Start with Vandal for Consistent Ranked Climbs
With ranked mode launching soon, your shell choice determines early progression. VandalCombat offers A-tier performance in both solo and squad ranked, making it the ideal starting point. Its forgiving design helps you focus on fundamentals—Holotag positioning, extraction timing, and firefight management—without complex ability rotations.
Avoid These Common Ranked Shell Mistakes
New Runners often jump to AssassinStealth or ReconIntel for their advanced kits, but these shells punish mistakes harshly in ranked. Assassin requires perfect Holotag theft timing and has poor team utility (Solo A, Squad C). RookFlex seems safe but performs poorly across all ranked tiers (Solo C, Squad C).
Your Ranked Progression Path
After mastering Vandal fundamentals, specialize based on your playstyle. Solo players should transition to ThiefStealth (S-tier solo ranked)—its extraction focus and loot efficiency excel when Holotag targets matter. Squad players can move to DestroyerCombat (S-tier squad ranked) for maximum damage output, or TriageSupport (S-tier squad support) for consistent team extractions.
Why Early Matches Define Your Experience
Ranked uses Holotags as extraction score targets—die and lose both gear and rank points. Starting with a forgiving shell like Vandal prevents early ranking drops that make climbing harder. Master one shell's ranked positioning before experimenting with specialists.
Loadout Recommendations
Pair Vandal with M77 Assault RifleAR + Barrel Mod for flexible range coverage. The Barrel Mod extends M77 to Long range—the highest-impact ranked modification for most engagements. Add Chip Mod for core performance boosts across all weapon types.
