What DPS Counters Pharah? Your Ultimate Guide to Taking Down the Rocket Queen

Pharah, the winged harbinger of explosive doom, can often feel like an unstoppable force in Overwatch 2. Her ability to rain down rockets from above, coupled with her devastating ultimate, can make life miserable for teams caught in her aerial assault. If you're tired of seeing your team melt under her barrages, you've come to the right place. This article will break down exactly which Damage (DPS) heroes are best equipped to counter Pharah and how to effectively use them.

The Core Problem with Pharah

Pharah's strength lies in her vertical mobility and her high-damage splash attacks. She can hover in the air, making her a difficult target for many ground-based heroes, and her rockets deal significant damage in a small area, punishing grouped-up players. Her concussive blast also allows her to reposition herself or knock enemies off ledges.

Who are the Best DPS Counters?

When it comes to shutting down Pharah, you need heroes who can reliably hit her in the air and deal enough damage to bring her down quickly. Here are your top contenders:

1. Soldier: 76

Soldier: 76 is arguably the most consistent and accessible Pharah counter in the game. His primary fire, the Helix Rockets, deal a good chunk of damage and can be aimed directly at Pharah. More importantly, his Soldier: 76’s Pulse Rifle has good accuracy and a decent rate of fire, allowing him to consistently chip away at her health from a respectable distance. His Biotic Field can also help sustain himself or his team if Pharah is landing hits.

How to play Soldier: 76 against Pharah:

Focus your fire on Pharah whenever she's in sight.
Use Helix Rockets on cooldown for burst damage.
Try to stay at a range where you can hit her reliably but she can't easily hit you with splash damage.
Use your sprint to reposition and gain better sightlines.

2. Cassidy

Cassidy, formerly McCree, is another strong option, particularly when his aim is on point. His Peacekeeper revolver boasts high damage per shot, and his Fan the Hammer ability can be devastating if he gets close enough for a quick burst. His Magnetic Grenade can also help secure a kill by sticking to Pharah and dealing additional damage.

How to play Cassidy against Pharah:

Aim for headshots to maximize your damage output.
Use your Magnetic Grenade when Pharah is within range to secure kills.
Be mindful of your positioning; you're more vulnerable up close.
Try to predict Pharah's movements to land your shots.

3. Ashe

Ashe is a fantastic long-range Pharah counter. Her Viper rifle has excellent accuracy and damage at range, allowing her to duel Pharah effectively from across the map. Her Dynamite can also be used to deny Pharah space or even secure a kill if she's caught in the explosion. Her ultimate, B.O.B., can also draw Pharah's attention and potentially deal significant damage.

How to play Ashe against Pharah:

Stay at a distance and use your scoped shots to target Pharah.
Practice throwing Dynamite to land near Pharah or her flight path.
Coordinate with your team to focus fire on Pharah.
Use B.O.B. strategically to disrupt Pharah's position or draw her fire.

4. Echo

Echo is a unique and powerful counter. Her Sticky Bombs can deal a massive burst of damage if they all stick, and her Focusing Beam deals increased damage to targets below half health, making her excellent at finishing off a damaged Pharah. Her ultimate, Duplicate, allows her to become Pharah herself, completely negating the threat and potentially turning the tables.

How to play Echo against Pharah:

Focus on landing your Sticky Bombs.
Use Focusing Beam to finish off Pharah once she's low.
Your flight and mobility allow you to contest Pharah's aerial advantage.
Use Duplicate on a Pharah for maximum impact – essentially taking her out of the fight for a duration.

5. Hanzo

Hanzo, with his Storm Arrows, can put out a surprising amount of burst damage. If you can land a fully charged headshot, you can instantly take Pharah out of the sky. Storm Arrows allow you to quickly follow up a missed primary shot or deal sustained damage. His Sonic Arrow can also reveal Pharah's position if she's hiding.

How to play Hanzo against Pharah:

Prioritize landing headshots with your primary fire.
Use Storm Arrows to finish off Pharah or deal damage quickly.
Listen for her ultimate and try to land a headshot to interrupt it.
Sonic Arrow can be useful if Pharah is playing evasively.

6. Widowmaker

If you're confident in your aim, Widowmaker is the ultimate Pharah counter. A single fully charged headshot from her Widow's Kiss sniper rifle will instantly kill Pharah. Even body shots will put significant pressure on her and force her to retreat.

How to play Widowmaker against Pharah:

Your sole focus should be hitting Pharah.
Practice your aim and learn Pharah's movement patterns.
Even body shots will force her to reposition.
Communicate with your team about Pharah's location.

Heroes to Be Cautious Of (But Still Viable with Skill)

While the above heroes are generally considered direct counters, other DPS heroes can be effective against Pharah with good aim and positioning:

7. Genji

Genji can be a threat if he can get close and use his Swift Strike to close the gap. His Shurikens can chip away at Pharah, and his Dragonblade ultimate can be used to chase her down in the air. However, he is very vulnerable if Pharah focuses him.

8. Symmetra

Symmetra's primary fire, the Photon Projector, can ramp up in damage and has a moderate range. If she can maintain line of sight and charge her beam, she can melt Pharah. Her Orbs also deal significant damage if they connect.

The Importance of Teamwork

Ultimately, no single hero is an absolute guarantee against a skilled Pharah player. The best approach is often a coordinated effort. If multiple DPS heroes are focusing Pharah, she will have a much harder time surviving. Communication is key: call out her position, her ultimate status, and when you're engaging her.

FAQ

How do I know which DPS hero to pick against Pharah?

Consider your own skill with the hero and your team composition. If you have good aim, heroes like Widowmaker or Cassidy are excellent. If you prefer more sustained damage and mobility, Soldier: 76 or Echo are great choices. If your team already has someone pressuring Pharah from the air, you can afford to pick a hero that complements your team's ground game.

Why is Pharah so hard to hit for some heroes?

Pharah's primary advantage is her aerial mobility. She can hover, fly, and use her Jump Jets to ascend and descend rapidly, making her a difficult target for heroes with limited vertical reach or projectile speeds that are easy to dodge in the air. Splash damage from her rockets also makes her effective against heroes who try to hide behind cover.

Can a Tank or Support hero help counter Pharah?

While this article focuses on DPS counters, Tanks like Sigma and D.Va can provide defensive capabilities or deny Pharah's access to certain areas. Supports like Mercy (if pocketing a Pharah counter) or Baptiste (with his vertical burst fire) can also indirectly contribute. However, the primary responsibility for eliminating Pharah usually falls to the DPS players.

What should I do if the enemy Pharah is dominating my team?

If your team is struggling, the first step is communication. Ask a teammate to switch to a Pharah counter if they haven't already. Coordinate your attacks on Pharah. If you're playing a counter hero and are consistently being pressured by Pharah, try to stick with your team for protection and call out her flank routes.