Howdy y'all. This is my first build guide. I've been a big fan of Zarya since I started playing Overwatch. I've been playing her almost exclusively since launch on the 27th of September and have played around with a quite a few builds. I am just a lowly Gold/Silver tier player, so I don't know if these builds are going to be viable in Plat/Diamond, etc. But I hope they can help you in some way!

Zarya is unique in that she's more a bruiser/support hybrid. Her damage can be lethal in teamfights, especially at later stages in the game when you pop Personal Barrier, Shield Ally and Unyielding Defender and have max energy. Her particle cannon also does continuous damage which can help you finishing off foes as they try to escape.

Zarya really excels against poke comps. Instead of dodging skill shots all the time she can utilize her Personal Barrier and Shield Ally skills to feed her energy and keep her team alive. She's also good against diving champs, though might struggle if the the enemy team is a dive comp. Zarya requires quite a bit of good timing to be successful. Wasted shields net you long cooldown, which can be fatal to a team and yourself.

She also has good ability to peel for her team with both of her ults. Expulsion Zone can be used often and both offensively and defensively and is the better pick overall right now in my opinion.

Here are a couple builds that I think suit Zarya well. I do think each build is very situational and that she's a bit mediocre as a champ right now. I'm hoping she gets some love from the devs and community. SHE DID! AAAND nerfed again. Guide is updated to relfect the most recent hotfix.

UPDATE - 9/29/2016

Blizzard listened and Zarya received a buff via hotfix on 9/29/2016. These hotfix included a host of buffs to Zarya that have immediately made her a more viable pick. As such, my build has changed! The changes noted here are taken from this thread on battle.net.

Stats:

Increased Basic Attack damage from 20 to 24
Increased Base Health from 2225 to 2336
Increased Base Health Regen from 4.64 to 4.87

Abilities:

Particle Grenade (Q)
Increased base damage from 62 to 74

Personal Barrier (W)
Cooldown reduced from 12 to 10 seconds

Energy (Trait)
Energy decay rate reduced from 3 to 1.5 per second

Graviton Surge (R)
Cooldown reduced from 120 to 100 seconds

UPDATE - 9/30/2016

Blizzard released another hotfix for Zarya. This update was much shorter and can be considered a nerf. Zarya's energy decay was changed from 1.5 per second to 2.5 per second.

This is a build that I've been using against poke heavy comps. Zarya's shield abilities require you to have good timing in order for her to be a successful champ. This is the build I've been using in Hero League

Level 1

Maximum Charge - Zarya's energy decay has been reduced from 3 per second to 1.5 per second (HUGE DIFFERENCE) 2.5 per second. With another change to energy decay, this quest is a bit more difficult to complete but is still the best talent to take at level 1.

Level 4

Defensive Shielding - This talent gives you and your allies a 75% damage reduction on the next two basic attacks from enemies. It will expire after 12 seconds, but if you're using it in a battle it'll be virtually impossible for those stacks to go to waste. I think this is a must have talent if you're going against a strong AA comp.

I Am the Strongest - Increases the shields from Personal Barrier. This is a good talent as it aids in survivability.

Level 7

Hit Me - Gives you 20% more energy from damage. Helps build energy quicker.

Level 10

Expulsion Zone - Even with the fix to Graviton Surge I still think Expulsion Zone is going to be the pick you'll want in most scenarios. It gives you the opportunity to slow and split your opponents. You can use it as an escape or as a way to trap escaping opponents. I think the overall utility of this talent makes it the right pick most of the time.

Graviton Surge - More viable now the the cooldown is down to 100 seconds from 120. If your team comp has a big AOE burst focus, this is a good talent to have.

Level 13

Endurance Training - With the fix to energy decay, this talent becomes very viable and the better talent at this level. It's much easier to sustain energy late game and the 25% resistance to ALL damage helps keep you alive.

Unstoppable Competitor - Makes you unstoppable for 1.5 seconds. Good against heavy CC comps.

Level 16

Gain Train or Cleansing Shield - This pick is dependent on the enemy team comp. If they're a heavy CC comp then Cleansing Shield will be the better option. If they don't have a lot of CC then Gain Train is what you're looking for. Pops a second (untalented) shield automatically on the nearest ally within range. Double shields, double energy, double protection.

Level 20

Unyielding Defender - This is going to be the best talent choice for a defensive build. At a 45 second cooldown it automatically resets cooldowns of your Personal Barrier and Shield Ally. You'll find yourself utilizing this ability very much during teamfights. It has helped me immensely with keeping my team alive.

I've toyed around with this build a bit as well in quick match. Unfortunately, Zarya's damage output is not great unless she has high energy. If that's something you can maintain, then this can be a strong build to run with a duo tank comp. This build is very skill shot heavy and requires quite a bit of skill to be successful.

Level 1

Demolitions Expert - A level one quest that you can have completed inside 5 minutes. This helps with grenade recharge time and gives your grenades a higher damage radius once the quest is complete.

Level 4

I Am the Strongest - I think this is the best talent available for this level and this build. It gives you a more survivability with your Personal Barrier which is important if you're going to be the aggressor.

Level 7

Pinpoint Accuracy - This can make Zarya's grenades very deadly if you can successfully land the skill shots.

Level 10

Graviton Surge - This will be the best ability to combo with your grenades. Graviton Surge, combined with high energy, good accuracy with the grenades, and AOE damage from teammates can be very lethal.

Expulsion charge - Can still be a good pick here if you utilize it at choke points. However, for the best synergy, Graviton Surge is the skill to pick.

Level 13

Unstoppable Competitor - Still a must have skill with this build. Helps you chase to finish off a kill and escape.

Level 16

Plasma Shock - Adds a slow effect to your particle grenades. More killing power.

Level 20

Grenadier - Recharges all particle grenade charges at once. Severely increases your capacity to do damage. Best pick for this build most of the time.

Gravity Kills - Also an option here. Late game your energy should be well fed, especially in teamfights. This talent extends Graviton Surge one second and also deals good damage per second. Mixed with Particle Grenade and high energy, you can be very destructive.

9/29/2016

Stats:

Increased Basic Attack damage from 20 to 24
Increased Base Health from 2225 to 2336
Increased Base Health Regen from 4.64 to 4.87

Abilities:

Particle Grenade (Q)
Increased base damage from 62 to 74

Personal Barrier (W)
Cooldown reduced from 12 to 10 seconds

Energy (Trait)
Energy decay rate reduced from 3 to 1.5 per second

Graviton Surge (R)
Cooldown reduced from 120 to 100 seconds

9/30/2016

Energy (Trait)
Energy decay rate increased from 1.5 to 2.5 per second

1.00 - Zarya Patch Release 9/27/2016

1.01 - Zarya Hotfix 9/29/2016

1.02 - Zarya Hotfix 9/30/2016