common entry ranges while still letting you take two or three fights before reloading.

Ghost is still a solid option if you prefer smooth recoil, quieter shots, and slightly more lenient bodyshot patterns. However, you will naturally lose more duels to Bandit or Sheriff users if they land clean heads and you rely too much on spam.

2. Force buy / Thrifty round

Force buys and thrifty rounds are where Bandit really shines. It sits in a comfortable price bracket that lets you combine a deadly sidearm with light armor and essential abilities. Compared to a Sheriff, you sacrifice a bit of long-range punch but gain more flexibility in your setup.

A typical and effective loadout is Bandit + light armor + your core abilities. This gives you real kill pressure against rifles if you hold tighter angles and swing with confidence, instead of dry-peeking long sightlines.

3. Long-range duels and anchor roles

If your job is to take or threaten long-range fights, especially as a sentinel or an anchor holding deep sightlines, Sheriff still has the edge. Its long-range headshot potential and heavy penetration let you punish players wide-swinging or trying to jiggle you from range.

Bandit’s damage falloff at the very edges of the map means it becomes slightly less reliable here. You can still get kills, but the margin for error is smaller and you’ll often feel more comfortable on a Sheriff in those situations.

4. Default eco on defense

On full-save rounds, Classic remains completely serviceable simply because it’s free. If you want a bit more bite without investing too much, Ghost offers a balanced middle ground that supports passive holds, off-angles, and set plays where you can surprise enemies at close to mid-range.

Aim Style and Agent Synergy

Your aim style and agent pool should strongly influence your pistol choice. The same weapon can feel S-tier for one player and terrible for another based purely on how they take fights.

• Flick-heavy duelists (Jett, Reyna, Chamber): Bandit or Sheriff fit perfectly, since you play for that first headshot and then quickly reposition.
• Utility-focused controllers and initiators: Bandit gives you kill pressure while still leaving credits for smokes, flashes, or recon utility that define your role.
• Passive sentinels: Classic or Ghost often make more sense if your value comes from setups, traps, and crossfires rather than direct dry duels.

If you already have a good headshot percentage, Bandit amplifies your strengths without punishing misses as brutally as Sheriff. Players who rely more on holding spray or burst angles will usually feel safer on Ghost or Classic unless the economy allows some experimentation.

Quick Recommendations

To keep things actionable, here are the simplest rules you can apply in your ranked games:

• Pick Bandit when you want high headshot damage, a forgiving follow-up shot, and strong value in pistol or force rounds.
• Pick Sheriff when you are confident in long-range aim and don’t mind investing more credits and dealing with tougher recoil.
• Stick with Classic or Ghost when you are saving, playing a supportive role, or prefer consistent spam and clean recoil over high-risk, high-reward hero shots.

If you deliberately match your pistol choice to the map, your role, and the round economy, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in pistol-round conversions and eco-round upsets.

FAQs

Is Bandit better than Sheriff in Valorant?

Bandit is better for close to mid-range fights where you want one-tap headshot potential but don’t want to commit heavy credits or deal with the strict recoil pattern of Sheriff. Sheriff is still the superior choice for long-range duels and wall-bang situations.

Should I buy Bandit or Ghost on pistol round?

If you trust your flicks and crosshair placement, buy Bandit for maximum kill pressure against armored targets. If you prefer calmer gunfights with more controlled sprays and quieter shots, Ghost will feel more natural and consistent.

Does Bandit one-shot through armor?

At close and medium ranges, a clean Bandit headshot can one-shot fully armored opponents, which makes it extremely dangerous on tight angles and early-round peeks. At longer ranges, damage falloff kicks in, so you should avoid taking extended, cross-map duels expecting guaranteed one-taps.