Pharah

Pharah
"I will protect the innocent."
Real Name	Fareeha Amari
Age	32
Nationality	Egyptian
Occupation	Security Chief
Base	Giza, Egypt
Affiliation	Egyptian Army (formerly) Helix Security International
Relations	Ana Amari (mother)
Voice	Jen Cohn (English) Ethel Houbiers (French) Debora Magnaghi (Italian) Romi Park (Japanese) Marcela Duarte (Brazilan Portuguese) Irina Índigo (American Spanish) Diana Torres (European Spanish)
Cosmetics	Cosmetic page
Quotes	Quotation page
Role	Offense
Health	200
Character Video

Pharah is an Offense hero in Overwatch.

Overview

Soaring through the air in her combat armor, and armed with a launcher that lays down high-explosive rockets, Pharah is a force to be reckoned with.

Abilities

Hover Jets

Type

Passive Ability

Pharah lifts herself upward with her jet suit.

Duration:

2 seconds

Move. speed:

5.5 meters per second

Cooldown:

2 seconds

• Details

Ability details:

• Activated by holding jump button while in the air, or alt-fire button.
• Allows her to gain height when held, while tapping allows her to remain at the same height.
• Refuels automatically when not in use, taking two seconds to refill from empty to full.
• Allows Pharah to hover indefinitely when paired with Jump Jet.

Rocket Launcher

Type

Weapon

Effect Type

Linear splash projectile

Pharah’s primary weapon launches rockets that deal significant damage in a wide blast radius.

Damage:

Direct hit: 120
Splash max: 80
Splash min: 20
Self: 40

Headshot:

✕

Rate of fire:

1.1 round per second

Ammo:

6

Reload time:

1 second

Area of effect:

2.5 meter radius

Projectile speed:

35 meters per second

• Details

Ability details:

• Knockback decreases with distance from the explosion, reaching 0% at the edge of the blast radius.
• Knockback also applies to self.

Example Video

Jump Jet

10 seconds

Type

Ability

Propelled by her suit’s thrusters, Pharah soars high into the air.

Max. range:

~20 meters vertically

Example Video

Concussive Blast

12 seconds

Type

Ability

Effect Type

Linear splash projectile

Pharah looses a wrist rocket that knocks back any enemies it strikes.

Damage:

Knockback

Headshot:

✕

Area of effect:

8 meter radius

Projectile speed:

50 meters per second

• Details

Ability details:

• Also knocks back Pharah herself.
• Can be used as an additional mobility tool, as it does not deal self damage.
• Mostly deals horizontal knockback.

Example Video

Barrage

Q

1850 points

Type

Ultimate Ability

Effect Type

Rapid fire linear projectile

Pharah directs a continuous salvo of mini-rockets to destroy groups of enemies.

Damage:

40 per rocket

Headshot:

✕

Rate of fire:

30 rockets per second

Duration:

3 seconds

Move. speed:

Caster immobilized

Projectile speed:

28.5 meters per second

• Details

Ability details:

• Pharah passively generates 1% Ult Charge every 3.75 seconds.
• Pharah remains stationary while the ability is active, but can turn.
• Pharah will stay in the air if the ability is used mid-air.

Example Video

Strategy

Pharah is a hero who possess the skill of aerial-control. Her Rocket Launcher fires a rocket in linear line. The rocket deals heavy damage upon impact and some splash damage nearby which can disrupt the enemy's position. Hover allows her to move upward, making her gain some amount of vertical height. Pharah can use Jump Jet in conjunction with Hover to quickly boost her height to mid-air. Concussive Blast deals no damage, but create a strong knockback that can push both Pharah and the enemy within the blast. Barrage is the most devastating, be able to wipe out all targets within second. However, the rocket is very slow, unable to deal full effect when it can't hit the enemy. Hover stills has a fuel limit, making her fall to ground quickly if she can't combine usage with Jump Jet. Although Pharah can dodge attacks with Hover, she is naturally slow by default, unlike other offense heroes. Her strong aerial capability is well-countered by the heroes who possess hitscan-type weapon, since it's attack has no travel time and be able to hit Pharah with ease.

This section is a stub section. You can help by adding any available information to this section.

Weapons & Abilities

• Hover Jets (Passive): Pharah's passive ability. She can slowly propels her upwards when held down the jump button or alt-fire. It doesn't refuel when she is standing on unintended location such as on a roof or sliding floor.
  • This ability is mainly for maintaining altitude to rain rockets down on the enemy.
  • Mind the usage on Hover, holding it too long will waste fuel without need. Successive-tapping is recommended to maintain the vertical level.
  • You can use a surprise attack thanks to her silent mobility when the passive isn't in used. Use unintended location on some map to make yourself sliding from the roof and attack the enemy from behind.

• Rocket Launcher: Pharah's primary weapon. Fires high-damage rockets at a relatively slow rate which deals strong damage upon direct hit and lower damage as indirect hit. It also creates a knockback to the enemy and herself which results in self-damage.
  • When not engaged, her Rocket Launcher can be spammed as area control. She can force the enemy to use another route to get close to your teammates.
  • The rocket can be used to propel yourself upward in exchange to self-damage. This should only be used when you are running out of fuel on Hover Jets.

• Jump Jet: When activated, Pharah will rapidly lift herself upward within a second.
  • Jump Jet grants her access to routes and platforms other heroes can't reach, giving her a variety of flanking positions. When in danger, it can be used as a quick escape.
  • Use this ability when you are running out of fuel and when nearly touch the ground since Pharah can refuel midair.

• Concussive Blast: When activated, Pharah will fires a wrist rocket that can knocks enemies or herself horizontally backwards, but deals no damage.
  • Pharah's Concussive Blast can be used to quickly re-position herself horizontally. It can also push the enemy's snipers away from the spot.
  • This ability has great killing potential when aimed near environmental hazards, easily knocking a group of enemies off at once.

• Barrage (Ultimate): Pharah's Ultimate ability. When activated, during the duration of the Ultimate, she fires a high-damage barrage of rockets at the enemy. She can't move or stop the ultimate once active, but it can be used in midair. The rocket from this ability can self-damage her.
  • It is one of the most devastating ultimates in the game, but leaves her vulnerable to enemy fire. It's most effective when combined with Zarya's Graviton Surge, Reinhardt's Earthshatter, or Mei's Blizzard.
  • It is best used as close to the enemy as possible, ideally behind them to catch them by surprise. Be careful not to get so close you get hit by friendly fire, however.

General strategies

• Pharah's aerial capability is unparalleled, she can stay in mid-air the longest (not counting Mercy using Guardian Angel on Pharah or during Valkyrie). With Hover and Jump Jet, she can reach in a route that other heroes can't even reach with normal movement, and can stay indefinitely in the air. However; she has no way to speed her up in horizontal way; Concussive Blast should be used in emergency situation rather than a main method for mobility.
• Avoid fighting on ground. Even though Pharah's Rocket Launcher deals heavy damage upon impact, the enemy can easily dodge her slow rockets when she shoots it as if intending to land a direct hit. If Pharah maintains in mid-air, even if the enemy can dodge a direct hit by her rocket, but the rocket's blast will deal reasonable splash damage depending on the blast range.
• Pharah is a good counter to enemies with slow-moving projectiles or short-ranged guns that can't hit her in the air, such as Reaper, Mei, Junkrat, Reinhardt, Lúcio, and Symmetra. So keep them as the first targets to attack before changing the target.
• The hitscan-hero is the direct threat to Pharah. The attack from hitscan-weapon has no travel time; with good aiming, they can kite her mid-air before she even has a chance to find a cover on ground. Only target them in closer-range where the rocket can reach to the target faster and give them little time to escape.
• Don't underestimate the heroes who possess projectile-type weapons. While her Hover will give you an easier time to dodge most shots mid-air, the enemy can still attack you with some good shot placement. Fast-speed projectiles can counter Pharah well, so avoid moving in a predictable way and she can handle them well.
• Pharah can use her Rocket Launcher to propel herself upwards, preserving Jump Jet, or for when it is on cooldown. This will cause you to take some damage depending on the range between you and the surface.
• Due to her aerial capability and Rocket Launcher which is useful when fires on the ground, Pharah usually stay midair alone with no protection or healing which leaves her vulnerable from the enemy attacks. Try to fly in the area that you can escape in time with the use of Concussive Blast or in the area that your teammate can help you from the ground.

Story

"I Will Protect The Innocent."

Fareeha Amari's commitment to duty runs in her blood. She comes from a long line of highly decorated soldiers and burns with the desire to serve with honor. An altruistic individual, Pharah seeks to make the world a better place, and bring order out of chaos. She loves the feeling of entering the unknown, and has a udjat tatoo, bearing the Eye of Horus.

Childhood

Fareeha and her mother

Initially, Fareeha had a good relationship with her mother, who taught her martial arts. As a child, she grew up in the company of Overwatch; she dreamed of following in her mother's footsteps and joining the organization. However, her mother was against it. This led to a strained relationship between mother and daughter. At some point, Fareeha asked for a toy rifle, but Ana refused, telling her daughter that she'd shoot her eye out. Her mother later came to regret her comments.

After her mother was apparently killed in action, she got her udjat, to honor her memory. Her mother had borne a similar tattoo, and told her it was a symbol of protection. At the time, Fareeha had assumed that it meant that her mother would always protect her.

Soldier

Fareeha enlisted in the Egyptian Army. Her dogged persistence and tactical prowess caused her to rise up through the officer ranks. She was a courageous leader and earned the loyalty of all who served under her. With her exemplary record, Fareeha was well placed to join the ranks of Overwatch, but before she had that opportunity, Overwatch was disbanded.

After leaving the army with a commendation for distinguished service, she was offered employment with Helix Security International, a private security firm contracted to defend the artificial intelligence research facility beneath the Giza Plateau. The top-secret facility was touted as vital to the safety of not only the region but countries across the globe. Fareeha gladly accepted the choice assignment and received training in the Raptora Mark VI, an experimental combat suit designed for rapid mobility and devastating firepower.

Pharah within the skies

Under the call sign "Pharah," she worked to safeguard the AI installation. Though she mourned Overwatch's passing, she still dreamed of fighting the good fight and making a difference on a global scale. She was assigned to a strike team under the command of Captain Khalil, with the rank of lieutenant.

Mission Statement

“	I was afraid that someday I'd have to make this decision. Which is more important...the man...or the mission?	„
	~ Pharah

Pharah and her squad

When the Anubis AI broke free of containment, Pharah's team was sent in to neutralize the AI. They found a wounded member of the engineers that had been sent ahead, revealing that Anubis had taken control of the sentry bots assigned to the site. Pharah ordered that they move on, despite the protests of Saleh that the engineer needed medical attention. Pharah stated that the mission was more important than any of their lives, given what was at stake if Anubis breached HSI's firewalls. Khalil conceeded the point, but pointed out that Pharah needed to work on her attitude, that the squad was her "family." The team came under attack by security bots, and in the ensuing firefight, Khalil was killed. Per the chain of command, Pharah took command of the squad. Pharah ordered the squad to push on. Anubis had attacked their "family," echoing Khalil's words. The squad entered the temple, and engaged in combat with the security bots. The ordnance caused a pillar to collapse, threatening to crush Tariq. She saved him, much to his confusion—didn't the mission come first? She dismissed the question, and she and her squad held the line while Tariq hacked Anubis's systems. He was wounded, but Anubis was shut down, and the squad exfiltrated the site. As Tariq was loaded into the squad's APC, he told her that Pharah was her captain now, and that he'd always follow her. Pharah reflected on her udjat, and that she'd misunderstood what her mother had told her all those years ago. It did not mean that she was protected, but rather, she was the protector.

Reflections

Pharah at Christmas

At Christmas, Pharah visited Canada in order to spend the evening eating dinner with her father.

Achievements

Name	Icon	Description	Reward
Clearing The Area		Knock an enemy to their death using Pharah's Concussive Blast in Quick or Competitive play.	Pixel
Death From Above		Kill 4 enemies with a single use of Barrage as Pharah in Quick or Competitive play.	Cute

Trivia

Pharah from the GamesCom 2017 banner

• Chris Metzen has joked that Pharah has "a little bit of a Captain America type of vibe."

• A Pharah portrait is available in StarCraft II for those who purchase the Origins Edition.

• Pharah's design, which includes the Egyptian Eye of Horus symbol around one eye and armour reminiscent of a falcon, is a reference to the ancient Egyptian falcon-god Horus, god of the sky and protector of the pharaoh.

• A giant action figure of Pharah was displayed in Busan as part of a pre-release promotion for Overwatch.

• Ana Amari shares a similar Eye of Horus tattoo as Pharah.

• A Funko Pop Pharah statue is available from the Blizzard Store.

• Pharah's father's First Nation tribe is known by the developers. They may reveal it at a later date.

Development

Concept art

The design of Pharah was "bottom-up"; where developers start with gameplay mechanics, and later build a character around them. Her original design was done by Geoff Goodman. It was a simple concept of a male hero with a jetpack, simply named "Rocket Dude." Another one of the original concepts was done by Justin Thavirat. More iterations were went through. Her official codename was "Rocket Queen."

Inspiration for her was taken from the Tribes series. She was one of the first characters implemented in the game, coming in at around the same time of Tracer, Reaper, and Widowmaker (the first three heroes implemented).

External links

• Official Site - Pharah
• Pharah Guide on Icy Veins