I still remember BlizzCon 2021 like it was yesterday—except yesterday I got flashbanged by a Breacher in my dreams, so my memory is unreliable. Back then, Blizzard teased Overwatch 2's PvE story campaign, new hero designs, maps, and a whole zoo of Omnic enemies. Now, in 2026, the PvE dream has been through a blender, a reboot, and probably a board meeting that smelled like burnt coffee. But those enemy designs? They still live rent-free in my head. So let's take a nostalgic, slightly terrified tour through every Overwatch 2 PvE enemy shown at BlizzCon 2021—and yes, I'm still bitter about the Pullers.
Grunts and Elite Grunts: The Omnic Welcome Wagon
Grunts appear to function like Nulltroopers. They're the basic enemies, the ones you'd expect to mow down while a voice in your ear yells about payloads. But there's an Elite version too, which is basically a Grunt that went to evil finishing school. In 2026, I can confirm: the basic Grunt is still the robot equivalent of a training dummy, and the Elite Grunt is the reason my aim suddenly becomes 'abstract art.' 🎯
Breachers: The Robots Who Hate Personal Space
Breachers are dangerous foes with bombs on their backs. They run at players or objectives, and you need to take them out quickly before they explode and cause massive damage. I have died to Breachers more times than I've successfully explained the Overwatch 2 PvE timeline to my friends. They don't negotiate. They don't chill. They just sprint at you like they're late for a group hug and the hug is a crater. 💥
Orbiters: Flying Drones, Zero Answers
Orbiters look like flying drones that zip across the sky. Very little else is known about them—even now, in 2026, I suspect they're just there to make me look up while a Breacher rearranges my organs. If you've ever swatted at a mosquito and accidentally knocked over a lamp, you understand the Orbiter experience. They're fast, they're annoying, and they probably have a group chat where they rate my panic.
Slicers: Chicken-Legged Blast from Uprising
Slicers, the chicken-legged bots from Overwatch's Uprising event, will also be reappearing in Overwatch 2. That's right: the angry mechanical chickens came back. I respect the commitment. They're not the scariest enemy on this list, but they have the best silhouette. If a Slicer ever gets a skin line, I'm buying the whole set, even though I know it will call me a coward in binary. 🐔
Pullers: Witchy Orb-Throwers With a One-Shot Hug
Pullers are a new and interesting PvE enemy that look like witches and throw orbs out at players to draw them in. If a player gets too close, they'll be instantly killed. Let me repeat that for the people in the back: instantly killed. Not 'chipped.' Not 'lightly inconvenienced.' Deleted. I both love and fear Pullers because they force you to respect spacing, and I am historically terrible at spacing. They're the reason I now flinch whenever someone throws a tennis ball.
Artillery and Jumpers: The Long-Range Problem Children
Rounding out the more common PvE foes are Artillery and Jumper enemies. Jumpers were called Skirmishers back in 2019 when Overwatch 2 was first revealed, but they've been renamed even though they still look mostly the same. Jumpers can leap great distances and fire off cannons while in the air. Artillery are massive enemies with dual-wielding cannons, and players have to shoot the cannons off if they want to survive. In 2026, I still think Artillery should be called 'Why Is This Thing Looking At Me?' They are walking arguments for cover-based gameplay.
| Enemy | Vibe | My Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|
| Grunt | Basic bot | Swarmed while reloading |
| Elite Grunt | Fancy basic bot | Swarmed with extra confidence |
| Breacher | Walking bomb | Exploded mid-sentence |
| Orbiter | Flying drone | Distracted, then dead |
| Slicer | Chicken-legged vet | Sliced, obviously |
| Puller | Witch with orbs | YOINK — instant kill |
| Jumper | Leapy cannon bot | Airborne cannonade |
| Artillery | Dual-cannon tank | Cannon removal gone wrong |
| Behemoth | Robo-rhino boss | Charged into next week |
Behemoth: The Robo-Rhino Boss of Rio
The first new PvE boss teased during the event was the Behemoth, and it serves as the final fight in one of Overwatch 2's new maps: Rio de Janeiro. Resembling a giant robotic rhino, Behemoth charges at players and has ranged weaponry as well. Overall, Behemoth looks like a pretty interesting Omnic PvE enemy. In 2026, I can say with confidence that a giant robot rhino with guns is still a fantastic idea. It's the kind of boss that makes you want to yell 'NOT THE HORN' while diving behind a bus.
What About Talon?
Of course, there are lots of unconfirmed PvE enemies at this point as well, including possible new or returning Talon enemies. Fans had to wait a bit longer to see which other enemies would get confirmed prior to Overwatch 2's release date. In 2026, that waiting game feels almost quaint. We've had sequels, updates, and enough patch notes to wallpaper a moon base. Yet the Talon question still lingers like a Reaper in a dark corner. Some rumors never die; they just get reworked.
Final Thoughts from 2026
Looking back, the Overwatch 2 PvE enemies shown at BlizzCon 2021 were a weird, wonderful roster. You had cannon fodder, chicken legs, witchy orb ladies, flying drones, and a boss that could only be described as 'rhino, but make it robot.' Even if the PvE journey didn't go exactly as planned, these designs gave us plenty to fear and meme about. I'll always have a soft spot for them—probably in the shape of a Breacher-sized crater. If you need me, I'll be practicing my spacing, avoiding Pullers, and refusing to trust any drone that zips. 🎮🤖