LOADING VALMAUK
The aggressive water Controller, reworked into a Controller-Initiator hybrid. Harbor walls off bullets and vision, slows and nearsights with a whirlpool, and sweeps sites with a reworked Reckoning.
By Mauk HK
Harbor bends water to his will, and after his rework he is best described as a Controller with a splash of Initiator. His signature Cove is a water smoke he can shield to block bullets, High Tide is a guidable wall that slows anyone who crosses it, and his Storm Surge whirlpool nearsights and slows a whole area, a genuinely Initiator-flavoured tool. He trades the clean vision denial of a pure smoker for a more aggressive, push-the-site identity.
| Ability | Key | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Tide | C | ~300 credits, no recharge post-rework (as of the current patch) | EQUIP High Tide. FIRE to send water forward along the ground; HOLD FIRE to guide it, spawning a vision-blocking Screen along the path. ALT FIRE to stop early. All players crossing it are Slowed. |
| Cove | E | Signature, free with one charge at round start (as of the current patch) | EQUIP Cove. ACTIVATE to form a water Smoke at a select location. REACTIVATE to Shield the smoke, blocking bullets that hit it. The Shielded water Smoke can be destroyed. |
| Storm Surge | Q | ~200 credits (verify in-client for the current patch) | EQUIP Storm Surge. FIRE to throw, creating an explosive whirlpool that Slows and Nearsights players within it after a short duration. |
| Reckoning | X | Ultimate, ~7 points (verify in-client for the current patch) | EQUIP Reckoning. FIRE to unleash a surge of water that barrels forward to Nearsight and Slow enemies that are hit. |
Harbor is built for executing, not delaying. His Cove and High Tide both block vision, but because Cove can be shielded to stop bullets, it is unusually safe to push directly through your own smoke. The enemy cannot pre-fire you through it. Run High Tide along your entry path so any defender crossing it is slowed, then push the Cove while it eats their bullets. He is at his best leading a push rather than sitting back.
The post-rework Storm Surge gives him real teamplay value: throw it onto a held angle to nearsight and slow the defenders so your duelist can clear them, almost like a soft concuss. Reckoning is now a forward-barrelling wave that nearsights and slows everyone it touches. Use it to clear a site on the execute or to disrupt a retake. Because High Tide no longer recharges after the rework, treat your walls as a finite resource and spend them on the plays that matter.
"Other Controllers smoke so the team can push. Harbor pushes through the smoke himself, and the bullets bounce off.
Harbor leans toward maps with long lanes and aggressive execute paths where his walls cover a push and Storm Surge can clear an angle. Breeze, Sunset and Lotus have suited his kit at points. His value shifts noticeably with reworks and balance passes (he saw a major rework in the 11.10 patch cycle), so always confirm the current map pool and his latest numbers before committing.
Tip: reactivate Cove to shield it the moment you commit to a push. An un-shielded Cove only blocks vision, but a shielded one eats the defenders bullets too, so you can walk straight through contact-free.
Medium. Harbor is mechanically straightforward, but using his walls aggressively without over-extending and timing Storm Surge with your team takes coordination. His exact role and power level have shifted with reworks, so keep an eye on patch notes.