Character Counters
This page is dedicated to learning how to counter your enemy's Characters. It's one thing to know how to play a character, but knowing how to kill someone is just as important!
This is an ever growing list, so if you have your own tips and tricks for taking down a pesky foe, make sure to add them to our list.
Bastion
Countering Bastion With Genji
Genji's reflective powers allow him to bounce bullets back a the immobilized turret form of Bastion, who can't get out of the way of his own fire.
Countering Bastion With Reaper
Reaper's mobility allows the hero to pop in behind an immobile Bastion and quickly take him out. Reaper's teleportation seems custom-made to deal with Bastion.
Countering Bastion With Tracer
Tracer can likewise appear behind a bullet-spewing, distracted Bastion for a quick take-down
Countering Bastion With Roadhog
The chain hook is murder on Bastions turret mode.
D.Va
D.Va is a close range powerhouse, and has a free escape due to her mech. To counter her, you want someone with range, and ideally an AoE. most strong, long range character like Soldier 76 are useful. D.Va's defense matrix doesn't stop beam weapons and attacks meaning Mei and Moira are highly effective if they can stay out of D.Va's line of fire.
Genji
Genji is a one man wrecking crew. He can take on nearly anyone in the game, except one chilly lady, Mei. Her ice gun will freeze him solid, allowing you to pop him with an icicle, killing him quickly.
Hanzo
Taking out the bow master can be tricky due to his high damage, but he suffers from the same weakness as Widowmaker, he isn't good at dealing with close up combatants. Winston and Reaper are great at getting in his face, and a fast acting Tracer can blink circles around him as he tries to line up shots.
Junkrat
Junkrat can be one of the most annoying characters in the game, due to his simply grenade spamming, and various traps left around the map. Countering him then, is best done at range. Pharah works well as she can fly over him, and people like Soldier 76, Hanzo and Widowmaker can all take him out from afar.
Lucio
Being a Support, you're usually going to find him in the back of the group, so the best way to take him out is with either a long range character like Widowmaker, or a fast moving close range character like Tracer or Reaper.
McCree
The cowboy is one of the strongest close range Characters in the game, so to take him down, you want to be at a distance! Any character who can pummel him from afar is a plus, especially if they are fast moving, as McCree's one downfall is his very slow movement speed.
Mei
The Ice Queen Mei is a tough close quarters combatant, much like McCree, so if you want to take her out, do it from a distance. Due to how her character works, she often has to stand still or at the very least, move slowly, so a Widowmaker who is fast on the trigger can land a headshot and take her out.
Mercy
Much like Lucio, catching Mercy and killing her relies on long range, or fast characters. Widowmaker can snipe her from a distance as she chases behind an ally, while Tracer and Reaper can appear next to her and kill her in the blink of an eye.
Pharah
Pharah is a long range, damage dealing machine. The best way to deal with her is from the shadows, at a safe distance. Widowmaker can often times snipe her as she flies through the air, as can Hanzo and Soldier 76. When she's on the ground, Junkrat is a great counter, as his trap can lock her in place as you pummel her with grenades.
Reaper
The spectre that is Reaper is a devastating close range fighter who can take out even the likes of Winston in mere moments. This means taking him out should be done from very, very far away. Widowmaker is an obvious choice, but even characters like Bastion, Torbjorn and Soldier 76 can get the job done.
Reinhardt
Never stand still...that's a huge help. But perhaps the best way to deal with the big lug is Mei's freeze ability. If you can work around the shield with Mei, you've pretty much spelled the end for Reinhardt. You can also counter him quite well with Widowmaker, since she can often times shoot around his shield, and Torbjorn works as his turret requires Reinhardt to lower his shield, or else have it blown apart.
Roadhog
The large, slow moving Roadhog's main weakness is his size and short range. Any character who can deal medium to long range damage can counter him fairly well. Close range characters can also get the job done, but they must constantly be moving. If he lands even one hook on you, you'll die, so speed is of the utmost importance when fighting him. Lúcio's alt fire can be used to survive a pull as Roadhog's shotgun will not deal lethal damage if knocked back appropriately.
Soldier: 76
Taking down the Ultimate Soldier can be tough, but Mei is the lady for the job. Without his heal, Soldier 76 will quickly crumble to her as she freezes him solid and smashes him. Widowmaker and Hanzo are also quite good at taking him out, as a headshot on him will be a one hit KO!
Symmetra
Taking down Symmetra is less about being the right character, and more about being a mindful player. Her skill set is designed around laying traps and helping her team, so use characters that can isolate her like Roadhog, or can take her out from range like Widowmaker. If you are rushing her, be very careful, as she likely has her laser turrets protecting her. Tracer is good for this, as you can quickly rewind time if you suddenly get bombarded with laser beams.
Torbjorn
Taking out the pesky turret builder can be tough due to the strength of his turret. Reinhardt is an obvious choice, as he can use his shield to deflect the bullets while others destroy him and the turret. Tracer can also zip in, bomb him, then zip out. Long range characters like Pharah and Widowmaker can snipe him and the turret from well out of range of the deadly machine.
Tracer
The best way to take out this speedster is to slow her down! Junkrat can lock her in place with his traps, Mei can freeze her given enough time, and Roadhog can hook her then one shot her. Due to her low health, other longer range characters can also blast through her, like Widowmaker with a quick headshot, or Bastion who can just spray bullets as she blinks around.
Widowmaker
Widowmaker's great range makes her a true pain, especially in the hands of a player who is disciplined in keeping well-separated from the melee. Thus, the key to taking her out is killing her up close by surprising her. Characters like Reaper, Pharah and Winston are great for this, as they can suddenly be in her face, while Genji, as with most things, is great as a counter since he can deflect her shots while slicing her up.
Winston
Due to his very limited range, the best way to deal with this gorilla is to take him out from a distance. Thankfully he is quite large, so he makes an easy target even at long distances. When engaging him though, be mindful of his jumps, which can suddenly close gaps, or get him to safety. Mei and Junkrat are excellent at cancelling that, locking him in place as he gets pummeled but all those around him.
Zarya
Zarya, like most tanks, is a close range fighter so your best option is to take her out at range. Do keep in mind her shield absorbs damage and makes her stronger, so anytime the shield is up, you shouldn't be firing at her. Much like Winston, anyone who can keep Zarya locked in one position is an asset.
Zenyatta
Zenyatta is the weakest of the supports, making him an easy kill if you can see him. Widowmaker can easily snipe him, while Reaper and Tracer can quickly appear behind him and blast him to bits. Do be careful though, that he doesn't tag you with an Orb of Discord, which increases the damage you take by nearly 50%!