It’s been per week or so since Riot Video games launched Valorant’s latest Agent, the water-bending controller named Habor, and I believe it’s protected to say his impression on the meta has thus far been underwhelming. Really, I’d go as far as to say he’s maybe the worst-performing Agent at launch the sport has seen but, and I gained’t be in any respect shocked if he’s given a buff in fast order.
The issue with Harbor’s package is multifaceted however primarily boils all the way down to the truth that he’s a controller who can’t actually management areas of the map successfully. Mockingly, virtually all of his talents are targeted on blocking imaginative and prescient, and but he doesn’t work in any respect on the defensive half.
He’s significantly better suited to attacking when he virtually looks like an initiator. Consequently, Harbor is just actually serviceable as a secondary controller on most maps when there’s an Omen, Brimstone, or Astra to do the defensive heavy-lifting with standard smokes.
To be honest to Riot Video games, the event workforce behind Harbor had defined forward of his launch that the Agent was at all times supposed as a brand new possibility on maps the place Viper sees a close to 100% decide fee. And, for positive, Habor does carry out finest on Breeze, Icebox, and Pearl.
Nonetheless, as his package is presently, I simply don’t see him as a greater decide than Viper, and certainly, my expertise in Immortal elo ranked video games over the previous week means that’s the case. To not point out, too, he’s additionally a lot much less enjoyable to play than Viper and far more durable to make use of successfully.
It’s all a bit disappointing, truthfully, as we’ve waited so lengthy for a brand new controller in Valorant, and Harbor held a lot promise. He was at one level codenamed Mage and had us all dreaming up cool arcane talents that will shake the meta up in a giant manner, however his launch has been something however spellbinding. And my complaints in regards to the effectiveness of his package apart, I can’t say I’m all that excited for his inevitable buff, both. He’s only a bit boring.
Possibly that’s too harsh. Maybe if his package really labored extra successfully, I is likely to be extra enthusiastic, and I’m anticipating the inevitable buff to return quickly. I believe we’ll see each his Excessive Tide (E) and Cascade (C) talents last more, and maybe sluggish enemies extra severely, as that side of the package is comically weak.
I’d prefer to see the Cove (Q) bullet-proof smoke buffed, too, ideally retaining the protect as it’s however altering it in order that the smoke lasts even as soon as damaged. It most likely shouldn’t price anyplace close to what it does proper now, both.
The one side of Harbor’s package that I believe is efficient, distinctive, and thrilling to make use of is Reckoning (X), his final. It’s an ideal instrument for website executes and retakes, and it simply feels enjoyable to make use of, as if, lastly, your talents are literally having a tangible impact on the ebb and movement of a spherical. It’s the one a part of Harbor’s package that enemies appear to respect in the meanwhile, whereas every part else simply will get run via or destroyed.
In reality, Harbor definitely gained’t be the primary Agent who limps into the meta and requires a buff earlier than discovering his place on the roster. We’ve seen Brokers like Skye, Kayo, Phoenix, Yoru, and Neon all require buffs in a similar way.
It’s simply in these cases, their utility did no less than really feel impactful at launch; they felt helpful and thrilling to play, even when their talents wanted consideration to make them actually aggressive. Harbor simply feels outclassed and largely ineffective. It’s not the debut we needed for under the second new Agent in 2022.