Zarya · Tank
Safe 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. Zarya has 550 hit points: 325 health, 225 shields (they regenerate out of combat).
Strengths
- 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 · survival perksDefensiveRecommendedThe perks whose text adds the most healing, health or protection: for games where you die before your cooldowns matter.
- Zarya · Stadium survivalDefensiveStadiumFour of the 12 Stadium powers of Zarya, chosen by what their text adds and spread over different abilities so no single one carries the build.
- Zarya · recommended perksBalancedSituationalOne 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.
Builds
Zarya · survival perks
When to use it
The perks whose text adds the most healing, health or protection: for games where you die before your cooldowns matter.
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 survival
When to use it
Four of the 12 Stadium powers of Zarya, chosen by what their text adds 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 · 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.
Abilities
LMBParticle CannonShort-range linear beam weapon. Energy grenade launcher.
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.
EnergyPassiveDamage blocked by barriers increases Particle Cannon damage.
Strategy
1Staying alive
The abilities that heal, protect or move you, by their own description:
- Shift · Particle Barrier · 12 s: Create a damage barrier around you.
- E · Projected Barrier · 9 s: Create a damage barrier around an ally.
2Survival perks
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.
3Survival Stadium powers
The four powers whose text adds the most healing, health or protection:
- Here To Spot You
- Lifelift
- Barrier Benefits
- Containment Shield
4Where to be careful
The competitive maps where it wins least:
- Colosseo: 44.1% won (4.3% pick rate)
- Ilios: 44.8% won (4.0% pick rate)
- Esperança: 45.1% won (4.0% pick rate)
5Mistakes that get you killed
- Pushing into five enemies without your team behind you.
- Taking duels far from your supports.
Tips
- You are the only tank: dying first usually loses the fight, so back off before you have to.
- 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.
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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