Overwatch ArchivesPvE Story

Overwatch Uprising

Relive Tracer's first mission — retake King's Row from Null Sector.

Overwatch Uprising is a landmark PvE co-op story mission introduced in April 2017 as the first Overwatch Archives event. It transports players 7 years into the past to relive one of Overwatch's most important historical missions: the retaking of King's Row from Null Sector, an Omnic insurgency group that had seized control of the district. Players step into the boots of the canonical four-hero strike team — Tracer, Reinhardt, Torbjörn, and Mercy — guided by familiar voice-overs from a younger Jack Morrison (Soldier: 76), Ana Amari, and Gabriel Reyes. An All Heroes mode also allows any hero combination. Widely celebrated as the most story-rich PvE experience Overwatch ever produced, Uprising set the template for all subsequent Archives missions.

Returns annually during the Overwatch Archives event (April)

Tracer, Reinhardt, Torbjörn, Mercy, Any Hero (All Heroes Mode)

King's Row (special Uprising variant)

Objective

Complete three sequential objectives across King's Row: hack and hold three terminals to disable Null Sector anti-air defenses, defend the payload for 4 minutes across three enemy waves, and eliminate four OR14-NS boss units.

Key Mechanics

Phase 1 — Terminal Hacking

Players must capture three control terminals to disable anti-air cannons. At least one player must stand on each terminal for progress. Terminals pause if vacated or contested by enemies. All three must be secured before the payload appears.

Phase 2 — Payload Defense

A stationary payload must be defended for 4 minutes across three enemy waves. The payload HP bar is visible on-screen. Losing all payload HP immediately ends the mission — it is the most dangerous phase for unprepared teams.

Phase 3 — OR14-NS Bosses

Four OR14-NS units (heavy Orisa-like mini-bosses) must be eliminated. Each uses a barrier projector, gravitational pull, fortification mode, and Supercharger ability. Focus fire and maintain positioning to avoid being pulled into their graviton ability.

Enemy Roster

Nulltroopers (200 HP standard infantry), Eradicators (400 HP with 400 HP barriers — shoot the glowing orange arm weak point), Slicers (100 HP laser units targeting the payload), Detonators (1,000 HP suicide bombers — strip armor to expose weak spots), and B73-NS Bastions.

Revive System

Fallen players can be revived by teammates standing nearby and holding the Interact key. If all four players go down simultaneously, the mission ends. Managing revives during Detonator rushes is critical.

Difficulty Tiers

Four difficulties: Normal, Hard, Expert, Legendary. Legendary dramatically increases enemy count, speed, and HP. Story Mode locks heroes to the canonical four; All Heroes Mode allows any combination.

Lore & Background

Set 7 years before present-day Overwatch, this mission depicts the unauthorized but successful operation to retake King's Row from Null Sector. Jack Morrison's team — Tracer (her first official field mission), Reinhardt, Torbjörn, and Mercy — defied the United Nations' non-intervention order. Their success liberated King's Row but ultimately contributed to growing UN scrutiny of Overwatch. Accompanied by the Uprising comic released simultaneously.

Tips & Strategy

1During payload defense, focus Detonators exclusively — their suicide explosions remove 20% of payload HP per contact and can end runs instantly
2Station Torbjörn's turret facing the payload approach routes during Phase 2 — it clears Slicers automatically
3On Expert and Legendary, Mercy should stay mobile and pocket the highest-damage dealers; standing still makes her an easy target
4During OR14-NS boss fights, avoid clustering — gravitational pulls catch grouped teams in devastating combos
5Reinhardt's barrier is most valuable in Phase 1 while approaching exposed terminals under fire
6Try the All Heroes Mode if the canonical four feel limiting — any hero composition can clear Legendary with good coordination

Quick Info

Event: Overwatch Archives
Mode Type: PvE Story
Availability: Returns annually during the Overwatch Archives event (April)

Heroes

Tracer
Reinhardt
Torbjörn
Mercy
Any Hero (All Heroes Mode)

Maps

King's Row (special Uprising variant)

Back to all Game Modes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Overwatch Uprising game mode?

Overwatch Uprising is a 4-player co-op PvE story mission set in King's Row, 7 years before the present Overwatch timeline. Players relive the historical operation to retake King's Row from the Null Sector Omnic insurgency. It features three distinct phases: capturing terminals, defending a payload, and defeating boss units.

Can you play Overwatch Uprising with any hero?

Yes — All Heroes Mode allows any hero combination. Story Mode restricts players to the canonical team: Tracer, Reinhardt, Torbjörn, and Mercy. All Heroes Mode is available on all difficulty levels and is popular for experimenting with unusual compositions on Legendary.

How do you beat the OR14-NS bosses in Overwatch Uprising?

Focus one OR14-NS unit at a time and break their barrier before committing to sustained damage. Stay spread out to avoid being caught in their gravitational pull ability. On Legendary, use Nano Boost on your highest damage dealer to burst down bosses before they can use their Supercharger.

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