April Fools is an annual custom in western regions that takes place on April 1st, consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. For Overwatch, April fools historically comes with an "experimental patch", where heroes have unique changes to their hero kit. This started back in the original game, Overwatch (classic), and continued in Overwatch 2, now just Overwatch.
Early iterations of these "experimental patches" had game features for heroes that were later either directly implemented into their base kit, as perks in Season 15 onwards, or as Stadium powers.
April Fools 2021
- Patch: April 1, 2021 Patch
The first 'official' April fools patch features unique, goofy changes to the hero roster. These were available in an experimental card, with the changes being humorous, but also somewhat realistic for changes these heroes could actually feature.
Some changes from this patch were later implemented to their base kits. This does include some base number changes, however notable changes implemented includes:
- Soldier: 76 being capable of headshotting during
Tactical Visor. - Zarya's bubbles being on a shared cooldown with 2 charges.
A handful of these changes were later implemented as perks or stadium powers to heroes, such as:
- Ana's
Nano Boost also affecting herself. - Pharah moving during
Barrage. - Symmetra's beam range increasing.
- Tracer's
Recall refills 
Blink charges. - Widowmaker scoped shotes piercing.
- Zenyatta levitating by holding jump.
April Fools 2023
- Patch: March 31, 2023 Patch
Similar to other April fool patches, this one featured changes to every hero. These changes were available to play in the limited-time arcade mode "TEMP - NEXT BALANCE PATCH - FINAL_FINAL23". This was the first patch to introduce unique Ultimate ability voice lines for April fools, as well as changes to Role passives.
April Fools 2024 (Balanced Overwatch)
- Main: Balanced Overwatch
- Patch: April 1, 2024 Patch
This patch featured a limited-time event mode titled "Balanced Overwatch", available in Arcade. It also was the first April fools mode to feature the iconic googly-eyes on hero models. Similarly, it was the first patch to add the Dev Doodle sprays, available through limited-time challenges.
April Fools 2025 (Totally Normalwatch)
- Main: Totally Normalwatch
- Patch: April 1, 2025 Patch
This was the first April Fools patch released after the introduction of Perks, although they were disabled during the game mode. Same as previous years, this patch features changes to each hero for fun, and could be played in the arcade under "Totally Normalwatch". Similar to last year, Dev Doodle sprays for a new range of heroes were available in challenges.
April Fools 2026 (Underwatch)
- Main: Underwatch
- Patch: April 1, 2026 Patch
This patch followed the same theme as prior April Fool patches, with every hero receiving googly-eyes to their hero models and unique Ultimate ability voice lines. It also had a wacky patch with unique hero changes for every hero available in the Arcade, as "Underwatch". Dev Doodle sprays were also available for all the newest added heroes, since the prior April Fools event.
Voice Line Changes
| Hero | Trigger | Quote | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope this helps... (self and allies) | |||
| Go get them, tiger. (hostile) | |||
| Caw-caw, you cluckers! (self and hostile) | |||
| Burn, baby, burn! (allies) | |||
| Hot wings, hot wings, spicy hot wings! (allies) | |||
| Heroes never-- oh shoot, wrong script. (allies) | |||
| Why'd the Zhuque cross the road? To get to the revive! (self and hostile) | |||
Scenario |
*laughs* It's a "diedrate", for me! (eliminating Wuyang using Tidal Blast) | ||
| Fred! | |||
| Fred! I mean, Bob! Do somethin'! (self and hostile) | |||
| Get in there, Fred! I mean, Bob... (allies) | |||
| Another day, another slay. | |||
| Everybody, shoot through the box! Through the box! (self and allies) | |||
| Shoot through the big glowy thing! (self and allies) | |||
| Say cheese! (hostile) | |||
| This won't hurt. Too much. (hostile) | |||
| (musical beeps) (self and hostile) | |||
| (fog horn beeps) (self and hostile) | |||
| (musical beeps) (allies) | |||
| (air horn beeps) (allies) | |||
| Mace to the, mace to the, mace to the, mace to the face! (self and allies) | |||
| Face my mace. Mace to the face! (hostile) | |||
| It's half past six. (self and hostile) | |||
| It's past your bedtime. (self and hostile) | |||
| It's two in the mornin'. (self and hostile) | |||
| It's a country minute shy of the devil's lunchbreak. (allies) | |||
| It's 3:24. (allies) | |||
| It's 4:57. (allies) | |||
| Peep this POTG! (self and hostile) | |||
| Pressing Q! (self and hostile) | |||
| Sorry, Dae-hyun! (allies) | |||
| Bonk! Go to jail! (self and hostile) | |||
| Passing judgement, serving face! (friendly) | |||
Charging |
Beware my Fist of Power! | ||
| You can't get me! (self and hostile) | |||
| Wheeeeeee! (allies) | |||
| And they say Doomfist is dead. (original: "And they say chivalry is dead.") | |||
| I'm better than you at...[Duplicated hero’s name] (self and hostile) | |||
| Initializing shaders. (allies) | |||
*dial up noises* Etsi ja tuhoa. (self and hostile) (Finnish)
English: Search and destroy. |
|||
| You're so cooked! (self and hostile) | |||
| Securing the bag! (allies) | |||
| *sword noises* (self and hostile) | |||
| Dragon! Sparrow! Cyborg! Ninja! Jyaa jyaa! (allies) | |||
Tatakae! (allies, removed)
Japanese: 戦え！ English: Fight! |
|||
| Nom-nom-nom-nom-nom-nom! (self and hostile) | |||
| Sic 'em, boys! (self and hostile) | |||
| Who's a good dragon? Who's a good dragon?! (allies) | |||
| Who wants a stick and poke? (self and hostile) | |||
| Bring an umbrella! (allies) | |||
| SPF 15 is useless! (self and allies) | |||
| Put on your sunscreen! (hostile) | |||
| *foolish meowing* (allies) | |||
| *terrifying roar* (self and hostile) | |||
| Cut-cut-cut-cut-cut-cut-CUT! (self and hostile) | |||
| Everybody, look at my axe! (allies) | |||
| Everyone, stand very still! (self and hostile) | |||
| Who's using a tire? Not me! *laughs* Don't worry! (allies) | |||
| They cannot stop all of us! (self and allies) | |||
| Martian? Always have been! (self and allies) | |||
| Alien invasion! (hostile) | |||
| I am here to abduct you! (hostile) | |||
| Just aim for the head! (self and allies) | |||
| Believe it! (self and allies, removed) | |||
| *fox noises* (hostile) | |||
Dattebayo! (hostile, removed)
Japanese: だってばよ！ English: Believe it! |
|||
| If I see even one axe, so help me! (self and allies) | |||
| Take shelter, my seedlings! (self and allies) | |||
| Tree's up! Everyone, grab a pillow and a book. (self and allies) | |||
| Beware my magic tree! (hostile) | |||
| Who want a billion hit points?! (self and allies) | |||
| Let's get a noise violation! (hostile) | |||
| You can check in, but you can't check out. (self and hostile) | |||
| Good fences make good neighbors! (self and allies) | |||
| Dancefloor's open! (allies) | |||
| Now that's a chain reaction! (allies) | |||
| We want them where we got them! Oh, wait... (allies) | |||
A, wǒ yào kāi kòngtiáole! (self and hostile)
Hanzi: 啊，我要开空调了！ English: Ah, I'm going to turn on the air conditioner! |
|||
| Activating ceiling fan! (allies) | |||
| *sigh* Turning on the AC! (allies) | |||
| Do I have to? (self and allies) | |||
| Time to connect the dots! (self and allies) | |||
| Moth formation, go! (hostile) | |||
| Get in the magic circle! (self and allies) | |||
| Anything but the shirikodama! (hostile) | |||
| No spirits allowed! (hostile) | |||
| I'll show you, "meta"! (self and allies) | |||
| Here's the craic! (hostile) | |||
| Kamehameha! (hostile, removed) | |||
| Check yourself or wreck yourself! (self and enemies) | |||
| Yee-haw rodeo! (allies) | |||
| Rain justices from above! (self and hostile) | |||
| Try and shoot me! You won't! (self and hostile) | |||
| Justice rains from the ground! (self and hostile, while standing on ground) | |||
| Hope you like rockets! (allies) | |||
| Agony is grape-flavored! (self and hostile) | |||
| You will suffer as I, Ramattra, have suffered! Your torment will outlast the stars! When the universe dwindles into dust, there you will be, still suffering as I have...suffered. (self and hostile) | |||
| Who wants a purple hug? (allies) | |||
| Happy, happy birthday... (self and hostile) | |||
| Wheeeeee... (allies) | |||
| Have a seat! (self and hostile) | |||
| Here comes the bonk! (allies) | |||
| You get scrap. You get scrap. (self and hostile) | |||
| Everybody gets scrap. (self and hostile) | |||
| This little piggy will run you over. (allies) | |||
| I think we're gonna have to kill these guys, Dorothy! (self and hostile) | |||
| Justice rains from above! *chuckles* (self and hostile) | |||
| Welcome to the drone zone! (allies) | |||
JIm roov tgniz musrevinu teh! (Reversed: Het universum zingt voor mij!) (self and hostile)
English: The universe sings for me! |
|||
| What are those? (allies) | |||
| Bye-bye, bad guys! (self and hostile) | |||
| That starts then!... *pause* What? (allies) | |||
| Who took my dentures? (self and hostile) | |||
| Turn that damn music down! (self and hostile with Lúcio on the team) | |||
| War is a game, and I'm using cheats! (allies) | |||
| Get DDoSed! (self and hostile) | |||
| Propaganda is useless! (self and hostile) | |||
| I'm in! (allies) | |||
| I am blocking you! (self and hostile) | |||
| Superior to RGB! (self and hostile) | |||
| This wall is incredibly lit! (allies) | |||
| Ahem. La-va! (self and hostile) | |||
| The floor is lava! (allies) | |||
| Tag, you're it! | |||
| Wuoh, wuoh, wuoh, whoa! Whoops... | |||
| Awooooooo! (self and hostile) | |||
| Slay! (allies) | |||
| Bingus schmungus! (self and hostile) | |||
| This is not a drill! (self and hostile) | |||
| Drill go brrr! (allies) | |||
| Wallhacks initialized. (self and allies) | |||
| I'm making popcorn. (self and allies) | |||
| Hello! I can see you! (hostile) | |||
Barrier Projector End of Primal Rage Elimination Respawn Hello Yes No Ultimate Status Passive Over Time |
Winston! | ||
| Look at me go! | |||
| Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! | |||
| Collect the little balls to win a prize. (self and hostile) | |||
| Behold the children of Wrecking Ball. (allies) | |||
| Hydrate or diedrate! (hostile) | |||
| Water those?! (target Sigma) | |||
| Good luck, sweaty! (target) | |||
| You're gonna do amazing, sweaty! (target) | |||
| You're powered up, get in—never mind... (target) | |||
Āiyā, měitiān yào hē bā bēi shuǐ! (hostile)
Hanzi: 哎呀，每天要喝八杯水！ English: Ah, you need to drink eight cups of water per day! |
|||
| Group hug! (self and hostile) | |||
| Crush, crush, crush. (allies) | |||
| Not a supernova - a Zaryanova. (allies) | |||
| Become unkillable. Some conditions may apply. (self and allies) | |||
| You're invincible. Now... shoot them! (self and allies) | |||
| Deal with it. (hostile) |
