Domina is one of the newest Tank heroes in Overwatch, categorized under the Stalwart role. With strong shield mechanics, disruptive crowd control, and a unique ultimate that forces enemies into difficult decisions, she quickly stands out as a high-impact frontline controller. If you want to understand every Domina ability, how her kit works together, and how to counter her ultimate, this guide breaks it all down in detail.
Domina Overview: Stats & Passive
- Total HP: 650 – 250 White Health & 400 Shield Health
As a Stalwart Tank, Domina benefits from increased resistance to slows and knockbacks, making her harder to displace compared to other frontline heroes.
Passive: Reconstruction
Domina’s passive is what makes her sustain so powerful.
- Effect: 75% of all ability damage restores her Shield Health.
Applies to:
- Sonic Repulsors
- Crystal Charge
- Panopticon (Ultimate)
The more consistent damage you deal with abilities, the longer you survive. Proper ability rotation is key to maximizing this passive.
Primary Fire: Photon Magnum
Domina’s weapon is designed for close to mid-range engagements.
How It Works
- Fires a beam dealing 60 damage over time
- Follow-up hitscan shot deals 60 damage
- Headshot multiplier: 1.5x (90 damage max headshot)
- Maximum range: 25 meters
- Ammo: 10
- Charge duration: 0.8 seconds
She is not built for long-range duels. While she can poke at medium distance, her real strength comes from controlling space and pressuring enemies inside objective areas.
Secondary Fire: Barrier Array
This is the core of Domina’s kit.
Barrier Details
- Creates a curved barrier made of 27 segments
- Each segment has 225 HP
- Duration: 8 seconds
- Cooldown: 14 seconds
- Downtime: Only 6 seconds between uses
- Max cast range: 35 meters
Because each segment can be destroyed individually, enemies can create openings by breaking specific sections.
Advanced Barrier Tips
- In narrow corridors, rotate the barrier sideways to maximize coverage.
- If the front segment breaks, step backward and use the curve for added protection.
- You can protect distant teammates thanks to the long cast range.
- Watch for hook-based threats who may exploit broken sections.
Barrier management separates average Domina players from great ones.
Sonic Repulsors (Knockback Ability)
This is Domina’s displacement and peel tool.
Stats
- Base damage: 40
- Wall impact bonus: +40
- Range: 8.5 meters
- Knockback immobilization: 0.5 seconds
- Wall stun duration: 0.5 seconds
- Cooldown: 7 seconds
This ability pushes enemies away and stuns them if they collide with a wall.
Use it to:
- Peel divers off your supports
- Secure environmental pressure
- Set up combo damage
Crystal Charge (Projectile Explosion)
Crystal Charge is a high-impact zoning tool with strong combo potential.
Mechanics
- Deals 50 damage over time
- Reactivate to detonate
- Max explosion damage: 100
- Minimum edge damage: 50 (2–4 meter radius)
- Cooldown: 8 seconds
- Projectile range: 100 meters
Important note: It no longer restores shields from hitting enemy barriers.
Combo Strategy
A strong combo involves:
- Launch Crystal Charge toward a wall or choke.
- Use Sonic Repulsors to knock enemies into it.
- Detonate for maximum damage while they are stunned.
This combination not only bursts enemies but also restores significant shield health through Reconstruction.
Crystal Charge also pierces enemy barriers, making it especially effective against bubble-based defenses.
Ultimate: Panopticon (Full Breakdown)
Panopticon is one of the most misunderstood ultimates right now.
What It Does
- Fires a projectile dealing 75 damage.
- Enemies hit are wrapped in a 450 HP barrier for 5 seconds.
- Affected enemies are slowed by 40%.
If the barrier remains after 5 seconds, it detonates for:
- 100 to 300 damage
- Damage scales based on remaining barrier HP
- If fully broken: 0 detonation damage
How It Actually Works
If the trapped player does nothing, they take the full 300 damage.
If they damage the barrier but fail to break it, they take reduced damage (minimum 100).
If they break it completely, the explosion deals zero damage.
Countering Panopticon
- Teammates should help shoot the barrier.
- Coordinated fire can eliminate the threat entirely.
- It does not pierce shields.
- It can be blocked or eaten by certain defensive tools.
- EMP effects can remove it from teammates.
Smart Usage Tips
- Use it on high-value targets to force them to stop shooting.
- Throw it at airborne heroes to force awkward self-damage scenarios.
- Avoid firing directly into active barriers.
Panopticon is strongest when enemies panic or fail to coordinate.
Minor Perks
1. Efficient Design
After using Barrier Array:
- Restore 50 Shield HP
- Immediately activate passive health regeneration
This improves sustain during prolonged fights.
2. Extended Power
- Increases Photon Magnum range by 20%
- 25m becomes 30m
Useful for maps with longer sightlines.
Major Perks
1. Disruptive Detonation
- Crystal Charge explosion slows enemies by 30% for 2 seconds.
This keeps enemies inside the explosion longer, increasing damage output and shield healing.
2. Power Move
- Barrier Array counts as a wall for Sonic Repulsors.
- Wall impact damage increases from 40 to 80.
This turns your barrier into an offensive stun tool and dramatically increases combo burst potential.
How to Play Domina Effectively
1. Rotate Abilities for Sustain
Your survivability depends on ability damage. Avoid wasting cooldowns.
2. Control Space, Not Just Damage
Domina excels at denying chokes and protecting angles.
3. Use Barrier Creatively
Don’t treat it as a static shield. Reposition and manipulate its curve.
4. Combo for Burst
Crystal Charge + Sonic Repulsors is your main damage combo.
5. Communicate During Ultimate
Panopticon requires coordination on both sides. Call targets clearly.
Domina is a high-control, ability-driven Tank with strong sustain and disruptive potential. Her power doesn’t just come from raw damage, but from forcing enemies into difficult decisions. Master her barrier placement, ability combos, and ultimate timing, and you’ll quickly become a dominant frontline presence in Overwatch. If you invest time into understanding her mechanics deeply, Domina can easily become one of the most impactful Tanks in your rotation.