Marshal vs Operator: the best sniper in Valorant, pros and cons
We are not debating about the best sniper rifle in Valorant - as the answer is obvious - but when we should prefer Marshal or Operator.
Sniper rifles are high-risk and high-reward weapons. You lose the comfort of all CQC and mid-range fights, but you gain a massive advantage over every other weapon in the game at a distance.
Marshal overview
The Marshal is a quick firing, accurate, eco option. It excels at taking out unarmored targets at a distance, making it the perfect choice for attacking/holding long-range areas following a successful pistol round.
Boasting a high rate of fire (for a sniper) and impressive unscoped accuracy, this weapon can be utilized in multiple situations you normally wouldn’t be able to with a sniper.
Pros:
One of the most affordable weapons.
High eco value.
One-tap unarmored targets in the chest/head.
One-tap any target with a headshot.
High rate of fire (for a sniper).
Good sized magazine.
High unscoped accuracy.
Cons:
Weak in many situations.
Poor CQC ability.
Medium wall penetration.
ADS increases accuracy and decreases fire rate.
Operator overview
The Operator (OP) is a one-shot killing machine. Facing an enemy who performs well with the Operator is one of the most frightening situations to defend/attack against.
The Operator has a high cost, low rate of fire, and a small magazine, so it is essential to perform well with it in order to get your money’s worth.
This weapon attracts lots of people because it can single-handedly win rounds before a team fight even begins.
Pros:
The strongest weapon in the game (per bullet).
High Wall penetration.
One-tap any target anywhere on the chest/head.
Foot shots lower the target to about 20hp, making them an easy kill with a sidearm.
High accuracy when ADS.
Cons:
Most expensive weapon in the game.
Worst Eco value.
Abysmal unscoped accuracy.
Poor CQC ability.
Slow rate of fire.
If you die with an OP and the enemy picks it up, they receive tremendous value for free.
ADS increases accuracy tremendously. It offers both 2.5x and 5x zoom options.
When to use Marshal or Operator
If you don’t have enough money to buy Operator and Armor, it is extremely recommended that you don’t buy the Operator at all.
However, there is a loadout nicknamed “Glass Cannon” in which you buy this gun with no armor, allowing for quicker access to the Operator, with a high risk. You need to be on point with your shots, and in a position to back off and save yourself if things go wrong.
If you have enough money for Operator, Armor, and abilities, you should double check your team’s economy and the enemy one, before you make the purchase.
If the enemies don’t have long-range weapons, the Operator might have a devastating impact.
If they are able to Full Buy, but your team is not, it is preferable to Light Buy, Save with your team, or even purchase a weapon for your teammates, and switch to the cheaper Marshal.
Marshal vs Operator
The Marshal’s unscoped accuracy and rate of fire, coupled with its high damage output, makes this cheap gun a solid option when trying to build a strong economy.
The Marshal has the ability to one-tap at any distance, and it is much lighter than the Operator, allowing your agent to be more mobile while using it: juggle peeking, AD strafing, wide peeking, and boosting/dashing in with abilities will be much more effective when using the Marshal over the Operator.
The Marshal is the perfect tool to peek long angles, trying to damage opponents, and forcing them to fall back and heal, or to reposition as they are too weak to take on a team full face. This allows Phantom users to come in and clean up, after the initial shots have been fired.
The Operator is a menace when used properly. After each shot, switch to your knife to duck behind cover faster, prepare your next shot, peek out and repeat the process.
If you find yourself missing, and the enemy is peeking you, it’s time to either outsmart them through the use of abilities (such as Sova’s arrow + wallbang) or by repositioning to a different location.
Peeking in the same location every single time makes you predictable and easy to counter. The enemy can simply throw a smoke, blocking your sight, or wide peeking you, causing you to miss.
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Credit to Drowsy Boar who provided the information for this article.
