Zarya counters, tier and perks

Hero Playbooks tier: B (confidence low). Matchup data confidence: high. Last updated 2026-10-14.

Abilities

Particle Cannon · Particle Barrier · Projected Barrier · Graviton Surge · Energy

Bastion: Zarya's barrier doesn't save her; Bastion melts both. (high confidence)
Mei: Zarya has little mobility or sustain, so Ice Wall can easily cut her off. (high confidence)
Domina: Stat-based: mixed threat in Counterwatch duel data (rating +3.3); also favored by Overpicker counter matrix and RankedBoost counters. No written explanation in our sources yet. (high confidence)
Doctrine: Doctrine can hold fire whenever a bubble goes up, so he gives Zarya very little energy. (medium confidence)
Ashe: Without mobility, Zarya struggles to reach the spots Ashe plays from. (medium confidence)
Lifeweaver: Lifeweaver seldom shoots Zarya herself, so she gains little energy from him. (medium confidence)

D.Va: Zarya's beam goes through D.Va's Defense Matrix. (high confidence)
Genji: Zarya's beam can't be reflected by Deflect. (high confidence)
Junkrat: Junkrat's abilities and grenades feed Zarya's barrier charge easily. (high confidence)
Orisa: Particle Barrier absorbs Orisa's attacks with ease. (high confidence)
Echo: Zarya can soak Echo's shots and Sticky Bombs with her barriers to charge up quickly. (high confidence)
Ana: If Biotic Grenade hits Zarya, she can remove the anti-heal by putting up her barrier afterward. (high confidence)

Jump-Ups: Zarya's secondary fire pushes her back 75% harder.
Spotter: Projected Barrier starts the ally's health regeneration and makes them 20% faster.

Extra Oomph: With a barrier up, damage from Particle Cannon's beam builds energy.
Energy Lance: Particle Cannon's beam passes through enemies.