Balancing games poses significant challenges, yet Riot appears to manage Valorant’s complexity well. By examining the game’s various classes, it’s clear that most Valorant Agents currently fit well into their roles. However, some challenges remain, especially with certain agents like Harbor. Here’s a Valorant Harbor Guide crafted exclusively for controller mains.
Agent Classes
- The Duelist class exhibits relative balance, although Neon presents a specific challenge. Despite this, Neon has maintained steady play rates, as have Raze, Jett, and Yoru. However, Reyna and Phoenix have historically struggled in the Duelist class. With Phoenix’s upcoming buff, there’s hope he may gain more playtime.
- The Initiator class has generally been stable. Although there were concerns about Skye’s place in the meta, especially with Split’s return, she is now seeing considerable play across both Bind and Split, indicating the Initiator class remains balanced.
- The Sentinel class features agents like Killjoy and Cypher, who remain effective. Chamber recently received a buff, while Deadlock sees occasional usage, and Sage, though somewhat underused, is set to receive a buff soon. Sage’s potential upgrade could address her limited presence.
- The Controller class includes Astra, Omen, and Viper, all of whom are currently strong. Brimstone, though not optimal for high-level play, remains one of the best-ranked agents. However, Harbor faces persistent issues, evidenced by low ranked win rates and play rates, especially since Icebox’s removal from pro play.
Harbor’s Gameplay Constraints
Harbor’s playstyle issues arise from his limited skill set. All three of his primary abilities essentially act as smokes, unlike other controllers who provide varied gameplay options. Harbor’s abilities lack flexibility, restricting his play patterns and leaving him less adaptable than other controllers, such as Omen, who also has a teleport and Paranoia ability. This lack of variety in Harbor’s abilities constrains his playability, making it challenging to balance him effectively.
Harbor’s Smokes
Harbor’s smokes pose additional limitations compared to other controllers. For instance, his teammates experience a slowdown when passing through his wall, reducing its effectiveness in certain situations. Additionally, Harbor’s smokes lack reach on larger maps, making it difficult to assist teammates from across the map, especially on the defensive side.
To improve Harbor’s viability, changes could focus on his ultimate, though Riot hesitates to make it overly powerful. Reducing its cost from seven to six or increasing its stun duration could help, but these adjustments risk making it too dominant in matches. Another option could involve adjusting Harbor’s three main abilities, although these would require significant enhancements given the strength of other controllers.
Rethinking Valorant Harbor’s Ability Design
Harbor’s kit might benefit from a more comprehensive redesign. Simple number tweaks could either render him overpowered or remain insufficient to make an impact. Riot’s exploration of larger changes could involve granting Harbor finer control over his abilities. For instance, implementing a minimap to control his wall could improve precision, or introducing a fuel-like mechanic similar to Viper’s system would allow players to allocate energy among Harbor’s abilities as needed.
Such flexibility would allow Harbor players to make strategic decisions based on the game’s specific needs, like deploying multiple Cove abilities for spike defense. Alternatively, Riot could choose to revamp one of Harbor’s abilities altogether, creating new opportunities for his role in the Controller
