Soldier: 76

Soldier: 76 is a Damage hero in Overwatch.

Overview
Armed with cutting-edge weaponry, including an experimental pulse rifle that’s capable of firing spirals of high-powered Helix Rockets, Soldier: 76 has the speed and support know-how of a highly trained warrior.

Strategy
Soldier: 76 is a well-rounded Damage hero. He's able to deal both sustained and burst damage at any range, move quickly across the battlefield, and support both himself and his team through the use of. His downsides are a lack of any real specialization with his weapons or abilities, no vertical movement, and a less impactful Ultimate when compared to other Assault heroes. He's a simple hero to learn to play, but a difficult one to master, making him a great pick for new players and veterans alike.

It is highly recommended to read the information in Abilities if you are not familiar with Soldier: 76's kit.

Weapons & Abilities

 * Adjust your rate you fire depending on the range you're fighting at. Use fully automatic fire when fighting up close and at medium range, and fire in three-round bursts at long range, exploiting the Heavy Pulse Rifle's perfect accuracy for its first 3 shots in a burst.


 * Helix Rockets can be used to deal burst damage, killing an enemy before they can escape or use an ability.
 * If you're unsure of your aim, or are against an evasive opponent, fire Helix Rockets at your enemy's feet instead of directly at them. This will ensure that the explosion damages them, even if you can't directly hit them with the rockets.
 * Helix Rockets self damage can kill you if your health is too low.


 * Sprint is an incredibly versatile ability. Use it to move between cover, chase after fleeing opponents, race to get to a Health Pack, or to get back to the fight after respawning.


 * Biotic Field has a small animation when activated. This animation will interrupt 76's reload animation. Try to use it either before or after reloading.
 * Biotic Field will attach to and travel with the Payload and moving platforms.


 * Tactical Visor is a deceptively powerful ability, allowing 76 to hit highly evasive targets like Tracer or Genji with perfect accuracy. Use Tactical Visor when facing them to net yourself a quick kill.
 * As Tactical Visor works like firing your normal attack, the falloff damage from Heavy Pulse Rifle applies. Even though you have perfect accuracy and can perfectly track your enemies, you will deal lower damage when you are outside of the effective range of Pulse Rifle.
 * Because Tactical Visor gives you perfect accuracy, you can spend more time focusing on dodging enemy attacks while it's active.
 * While Tactical Visor can be a powerful Ultimate, keep in mind that it doesn't make your shots any more damaging than normal. Barriers will still block your bullets, and enemies will still take the same amount of damage to kill as before. It's best to use it on enemies who are distracted by another member of your team like Reinhardt or Winston, allowing you to fire with impunity. Take advantage of the perfect accuracy it provides by keeping your distance from the enemy team, making it harder for them to hit you.
 * Tactical Visor will always aim towards the body of whoever is targeted, preventing headshots on the majority of heroes. It's best to use Tactical Visor on smaller, more agile opponents like Tracer or Pharah, rather than on Tanks like Winston or D.Va, since you can deal more damage by aiming at their large heads manually.
 * Tactical Visor fully reloads Soldier's gun, so if you run out of ammo, you can use it to keep pressing your attack. It can be a good idea to lay down a hail of fire to weaken your foes before using Tactical Visor's free reload to continue your assault, but first ensure it hasn't scared them all into cover, where Tactical Visor will be of no help. Additionally, note that Tactical Visor immediately presents yourself as a prominent target, so using the element of surprise and engaging enemies at longer ranges is generally superior to rushing into close quarters and firing indiscriminately.

General Strategies

 * A reliable source of steady damage, a dependable AoE heal, and a powerful burst make Soldier: 76 the very definition of frontline presence and assault. Alongside a Reinhardt or any other frontline hero, 76 can push or protect objectives with relative ease by mowing down anyone in his path, all while pressuring snipers and Pharahs.


 * Soldier: 76 is a great addition to any team. His lack of guaranteed escape tools makes him less effective at flanking than heroes like Genji, Tracer, or Reaper. He therefore tends to serve his team best by staying with them and helping them out with suppressive fire from his, and healing with his.


 * Soldier: 76 does his best work when he assails from a defensible position on high ground, ensuring that powerful close-range heroes can't easily reach him, giving him cover from return fire, and allowing him to more easily aim his.


 * Soldier can occasionally branch off from his team and attack from a separate position, using his to sustain him, if it means finding a good vantage point from high ground. Be ready to  back to the safety of your team if someone comes to deal with you, however, as Soldier does poorly in close-range engagements, and the distraction alone can sometimes be enough for his team to make gains — but not if Soldier dies, where the loss of his damage will be sorely felt.


 * Get into the habit of using whenever you're not in combat, as it gives you a big mobility advantage over many of the heroes in the game. You can Sprint indefinitely, so don't worry about overusing it.


 * Drop at the start of a fight to give yourself constant healing. This can give you a big Health advantage, especially when facing multiple opponents.


 * can deal heavy damage if it directly hits an enemy. Try to bait your opponent around a corner and then fire the Rocket when they turn it.

Story
"We're all soldiers now."

Currently the target of an international manhunt, the vigilante known as Soldier: 76 wages a personal war to expose the truth behind Overwatch's collapse.

Due to his genetic enhancement, he can heal wounds and acclimatize much faster than a normal human. He has always been a light sleeper. He was a fan of Indiana University basketball and was also a fan of Westerns...at least until he met Jesse McCree. He is of Catholic faith. He has a smile that he uses to get himself out of trouble, though is usually taciturn. He is well-read, showing interest in historical generals, and is a chess player, apparently admiring Bobby Fischer. The mask he wears distorts his voice.

Early Life
Jack Morrison grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. The young Morrison has been described in many different ways. He was a rambunctious youth. A humble, salt-of-the-earth farmer's son. But those asked all agree that Morrison was never destined to live out his days in the land of rolling plains and deep blue skies. He spent time working on the farm, and after work, would relax with his friends at the local ice cream shop. As a child, his mother once took him to New York. A visit to a museum was his favorite part of the trip; part of the visit involved running around the transplanted ruins of an ancient Egyptian temple.

At some point, Jack began a relationship with Vincent.

Omnic Crisis
"Even I had my doubts about whether Overwatch would succeed, but Morrison never gave up hope. He didn't just meet our expectations for what Overwatch and its agents could achieve; he shattered them."

- Gabrielle Adawe

At eighteen, at the earliest opportunity, Morrison packed his bags and joined the military in response to the Omnic Crisis breaking out across America. He had planned to serve a brief stint in the armed forces and then return home to the family farm, but his work ethic and courage caught the eye of the military brass. Before long, he earned a coveted position in the government's controversial and still-classified (but widely acknowledged) Soldier Enhancement Program." Military scientists shaped Morrison and other inductees into the perfect soldiers, blessed with superhuman speed, strength, and agility.

Morrison and his fellow augmented soldiers would soon put their abilities to use as the United States was devastated by the conflict. As governments tried and failed to neutralize the omnics, the United Nations was busy forming an international task force called Overwatch. This small, experimental group would bring together the best and brightest from around the world to wage asymmetrical warfare against the robots. Overwatch's short list of prospective agents included two members of the soldier enhancement program: Morrison and Gabriel Reyes, a senior officer from Los Angeles. Reyes and Morrison became fast friends, despite their different backgrounds, and decided to join Overwatch together. Leadership of Overwatch fell to Reyes, but Morrison would have a greater impact on the group in the long term. He brought out the best in the people around him and helped mold Overwatch's diverse (and sometimes conflicting) agents into a cohesive fighting force. One individual Morrison recruited was Dr. Mina Liao, formerly of the Omnica Corporation, and the one responsible for the creation of the omnics in the first place. Liao, aware of this irony, was caught aback, but as Morrison pointed out, who better than the omnics' creator to help Overwatch fight them? Morrison was looking for a robotics expert, who could educate Overwatch on the nature of the threat they faced. Liao accepted his offer, intent on helping her new comrades understand what omnics were, how they worked, and how to put an end to the Crisis.

During the conflict, Morrison often expressed hope that the war would end quickly, and that he could return to a normal life. However, this wasn't to be, as during or after the conflict, Morrison realized that his relationship with Vincent couldn't work due to the demands of his position.

One of their operations was carried out in Rio de Janeiro. In the end, Overwatch found the strength to defeat the omnics and end the war.

Post-Omnic Crisis
"The Omnic Crisis has been over for over ten years. Overwatch was built to win the war, but they’ve given me a new mission now: to make the world a better place. We’ve invested in research in biology, chemistry, infrastructure, climatology—every scientific endeavor that can better peoples’ lives."

- Jack Morrison

The UN rewarded Morrison for his contributions by making him Overwatch's first official commander. Reyes, to his relief, was passed over in the process. Morrison told Reyes that he should have been strike commander instead, but regardless, Morrison retained the position. Decades later, Ana Amari ventured that Morrison had been chosen as he "looked the part"&mdash;the war hero. Compassionate, brave, confident, political. That he could rebuild the world while Reyes couldn't.

After the Omnic Crisis, Overwatch experienced a meteoric rise in prominence. New funding and resources gave the now-public organization far-reaching global influence. The world celebrated Overwatch's agents as heroes, but none more so than Morrison. He became the face of Overwatch, a symbol of hope and promise, from the cobblestone streets of King's Row to the sweltering night markets of Bangkok. Morrison envisioned a bright new future for humanity. Under his leadership, Overwatch served as a global peacekeeping force and an engine for innovation, making advances in scientific fields as varied as space exploration and medical research. But even as Overwatch grew in power, Morrison stayed dedicated to the people around him. He trained new agents, instilling in them Overwatch's noble goals and ideals. At some point he was stationed at Watchpoint: Gibraltar.

Over the years, Morrison spent a lot of time defending Reyes's more questionable actions.

Recruiting Dr. Ziegler
"I have more than enough soldiers. What I need are thinkers. Dreamers. People who want to make the world a better place. You could be on the cusp of a breakthrough that could change the lives of every living person on the planet. I want to make that a reality and take away all the roadblocks so you can focus on revolutionizing your field."

- Morrison to Ziegler

Ten years after the Omnic Crisis, Morrison read a paper by Doctor Angela Ziegler, pertaining to the field of nanobiotics. He met with her at Overwatch Headquarters. He told her that he wanted her to join Overwatch as head of its medical research. She stated that she wanted her research to focus on civilian applications, and he acquiesced, stating that whatever she needed, she'd get. She agreed.

The Echo Project
"After all these years, it feels good to finally focus on the research that I am truly passionate about. The Athena prototype has been deemed a success, so much so that Jack's finally agreed to authorize my new project [imitating Jack] "Pending further evaluation.""

- Liao in her log

Years after the Omnic Crisis, Liao pitched the idea of an adaptive robot to Morrison and Reyes. Something that could accompany strike teams and fulfill any role required of it, from piloting a ship to providing medical care. Morrison, though reluctant to move forward with the idea, approved it in light of the success of Athena, but had Liao give him her word that it wouldn't get out of hand.

The Oslo Incident
"Overwatch will not rest until the ones behind this attack are brought to justice."

- Morrison in a press statement

Eight years before the present day, Overwatch's Oslo facilities were attacked. Overwatch launched an investigation, and Morrison spoke to the press. He stated that it was too early to identify the perpetrators, but assured them that Overwatch would not rest until they were brought to justice. He confirmed that Overwatch had identified a number of suspects, but declined to provide further details.

Retribution
"You sure you want to hear about this Jack? You haven't left me much choice. Whatever happened to plausible deniability? Little late for that."

- Reyes and Morrison in the debriefing

Overwatch soon identified a businessman named Antonio as the one responsible for the Oslo attack. He was affiliated with Talon and had a base in Venice. Not long after that, the Blackwatch Rome facility was destroyed in another Talon strike, one which claimed the lives of numerous personnel and severely injured Gérard Lacroix. Morrison told Reyes that he'd open an official investigation with the Italian government, and do it "by the book." However, Reyes stated that "by the book" was no longer working. Besides, given Antonio's connections with government officials, he'd be able to weasel out of any legal action brought against him. Reyes wanted to bring Antonio in for questioning, but Morrison pointed out that if such an operation was sanctioned, it would be a violation of Italy's sovereignty, and would erode the public trust in Overwatch. Reyes agreed that officially Morrison could never do so, but Blackwatch could get it done with no one the wiser. Morrison left the final choice with Reyes, but asked him to seriously consider if it would help Overwatch keep the world safe in the long run.

Reyes led his team on a covert mission to infiltrate Antonio's manor. In the process, Reyes killed Antonio, and he and his team had to fight their way out. Morrison was incensed by Reyes's actions; the attack was reported in the press, and the existence of Blackwatch had been made public. Reyes was debriefed by Morrison, Ana Amari, and a recovered Lacroix. Morrison grilled Reyes in the debriefing, demanding to know what had actually happened. Reyes snidely responded to Morrison's demands, but nonetheless recounted the Rialto mission. In his debrief, he pointed out that things don't always go according to plan, and stood by the decisions he had made. Morrison later interrogated McCree on the incident, asking if there was anything he wanted to add.

Uprising
"You think we should get involved. I didn't say that. But in the end, it should be our choice. Your choice."

- Jack and Ana

Seven years before the present day, Morrison faced an increasing public relations nightmare. During a briefing in the Overwatch Headquarters on the 27th day of the King's Row Uprising, Morrison learned that Reyes had Blackwatch agent McCree on the ground in London, where the uprising was occurring; despite orders from the prime minister of England expressively forbidding any Overwatch interference. Jack questioned Reyes if he had any other operatives on the ground, only to be sarcastically brushed off by Reyes. In truth, Morrision wanted to end the crisis in London, but felt tied down by bureaucracy and increasing pressures calling for new leadership. It was not until Cadet Lena Oxton, who Morrision took a special interest in provided Morrison a stirring speech declaring her belief in Overwatch and its mission that Morrison decided to authorize an unsanctioned mission to London to end the conflict. He warned the operatives he sent that the uprising could lead to open war.

Storm Rising
"What do you think will happen if we can't get Max? They've been threatening to reassign the entire operation. Morrison and Reyes have been arguing about it quite a bit lately."

- Overwatch agents discussing the pressure on Morrison

A year after the Uprising, Morrison was under pressure to disband Overwatch, with reassignment being threatened for its agents. Morrison and Reyes argued over the future of Overwatch

Legacy
Morrison led an Overwatch team in Poland to rescue a number of scientists that had been taken captive by Talon. Morrison led the team on the ground, while Ana served as a sharpshooter, providing them cover. They extracted the scientists, but back in the city, they came under fire from a Talon sniper. Morrison led the team to the dropship while Ana engaged in a sniper duel. They successfully made it to the craft, but Ana refused to break off and continued her duel. She ended up being shot herself. Afterwards, Morrison committed every resource at his disposal to find her, but had no luck. Everyone tried to convince Morrison that he was being irrational, but Morrison knew deep down that Ana wasn't dead. He couldn't forgive himself for leaving Ana behind. He later learnt that the sniper Ana had become engaged with was Amélie Lacroix (now a Talon agent known as "Widowmaker"), but kept this information to himself.

The End of Overwatch
Decades after the Omnic Crisis, Overwatch was shaken by a series of allegations, and its agents became targets of derision for the media. Morrison did his best to hold Overwatch together, but he was facing an internal rebellion led by Reyes, whose motives were unknown, but the rift that had grown between them had worsened. One year before Overwatch's disbandment, Morrison and Reyes came to blows at Overwatch's Swiss HQ. At some point, their fighting triggered an explosion that destroyed the facility.

Posthumous
"He devoted everything he was to Overwatch. He was our moral compass. Our inspiration. Our friend."

- Reinhardt at Morrison's funeral

Morrison was supposedly buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Reinhardt Wilhelm, one of Overwatch's original members, spoke highly of him at his funeral. Statues of him continue to be frequented. In truth, however, Morrison's body was never recovered. He considered the blast the fault of his enemies, and reflected how they believed him dead. A truth, but in his mind, part of him did die that day.

Resurgence
"He was a professional. Confident. Surgical. Had all the hallmarks of someone with advanced military training."

- An HSI guard on Morrison's intrusion

Five years after the end of Overwatch, a series of attacks was made on financial institutions, shadowy corporations, and former Overwatch facilities, all carried out by an unidentified male called "Soldier: 76." in each case where he stole some Overwatch tech. This included Watchpoint: Grand Mesa, where he stole a pulse rifle. Helix Security International personnel attempted to engage him, but 76 escaped apprehension. None of the personnel were killed, though some were treated for non-threatening injuries. One of them stated (under conditions of anonymity) that the assailant possessed strength and speed beyond anything a normal person should possess, and that he likely had military training. The United States turned its attention to apprehending him, and indeed, Soldier: 76 became the target of an international manhunt.

In truth, Soldier: 76 was Jack Morrison. Thanks to his raids, Morrison was now equipped with an arsenal of cutting-edge technology. Here, he used it to wage his personal war to expose the truth behind Overwatch's collapse: to find those responsible, and bring them to justice. He was tracking Reyes (now the mercenary known as Reaper), and was given information on his former's whereabouts by an unknown party.

Further Actions
"At least my enemies know that I’m coming for them. Your enemies? The United States’ government, Germany’s largest bank, Helix Security. Did I miss anything? LumériCo. And Mexico’s largest energy company. Which, incidentally, is run by their incredibly popular former president and universally loved war hero. Those enemies won’t do much for your reputation."

- Jack Morrison and Angela Ziegler discussing the former's record

Note: The following events aren't necessarily in chronological order.

Bank Heist
At some point after getting his equipment, Morrison helped foil a bank heist; the bank may have been situated in Germany.

Hero
"You're one of those heroes, aren't you?"

- Alejandra

Reports were made that Morrison, still known as "Soldier: 76," was seen in Dorado. This was in the aftermath of his string of attacks within the US, and it was speculated that he had crossed the border into Mexico. A reward of $10,000,000 was offered for any information leading to his capture.

They were reports that were accurate, for within Dorado, Morrison engaged Los Muertos members. He quickly gained the upperhand and forced the thugs to retreat. He tried to pursue, but one of their number lobbed a grenade at a young girl who'd been caught up in the fighting. Torn between the options of pursuit or saving her, Morrison chose the latter, shielding her from the blast and emerging relatively unscathed. With Los Muertos gone, he told her to head home. As he departed into the shadows, she revealed that she recognised him as one of the heroes (of Overwatch) that her mother had told her about. Morrison replied that he wasn't a hero anymore, but she disagreed. Although it appeared that he had simply left, Morrison secretly watched over her from above, making sure she returned home safely to her mother.

While in Mexico, Morrison ran afoul of LumériCo.

Recall
"What would you have me do, then? Fly to Gibraltar and join up with Winston? You think the same people who brought down Overwatch won't take him down, too? Let Winston play hero. I’ll do what needs to be done. Reyes, Ogundimu, Maximilien, Vialli, Sombra, O’Deorain, and the rest of them. They'll be dealt with."

- Jack Morrison

Morrison either received or became aware of Winston's recall order for Overwatch agents. However, he refused to return to Overwatch, instead pursuing his own agenda.

Old Soldiers
"This is my war, Ana. And you've given it up, or else you'd have told me you were still alive."

- Jack Morrison

Morrison headed to Egypt to track down a lead on a bounty hunter that had been causing Talon some problems. At Giza, he was given what limited information a man named Abdul Hakim had on the target. When his contact turned on him, he incapacitated the man, and headed to Hakim's compound. Listening in via a guard's radio, he heard the voice of Gabriel Reyes on the other side. He vaulted the compound's wall, incapacitating another guard, and demanded to know where Reyes was. Reyes turned up, now the individual known as Reaper, and took Morrison by surprise, shooting him in the back. However, before Reyes could finish Morrison off, he was shot at by Ana, who managed to heal Morrison through her biotic rifle. Morrison and Reyes engaged in a fist-fight, and while Reyes was able to again best him, his confrontation with Ana prompted him to retreat.

The reunion between Ana and Morrison was strained&mdash;the latter was agrieved that she hadn't contacted him to let her know that she was still alive, the former possessing little interest in Morrison's personal war. Nonetheless, Ana agreed to help him, but asked what Morrison would do when the fighting was over. Morrison responded that he was a soldier, and that his war would never end.

Bastet
"Gabriel is out there. Talon is getting more powerful. They need to be stopped, and everything that we’ve suffered&mdash;everything that you've suffered&mdash;needs to be made good on. I'm going to take them apart, piece by piece. But I can't do it alone. I need your help."

- Morrison to Ana

Morrison's wounds from Reaper began to heal immediately, though not perfectly. Hearing the sound of sirens, he and Ana exfiltrated the compound. However, Morrison collapsed due to his injuries. He woke up in a military cot situated at Ana's base of operations in the Necropolis. His wounds hadn't fully healed, leaving them to wonder if Reaper's shells had utilized a biological agent. Ana suggested contacting Dr. Angela Ziegler, but Morrison refused to see her (or any other doctors), reflecting that Ziegler wouldn't want to see them. He stated that he intended to take Talon down, but needed Ana's help in doing so. Ana told him to rest, and while he objected, he had no choice&mdash;Ana had drugged the tea he was drinking, and he fell asleep.

Morrison woke up two days later. The two discussed their motivations in regards to Egypt and Talon. Ana accused Morrison of fighting out of a desire for revenge rather than justice. She also pointed out that Egypt was suffering from Hakim's exploitation, while Morrison wanted to focus on the bigger picture and the threat Talon represented. The two refused to agree and Morrison stormed out. Making his way into Cairo's night, he was uneasy, reflecting that Talon knew he was onto them. He was reunited with Ana, and they made a deal&mdash;take out Hakim, then she would help him in his anti-Talon crusade. Ana's plan was to start at the bottom of Hakim's syndicate, starving him of resources, and forcing him out into the open. Their hunt would extend through the Christmas period.

Within a week, they'd rounded up most of Hakim's associates. After the initial bust, Hakim went to ground, which led to a stakeout. Ana had more patience than Morrison in this (per her experience as a sniper), and he spent most of his time thinking about Reyes. However, a week later, they had finished dismantling Hakim's network, and Hakim himself was apprehended. With their work in Egypt complete, Morrison and Ana left the Necropolis to move against Talon.

Valkyrie
"Jack might not be as idealistic as he once was, but he’s just as bullheaded as ever. The more things pass us by, the more we want to hold on to them. He can’t fight the past. He has to know that. I think Jack will always find something to fight. He needs it."

- Ana and Ziegler discussing Morrison

Morrison hadn't wanted to see Angela Ziegler, but the wounds he'd suffered from Reaper continued to fester. He and Ana turned up at Ziegler's apartment in Cairo. When she pushed him for details, he remained taciturn. She applied an anisthetic to his back, but lacked the equipment she needed to run proper tests. Stating that they were short on time, Morrison told her to just give them some medikits, and that they'd head off after that. As she searched for the kits, he asked her what she was doing in Cairo. She avoided answering the question, simply stating that she preferred to keep a low profile. Ziegler pressed him on the list of enemies he'd made as a vigilante, but Morrison wasn't deterred&mdash;his goal was to find out the truth about what had happened to Overwatch, and to take his revenge on those who'd wronged him. Ziegler pointed out that taking revenge wouldn't change anything, but Morrison stated that he'd get justice. That someone had to make them pay.

That night, Cairo was rocked by the sound of an explosion. Morrison and Ana quickly suited up and told Ziegler that Talon had attacked the Temple of Anubis. Ziegler stated that Helix Security International would handle it, but Morrison simply replied "it's Talon." Ziegler agreed to come with them, flying above in her Valkyrie suit while Morrison and Ana made their way through Cairo's streets on foot. Approaching the temple, caught in a firefight between Talon and HSI forces, Morrison caught sight of Reyes. Ziegler told him that Reyes wasn't their concern, that they had people to save, but Morrison stated that saving people was her job. Reyes was his. The link went silent as Morrison headed for the firefight, Ana providing cover as he did so. They later found Ziegler, helping her and the children she'd helped rescue.

The next day, Morrison and Ana visited Ziegler in a camp outside Cairo, where the victims of Talon's attack were being treated. Morrison was evasive on the details of what had transpired, but on the subject of Reyes, simply stated that "old soldiers are hard to kill." He further stated that he and Ana were going to pursue Reyes, having deduced that he was headed for Europe. He asked if Ziegler would join them, but she refused, stating that her place was in Cairo. He thanked Ziegler for a medikits and gave her a mock salute before departing.

Trivia

 * A Soldier: 76 portrait is available in StarCraft II for those who purchase the Origins Edition.


 * "Dad Soldier: 76" is a popular fan reinterpretation of the character, depicting him as an individual struggling to control children (younger versions of Overwatch characters). Tatasciore himself is reciprocal to the meme, stating "he's definitely a father figure...I totally get it. I see him as that too, and that's one of the most moving parts of him. Even if you're a soldier on his team, he's going to try and teach you. Even if you're fighting him, he'll say, "You got to learn differently." He is a protector, and he will watch over everyone, and he's trying."


 * As of September 2016, Soldier: 76 is the most widely played hero in the game.


 * His Commando: 76 and Night Ops: 76 skins list his religion as Catholic on the dog tags, which is notably the first reference to a real-world religion in Overwatch.


 * Soldier: 76 is the second LGBT hero in the game, after Tracer. This was revealed in the short story Bastet, and later confirmed in a Tweet from Michael Chu, the lead writer.


 * Soldier: 76 appears as a skin for Raynor in Heroes of the Storm.

Contradictions

 * Contradictory information exists as to the nature of Reaper and Morrison's relationship. An Atlas News post in 2015 stated that Morrison becoming head of Overwatch was the source of the rift between them. In 2018, Jeff Kaplan stated that there was no rift, that Reyes was happy for Morrison to have the more political role and be "number two," as there would be less accountability.


 * Morrison's views on Ana's supposed death vary between sources. In Bastet, he states that he knew that she couldn't be dead. In Ana: Old Soldiers however, he states that he thought she was dead.

Merchandise

 * A bronze statue of Soldier: 76 is available in the Collector's Edition of Overwatch.


 * A "Cute but Deadly" Soldier: 76 figure is available for purchase from the Blizzard Store.


 * A Soldier: 76 Nendoroid figure will go on sale in Q2 2019.

Development
Soldier: 76 was designed using a top-down approach, where developers started with the flavor/story/art side of the subject and built mechanics around it. The original concept was pitched by Chris Metzen, and the team instantly got onboard. From there, lead concept artist Arnold Tsang, Metzen and art director Bill Petras worked together to finalize a character concept. By this stage, the developers had the idea of making 76 a "normal rifle guy," in regards to his gameplay style. Few problems were encountered during development, and only his heal ability changed. It was intended that he be easy for players from other FPS games to play, allowing them to ease into Overwatch before moving onto more exotic heroes. Metzen leveraged Soldier: 76 as a "fulcrum point" of the story/setting. He is said to represent Overwatch at its greatest.

Morrison's visual design differs from his initial appearance during and after the Omnic Crisis, and how he appears in the game itself. This was intentional on the developers' part, as they wanted his visual design to reflect how his state of mind has changed over the years.

Soldier: 76 was a comic book series concept by Chris Metzen. Morrison's design was inspired by the title character&mdash;Metzen wanted to see what the development team would do with the character. Morrison shares a lot of broad themes and motivations with the comic character, but the details of the characters' lives differ greatly.

Soldier: 76 Comic Pitch

 * The American dream has become a nightmare.


 * A dramatic rise in terrorist attacks executed on US soil erodes national confidence in the Federal Government’s ability to maintain order and security throughout the country. Extremist militant groups, both foreign and domestic, strike at US holdings with seeming impunity. The Federal Government’s inability to directly counter these threats begins to chip away at the cornerstones of national unity.


 * The seditious debate over how to respond forcefully to the rising crisis begins to fracture the tentative fraternity between the Federal and State Governments. The increasingly sensationalist media-bloc fans the flames of public paranoia and discontent.


 * Violence reaches a boiling point on both coasts as various ethnic and special interest groups are blamed for society’s rapid disintegration. The tenuous public conscience finally snaps as race riots, violent anti-Federal demonstrations and outright urban warfare erupt throughout the nation’s major population centers.


 * Local governments, unable to stem the tide of the growing anarchy, turn to the Federal Government for a final solution. Martial Law is instated across the land as Federal armed forces move in and quickly take control of thirteen eastern states. The massive police action quickly spirals out of control as numerous guerilla militias rise up to spread terror and destruction up and down the East Coast.


 * Outraged by this unprecedented Federal action, and driven to circumvent similar events in their own territories, a number of central and western states declare their intentions to secede from the union. In a final bid to keep the nation from fracturing any further, the Federal Government sends its troops into the heartland of America to restore order at any cost.


 * The Second American Civil War has begun…

Essentially, the character – S:76 – is an old super soldier (there was a whole series of them - though the term ‘super soldier’ will likely NEVER be used). These guys had special micro-chips implanted in their brain stems that regulate their autonomic systems – giving them sporadic boosts of speed, endurance, aggression and strength. Anyway, 76 was left behind on a botched assassination mission over thirty years ago. Wounded and alone he has wandered the seedy back-alleys of South America as an amnesiac ever since. The government has presumed him dead all these years.

While he was away – America devolved into a war-zone. The nation (for a number of reasons – rampant domestic terrorism being a biggie) lost all sense of itself as the Second American Civil War erupted between the Federal controlled east and a loose conflagration of western states. The country is in chaos. Race riots and worse are erupting in every major population center. Things are not good.

As fate would have it, our hero finds his way home to a very different America than he knew. Still suffering from amnesia, he must attempt to come to terms with his shadowed past in order to chose the right side to fight for.

The series is being painted by Brazilian artist, Max Velati, with me writing the script. We’re cranking away, so I hope to start sending this thing out for solicitation pretty soon.

For a sneak peek – you guys can check out the short story Soldier: 76: The Vigil I did with artist Greg Scott in Digital Webbing Presents issue #16 (on sale a few months back). Below, I’ve also included a sketch page Greg did of 76 as we were jamming on the story!

Well, I hope y’all dig the concept! Let me know what ya’ think! Happy Holidays everyone! Let’s tip a few back in honor of the 1st birthday of Sons of the Storm!!! - Metzen