Introduction | Valorant Economy Guide
In Valorant, credits are ammo. If you run out of credits, you lose.
Aim can win you a round, but Economy Management wins you the game.
The most common reason teams lose in Platinum/Diamond is not bad aim—it’s Bad Buys. They force-buy Marshals and Sheriffs every round, never afford Vandals, and slowly bleed out 13-4.
This guide explains the mathematics of the shop and why the “Outlaw” changed everything.
Table of Contents
- The Golden Numbers (Costs & Rewards)
- The 4 Buy Types (Full, Force, Eco, Bonus)
- The Round 2 Flowchart
- The “Outlaw” Factor (Anti-Eco)
- Understanding “Loss Bonus”
- The “Hero Rifle” Strategy
- FAQ
The Golden Numbers (Costs & Rewards)
Memorize these. They dictate your decisions.
Costs (2026 Patch 11.0)
- Vandal / Phantom: 2,900
- Outlaw: 2,400 (The Shield Breaker)
- Operator: 4,700
- Heavy Shield: 1,000
- Light Shield: 400
- Full Buy (Rifle + Heavy + Utility): ~4,200 – 4,500 credits.
Rewards (Income)
- Kill: +200
- Plant Spike: +300 (For whole team)
- Win Round: +3,000
- Lose Round (Base): +1,900
The 4 Buy Types
1. Full Buy
- Goal: Maximum power.
- Loadout: Vandal/Phantom + Heavy Shield + Full Utility.
- When: You have 3900+ Credits.
2. Force Buy
- Goal: Surprise victory when you “should” save.
- Loadout: Spectre/Judge/Outlaw + Light Shield.
- When: Round 2 (after winning Pistol), or “Do or Die” at 11-12 match point.
3. The “Eco” (Save)
- Goal: Sacrifice this round to guarantee a Full Buy next round.
- Loadout: Classic/Sheriff + Maybe 1 ability.
- Limit: Do not spend below 2,000 credit reserve.
- When: Your team has ~2,000 credits. If you buy now, you will have half-armor Vandals. If you save, you have full buys next.
4. The “Bonus”
- Goal: Economic snowball.
- Scenario: You won Pistol (Round 1) and Anti-Eco (Round 2). Now it is Round 3.
- Strategy: Keep your Spectres/Bulldogs from Round 2. Do not upgrade.
- Why: The enemy has full rifles. You are expected to lose. If you kill one enemy and steal their Vandal, you won the round economically even if you lose the round.
The Round 2 Flowchart
This is where 80% of mistakes happen.
Scenario A: We WON Pistol
ACTION: FORCE BUY.
- Buy Spectre + Light Shield.
- Buy Outlaw + Light Shield.
- Why: The enemy has Classics (no armor). Your Spectres shred them. This is a “Free Round.”
- The Mistake: “Saving for an Op.” If you save Ghost in Round 2, you risk losing to a frenzy rush. Don’t be greedy. Secure the round.
Scenario B: We LOST Pistol
ACTION: FULL SAVE.
- Buy nothing. Maybe a Ghost.
- Goal: Have 3,900+ credits for Round 3.
- The Result: You lose Round 2 (expected). But in Round 3, you have Vandal + Shield vs. their Bonus Round Spectres. You now have the advantage.
Scenario C: We LOST Pistol (but got Plant)
ACTION: FORCE BUY.
- Because you got the +300 Plant money, you can afford Marshals/Sheriffs.
- You can try to steal Round 2.
The “Outlaw” Factor (Anti-Eco)
The Outlaw Sniper (Cost: 2,400) changed the economy meta.
- Damage: 140 Body Shot.
- Impact: It one-shots anyone with Light Armor (125 HP).
When to buy it:
- Round 2 (Anti-Eco): The enemy likely has no armor or light armor. The Outlaw one-taps them to the body. It is a cheat code for Round 2.
- Force Rounds: If you know the enemy is broke and buying Light Shields, just one Outlaw can stop a 5-man rush.
Understanding “Loss Bonus”
The game gives you pity money when you lose.
- 1 Loss: 1,900
- 2 Losses in a row: 2,400
- 3+ Losses in a row: 2,900 (Max Loss Bonus)
Strategic Implication:
If you are on a 5-round losing streak, you are getting 2,900 per round. That is almost a Vandal.
You can “Force Buy” Vandal + Light Shield almost every round.
- Don’t Save on Max Loss Bonus. You are getting paid to fight.
The “Hero Rifle” Strategy
You are the last player alive in a 1v4 scenario. You have a Vandal.
What do you do?
Option A: Try to Clutch
- Risk: High.
- Reward: High (Round win), Low (1-2 kills + 200 creds).
- Outcome: Usually dead. Vandal lost.
Option B: Save the Rifle (Hero Rifle)
- Run away. Hide. Let the time expire.
- Value: A Vandal costs 2,900.
- By saving, you essentially “generated” 2,900 credits for the next round.
- In the next round, you can drop that Vandal to your top fragger and buy yourself a Sheriff. You have effectively given your team a fighting chance.
Rule: If it is 1v3 or worse, and you have a Rifle -> SAVE.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is Light Shield viable in 2026?
A: Yes. The “Light Shield Meta” is real.
- Heavy Shield (50HP) costs 1,000.
- Light Shield (25HP) costs 400.
- Difference: 600 credits.
- Reality: A Phantom headshot (140 dmg) kills Light Shield instantly, but leaves Heavy Shield with 10HP. However, a Vandal headshot (160 dmg) kills BOTH instantly.
- Against Vandals, Light Shields are economically superior.
Q: Should I buy abilities or gun first?
A: Gun first. You can’t kill anyone with a Sage Wall. A Vandal with no utility is better than a Classic with full utility (usually).
Q: Can I request a drop?
A: Yes, but check your teammate’s money first. Hold TAB. If they have 6,000 and you have 2,000, right-click the gun in the shop to request. Don’t ask the guy with 3,000 to drop you—he needs it for his shield.
Q: Is the Bulldog good?
A: Yes. The Bulldog Burst Fire (ADS) is incredibly accurate and has a faster TTK (Time To Kill) than a Vandal at long range if you hit the head. It is the king of Round 2 Force Buys.