Zarya · Tank
Zarya guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Zarya is a bruiser tank hero in Overwatch with 325 health and 225 shields (550 in total). In competitive this season (PC, Americas, Europe and Asia averaged) it wins 47.1% of its games, is picked by 4.6% of teams and banned in 41.6% of matches: tier C on our ladder.
Strengths
- Rivals fear it: banned in 41.6% of competitive matches.
- Shines on Antarctic Peninsula, Samoa and Busan (up to 50.1% won).
- Protection: Particle Barrier and Projected Barrier block or absorb damage.
Weaknesses
- Only 47.1% of competitive games won (PC, all regions): #11 of 15 tank heroes.
- Struggles on Colosseo, Ilios and Esperança (down to 44.1% won).
- Fragile for its role: 550 hit points against an average of 632 among tank heroes.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Zarya · recommended perksBalancedRecommendedOne minor and one major perk, chosen by what each one's text adds to a tank hero. Blizzard doesn't publish how often each perk is picked, so this is a reading of the perks, not a pick rate.
- Zarya · StadiumBalancedStadiumFour of the 12 Stadium powers of Zarya, chosen by what their text adds to a tank hero and spread over different abilities so no single one carries the build.
- Zarya · alternative perksUtilitySituationalThe other option of each perk level. Perks are chosen during the match, so switch to these when the enemy composition or the map asks for what they do.
Builds
Zarya · recommended perks
When to use it
One minor and one major perk, chosen by what each one's text adds to a tank hero. Blizzard doesn't publish how often each perk is picked, so this is a reading of the perks, not a pick rate.
Minor perk
Jump-UpsSecondary Fire's self-knockback is increased by 75%.
SpotterProjected Barrier activates ally health regeneration and increases their movement speed by 20%.Picked for more survival: Projected Barrier activates ally health regeneration and increases their movement speed by 20%.
Major perk
Extra OomphWhile a Barrier is active, dealing damage with Particle Cannon's beam generates energy.
Energy LanceParticle Cannon's beam pierces enemies.Picked for more damage: While a Barrier is active, dealing damage with Particle Cannon's beam generates energy.
Zarya · Stadium
When to use it
Four of the 12 Stadium powers of Zarya, chosen by what their text adds to a tank hero and spread over different abilities so no single one carries the build.
Stadium powers (4)
- 1
Here To Spot YouProjected Barrier: +20% Projected Barrier Range. Projected Barrier pulls you to the targeted ally and heals you for 30% of Max Life over 3s. - 2
LifeliftParticle Barrier: +50% Particle Barrier Size. Increase Barrier Health by 50% of Bonus Max Life from Items. - 3
Barrier BenefitsPicked for more survival: When Barriers expire, grant Overhealth equal to 100% of remaining Barrier Health to the target for 2s. - 4
Containment ShieldPicked for more survival: Barrier heals the target for 5% of your Max Life every 1s and grants 20% Move Speed while active.
Zarya · alternative perks
When to use it
The other option of each perk level. Perks are chosen during the match, so switch to these when the enemy composition or the map asks for what they do.
Minor perk
Jump-UpsSecondary Fire's self-knockback is increased by 75%.SpotterProjected Barrier activates ally health regeneration and increases their movement speed by 20%.When the situation calls for it: Secondary Fire's self-knockback is increased by 75%.
Major perk
Extra OomphWhile a Barrier is active, dealing damage with Particle Cannon's beam generates energy.Energy LanceParticle Cannon's beam pierces enemies.When the situation calls for it: Particle Cannon's beam pierces enemies.
Abilities
LMBParticle CannonShort-range linear beam weapon. Energy grenade launcher.Key: primary fire. Perks: Energy Lance, Extra Oomph
ShiftParticle Barrier12sCreate a damage barrier around you.Key: Shift · cooldown 12 s
EProjected Barrier9sCreate a damage barrier around an ally.Key: E · cooldown 9 s. Perks: Spotter
QGraviton SurgeUltimateLaunch a gravity well that pulls enemies to it.Key: Q · ultimate
EnergyPassiveDamage blocked by barriers increases Particle Cannon damage.passive
Strategy
1Your job
In Role Queue each team fields one tank: you take space for your team, soak the damage the enemy would otherwise aim at your backline and decide when the fight starts.
2Abilities
- primary fire · Particle Cannon: Short-range linear beam weapon. Energy grenade launcher.
- Shift · Particle Barrier · 12 s: Create a damage barrier around you.
- E · Projected Barrier · 9 s: Create a damage barrier around an ally.
- Q · Graviton Surge · ultimate: Launch a gravity well that pulls enemies to it.
- Energy · passive: Damage blocked by barriers increases Particle Cannon damage.
3Perks
During each match you unlock a minor perk and, later, a major perk: one of two options each time. ★ marks this guide's pick.
- Jump-Ups: Secondary Fire's self-knockback is increased by 75%.
- ★ Spotter: Projected Barrier activates ally health regeneration and increases their movement speed by 20%.
- Energy Lance: Particle Cannon's beam pierces enemies.
- ★ Extra Oomph: While a Barrier is active, dealing damage with Particle Cannon's beam generates energy.
4Stadium powers
In Stadium you pick up to four powers over the match. These four fit Zarya best by what their text does:
- Here To Spot You: +20% Projected Barrier Range. Projected Barrier pulls you to the targeted ally and heals you for 30% of Max Life over 3s.
- Lifelift: +50% Particle Barrier Size. Increase Barrier Health by 50% of Bonus Max Life from Items.
- Barrier Benefits: When Barriers expire, grant Overhealth equal to 100% of remaining Barrier Health to the target for 2s.
- Containment Shield: Barrier heals the target for 5% of your Max Life every 1s and grants 20% Move Speed while active.
5In competitive
Blizzard's official stats for this season, division by division (PC, the three regions averaged).
- Bronze: 49.4% won, picked by 2.7% of teams
- Silver: 48.5% won, picked by 3.4% of teams
- Gold: 47.1% won, picked by 4.2% of teams
- Platinum: 46.3% won, picked by 4.9% of teams
- Emerald: 46.5% won, picked by 5.5% of teams
- Diamond: 47.6% won, picked by 6.0% of teams
- Master: 48.2% won, picked by 6.1% of teams
- Grandmaster: 50.7% won, picked by 6.0% of teams
6Best and worst maps
Win rate of Zarya on each competitive map compared with its 47.1% overall.
- Antarctic Peninsula: 50.1% won (5.1% pick rate)
- Samoa: 48.7% won (5.2% pick rate)
- Busan: 48.6% won (4.5% pick rate)
- Colosseo: 44.1% won (4.3% pick rate)
- Ilios: 44.8% won (4.0% pick rate)
- Esperança: 45.1% won (4.0% pick rate)
7Common mistakes
- Pushing into five enemies without your team behind you.
- Taking duels far from your supports.
Tips
- Particle Barrier (Shift) protects: time it for the enemy's burst, not for chip damage.
- Projected Barrier (E) protects: time it for the enemy's burst, not for chip damage.
- Graviton Surge (Q) is your ultimate: plan it with your team's ultimates instead of using it as soon as it's ready.
- Walk ahead of your team but not so far that your supports lose line of sight.
- Spend your defensive cooldowns on the damage that would kill you, not on chip damage.
Matchups
Works well with
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Antarctic Peninsula, Busan and Samoa: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Antarctic Peninsula, Busan and Oasis: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Antarctic Peninsula, Samoa and Busan: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch Season 4.
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