Overwatch 2 Zarya guide: Abilities, tips & how to unlock
Zarya in Overwatch 2 can defend her allies and completely decimate an opposing team. Here are our best tips and overall ability walkthrough for this powerful tank.
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Zarya is a powerhouse tank in Overwatch 2 that can take damage and then reciprocate all that firepower with her own beam. She has a high skill ceiling through, so you'll need some tips to master her style of play and abilities.
Abilities explained
| Name | Type | Effect |
| Particle Cannon | Primary Fire | Short-range linear beam weapon |
| Particle Cannon Alt Fire | Secondary Fire | Energy grenade launcher |
| Energy | Hero Passive | Damage blocked by barriers increases Particle Cannon damage |
| Particle Barrier | Ability | Create a damage barrier around you |
| Projected Barrier | Ability | Create a damage barrier around an ally |
| Graviton Surge | Ultimate | Launch a gravity well that pulls enemies to it |
| Role: Tank | Role Passive | Reduces knockbacks and critical damage received. Less ultimate generated by healing and damage received |
Tips for playing Zarya
Zarya is a dominating force on the battlefield if you play her right. As a tank, you'll want to absorb the most damage for your team.
Go in front of your squad alongside a healer behind you, and take in as much damage as possible while using the particle barrier. This damage that you absorb will translate to a stronger laser from your weapon.
If you see a damage hero struggling and becoming the main target of the enemy team, use the projected barrier. This will loosen the stress of that player and will let the healer in your team bring them back to health for a few seconds.
Keep in mind that Zarya won't be able to give herself a barrier, so during these moments, try to attack enemies with your strengthened beam. The particle barrier and the projected barrier can't be used at the same time.
If you see a group of foes together in one cluster, you should use the energy grenade. It will take a significant amount of damage from your enemies, and you'll get a little satisfaction from it as well.
An even better strategy in dealing with groups is using Zarya's ultimate: the Graviton Surge. When releasing it, it will pull in nearby enemies and will keep them motionless. Communicate with your team and let them know to use their ultimate.
For example, D.Va could combo her Self Destruct with your Graviton Surge to take out all of those foes trapped in your ultimate.
Doomfist can also use his ultimate to great effect in this scenario. Reinhardt's ultimate would probably be less effective in this situation, but it would stop them from firing their guns, as the Gravitron Surge does not completely stun.
How to unlock Zarya in Overwatch 2
Zarya is a free hero, and is unlocked from the start of the game.
About The Author
Chris Penwell
Chris Penwell is an experienced video games journalist with a Bachelor in Communications. He loves to play narrative-focused games like Kingdom Hearts and Beyond Good & Evil.
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