5 best Overwatch 2 heroes to counter Pharah

It's essential for all players to know about the best heroes to counter Pharah in Overwatch 2 Season 15. Pharah remains one of the few aerial heroes in the game, and if left unchecked, she can absolutely wreak havoc on the battlefield. Her powers allow her to dominate the skies, blasting away anything that dares oppose her.

Being an aerial hero, Pharah is best countered by Legends who use hit-scan weapons rather than projectile-based heroes. This includes characters like Ana, Soldier:76, who can dish out a ton of damage in a small amount of time.

Below, you will find a list of heroes curated to provide you with the best possible results when trying to counter Pharah in Overwatch 2 Season 15. Read below for a detailed brief.

Editor's note: The contents of this article are subjective and solely feature the writer's own opinion. Furthermore, the article has been updated to feature the latest information in accordance to the balance patch deployed by Blizzard Entertainment on February 18, 2025.

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Overwatch 2 Season 15: 5 best heroes to counter Pharah

Pharah wields a rocket launcher as her primary weapon and relies on jet packs for aerial mobility. Her abilities include:

1. Rocket Launcher (Primary Fire): Pharah's long-range rocket launcher deals high damage to enemies.
2. Jump Jet (L-Shift): Pharah can activate her jet packs to propel herself upwards, gaining height quickly.
3. Concussive Blast (E): Pharah can launch a rocket that knocks back enemy heroes, disrupting their positions.
4. Barrage (Ultimate): Pharah's ultimate ability, Barrage, allows her to fire a volley of mini rockets that can rapidly eliminate enemy heroes.
5. Hover Jets (Passive): Pharah's passive ability, Hover Jets, allows her to levitate in the air by using her jet packs, activated by pressing the jump key.

As evident, Pharah possesses quite a strong kit, and if she's paired with a Mercy, it is almost impossible to kill her alone. You will need the help of more than one of these heroes from the list below to be more effective, and essentially, take her out of the battlefield. If you can put enough pressure on the player, you will eventually force them to swap out of Pharah.

That said, here are five heroes who are strong counters against Pharah.

1) Ana

Ana is a crucial support hero for countering Pharah in Overwatch 2. With her offensive shots and Sleep Dart, she has the potential to make Pharah's gameplay a nightmare if utilized effectively.

Although her mobility is restricted, Ana's hitscan accuracy is a valuable tool for peppering Pharah in the air. A notable advantage is that her primary fire does not suffer from damage drop-off, making her a crucial hero in countering Pharah.

However, it is important to strike a balance as Ana, as tagging Pharah with primary fire can be a game-changer in a team fight, especially when your team is already in good health.

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2) Ashe

Ashe returns to Overwatch 2, maintaining her position as a formidable mid-range to long-range damage-per-second (DPS) hero with a high skill ceiling and a strong Ultimate ability.

Ashe is known for her exceptional precision and ability to effectively shoot from long distances. Her dynamite can be tossed toward an incoming Pharah and detonated mid-air, potentially inflicting substantial damage and taking her out.

Ashe's shotgun allows for mobility to avoid Pharah's attacks, but it can only be used for one escape, requiring quick relocation to a safe spot. Additionally, Ashe's ultimate, Bob, can provide additional firepower to help eliminate Pharah.

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3) Cassidy

This sharpshooting hero has been dominating the battlefield for some time. His hit-scan accuracy is exceptionally valuable for taking down Pharah in mid-air. With his fast rate of fire and high damage output, landing just three or four bullets on Pharah can spell defeat for her.

Using his grenade against Pharah may prove challenging, but it's still possible to stick with her while she's airborne, such as from a ledge or windowsill.

Cassidy's roll movement ability can also come in handy when facing Pharah, although it's easy for her to predict where he'll roll. His Deadeye ultimate is also extremely effective against Pharah. If Pharah and Mercy are too slow to react, a well-timed Deadeye can eliminate them both.

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4) Soldier 76

Soldier 76's Hitscan primary weapon is perfectly suited for dealing damage to Pharah when she's in the air. His sprint ability enhances his mobility, making it easier for him to dodge Pharah's rockets that are coming from different directions.

Additionally, Soldier 76's healing ability provides him with an advantage in terms of survivability, allowing him to stay in the fight longer and deal more damage to Pharah.

Soldier 76's Tactical Visor ultimate is incredibly effective in dealing with Pharah, as it can easily eliminate her and potentially take out a nearby Mercy as well.

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5) Widowmaker

Widowmaker serves as a direct counter to Pharah. Pharah's airborne movements make her a vulnerable target for the deadly sniper.

A fully charged headshot from Widowmaker can swiftly take down Pharah, making her a formidable threat against the rocket-wielding hero. Since Pharah cannot directly engage a distant sniper like Widowmaker, it gives the latter an advantage.

However, it's worth noting that Widowmaker's effectiveness against Pharah depends on the skill level of the players and the specific situation in the game. Playing this sniper requires a steady aim to create clean headshots. If you can achieve that, you can counter Pharah with absolute ease.

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Due to her aerial mobility, Pharah can be challenging to play against in Overwatch 2, particularly for teams that lack heroes with hitscan or strong vertical mobility. Team composition is crucial in taking down an enemy Pharah, so it is highly advisable to pick hitscan heroes with fast-moving projectiles to neutralize her.

That's everything that you need to know about the best heroes to counter Pharah in Overwatch 2 Season 15. For more related news and guides, stay tuned to Sportskeeda. You can also check some of our other guides below:

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• 5 best heroes to counter Pharah in Overwatch 2