Short Cuts #2: Route 66

It's a wonderful evening to exit the Vault and take a nice walk through sunny Route 66. After recovering from a slight weapons malfunction and a radroach infestation, we're now outside the Vault and figuring out our defenses from the bandits, Talon, and other nefarious folk.

If you're starting off the series at this article, here's what we consider to be a shortcut: a method of travel in Overwatch not normally seen or accessible only to a few heroes. Taking advantage of these shortcuts gives you an edge against an enemy team, competitive or casual, and often leads to a win for your own team! Typical heroes with high mobility are Reaper, Pharah, D.Va, and Winston. For the more unusual options, like Mei and Soldier: 76, the video below shows every hero able to use one of these shortcuts in Route 66.

Now that you've seen the methods, let's go over the advantages of this particular shortcut.

Route 66: Canyon Pillar

Unlike most shortcuts, every hero can reach the wooden platform connected to the pillar using the stairs... but that takes time and effort in a game where every single second means the difference between defeat and victory! You know what they say: Time is money. Scaling the pillar here--or jumping from the nearby building--cuts down your travel time by several seconds.

The room the path goes into has not one, or two, but four doors to multiple flanks; two of them on the ground floor and the other two on the platform and stairs right above. Do be careful going through here; as easily as you can access the area, the defenders can just as easily take you by surprise through a carefully placed ambush. If you decide to go this route, either as a defender or attacker, remember to clear your doorways and check your corners.

Final Overview

Route 66 doesn't have many shortcuts, however there are plenty of vantage points on top of pillars, buildings, and platforms as well as plenty of space to knock off--and get knocked off by--the opponents. If you think there's a hidden shortcut we missed on this map, let us know; we're open to adding more to this segment.

This place is a desolate zone where the good, the bad, and the ugly fight for survival. Here's to hoping you're on the winning side and may the stimpaks be with you.

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