VALORANT Patch 7.04 Falls Short on Buffs for Unpopular Agents
The highly anticipated VALORANT Patch 7.04 is set to bring about significant changes to the metagame dominated by the likes of Jett and Skye. However, players are expressing their disappointment as the update fails to address the underpowered agents, Harbor and Deadlock, who are struggling at the bottom of their roles.
In a Reddit post dated Aug. 26, a player named Lucstar004 called out Riot Games for neglecting their favorite agents, Deadlock and Harbor. Although the bias may be evident, their point is valid.
Both Harbor and Deadlock have been suffering from low pick rates and win rates in ranked matches since their release. Harbor, while gaining some attention in pro play recently, is still not considered a viable solo controller and is only played in double-controller compositions. With their lackluster performance, players are naturally expecting Riot to address their concerns.
Deadlock’s recent release in Episode Seven, Act One allows for more time for her to establish herself in the metagame. Despite being available in VALORANT Champions Los Angeles, pro teams have chosen to stick with their tried-and-tested lineups, leaving Deadlock out of the spotlight.
However, Deadlock’s unpopularity in ranked and pro play is not due to her weakness as a sentinel. It is more likely that players are still learning to utilize her unique strengths. She offers a different playstyle compared to traditional defensive sentinels like Killjoy, Cypher, and Sage. Deadlock excels in aggressive potential and offers a wealth of stalling utility.
Harbor’s Quirks and Mastery Potential
Harbor, too, is a unique controller agent. While his flaws are apparent and can be easily exploited, his strengths require a high level of skill from the player to be valuable. In VALORANT’s ranked matches, few players are willing to invest time in practicing a niche agent instead of opting for more straightforward choices.
Fortunately, Harbor has made his mark in the pro meta, especially when paired with Viper or Brimstone. Deadlock has the potential to reach a similar level of impact once embraced by the VALORANT esports scene. However, with the ongoing VCT off-season, it may take some time for her to make her presence felt.
Riot’s Balancing Approach and Indirect Buffs
It’s important to note that Riot’s approach to balancing VALORANT’s meta often focuses more on nerfing overpowered agents rather than buffing underperforming ones. This indirectly improves the weaker agents while making smaller adjustments where necessary. Making significant buffs can have a larger impact on the game’s balance and require more adaptation.
In Patch 7.04, agents like Viper, Brimstone, and Astra have received subtle yet influential nerfs. These changes are likely to boost Harbor’s effectiveness as a solo controller. Additionally, Killjoy, currently considered the top sentinel in VALORANT, will receive a nine-point Ultimate in the next Act, indirectly improving Deadlock’s viability.
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