Welcome to another installment of the collective nouns survey. This time we focus on Overwatch, following surveys for Team Fortress 2 and Starcraft.

In Overwatch, there are 27 playable heroes so far, each with unique personalities and complementary abilities. When talking about a six-stack of McCrees or Meis (which isn’t seen outside of arcade mode anymore), it’s adequate but boring to refer to them as a “group” or “bunch”.

Better to invent language like the terms of venery used for animals. You’ve got familiar terms like a pride of lions and a swarm of bees. And even more evocative ones likes a murder of crows, a parliament of owls, a prickle of porcupines, and a flamboyance of flamingos.

To choose the terms that best evoke each hero, I polled the Overwatch community. I presented four randomized choices and the option to write in your own. A final question asked respondents to give their main hero. Check out the survey and the solicitation on r/Overwatch.

The survey received 1,745 responses. I was surprised to find that many respondents placed little importance on alliteration. As far as the write-ins, some were so good that I kicked myself for not thinking of them. The best of these were given honorable mentions.

Here are the results. The full tally is given below.

Update (May 14, 2020)

I re-ran the survey for all heroes introduced since this post, including Ashe, Baptiste, Echo, Sigma, and Wrecking Ball, since there are no more heroes until Overwatch 2’s release. Those have been added to the results.



An Assembly of Anas

An Ambush of Ashes

A Band of Baptistes

A Battalion of Bastions

A Brigade of Brigittes

A Division of D.Vas

A Drove of Doomfists

An Array of Echoes

A Gaggle of Genjis

A Horde of Hanzos

A Bombardment of Junkrats





A Rave of Lúcios

A Posse of McCrees

A Flurry of Meis

A Mirage of Mercys

A Mob of Moiras

A Stampede of Orisas

A Flock of Pharahs

A Wrath of Reapers

A Regiment of Reinhardts

A Rodeo of Roadhogs

A Surge of Sigmas





A Squad of Soldier: 76s

A Syndicate of Sombras

A Spectrum of Symmetras

A Troupe of Torbjörns

A Trail of Tracers

A Web of Widowmakers

A Troop of Winstons

A Rumble of Wrecking Balls

A Zeal of Zaryas

A Harmony of Zenyattas



An Assembly of Anas

Assembly37%

Army35%

Admonishment13%

Association11%

Ana Mains Call Themselves: Tie between Assembly and Army, which shows how close this one was.

Honorable Mention: Annoyance, both in that Ana can annoy you with anti-heal and sleep, and that she seems perpetually disappointed in you.

Other Write-Ins: Armada, Apocalypse, Tea Party, Retirement, Peek, Array, Eyeful, Arena, Parliament, Hobble, Administration, Arrangement, Abundance, Aviary

An Ambush of Ashes

Ambush55%

Anger18%

Association17%

Admonishment6%

Ashe Mains Call Themselves: Tie between Ambush and Anger.

Honorable Mention: Atonement, suggesting Ashe has turned the page on her criminal life.

Other Write-Ins: Assembly, Urn, Arsenal, Phoenix, Posse, Gang

A Band of Baptistes

Band32%

Battery29%

Bundle21%

Batch17%

Baptiste Mains Call Themselves: Band

Honorable Mention: Bunch, not as evocative as some of the other terms but rolls off the tongue.

Other Write-Ins: Bounce, Bevy, Brood, Battalion, Bond, Congregation

A Battalion of Bastions

Battalion53%

Battery23%

Band13%

Bulwark9%

Bastion Mains Call Themselves: Battalion

Honorable Mention: Bunch, which fits the subtlety and grace of Bastion.

Other Write-Ins: Bevy, Balustrade, Boom, Brothel

A Brigade of Brigittes

Brigade69%

Bunch11%

Bash9%

Bombardment7%

Brigitte Mains Call Themselves: Brigade

Honorable Mention: Crusade, it works nicely with Brigitte’s backstory, but can’t overcome the winner.

Other Write-Ins: Barricade, Baguette, Bruschetta, Phalanx, Bonanza, Terror, Bestiary, Battalion

A Division of D.Vas

Division51%

Dazzle28%

Detachment12%

Destruction5%

D.Va Mains Call Themselves: Division

Honorable Mention: Dervish, nothing better to call six D.Va mechs boosting around you than a whirling dervish.

Other Write-Ins: Defense, LAN Party, Deletion, Drove, Demolition, Dominion, Devotion, Detonation, Diversion, Dorito

A Drove of Doomfists

Drove36%

Flurry30%

Danger16%

Flog11%

Doomfist Mains Call Themselves: Flurry, they might have to fight Mei mains for it though.

Honorable Mention: Defenestration, because you have to use that word whenever possible.

Other Write-Ins: Disorder, Fistful, Crater, Handful, Domination, Dojo, Damnation, Dominion, Dragoon

An Array of Echoes

Array47%

Echelon33%

Exaltation9%

Reverberation8%

Echo Mains Call Themselves: Array.

Honorable Mention: Echo, as in an Echo of Echoes… is there an echo in here?

Other Write-Ins: Ring, Choir, Flight, Sound, Squadron

A Gaggle of Genjis

Gaggle50%

Gang37%

Group6%

Gulp3%

Genji Mains Call Themselves: Gang, because apparently Genji mains seem to take themselves much more seriously than other Overwatch players do.

Honorable Mention: Clan

Other Write-Ins: Dash, Gale, Gathering, Gimmick, Brotherhood, Gradient

A Horde of Hanzos

Horde33%

Quiver28%

Herd28%

Host7%

Hanzo Mains Call Themselves: Horde

Honorable Mention: Scatter, because now that the ability has been patched out of the game, we have to honor its memory somehow.

Other Write-Ins: Hierarchy, Geometry Class, Clan, Hazard, Harem

A Bombardment of Junkrats

Bombardment34%

Jalopy29%

Jury20%

Drove11%

Junkrat Mains Call Themselves: Bombardment

Honorable Mention: Heap, another common write-in was Spam which was the winner for Junkrat’s TF2 counterpart, Demoman.

Other Write-Ins: Juggle, Jank, Dumpster, Jamboree, Jive, Spam, Cackle, Cluster, Jumble

A Rave of Lúcios

Rave39%

Legion26%

League22%

Leap10%

Lúcio Mains Call Themselves: Legion

Honorable Mention: Wave, let’s be honest… pickings were slim here, but at least this plays off the idea of a sound wave.

Other Write-Ins: Loop, Line, Favela, Wall

A Posse of McCrees

Posse48%

Murder21%

Maraud14%

Maelstrom13%

McCree Mains Call Themselves: Posse

Honorable Mention: Mishap, because McCree’s ultimate “High Noon” goes sideways more often than not.

Other Write-Ins: Misery, Meddling, Gang, Mass, Saloon, Mob, Hoedown, Passel, Mischief, Mid-Day, Magazine

A Flurry of Meis

Flurry38%

Mob35%

Monsoon16%

Squall7%

Mei Mains Call Themselves: Flurry

Honorable Mention: Malefaction, because a lineup of Meis is about as evil and terrifying as you can get. See image at top of post.

Other Write-Ins: Malady, Medley, Murder, Mash, Storm, Manifold, Maze, Maelstrom

A Mirage of Mercys

Mirage34%

Vale27%

Mend17%

Remedy13%

Mercy Mains Call Themselves: Mirage

Honorable Mention: Martyrdom, for the suffering Mercy players endure just to have a shot at winning the match.

Other Write-Ins: Chorus, Menagerie, Murmur, Cloud, Miracle, Mob, Choir, Staff, Marvel, Mound, Flutter, Mangle, Myriad, Wainscot, Mothball, Coterie, Menage, Mottle, Marquee

A Mob of Moiras

Mob41%

Marvel25%

Mania22%

Midnight8%

Moira Mains Call Themselves: Mob

Honorable Mention: Miasma, which reflects the visual vomit on your screen whenever a Moira ults, although masquerade and malevolence were also inspired.

Other Write-Ins: Masquerade, Malevolence, Aura, Massacre, Mosh, Coven

A Stampede of Orisas

Stampede50%

Onslaught23%

Orchestra20%

Observance5%

Orisa Mains Call Themselves: Stampede

Honorable Mention: Orgy, it’s fun to say, although not to imagine.

Other Write-Ins: Obstruction, Optimization, Fortitude, Orchard, March, Omnibus, Enforcement, Oasis, Innocence

A Flock of Pharahs

Flock43%

Fleet26%

Phalanx17%

Flight12%

Pharah Mains Call Themselves: Flock

Honorable Mention: Formation, who wouldn’t want to watch a team of Pharahs try to do precision air acrobatics like the Blue Angels.

Other Write-Ins: Flank, Parade, Plunge, Flimflam, Pandemonium, Barrage, Justice, Phoenix, Flotilla, Squadron

A Wrath of Reapers

Wrath35%

Revenant26%

Ravage23%

Revenge8%

Reaper Mains Call Themselves: Wrath

Honorable Mention: Ring, which is the arrangement a bunch of edgy Reapers would make to practice the occult.

Other Write-Ins: Murder, Edge, Wrangle, Wraith, Rout, Haunt, Blossom, Heap, Host, Blight, Rampage, Coven, Ruse, Resurgence, Renegade, Rally, Spook, Hot Topic

A Regiment of Reinhardts

Regiment48%

Rampage18%

Charge16%

Rampart15%

Reinhardt Mains Call Themselves: Regiment

Honorable Mention: Triumph, just sounds so knightly alongside a crusade of Brigittes.

Other Write-Ins: Bombast, Army, Wall, Crusade, Radiance, Romp, Rutting, Glory, Crash

A Rodeo of Roadhogs

Rodeo51%

Ragtag16%

Rash15%

Rout11%

Roadhog Mains Call Themselves: Rodeo

Honorable Mention: Rasher, imagine all the bacon you could get out of a Roadhog. Mmmm.

Other Write-Ins: Rumble, Rebuff, Rebellion, Chain Gang, Wall, Absolute Unit, Drove, Rotund, Onslaught, Ravage, Glut, Riot, Rack

A Surge of Sigmas

Surge34%

School32%

Study21%

Set8%

Sigma Mains Call Themselves: School

Honorable Mention: Symposium, a nod to Sigma’s background in space and science, not to mention his obsession with music.

Other Write-Ins: Symphony, Asylum, System, Whisper, Schism

A Squad of Soldier: 76s

Squad81%

Service8%

Sprint5%

Slaughter4%

Soldier: 76 Mains Call Themselves: Squad

Honorable Mention: Salvo, as in a stream of Soldiers who fire their helix rockets and then immediately sprint away from the danger.

Other Write-Ins: Salute, Platoon, Army, Slew, Barracks, Retirement Home

A Syndicate of Sombras

Syndicate67%

Shade17%

Stealth7%

Sovereign7%

Sombra Mains Call Themselves: Syndicate

Honorable Mention: Conspiracy, nearly as good as the winning choice.

Other Write-Ins: Breach, Collective, Sneak, Sample, Shimmer, Swarm, Scurry, Murder, Suite, Cell, Sheen, Score

A Spectrum of Symmetras

Spectrum42%

System27%

Surplus19%

Sentinel10%

Symmetra Mains Call Themselves: Spectrum, as in the electromagnetic spectrum of course.

Honorable Mention: Circuit

Other Write-Ins: Council, Symmetry, Sandbox, Sovereign, Suffering, Projection, Assembly

A Troupe of Torbjörns

Troupe47%

Team22%

Temper14%

Tempest12%

Torbjörn Mains Call Themselves: Troupe, because a bunch of Torbs seem like they’d be boisterous and merry.

Honorable Mention: Tango, Tumescence

Other Write-Ins: Torrent, Trebuchet, Temblor, Workshop, Turret, Tragedy, Travesty, Tinker, Tumor, Thunder, Trove, Cast, Torment, Testament, Tsunami, Trollful, Letterbox, Gäng, Blight

A Trail of Tracers

Trail36%

Torment22%

Twitch20%

Trace16%

Tracer Mains Call Themselves: Torment

Honorable Mention: Cavalcade, a callback to Tracer’s voiceline, “The cavalry’s here!”

Other Write-Ins: Zip, Blink, Troupe, Team, Swarm, Trounce, Flash, Flit, Cavalry, Gaggle, Fleet, Tribe, Marathon, Stream, Rush, Slipstream, Track, Trope

A Web of Widowmakers

Web52%

Nest33%

Wave7%

Ward6%

Widowmaker Mains Call Themselves: Web

Honorable Mention: Whisper, even though after Widowmaker’s nerf she’s practically screaming her infra-sight voiceline.

Other Write-Ins: Weave, Murder, Sight, Wake, Baguette, Waste, Ballet, Wedding, Window, Wrath, Range

A Troop of Winstons

Troop35%

Wrangle30%

Warren18%

Wisdom12%

Winston Mains Call Themselves: Troop

Honorable Mention: Barrel, either a group of raging apes barreling through you, or the chaos of a barrel full of monkeys.

Other Write-Ins: Family, Band, Jungle, Coalition, Shrewdness, Wince, Rampage, Faculty, Whoop, Waddle, Warmth, Wallop

A Rumble of Wrecking Balls

Rumble39%

Cluster33%

Bobble15%

Hail9%

Wrecking Ball Mains Call Themselves: Cluster

Honorable Mention: Hail, as in a Hail of Hammonds.

Other Write-Ins: Bobble, Crash, Crew, Hail, Roll, Buttload, Orbit, Round, Rabble, Rout, Bombardment, Bunch

A Zeal of Zaryas

Zeal34%

Ray23%

Buzz22%

Glow14%

Zarya Mains Call Themselves: Zeal

Honorable Mention: Surge, it was right there in the ultimate name all along.

Other Write-Ins: Mass, Motherland, Bubble, Gulag, Zest, Zamboni, Commune, Pack, Girth, Regime, Flex, Army, Attraction, Zap, Accretion, Burst, Zephyr, Zenith, команда

A Harmony of Zenyattas

Harmony38%

Nirvana27%

Om17%

Tranquility11%

Zenyatta Mains Call Themselves: Harmony

Honorable Mention: Zenith, far and away the best write-in. There just aren’t that many words that start with Z.

Other Write-Ins: Zoom, Zoo, Order, Zephyr, Monastery, Collective, Meditation, Mandala, Float, Unity, Ziggurat, A Lotta, Embrace, Trance, Zeppelin, Cult, Zeitgeist, Zealot, Singularity