The Most Popular Skins in Valorant (September Update)
What Are the Most Popular Skins in VALORANT?
Across 60,024 verified VALORANT player inventories collected between February and September 2026, the default skin is the single most equipped option on every weapon in the game. These are the headline numbers; the full per-weapon rankings follow below.
- On the Vandal, 20.5% of players run the default model, the lowest default share of any weapon in the game. The most equipped purchased Vandal skin is Gaia's Vengeance Vandal at 9.8%.
- The Bandit has the highest default-skin share at 60.0%, so most players never replace it.
- The most equipped non-default skin in the dataset is Soulburst Bandit, equipped by 21.3% of players on the Bandit.
- Acquisition source splits sharply by weapon class: 78.4% of rifle skins in use were bought from the store, against only 13.4% for shotguns, where 47.0% come from the Battle Pass instead.
Figures measure which skin a player has equipped, not which skins they own. Sample: 60,024 inventories from players worldwide, February to September 2026, collected via the open-source valorant-watcher volunteer network.
Since February 2026, a growing number of volunteers have been running valorant-watcher, an open-source background process that collects client telemetry the official VALORANT API normally doesn't expose, weapon skins among them. It is a lightweight process (roughly 20MB RAM) installed in three clicks that runs quietly in the background without touching third-party tracker rate limits or interfering with game performance.
Anyone can run it, and in return receive advanced tracker telemetry: full inventory breakdowns, average agent select times, relaxed website rate limits, early access to new features, and visibility into penalties and level progression.
Feeding off that expanding pool of volunteers, this Version 2 (V2) release scales our dataset from the July 7 baseline of 13,151 inventories up to 60,024 verified player inventories (+356% data expansion). Beyond the core weapon rankings, we expanded the scope with deeper analysis on Macro Metas: how often players purchase skins from the store versus the Battle Pass for weapon classes like assault rifles.
Compared to the previous report, this one runs on a far larger pool of inventories:
Explore the 60,000+ Rankings
Pick any weapon to inspect its telemetry, variant breakdown, and top 10 skin rankings:
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Vandal |  | — | 20.5% |
| 2 | Gaia's Vengeance Vandal |  | 9.8% | |
| 3 | Prelude to Chaos Vandal |  | 6.3% | |
| 4 | Kuronami Vandal |  | 5.9% | |
| 5 | Prime Vandal |  | 5.0% | |
| 6 | Primordium Vandal |  | 4.7% | |
| 7 | Reaver Vandal |  | 4.7% | |
| 8 | Rogue Vandal |  | 3.0% | |
| 9 | RGX 11z Pro Vandal |  | 3.0% | |
| 10 | Forsaken Vandal |  | 2.8% |
View all 20 weapon tables simultaneously
Classic (Sidearm)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Classic |  | — | 28.6% |
| 2 | Interhelm Classic |  | 6.9% | |
| 3 | Prime Classic |  | 5.6% | |
| 4 | Spectrum Classic |  | 4.2% | |
| 5 | Bubble Pop Classic |  | 4.2% | |
| 6 | Tacti-Guild Classic |  | — | 3.4% |
| 7 | ATLAS // CMD Classic |  | — | 2.3% |
| 8 | Blackthorn Classic |  | 2.0% | |
| 9 | Nocturnum Classic |  | 1.9% | |
| 10 | Shimmer Classic |  | 1.9% |
Shorty (Sidearm)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Shorty |  | — | 34.3% |
| 2 | Snakebite Shorty |  | — | 6.9% |
| 3 | Intertwine Shorty |  | — | 6.9% |
| 4 | Dragon Gate Shorty |  | — | 4.9% |
| 5 | Perch Shorty |  | 3.7% | |
| 6 | Karabasan Shorty |  | — | 3.5% |
| 7 | Heartseeker Shorty |  | — | 3.4% |
| 8 | Doom Wing Shorty |  | — | 3.3% |
| 9 | Sidekick Shorty |  | — | 3.0% |
| 10 | Oni Shorty |  | 2.6% |
Frenzy (Sidearm)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Frenzy |  | — | 32.4% |
| 2 | Montage Frenzy |  | 14.1% | |
| 3 | Insidious Frenzy |  | — | 6.3% |
| 4 | Oni Frenzy |  | 2.9% | |
| 5 | Live Wire Frenzy |  | — | 2.8% |
| 6 | Spitfire Frenzy |  | — | 2.7% |
| 7 | Glitchpop Frenzy |  | 2.6% | |
| 8 | Haloform Frenzy |  | — | 2.6% |
| 9 | Paceline Frenzy |  | — | 2.4% |
| 10 | Spellbound Frenzy |  | — | 2.4% |
Ghost (Sidearm)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Ghost |  | — | 22.1% |
| 2 | Sovereign Ghost |  | 8.4% | |
| 3 | Gaia's Vengeance Ghost |  | 5.8% | |
| 4 | Sky Reaper Ghost |  | 5.2% | |
| 5 | Reaver Ghost |  | 5.0% | |
| 6 | Kuronami Ghost |  | 5.0% | |
| 7 | Heartstopper Ghost |  | 4.8% | |
| 8 | Phaseguard Ghost |  | 4.0% | |
| 9 | XERØFANG Ghost |  | 3.9% | |
| 10 | Evori Dreamwings Ghost |  | 3.5% |
Bandit (Sidearm)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Bandit |  | — | 60.0% |
| 2 | Soulburst Bandit |  | 21.3% | |
| 3 | Crash Out Bandit |  | — | 6.3% |
| 4 | Reaver Bandit |  | 6.1% | |
| 5 | Rogue Bandit |  | 4.8% | |
| 6 | Aeris Bandit |  | 1.8% | |
| 7 | Gourmand Bandit |  | — | 1.1% |
| 8 | SilkLeaf Bandit |  | — | 0.2% |
Sheriff (Sidearm)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Sheriff |  | — | 21.3% |
| 2 | Singularity Sheriff |  | 10.3% | |
| 3 | Neo Frontier Sheriff |  | 9.9% | |
| 4 | Keys to Elysium Sheriff |  | 8.5% | |
| 5 | Reaver Sheriff |  | 5.7% | |
| 6 | Ion Sheriff |  | — | 5.1% |
| 7 | Kuronami Sheriff |  | 5.0% | |
| 8 | Mystbloom Sheriff |  | 4.5% | |
| 9 | Solarex Sheriff |  | 2.6% | |
| 10 | Protocol 781-A Sheriff |  | 1.9% |
Stinger (SMG)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Stinger |  | — | 40.0% |
| 2 | Crash Out Stinger |  | — | 5.4% |
| 3 | Heartseeker Stinger |  | — | 4.5% |
| 4 | Refractrix Stinger |  | — | 4.0% |
| 5 | Paceline Stinger |  | — | 3.9% |
| 6 | Prelude to Chaos Stinger |  | 3.7% | |
| 7 | Celestia Stinger |  | 3.7% | |
| 8 | Sovereign Stinger |  | 2.6% | |
| 9 | Cloudweaver Stinger |  | — | 2.4% |
| 10 | Shimmer Stinger |  | 2.3% |
Spectre (SMG)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Spectre |  | — | 34.6% |
| 2 | Kuronami Spectre |  | 5.3% | |
| 3 | Sky Reaper Spectre |  | 4.5% | |
| 4 | Reaver Spectre |  | 3.9% | |
| 5 | Prime Spectre |  | 3.8% | |
| 6 | Evori Dreamwings Spectre |  | 3.2% | |
| 7 | Crash Out Spectre |  | — | 2.8% |
| 8 | Montage Spectre |  | 2.4% | |
| 9 | Soulburst Spectre |  | 2.2% | |
| 10 | Recon Spectre |  | 2.1% |
Bucky (Shotgun)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Bucky |  | — | 42.3% |
| 2 | Sky Reaper Bucky |  | 7.1% | |
| 3 | Belaflaire Bucky |  | — | 3.9% |
| 4 | Crash Out Bucky |  | — | 3.7% |
| 5 | Stormborne Bucky |  | — | 3.2% |
| 6 | Spellbound Bucky |  | — | 2.8% |
| 7 | Moon Scout Bucky |  | — | 2.5% |
| 8 | Iridian Thorn Bucky |  | — | 2.3% |
| 9 | Prime//2.0 Bucky |  | 2.3% | |
| 10 | Bulletbox Bucky |  | — | 2.3% |
Judge (Shotgun)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Judge |  | — | 41.2% |
| 2 | Byteshift Judge |  | 5.7% | |
| 3 | Tacti-Guild Judge |  | — | 5.2% |
| 4 | Dragon Gate Judge |  | — | 4.9% |
| 5 | Interhelm Judge |  | 3.8% | |
| 6 | Mystbloom Judge |  | 3.1% | |
| 7 | Bubble Pop Judge |  | 2.8% | |
| 8 | Glitchpop Judge |  | 1.9% | |
| 9 | Shimmer Judge |  | 1.9% | |
| 10 | Elderflame Judge |  | 1.9% |
Bulldog (Rifle)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Bulldog |  | — | 39.5% |
| 2 | Intertwine Bulldog |  | — | 5.8% |
| 3 | Nocturnum Bulldog |  | 3.8% | |
| 4 | Oni Bulldog |  | 3.6% | |
| 5 | Soulburst Bulldog |  | 3.4% | |
| 6 | Heartbreaker Bulldog |  | — | 3.1% |
| 7 | Perch Bulldog |  | 3.0% | |
| 8 | Araxys Bulldog |  | 2.8% | |
| 9 | Protocol 781-A Bulldog |  | 2.0% | |
| 10 | Phaseguard Bulldog |  | 1.8% |
Guardian (Rifle)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Guardian |  | — | 34.2% |
| 2 | Sovereign Guardian |  | 5.2% | |
| 3 | Reaver Guardian |  | 5.0% | |
| 4 | Kuronami Guardian |  | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Intertwine Guardian |  | — | 4.4% |
| 6 | Prime Guardian |  | 3.3% | |
| 7 | Gaia's Vengeance Guardian |  | 2.7% | |
| 8 | Blackthorn Guardian |  | 2.3% | |
| 9 | Refractrix Guardian |  | — | 2.1% |
| 10 | CYRAX Guardian |  | 1.8% |
Phantom (Rifle)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Phantom |  | — | 25.7% |
| 2 | Recon Phantom |  | 12.2% | |
| 3 | Oni Phantom |  | 5.3% | |
| 4 | Primordium Phantom |  | 3.5% | |
| 5 | Ayakashi Phantom |  | 3.5% | |
| 6 | Reaver Phantom |  | 3.4% | |
| 7 | Kuronami Phantom |  | 3.2% | |
| 8 | Nocturnum Phantom |  | 3.0% | |
| 9 | Mystbloom Phantom |  | 2.9% | |
| 10 | Helix Phantom |  | 2.4% |
Vandal (Rifle)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Vandal | | — | 20.5% |
| 2 | Gaia's Vengeance Vandal | | 9.8% | |
| 3 | Prelude to Chaos Vandal | | 6.3% | |
| 4 | Kuronami Vandal | | 5.9% | |
| 5 | Prime Vandal | | 5.0% | |
| 6 | Primordium Vandal | | 4.7% | |
| 7 | Reaver Vandal | | 4.7% | |
| 8 | Rogue Vandal | | 3.0% | |
| 9 | RGX 11z Pro Vandal | | 3.0% | |
| 10 | Forsaken Vandal | | 2.8% |
Marshal (Sniper)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Marshal |  | — | 38.5% |
| 2 | Neo Frontier Marshal |  | 6.7% | |
| 3 | Sovereign Marshal |  | 6.5% | |
| 4 | Insidious Marshal |  | — | 6.1% |
| 5 | Kuronami Marshal |  | 5.5% | |
| 6 | Doom Wing Marshal |  | — | 3.1% |
| 7 | Gaia's Vengeance Marshal |  | 2.8% | |
| 8 | Interhelm Marshal |  | 2.6% | |
| 9 | Perch Marshal |  | 2.5% | |
| 10 | Blackthorn Marshal |  | 2.4% |
Outlaw (Sniper)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Outlaw |  | — | 51.8% |
| 2 | Keys to Elysium Outlaw |  | 7.2% | |
| 3 | Byteshift Outlaw |  | 5.6% | |
| 4 | Soulburst Outlaw |  | 3.9% | |
| 5 | RGX 11z Pro Outlaw |  | 3.8% | |
| 6 | Mystbloom Outlaw |  | 3.6% | |
| 7 | Heartseeker Outlaw |  | — | 3.5% |
| 8 | EX.O Outlaw |  | 3.1% | |
| 9 | Cloudweaver Outlaw |  | — | 3.0% |
| 10 | Overlay Outlaw |  | 2.7% |
Operator (Sniper)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Operator |  | — | 38.2% |
| 2 | Reaver Operator |  | 8.3% | |
| 3 | Forsaken Operator |  | 6.2% | |
| 4 | Kuronami Operator |  | 3.8% | |
| 5 | Ion Operator |  | — | 3.5% |
| 6 | Intertwine Operator |  | — | 3.4% |
| 7 | Mystbloom Operator |  | 2.9% | |
| 8 | Elderflame Operator |  | 2.4% | |
| 9 | Origin Operator |  | 2.0% | |
| 10 | Araxys Operator |  | 2.0% |
Ares (Heavy)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Ares |  | — | 43.7% |
| 2 | Keys to Elysium Ares |  | 8.2% | |
| 3 | Dragon Gate Ares |  | — | 3.2% |
| 4 | Montage Ares |  | 3.2% | |
| 5 | Oni Ares |  | 3.1% | |
| 6 | Mystbloom Ares |  | 3.0% | |
| 7 | Hieroscape Ares |  | — | 2.9% |
| 8 | Haloform Ares |  | — | 2.7% |
| 9 | Bumble Brigade Ares |  | — | 2.7% |
| 10 | Yoonseul Ares |  | — | 2.7% |
Odin (Heavy)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Odin |  | — | 45.4% |
| 2 | Insidious Odin |  | — | 6.3% |
| 3 | Reaver Odin |  | 5.1% | |
| 4 | Heartbreaker Odin |  | — | 4.5% |
| 5 | Doom Wing Odin |  | — | 4.2% |
| 6 | Evori Dreamwings Odin |  | 3.5% | |
| 7 | Solarex Odin |  | 3.5% | |
| 8 | Comet Odin |  | 3.0% | |
| 9 | Neo Frontier Odin |  | 2.7% | |
| 10 | Topotek Odin |  | — | 2.1% |
Melee (Melee)
| # | Name | Skin | Variants | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melee |  | — | 26.3% |
| 2 | Reaver Karambit |  | 4.5% | |
| 3 | Xenohunter Knife |  | — | 4.4% |
| 4 | Kuronami no Yaiba |  | 3.5% | |
| 5 | Prime//2.0 Karambit |  | — | 3.3% |
| 6 | Kuronami Naru-Kami |  | 3.1% | |
| 7 | XERØFANG Knife |  | 2.3% | |
| 8 | RGX 11z Pro Karambit |  | 2.1% | |
| 9 | VCT 2026 Sigil |  | 1.9% | |
| 10 | Kogitsune |  | 1.8% |
Macro Metas: Spending Distribution by Weapon Class
Cosmetic investment in Valorant follows a strict economic hierarchy. While primary rifles and melee weapons command massive discretionary store spending, secondary weapons and shotguns exhibit extreme Battle Pass reliance (the "Welfare Weapon" syndrome), with players refusing to buy them individually from the store:
| Category | Spending Distribution |
|---|---|
Sidearms | 44.8%23.5%31.7% |
SMGs | 28.3%34.4%37.3% |
Shotguns | 13.4%47.0%39.6% |
Rifles | 78.4%8.2%13.4% |
Sniper Rifles | 52.1%11.2%36.7% |
Machine Guns | 18.2%37.3%44.5% |
Knife | 63.6%17.9%18.5% |
Agent Contract Sidearms: The Zero-Dollar Economy Meta
Unlike primary rifles where 83%+ of players buy store skins, sidearms are heavily anchored by Tier 10 Agent Gear contracts. On the Shorty, free agent unlocks (16.1% of all loadouts) outright surpass paid store editions (13.4%):
| # | Agent | Skin | Sidearm | Share % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Viper | Snakebite Shorty |  | 6.8% |
| 2 |  Fade | Karabasan Shorty |  | 3.5% |
| 3 |  Gekko | Sidekick Shorty |  | 2.9% |
| 4 |  Neon | Live Wire Frenzy |  | 2.8% |
| 5 |  Phoenix | Spitfire Frenzy |  | 2.7% |
| 6 |  Killjoy | Wunderkind Shorty |  | 2.6% |
| 7 |  Omen | Soul Silencer Ghost |  | 1.8% |
| 8 |  Chamber | Finesse Classic |  | 1.7% |
| 9 |  Skye | Swooping Frenzy |  | 1.5% |
| 10 |  Jett | Game Over Sheriff |  | 1.4% |
Aggregated from 60,024 player inventories captured across in-game lobbies played by roughly 200 opted-in valorant-watcher volunteer clients. Detailed account telemetry and individual player counts are withheld to keep all player data safe. Unskinned default loadouts and all equipped skin tiers are included in all percentage calculations. Content creators are very welcome to cover this data in videos, articles, or posts, just make sure to mention valstats.site somewhere in the content when you do :) Not affiliated with or endorsed by Riot Games.