How To Defeat Harper in Black Ops 7

The Harper boss fight in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is one of the strangest yet most memorable moments in the campaign.

It happens during the mission Fracture, in which the Joint Special Operations Command team is forced to relive their worst memories.

For Harper, that experience pushes him past his limit, turning him into a massive, monstrous version of himself.

It’s a wild twist that had players both confused and entertained, with many joking online that they couldn’t believe this was happening in the same universe as the classic Black Ops games.

Bizarre or brilliant, Harper isn’t someone you can easily take down. The fight demands sharp reflexes, good positioning, and smart use of abilities if you want to survive. 

What Loadout and Abilities Should You Use?

Preparation is key, so equip the Grapple Hook minor ability as it’s your lifeline when Harper’s explosive attacks begin.

Credit: Activision

The Crash Cart's major ability is just as important since it lets you revive teammates instantly, which you’ll definitely need once the arena fills with chaos.

When it comes to weapons, prioritize light machine guns, sniper rifles, or RPGs that you can find scattered around the battlefield.

These weapons offer the best balance between sustained fire and high damage output. Secure cover or high ground as soon as the battle begins, since the boss’s area damage can wipe out anyone in the open.

What Happens in Phase 1?

Start unloading your shots right away, focusing on his upper body and head for maximum damage.

Credit: Activision

During this opening phase, Harper relies mostly on two key attacks. His first move is the Ground Slam Shockwave, where he lifts his arm overhead and strikes the ground, sending a visible wave of force outward.

The best way to avoid this is to either jump over the shockwave or position yourself on an elevated platform where the blast can’t reach.

During Bomb Breath, Harper breathes out multiple explosive bursts that sweep through wide parts of the arena.

When you see him wind up for this move, use your Grapple Hook to quickly zip to safety or duck behind sturdy cover, then return to your platform once the explosions stop.

These attacks trade off at a fixed rhythm, making their pattern easy to recognize after a few repeats. Maintain your mobility and aim while pouring fire into him.

Once his health bar dips to about a quarter, Harper drops to the ground, and the next phase begins with waves of infected flooding in.

What Should You Do Between Phases?

When Harper goes down, hordes of infected flood the area. Take them out quickly; this round is your breather.

Credit: Activision

While doing so, look for loot crates near where Harper previously attacked. These often contain stronger weapons or a Self-Revive Kit, which can save your life if you’re downed later.

Use this short window to reload, swap weapons if needed, and get back onto elevated ground before Harper returns.

Many players underestimate this in-between phase, but skipping these crates makes the later stages significantly tougher.

How Do You Handle Phase 2?

Harper rises again, escalating the battle by continuing his assaults and introducing devastating mortar fire.

Credit: Activision

You’ll see glowing outlines on the ground where mortars are about to land. Move as soon as you spot them.

Once the explosions subside, get back to your firing position and keep the pressure on. At this point, teamwork and ability timing matter most.

The overlapping mortar zones and stray mobs can overwhelm uncoordinated players, so keep an eye on teammates and use Crash Cart if anyone drops.

The Grapple Hook quickly turns into your lifeline again as Harper’s explosives gain power, making fast climbs and dodges the key to staying alive.

What Happens in Phase 3?

Once Harper’s health dips to the final third, the environment itself starts turning against you.

Credit: Activision

A dense red mist begins creeping in from the edges of the arena, pushing everyone closer to Harper.

Stay outside the highlighted zone too long and you’ll start taking steady damage, so step in quickly and keep your guard up.

The closer you get, the harder his attacks are to dodge. Stick to elevated cover whenever possible. His slam attack and bomb breath now come faster and hit harder, and the gas makes the space feel claustrophobic.

Grapple Hook and Flicker (if you have it equipped) can help you dash through tight situations, especially when Harper lines up consecutive slams.

Keep moving and shooting; hesitation or losing track of the safe platforms is what usually gets people killed. When his health bar hits zero, Harper falls in a dramatic cutscene that wraps up one of the story’s most surreal sequences.

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