How to counter Bastion in Overwatch 2

Bastion is and likely always will be a rage-inducing hero. In Overwatch, Bastion has been the frequent target of scathing social media insults and toxic chat messages, mostly thanks to his powerful machine gun primary fire and the one-shot potential of his ultimate ability. In Overwatch 2, his power’s been toned down a touch to help other players handle his abilities

But he’s still the same annoying hero he once was.

Bastion is mostly a menace in lower-level play, where it can be difficult for an uncoordinated team to flank him and keep him under control. Almost no one can out-damage Bastion from the front, so you’ll need to play strategically and exploit his weaknesses to take him out effectively. While Overwatch 2 doesn’t have a rock-paper-scissors-style counter system, there are certain types of damage that are more effective against him than others.

How do I counter Bastion in Overwatch 2?

Bastion is a slow-moving behemoth that can easily be spotted in a mix of players. He stands tall, towering over most teammates and enemies, and can be taken down with ease. His tank-mode mobility makes him an easy target when he’s not shooting at you.

This is where a Zenyatta discord orb or Ana anti could make a Bastion’s life a living hell. As he’s stuck in his tank mode, throw one of these abilities his way and you’ve got an easy kill if you time it with your teammates.

His lack of mobility makes it hard for him to avoid certain attacks, so making use of how slow he is can be incredibly effective. Bastion’s bullets are his only weapon, so a hero with an absorbing or deflecting element will be incredibly useful.

Bastion’s cooldowns give players plenty of time to punish the opposition. Baiting out his abilities will be an incredibly effective way of sending him into Bastion-limbo for 12 seconds. He’ll be considerably less effective without his abilities. Once his six-second tank ability is over, he’s all yours.

Here are the best Bastion counters in Overwatch 2.

Best counters to Bastion in Overwatch 2

Hanzo

Hanzo’s mobility helps him avoid a cluster of tank bullets and gives him plenty of room to shoot deadly arrows in Bastion’s direction. Since they’re so strong, pairing a sharp selection of storm arrows with an Ana anti will leave him weak and defenseless.

Since Bastion is incredibly slow, Hanzo’s ultimate has a good shot of dealing some serious damage. His inability to move in his tank mode amplifies that dramatically. Time this ultimate well, and you’ve got an easy kill on the opposing Bastion.

Junkrat

Junkrat is a classic Bastion counter. The omnic’s slow movement speed while in Configuration: Assault makes him an easy target for explosive area of effect damage, which Junkrat specializes in. This was especially pronounced when Bastion wasn’t able to move at all in Assault, but it still works well in Overwatch 2. Junkrat’s range allows him to fire shots off while keeping a healthy distance from the omnic, and his mines can be used as a way to flip Bastion out of position, making it easier to take him out.

Genji

Genji is the bane of Bastion’s existence. The sword-wielding damage hero knows his way around deflecting bullets, and that’s all Bastion’s got. In his tank mode, Bastion can’t do anything against a well-timed deflect. His own bullets will pierce his armor, tearing him apart in the process. Bastion is also incredibly slow compared to Genji, giving the cyborg ninja plenty of room to escape in a sticky situation.

Ana

Ana doesn’t do much in the way of damage to Bastion—nor should she, as her focus should be healing and peeling for her teammates. Her primary method of countering Bastion is her Sleep Dart, one of the few non-tank crowd control abilities left in Overwatch 2. Hitting Bastion with a stealthy Sleep Dart allows a well-coordinated team to focus their fire on him without the first of being destroyed by Configuration: Assault’s turret. If your team is struggling against a Bastion and you’re playing support, try swapping to Ana and taking aim.

Zarya

Zarya is a great pick against a disruptive Bastion. Her particle barrier is incredibly useful when Bastion’s shooting a cluster of tank bullets in her direction. It also pairs well against his tactical grenade, absorbing the delayed explosion if timed right. Once her damage is at its peak, it’s hard for a slow-moving Bastion to get out of her way.

Tracer

Tracer may seem like an unlikely Bastion counter, but hear us out. Her ability to zip quickly around the battlefield enables her to dodge Bastion’s shots and run for cover more easily. She can also use Blink to get behind Bastion, hitting him where he’s weak. The omnic is powerful from the front, but his back is usually completely exposed, making it an easy target for Tracer’s primary fire or Pulse Bomb ultimate.