Black Ops 7 Boss Guide: How to Beat Harper The giant Harper boss fight in Mission 7 can be tough, but with the right abilities, weapons, and positioning, you can bring him down fast

One of the wildest moments in the Black Ops 7 campaign comes when Harper — played by Michael Rooker — loses control during a traumatic flashback and transforms into a towering, Godzilla-sized monster. The entire JSOC squad is forced to relive their worst memories, and Harper’s breakdown becomes one of the game’s biggest boss encounters.

The fight takes place during Fracture, the seventh mission of the campaign, and serves as a major step before you unlock Endgame mode. While the scale of the encounter is intimidating, this battle becomes much easier if you use the right abilities and understand Harper’s attack patterns.

🪝 Best Loadout and Abilities for the Fight

Before jumping in, make sure you’re equipped with:

Grapple Hook (Minor Ability) — Perfect for dodging explosives and escaping danger quickly.
Crash Cart (Major Ability) — Lets you instantly revive teammates during chaos-heavy moments.

The Grapple Hook in particular is extremely valuable here, letting you reposition when Harper floods the field with bombs or shockwaves.

💥 Phase One — Dodge the Shockwaves and Bomb Breath

Harper is vulnerable from the moment the fight begins. Open fire immediately, focusing on his head and chest for maximum damage. Any weapon works, but the best choices are:

LMGs
Sniper rifles
Anti-vehicle RPGs

You can grab all of these from the ground around the arena.

Harper’s Attacks in Phase 1

AoE Shockwave Slam
He slowly lifts his hand, then slams the ground, sending a shockwave across the entire battlefield. Jump or use elevated platforms to avoid damage completely.
Explosive Bomb Breath
Harper spits a barrage of bombs in your direction. Stay mobile and use Grapple Hook if you get boxed in.

How to Handle Phase 1

Stand on any of the raised objects scattered around the arena — these negate his shockwave and give you safe angles to shoot him. Only jump down when Harper fires bombs or when repositioning becomes unavoidable.

Once you drain roughly 25% of his health, Harper collapses and you’ll need to clear a wave of infected mobs.

🔫 Phase Two — Fight Off Mobs and Avoid Mortars

As soon as the infected spawn, check the crates that appear near Harper’s last attack zone. These can contain:

Better weapons
High-damage gear
A Self-Revive Kit, which is extremely useful for this phase

Clear out the mobs quickly, then prepare for Harper’s return.

New Attack in Phase 2

Mortar Strike
Harper rains explosives across the arena. Fortunately, the blast zones are clearly marked — move as soon as you see the outlines appear.

When Harper reappears, return to nearby platforms and continue firing at him. Surviving this phase is all about staying mobile and watching for mortar indicators.

🔴 Phase Three — Red Gas and Close-Range Chaos

Once Harper drops to his final third of health, he unleashes a red toxic gas that floods the arena. This forces you inward toward a highlighted safe zone.

What to Do in Phase 3

Move toward the red-outlined safe area
Find a platform you can jump onto for shockwave protection
Keep sustained fire on Harper
Use Grapple Hook (or Flicker) to dodge the faster projectiles and heavy attacks

This final phase is the most dangerous because you’re now close enough for Harper’s attacks to hit more reliably. Staying high and keeping your movement unpredictable is key.

Final Strategy

The formula remains the same:

Stay on elevated objects
Jump over shockwaves
Grapple away from explosives
Keep shooting until the health bar fully drains

With patience and clean dodging, you’ll eventually bring Harper down and complete one of the most memorable encounters in Black Ops 7.

🔥 Final Thoughts

The giant Harper fight is chaotic at first, but once you learn his attack patterns and keep your movement tight, it becomes a quick and satisfying takedown. Bring the right abilities, prioritize safe platforms, and stay aggressive throughout each phase.