Overwatch Season 1 brings back its April Fools’ Day event for 2026 with the return of Underwatch, a limited-time mode packed with chaotic twists. You can jump in now and start working toward a range of themed rewards tied to special event challenges.
To unlock every exclusive cosmetic and bonus, you need to complete specific objectives during the event period. Knowing how these challenges work helps you earn all available Underwatch rewards before the event ends.
What the Underwatch Mode Changes
From April 1 to April 13, you can jump into a limited-time mode that reshapes standard matches with altered hero abilities and unpredictable mechanics.
Every hero receives a modified kit. For example:
- Lifeweaver appears in a scaled-down form
- Genji swings his Dragonblade as a primary attack
- Hanzo fires random arrows that can freeze targets or even teleport him
Matches focus on experimentation rather than balance, with event challenges and themed rewards available during the run.
Overwatch Underwatch Event Rewards and Challenges
You can complete 13 limited-time challenges during the Underwatch event. Most objectives focus on simply finishing matches, while a few require you to queue as tank, damage, or support. Wins count for double progress in many cases, and playing in the Stadium mode can also accelerate several match-based goals.
Three role-specific tasks ask you to play five matches in Underwatch as each role. Completing these grants 5,000 Battle Pass XP per role along with a Dev Doodle spray tied to that challenge.
A larger milestone unlocks after you finish eight total event challenges. That objective awards the Dev Doodle Ganyknife spray and 20,000 Battle Pass XP, making it one of the most valuable rewards in the event.
You will also find challenges that track ultimate usage and total matches played. Using ultimates 30 times in eligible modes grants 2,500 Battle Pass XP and a themed spray.
Match-count challenges scale upward:
- 10 matches – Dev Doodle Emre Classic spray, 2,500 XP
- 15 matches – Dev Doodle Emre spray, 2,500 XP
- 30 matches – Dev Doodle Wuyang spray, 2,500 XP
- 45 matches – Dev Doodle Freja spray, 2,500 XP
- 60 matches – Dev Doodle Jetpack Cat spray, 2,500 XP
Wins provide double progress for these, and Stadium matches count faster for several tiers.
If you commit to a single role long term, you can earn special player titles. Playing 75 matches as tank, damage, or support unlocks the respective Cardboard Tank, Cardboard Damage, or Cardboard Support title. Wins and Stadium participation help you reach these totals more efficiently.
Most rewards come from the Dev Doodle spray line, which features stylized, playful hero art. The standout cosmetic, Ganyknife, depicts Bastion’s bird companion holding a small blade.
Nearly every challenge grants Season 1 Battle Pass XP, so you steadily progress your pass while working through the event. Even if you focus on casual match completion, you continue unlocking sprays, titles, and XP along the way.
How to Access the Underwatch Mode
Open Overwatch and go to the Event tab from the main menu. Select Play in the lower-right corner to queue directly into the limited-time mode.
You can also enter through the standard playlist route:
- Click Play
- Choose Arcade
- Select 5v5 Underwatch
Both paths place you in the active April Fools event playlist.
