A New Agent and Patch Update Shakes Up the VALORANT Meta
The VALORANT meta has been hit by a fresh wave with the arrival of the latest agent, Harbor, coinciding with the Patch 5.08 update and the start of Episode Five, Act Three.
Harbor is a unique controller agent who stands out by not having the typical kit of multiple smokes and a disruptive ability. Instead, he excels at creating long water walls with his High Tide ability, effectively blocking off multiple angles and spots. His Cove orb comes with a bullet-absorbing shield, making it an excellent tool for fast takes and pistol rounds.
Aside from the introduction of Harbor, there weren’t many significant changes in this patch. However, there are enough updates to analyze the winners and losers of VALORANT Patch 5.08.
Winners: Pistol Round Enthusiasts
Teams that favor a fast-paced approach in pistol rounds and taking on opponents who save will greatly benefit from having Harbor on their team. His High Tide wall quickly goes up, allowing teams to secure safer spike plants compared to other controller agents. Additionally, his Cascade ability is ideal for rushing behind.
Losers: Viper Toxic Screen Gap Glitch Abusers
Patch 5.08 addresses a specific bug fix where Viper could exploit a gap glitch with her Toxic Screen walls, allowing for visibility from specific locations. This glitch was commonly used on Icebox, but it has now been resolved.
Winners: Battle Pass Owners
The Episode Five, Act Three battle pass offers an array of appealing rewards. Among them, the Starlit Odyssey skins stand out as one of the best reward skin lines released in a while, with players able to obtain the Vandal skin as early as tier 25.
Losers: Players Dependent Solely on Harbor as the Controller
While Harbor’s abilities are valuable in pistol rounds and quick-play rounds, relying on him as the sole controller for an entire match can be challenging. He lacks the ability to cover vast areas like other controllers, and he doesn’t possess a disruptive ability to impede executes or retakes like Brimstone’s incendiary, Omen’s Paranoia, or Viper’s Snakebite.
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