Who Beats Zarya in Overwatch 2? A Comprehensive Guide

Zarya, the weightlifting tank from Russia, remains a formidable force in Overwatch 2. Her ability to absorb damage with her Particle Barrier and Projected Barrier, and then unleash that absorbed energy in a devastating beam, makes her a tough opponent. However, she’s far from invincible. To answer the core question directly: heroes that can either out-damage her barrier, deny her charge, or exploit her lack of mobility are best suited to counter Zarya. Specifically, heroes like Bastion, Ashe, Cassidy, and Sojourn in the DPS role, and Winston and Ramattra in the Tank role, are often good choices against her. Understanding why these heroes are effective and how to play them against Zarya is key to consistently defeating her. Let’s dive deeper.

Understanding Zarya’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Before we explore specific counters, it’s crucial to understand Zarya’s kit and how it functions. Her core strength lies in her ability to convert incoming damage into offensive power. Her barriers charge her weapon, increasing its damage output. If you blindly shoot into her bubbles, you’re essentially fueling her. Zarya’s also relatively immobile, especially when her barriers are on cooldown.

Here’s a breakdown of her key strengths:

• High sustained damage output: Once charged, Zarya’s beam can melt through opponents.
• Strong survivability: Her barriers provide significant damage mitigation for herself and her teammates.
• Ultimate ability (Graviton Surge): A powerful crowd control tool that traps enemies in a confined area, allowing for devastating follow-up attacks.

Conversely, Zarya’s weaknesses include:

• Low mobility: She lacks any mobility abilities, making her vulnerable to being flanked or kited.
• Dependence on barrier management: If her barriers are baited out or effectively countered, she becomes an easy target.
• Weak at long ranges: Her primary fire has limited range, making her less effective against heroes who can stay at a distance.

Top Counters to Zarya in Overwatch 2

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s examine specific heroes that excel at countering Zarya.

DPS Heroes

• Bastion: As the article notes, Bastion remains a potent counter to Zarya. In his Sentry Configuration, Bastion can shred through Zarya’s bubbles in seconds, denying her charge and leaving her vulnerable. Focus fire on Zarya when she’s exposed, and reposition to avoid her beam.
• Ashe: Ashe’s consistent damage output, combined with the utility of Dynamite, makes her a strong pick against Zarya. Dynamite forces Zarya to use her bubbles defensively, and Ashe’s long-range capabilities allow her to pressure Zarya from a safe distance. Use Dynamite to force Zarya to bubble.
• Cassidy: Cassidy’s high burst damage potential, particularly with Fan the Hammer or his Magnetic Grenade, can quickly eliminate Zarya before she has a chance to react. A well-placed Magnetic Grenade can force out a bubble or secure a kill.
• Sojourn: Sojourn’s Railgun allows her to deal significant burst damage at long ranges, forcing Zarya to play more cautiously. If Zarya gets too close, Sojourn’s Disruptor Shot can slow her down and make her an easier target. Keep your distance and use Disruptor Shot to zone Zarya.
• Reaper: While it might not be the most obvious choice, Reaper’s ability to be protected and heal with wraith form and his ability to teleport behind Zarya can be a great counter. Focus fire behind Zarya with your tanks. Also, death blossom can be used when she bubbles her teammates to still be able to damage them.

Tank Heroes

• Winston: Winston’s mobility allows him to dive onto Zarya and disrupt her positioning. His Tesla Cannon can bypass her bubbles (though it won’t charge her), making it difficult for her to sustain herself. Use Jump Pack to engage and disengage, forcing Zarya to waste her bubbles.
• Ramattra: Ramattra’s Nemesis Form provides him with increased armor and damage, allowing him to brawl effectively with Zarya. His Pummel ability pierces barriers, dealing direct damage to Zarya. Use Nemesis Form strategically to pressure Zarya and break her shield.

Support Heroes

While Supports don’t directly “counter” Zarya, certain supports provide abilities that can nullify Zarya’s damage output, such as Baptiste’s Immortality Field. Another example is Zenyatta, his discord orb will force the Zarya to use her shields on herself. Also, her lack of mobility makes her an easy target for Zenyatta.

General Strategies for Playing Against Zarya

Beyond hero picks, here are some overarching strategies to keep in mind when facing Zarya:

• Avoid feeding her charge: Don’t blindly shoot into her bubbles. Wait for them to expire or focus fire on other targets.
• Coordinate focus fire: Zarya is most vulnerable when her bubbles are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to focus fire on her when she’s exposed.
• Punish her positioning: Zarya’s lack of mobility makes her susceptible to being outflanked and punished for poor positioning.
• Track her cooldowns: Knowing when her bubbles are available is crucial for planning your engagements.
• Communicate: Communicate with your team about Zarya’s bubble cooldowns and positioning.

FAQs About Countering Zarya

1. Does Reinhardt counter Zarya?

No, Reinhardt typically doesn’t counter Zarya. She out-damages him and can easily outlast him with her bubbles. While a well-timed Pin can disrupt her, it’s not a consistent counter.

2. Is Sombra good against Zarya?

The article offers conflicting perspectives. While Sombra can hack Zarya, Zarya can bubble allies to protect them from the hack. Sombra can however disable Zarya’s abilities which can be useful to allow teammates to take her out.

3. Who can escape Zarya’s Graviton Surge?

Several heroes can escape Graviton Surge, including Moira (Fade), Reaper (Wraith Form), Orisa (Fortify), Mei (Cryo-Freeze), and players resurrected by Mercy (during the invulnerability effect).

4. Is Zarya unkillable in Total Mayhem?

Zarya is extremely difficult to kill in Total Mayhem due to the significantly reduced cooldown on her bubbles. This allows her to constantly shield herself and her allies, making her incredibly resilient.

5. Does Winston’s ultimate damage Zarya through her barrier?

Yes, if Winston uses his ultimate and starts to swing at Zarya, it will now knock her back even if a protective barrier is active, since melee attacks pierce barriers.

6. Does D.Va counter Symmetra?

No, not at all! D.Va is actually countered by Symmetra due to her defensive abilities not covering beam weapons. D.Va just becomes a charge bot for Symmetra.

7. How important is it to track Zarya’s cooldowns?

Extremely important. Knowing when Zarya’s bubbles are on cooldown allows you to coordinate focus fire and punish her aggressively.

8. Is Zarya A Boy or a girl?

Zarya is a woman. Aleksandra “Zarya” Zaryanova is a Russian woman introduced in the 2016 first-person shooter Overwatch.

9. What does Zarya’s tattoo mean?

Zarya’s ‘512’ tattoo refers to her weightlifting record of 512 kg (1128.7 lbs).

10. Can you break Zarya’s bubble?

Yes, you can break Zarya’s bubble. If you see a Zarya glowing, absolutely shoot through her bubble.

11. What tanks avoid playing into Symmetra?

Avoid D.Va and Doomfist as they’re very weak to beam damage.

12. Why does Bastion counter Zarya?

Bastion is one of the best damage heroes to counter Zarya. In his Sentry configuration, Bastion can easily shred through Zarya’s barrier, making her nothing but a mere fly on the battlefield.

13. Is Rein stronger than Zarya?

Rein may have been able to give Zarya a run for her money in his prime, but he isn’t in his prime anymore. Zarya would likely beat him in a 1v1 fight.

14. Does Symmetra do more damage than Zarya?

Symmetra’s max damage is 180 dps, slightly more than Zarya’s 170 dps at max charge. However, Zarya has more health, defensive abilities and better range.

15. Who is the least picked ow2 hero?

Wrecking Ball currently holds the title of the least picked hero in Overwatch 2.

Conclusion

While Zarya is a powerful tank in Overwatch 2, she’s by no means unbeatable. By understanding her strengths and weaknesses, choosing appropriate counter heroes, and employing smart gameplay strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of success against her. Remember that teamwork and communication are paramount to victory. For more insights into gaming and learning, consider exploring the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.