April 22, 2023
Harbor is a relatively new agent, so there is still a lot to learn regarding utilizing his abilities to their full potential. However, this guide will take you through the basics, so you can hit the ground running.
Harbor is a controller, much like Brimstone, Viper, Omen, and Astra. He is built to control sites by impairing vision and cutting off angles. Harbor’s kit comes with a variation on smokes and a unique wall, making him a solid contender for one of the most useful controllers. His ability to curve his wall and slow enemies makes him useful in disorienting opponents.
Cove (Q Ability)
Equip a sphere of shielding water. Fire to throw. Alt Fire to underhand throw. Upon impacting the ground, spawn a destructible water shield that blocks bullets.
This is a great vision-blocking ability, but it comes with an extra ability in the way it shields. This can be used not only to block vision, but also as support to block fire for yourself or your teammates.
This can be used in a multitude of different ways. However, the best course would be to use it for a safe plant. With its ability to take around 500 damage before losing its shielding, this ability is perfect for placing around sites where you or a teammate wishes to plant. This can give you extra protection allowing you or your team more time to protect a spike.
High Tide (E Ability)
Equip a wall of water. Fire to send the water forward along the ground. Hold Fire to guide the water in the direction of your crosshair, passing through the world, and spawning a wall along the water’s path. Alt-Fire while bending to stop the water early. Players hit are slowed.
This ability is similar to Viper’s wall as it blocks vision in a great area. It is also similar to Phoenix’s ability since it allows for the user to curve the wall. High Tide is highly useful since its large area of effect can block multiple points in the enemy’s vision. This alone makes Harbor a great controller since he can essentially lock down a site. Players who pass through the wall are also slowed, making them easier targets.
Cascade (C Ability)
Equip a wave of water. Fire to send the wave rolling forward and through walls. Te-Use to stop the wave. Players hit are slowed.
Cascade is a versatile smoke ability for Harbor. When attacking, Cascade can be used as a vision blocker. Since it can pass through walls, you can block a point of enemies’ vision from safety, and if an enemy decides to push through, they will be slowed, which would give you an advantage in the fight.
Cascade can be used on defense to block entry to the bomb site. If an enemy passes through, it will leave them vulnerable to attack.
Reckoning (X Ability / Ultimate)
Equip the full power of your artifact. Fire to summon a geyser pool on the ground. Enemy players in the area are targeted by successive geyser strikes. Players caught within a strike are concussed.
Though Harbor is a controller, his ultimate ability allows him to be used as an initiator in certain instances. If your team is attacking, you can use Reckoning on a site while attacking to catch enemies off guard. The ability concusses players caught in its blast for roughly two seconds. This would give the duelist on your team time to rush in and get picks.
On defense, Reckoning can be used to clear the bomb site the same way it would when attacking. If an enemy goes for a defuse and ends up caught in the concussive blast of your ultimate, it can leave them disoriented and left open for an easy pick.
The geyser strikes also give a visual queue to allies as a ring will form around the enemies’ feat before concussing them. So even if an enemy is partially hidden trying to wait out the ultimate, it is possible for you or a teammate to locate them and pick them off while they are still disoriented.
Tips and Tricks
- Cove is best used as an extra precaution when planting or defusing. Not only does it block vision, but it also shields from bullets allowing for a safer plant or defuse.
- High Tide blocks a wide area of vision and can be curved, allowing your team to move a little more freely. Enemy players who pass through the wall are also slowed, which can halt an enemy push.
- Cascade is great when attacking since it can pass through walls. This can allow you to block an enemy’s line of sight from a safe position. On defense, it can be used to block vision to a site. Enemies that pass through are slowed, making them easier to pick off.
- This is a great way to disorient opponents and allows team members to push faster and get quick picks.
While Harbor is still relatively new and has to compete with agents like Viper and Brimstone in the controller realm, I believe once people get used to his kit, he will be an agent to remember. Valorant is a game about information, and with Harbor’s Cascade and High Tide abilities, he is great for obstructing views to diminish intel. His kit is versatile for attack and defense, and the cove is one of the best ways to ensure a safe plant or defuse.
Harbor is a great agent to use to disorient your enemies because if they pass through his water, they can be slowed which would leave them vulnerable. His ultimate also concusses enemies, and the geyser that forms around enemies in wait can point out their location and make them easy targets.
Like any agent with smokes and walls, it can all come down to lineups, so be sure to get your practice in!