Overwatch 2: Zarya Guide

Zarya Guide for Overwatch 2! Covers her usage, counter strategies, weapon damage, headshot multiplier, damage falloff, and more.

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▶ Zarya Skin List

Balance Adjustment

Adjustment on February 7, 2023

Adjustment Details
Graviton Surge ULT	Decreased The required cost increased by 8%.

Raised Ultimate Cost and Reduced Rotation Rate for Zarya

Zarya's ultimate cost has been increased, diminishing the frequency of restraining enemies. While previously effective for gathering enemies in one spot and coordinating with other ultimates, the heightened cost necessitates careful consideration of when to deploy it.

Basic Performance and Evaluation

Hero	Category Evaluation

Strongest Ranking	Role	HP
	Tank	475

Role	Tank Becomes more resistant to crowd control effects. Also, the ultimate charge rate of the hero dealing damage and healing is reduced compared to usual.
Unique	Energy Damage blocked by barriers increases Particle Cannon damage.

Dual Barriers to Enhance HP

Zarya stands out as a formidable character capable of providing barriers for both allies and herself. These barriers serve various purposes, facilitating engagement in combat or a quick disengagement, making them accessible for players of all skill levels.

Powerful Combination of Passive Skills and Barriers

Zarya's passive skills amplify her main weapon's damage for each damage instance blocked by barriers. Utilizing barriers for herself, she can draw enemy attention and efficiently eliminate adversaries with the enhanced firepower of her main weapon. Collaborate with support characters for effective frontline engagement.

Limited Retreat Options due to Low Mobility

Zarya lacks mobility abilities, making it challenging to escape when targeted by high-mobility damage characters. While her Ultimate and Barrier offer some retreat options, it's advisable to fall back cautiously, especially if support characters are taken down first.

Strategy Guide

Boost Firepower by Absorbing Enemy Attacks

Enhance Zarya's firepower by actively absorbing enemy attacks. When deploying a barrier with her Ability and absorbing enemy fire, Zarya's energy increases. With maximum energy (100), Zarya's firepower becomes exceptionally potent, surpassing even Damage Role heroes. Therefore, actively absorbing enemy attacks is advisable to accumulate energy.

Hold Position during Ability Cooldown

Exercise caution and avoid moving forward during Ability cooldown when Zarya lacks her barrier. While Zarya possesses both firepower and support capabilities, her limited mobility makes her vulnerable to focused gunfire without the protective barrier. Move forward strategically when the cooldown is complete to maintain a robust frontline presence.

Steer Clear of Fights with Low Energy

Zarya should refrain from engaging in battles with low energy levels. Her firepower peaks at full energy, ensuring quicker enemy eliminations. Engaging enemies with low energy prolongs the time to defeat them, making Zarya more susceptible to enemy attacks. Actively accumulate energy before entering combat to maximize effectiveness.

Countermeasures

Sombra Countering Zarya

Sombra emerges as a strong counter to Zarya due to her ability to hack, which disables Zarya's crucial barriers. Without the ability to deploy barriers, Zarya's damage potential is significantly reduced, making Sombra an effective choice as a counterpick.

Isolation and Swift Elimination

To neutralize Zarya's damage-boosting capabilities, employ strategies to isolate her. Roadhog's Chain Hook can be instrumental in singling out Zarya, allowing the team to focus fire and eliminate her swiftly before her damage amplification becomes a threat.

Compatible Characters

Close-range Damage Characters

Examples of Close-range Damage Characters
Genji	Tracer	Reaper

Support Characters who Break into Enemy Lines

Zarya's passive ability, which increases her weapon's power with damage blocked, provides a strategic advantage when supporting aggressive allies. Utilizing Projected Barrier on characters like Genji, Tracer, and Reaper not only shields them from harm but also boosts Zarya's own firepower. This symbiotic relationship enhances your team's offensive capabilities, creating a powerful synergy between Zarya and high-damage, close-quarters allies. Coordination and timing are crucial for effectively combining defensive support with increased offensive output.

Ability, Details, and Use

Particle Barrier

Attract enemies before using it

Particle Barrier is best used after attracting enemies. The enemy is wary of Zarya's damage increase, so they will try to target anyone other than Zarya. It is recommended to focus on dealing damage on the front lines, but once they start dealing damage to you, deploy the barrier to increase your own damage.

Avoid consuming two charges at once

Particle Barrier is also Zarya's lifeline, so it is best to avoid consuming two charges at once. Zarya lacks mobility when retreating, so it is difficult to escape without being able to deploy the barrier. Keep an eye on the cooldown and consciously preserve at least one barrier when retreating.

Projected Barrier

Protecting Supports from Flanks

Use Projected Barrier to protect Support heroes from attacks by flankers. To avoid the situation where Supports get taken down and cannot heal, it is important to be vigilant not only on the frontline but also towards the rear.

Effective on Heroes that Harass the Enemy Team

Projected Barrier is effective in recovering energy when applied to flankers who harass the enemy team. Since flankers like Genji, Sombra, Tracer, and Reaper engage in battles further ahead than Zarya does, it is easier to apply the barrier to them and also accumulate energy due to the concentrated enemy attacks.

Heroes that harass the enemy team

【ULT】Graviton Surge

Coordinate with Your Teammate's ULT

Graviton Surge excels when utilized in tandem with your teammate's Ultimate. Its ability to gather enemies in one location makes it particularly effective when paired with offensive Ultimates. Keep an eye on your teammate's Ultimate charge status and synchronize the usage for maximum impact.

Character with compatible ULT

Capture 2 or More Non-Tank Heroes

Aim to ensnare 2 or more non-tank heroes with Graviton Surge. Restraining multiple enemies provides a substantial numerical advantage. It's advisable to prioritize capturing low-health enemies in support or damage roles and swiftly eliminate them to tilt the battle in your team's favor.

Story

Origin Story (External Site)

Tank
Ramattra Release Date and Features	D.Va How to Play Skin List
Winston How to Play Skin List	Orisa How to Play Skin List
Zarya How to Play Skin List	Sigma How to Play Skin List
Junker Queen How to Play Skin List	Doomfist How to Play Skin List
Reinhardt Playstyle　Skin List	Wrecking Ball Playstyle　Skin List
Roadhog Playstyle　Skin List	-

Damage
Ashe Playstyle　Skin List	Widowmaker Playstyle　Skin List
Echo Playstyle　Skin List	Cassidy Playstyle　Skin List
Genji Playstyle　Skin List	Symmetra Playstyle　Skin List
Junkrat Strategy Skin List	Sojourn Strategy Skin List
Soldier:76 Strategy Skin List	Sombra Strategy Skin List
Torbjörn Strategy Skin List	Tracer Strategy Skin List
Hanzo Strategy Skin List	Bastion Performance Evaluation Skin List
Pharah Gameplay Guide　Skin List	Mei Gameplay Guide　Skin List
Reaper Gameplay Guide　Skin List	-

Support
Ana Gameplay Guide　Skin List	Zenyatta Gameplay Guide　Skin List
Baptiste Gameplay Guide　Skin List	Mercy Gameplay Guide　Skin List
Moira Strategy Guide　Skin List	Lucio Strategy Guide　Skin List

Character List and Role Types

Strongest Character Ranking

Strongest Characters arranged by Roles
Tank	Damage	Support

Strongest Character Ranking