How to Unlock Zarya: Changes, Skins, and Rework

Zarya is a Tank hero in Overwatch 2. Read on to learn more about Zarya, their weapons and abilities, their patch notes history, their backstory, and more!

Zarya Latest Buffs and Nerfs

May 5, 2022 Patch Notes

Zarya Changes

Zarya Patch Notes (May 5, 2022)
Graviton Surge	・Duration: 4 > 3.5 secs

Zarya Hero Profile

Basic Information

Zarya (Aleksandra Zaryanova)
	Role	Tank
	Ranking
	Total HP	・ 475 ・ 250 (Base Health) ・ 225 (Base Shields/Armor)
	Voice Actor	Dolya Gavanski
	Nationality	Russian
Affiliations	Russian Defense Forces (formerly), Volskaya Industries (temporarily), Overwatch

How to Unlock

Zarya Weapons and Abilities

Zarya Main Weapon

Particle Cannon	Primary Fire
	Damage: 75 per second (base charge)
	Description: Short-range linear beam weapons.
	Secondary Fire
	Damage: 47 (base charge)
	Description: Energy grenade launcher.

Zarya Abilities

Particle Barrier	Type: Ability Cooldown: 10 secs Duration: 2 secs Shield: 200
Effect: Create a damage barrier around you.
Projected Barrier	Type: Ability Cooldown: 10 secs Duration: 2 secs Shield: 200
Effect: Create a damage barrier around an ally.
Energy	Type: Passive
Effect: Damage blocked by barriers increases Particle Cannon damage.
Graviton Surge	Type: Ultimate Duration: 3.5 secs
Effect: Launch a gravity well that pulls enemies to it.
Role: Tank	Type: Passive
Effect: Reduces knockbacks received. Less ultimate generated by healing and damage received.

Tips and How to Play

Boost Jump Height with Particle Cannon

Similar to Soldier: 76's Helix Rocket jumps, Zarya can shoot her Particle Cannon's secondary fire beneath her feet right before she jumps to boost her further into the air. This can be useful for accessing places and shortcuts Zarya normally can't reach.

However, note that boosting jumps with Particle Cannon prevents Zarya from strafing in the air, so be mindful of your aerial trajectory.

Be Mindful of Barrier Usage

While you should actively use Particle Barrier and Protective Barrier to boost your Particle Cannon, remember to use them wisely due to their shared 10-second cooldown. Prioritize using these Barriers to absorb heavy firepower away from you and your allies.

Negate Damaging Ultimates with Barriers

Each of Zarya's Barriers can also mitigate and even nullify deadly ultimates when timed correctly. Use Zarya's Barriers against high-damage ultimates like Pharah's Barrage and Junkrat's Rip-Tire, and use your powered-up Particle Cannon to turn the enemies' damage against them.

Particle Cannon and Graviton Surge Share Trajectories

You can ensure the proper placement of your Graviton Surge by using the Particle Cannon's secondary fire. Both abilities share the same projectile trajectory, so firing your Particle Cannon a few times can help you accurately determine where your ultimate will land.

Coordinate Frequently With Your Team

Make frequent use of voice communication or the game's Ping System to make the most out of Zarya's barriers and ultimate Graviton Surge. We recommend using the Countdown ping to help coordinate Ultimate combos with your team.

How to Counter

The easiest way to reduce Zarya's effectiveness is to not attack her when she puts up shields. Keep her energy levels constantly low so she deals less damage.

Her Graviton Surge ultimate can easily be nullified if it hits any shield including D.Va's Defense Matrix or Sigma's Kinetic Grasp If you're willing to risk it, then Genji can also deflect her Graviton Surge and have it hit the enemy team.

Zarya Hero Counters

Zarya Skins

Base Game Skins

Hero Skins
Arctic (Legendary)	Barbarian (Legendary)	Cybergoth (Legendary)
Industrial (Legendary)	Siberian Front (Legendary)	Dawn (Epic)
Midnight (Epic)	Brick (Rare)	Goldenrod (Rare)
Taiga (Rare)	Violet (Rare)

League Skins

Hero Skins
Alien (Legendary)	Atlanta Reign (Epic)	Boston Uprising (Epic)
Chengdu Hunters (Epic)	Dallas Fuel (Epic)	Florida Mayhem (Epic)
Guangzhou Charge (Epic)	Hangzhou Spark (Epic)	Houston Outlaws (Epic)
London Spitfire (Epic)	Los Angeles Gladiators (Epic)	Los Angeles Valiant (Epic)
New York Excelsior (Epic)	Paris Eternal (Epic)	Philadelphia Fusion (Epic)
San Francisco Shock (Epic)	Seoul Dynasty (Epic)	Shanghai Dragons (Epic)
Toronto Defiant (Epic)	Vancouver Titans (Epic)	Washington Justice (Epic)

Event Skins

Hero Skins
Champion (Legendary)	Cyberian (Legendary)	Polyanitsa (Legendary)
Snowboarder (Legendary)	Totally 80's (Legendary)	Weightlifter (Legendary)
Workout (Legendary)	Xuanwu (Legendary)	Frosted (Epic)
Overwatch Contenders (Epic)	Racer (Epic)

Zarya Cosmetics

Victory Poses

Heroic (Common) Base Game	Beatdown (Rare) Anniversary Event	Casual (Rare) Base Game
Check Out This Gun (Rare) Base Game	Flexing (Rare) Base Game	Medals (Rare) Summer Games Event
R.I.P. (Rare) Halloween Terror Event	Toast (Rare) Winter Wonderland Event	Big One (Rare) Lunar New Year Event
This Is Strength (Rare) Archives Event

Voice Lines

Emotes

Zarya Story

Omnic Crisis

Earlier in the Omnic Crisis, Aleksandra Zaryanova was born in a small village in Siberia. Unfortunately, it was devastated by the conflict, and seeing the destruction, she swore to become stronger. She became an athlete, training tirelessly, but during her tournament, her home was attacked and her life was thrust into war. She became a soldier, protecting others and a symbol to her fellow warriors!

Russian Defense Forces

Trading her life as a future professional athlete for a life in the military, she spent most of her time on the front lines battling Omnics. She made her way to Sergeant, making her a symbol of strength for many of her fellow soldiers.

Searching for Sombra

After Talon's attack on Volkskaya Industries, Zarya was tasked with finding the main culprit, Sombra. This took her all over the world from Lijiang Tower to Numbani, and finally, in Dorado.

Joining Overwatch

With Omnics staging a successful frontal assault, the defense forces had to abandon the forntline including Zarya's hometown. After getting permisison to save her town alone, she fought a losing battle against the Omnics until Cassidy saved her.

After the battle, Cassidy invited Zarya to join the newly re-established Overwatch; which she accepts.

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