The Best Valorant Skins, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Valorant offers a wide variety of visually stunning weapon skins with unique animations and sound effects.
• Some skins, like the Prime Vandal, Ion Phantom, and Celestial Fan, are iconic for their design and functionality.
• Skins like the Elderflame Operator and Reaver Vandal stand out for their transformative appearances and satisfying finishers.

With every FPS game comes bundles of weapon skins that liven up the gameplay experience. Valorant is no different. Taking a page from the books of its predecessors, Riot has added tons of weapon cosmetics to its tactical shooter. In fact, when it comes to these skins, Valorant goes a step beyond. Combining smooth animations, crisp details, and incredible sound effects, Riot has redefined what skins bring to the game.

By adding new skins with every update, Valorant provides its players with a ton of variety. However, even with all the recent additions, some skins have stood the test of time and proven to be iconic. Here are some of the best skins in Valorant so far that add a nice flair to weapons in the game.

Updated on December 8, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Valorant has received tons of different weapon skins so far, and while each one comes with its own fans, some of the skin collections do stand out.

While Valorant skins never influence the gameplay, there is this debate that a few of the skin sets do give players better concentration over their aim. Although this is not true, it has already caused some skins to be more popular than others.

13 Prime Collection

Featuring One Of The Best Reload Animations

• Original Price: 7,100 VP (each version)
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee (v1 & v2)
  • Classic (v1)
  • Spectre (v1)
  • Guardian (v1)
  • Vandal (v1)
  • Frenzy (v2)
  • Bucky (v2)
  • Odin (v2)
  • Phantom (v2)

With its premium white and gold design, the Prime Collection is definitely something to show off. The pristine design, intricate details, and luxurious color scheme make it simple yet beautiful. That said, while its appearance is a major selling point, there’s more to it.

Being one of the top skins for the Vandal, this skin features crisp sound effects. So, getting those one-taps feels even more special. However, there is a downside to it. While everything else on this skin is great, its variants are a bit of a letdown. Other than that, the Prime Collection has proved to be a timeless classic.

12 Ion Collection

Satisfying Sound Effect For Shooting And Reloading

• Original Price: 7,100 VP (each version)
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee (v1 & v2)
  • Sheriff (v1)
  • Bucky (v1)
  • Operator (v1)
  • Phantom (v1)
  • Frenzy (v2)
  • Spectre (v2)
  • Ares (v2)
  • Vandal (v2)

Featuring a futuristic look, the Ion collection is a great choice for anyone wanting to keep it simple. But that doesn’t mean that the skin doesn’t pack a punch. Having a sleek color palette of white and blue, the Ion quite easily pulls off one of the best sci-fi skins in the game. It is a perfect example of a skin that does more with less.

With an energized core at its center giving it power, the Ion shoots pulses, decapitating enemies. Similarly, the animations and sound effects revolve around the theme, adding to the cinematic experience. To top it all off, the skin features an amazing finisher where the enemy explodes into a spherical electro-pulse.

11 Araxys Collection

Comes With Spectacular Equip Animation And Superb Color Variants

• Original Price: 8,700 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Shorty
  • Bulldog
  • Operator
  • Vandal

The Araxys bundle is another feat of Riot’s dedication to futuristic designs. Released in 2023, this bundle stole the hearts of the community with its incredible detailing. However, it was the Araxys Operator who took the entire spotlight. With its simplicity and captivating look, the Araxys became a go-to skin for many pro players.

Other than its stunning stock appearance, the skin features some of the best variants that players can unlock. Keeping up with the futuristic theme, the Araxys has a great finisher on it. And, the smooth gun-equipping animations and sci-fi sound effects make it a complete package.

10 Oni Collection

A Classic Skin Collection With Minimal Animations

• Original Price: 7,100 VP (each version)
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee (v1 & v2)
  • Shorty (v1)
  • Bucky (v1)
  • Guardian (v1)
  • Phantom (v1)
  • Frenzy (v2)
  • Bulldog (v2)
  • Ares (v2)
  • Vandal (v2)

The Oni collection is the perfect choice for fans who love the Japanese art form. Featuring a clean aesthetic, the Oni has some of the best artwork in the game. The Oni Phantom itself is a mystical piece that offers everything from appearance to sound effects.

While it features amazing artwork, it doesn’t overdo it. So, for anyone looking to keep things simple but classy, the Oni is the perfect choice. And, if the stock red and black variant gets boring, the Oni provides a pristine gold variant to kick things up a notch.

9 Glitchpop 2.0 Collection

Cyberpunk-Style Weapon Series With Holographic Vision

• Original Price: 8,700 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Classic
  • Phantom
  • Operator
  • Vandal

Being one of the most iconic bundles in the game, Glitchpop 1.0 had beautiful skins for every weapon. However, the Vandal in Glitchpop 2.0 was the most fitting of the futuristic cyberpunk design. This skin is anything but subtle. Featuring popping neon colors, glitchy aesthetics, and an overall over-the-top appearance, the Glitchpop 2.0 is the go-to skin for making a statement.

Embracing the cyberpunk aesthetic, the finisher on this skin is the icing on the cake. At the final kill, the Vandal explodes the enemy with a digital shockwave, providing a satisfying ending. Overall, the Glitchpop 2.0 is one of the most visually striking skins.

8 Celestial Collection

Featuring One Of The Most Innovative Melee Weapons

• Original Price: 7,100 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Frenzy
  • Judge
  • Ares
  • Phantom

With so many knife skins available, the category is competitive, to say the least. But, among them, the Celestial Fan stands out with ease. Considering that the knife is a lethal melee weapon, turning it into a fan sounds like a downgrade. But that’s simply not the case.

Relative to its name, the skin features an intricate design showcasing the themes of the cosmos. Combining stunning detail and satisfying sound effects, the Celestial collection is easily one of the most unique skins in the game. On top of that, unlike other knife skins, the Celestial fan offers different variants. So, it never gets boring.

7 Singularity Collection

Simple But Unique Reload And Equip Animations

• Original Price: 8,700 VP (v1), 6,700 VP (v2)
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee (v1 & v2)
  • Sheriff (v1)
  • Spectre (v1)
  • Ares (v1)
  • Phantom (v1)
  • Ghost (v2)
  • Vandal (v2)

The Singularity collection is perhaps the most visually stunning weapon skin in the game. Featuring an all-blacked-out look, the skin embraces the concept of black holes. And, expands on it with its incredible animations. When reloaded, the weapon deconstructs and comes back together in one satisfying motion.

Apart from the reloading animations, the Singularity Phantom has some of the best variants players can unlock. Adding to that, the finisher on it is a statement in itself. The Singularity doesn’t just kill the last man standing, it sucks them up into a large black hole and sends them to a dark infinite void.

6 Overdrive Collection

Satisfying VFX For Reload And Equip Animations

• Original Price: 8,700 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Sheriff
  • Stinger
  • Bucky
  • Vandal

Overdrive is one of the underrated skin collections in Valorant that is almost forgotten by the community. The concept is inspired by motorbike racing and the kill tag showcases a helmet.

All weapon skins are infused with an electric shock after reloading that gives it a cool look, but more than the VFX, it is the unique 3D model of weapons that makes Overdrive stand out from other skins. The sound effect is also quite satisfying.

5 Elderflame Collection

• Original Price: 9,900 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Frenzy
  • Judge
  • Operator
  • Vandal

Considered by many to be the best skin for the Operator, the Elderflame is a beast to behold. And, that is meant literally, as it transforms the stock Operator into a fire-breathing creature. The Elderflame features an iconic design with a dragon’s head on the barrel of the gun, making it nothing short of extra.

Keeping up with the dragon aesthetic, the gun inhales fire when reloaded and rains down on the enemies. To match that, the sound effects and animations are extravagant as well. And, to make it a complete package, it features a satisfying finisher that would make anyone feel like a dragon tamer.

4 Reaver Collection

Best Skin For Competitive And Pro Players

• Original Price: 7,100 VP (each version)
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee (v1 & v2)
  • Sheriff (v1)
  • Guardian (v1)
  • Operator (v1)
  • Vandal (v1)
  • Ghost (v2)
  • Spectre (v2)
  • Odin (v2)
  • Phantom (v2)

The edgy, dark, and goth appearance of the Reaver has made it one of the most desired skins in Valorant. This is the go-to choice for all the players who want an eerie aesthetic. With the iconic purple and black color scheme, the Reaver bundle is the perfect description of beautiful yet deadly.

Initially released during the beta phase, the entire Reaver bundle has been a fan-favorite from the get-go. However, the Reaver Vandal has stood out time and time again due to its sound effects, animations, and aesthetics. With dark mystical energy flowing with every shot and a stunning finisher to follow, the Reaver is timeless.

3 Prelude To Chaos Collection

Incredible Inspect Animation With Colorful Design

• Original Price: 8,700 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Shorty
  • Stinger
  • Operator
  • Vandal

Prelude To Chaos rose to fame instantly after release, and for a significant period, it was also favored by many esports players over Reaver as their competitive skin, thanks to its great sound design.

Nowadays, however, Prelude To Chaos might not have as many fans, even in the esports scene. That being said, the collection still delivers one of the best reload and inspect animations across all Valorant skins. It is well worth to have at least one weapon from this collection.

2 Kuronami Collection

Quick And Fast Reload Animation

• Original Price: 9,500 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Sheriff
  • Spectre
  • Marshal
  • Vandal

Considered by fans as the best knife skin in the game, the Kuronami No Yaiba is a piece of art. This skin is visually stunning and consists of two knives wrapped around a gold chain. On top of that, it features some of the best animations in the game. As the player strikes, both the knives swing together smoothly, decapitating anyone in the way.

While the attacking animation is stunning on its own, the equipping animation takes the skin a step further. When equipped, puffs of smoke appear that transform into the knife. However, with great animations comes a great price tag as well. The Kuronami is a skin that costs a pretty penny but is definitely worth having. Even in the beginner ranks, this knife will make anyone feel like a pro.

1 Ruination

Impressive Sound Effect And Visual Animations

• Original Price: 8,700 VP
• Collection Weapons:
  • Melee
  • Ghost
  • Spectre
  • Guardian
  • Phantom

Ruination is by far one of the greatest skin collections to be ever released in Valorant, and it also delivers one of the best Phantom skins ever. What makes Ruination feel incredible is its deep and intense sound effects for shooting, reloading, and equipping.

But other than that, the weapon also sends off a dark fog that makes it feel even better to hold in hand. Ruination never received a second version, but fans would surely love to get a Vandal skin from a new Ruination collection.