Escort

Escort (aka Payload) is one of the map modes in Overwatch.

In Escort, the attacking team's objective is to move the payload to a delivery point, while the defenders must halt the attackers' progress until time runs out.

Mechanics

A match begins with 45 seconds of setup time during which the defending team may freely roam the map and prepare while the attacking team is locked in their spawn room. Once setup has ended, the spawn doors open and a timer starting at 5 minutes begins, showing how much time is left in the match.

The attacking team needs to escort a payload through the checkpoints to the delivery point. The first checkpoint will add 3 minutes to the clock, the second checkpoint will add 2 minutes to the clock, and the delivery point will end the game.

Attacking team players need to be near the payload for it to move, with more players increasing the speed at which it moves; it achieves its maximum speed with 3 people escorting it. If the payload is left unattended by the attacking team for a certain period of time, the payload will slowly move backwards until either a member of the attacking team comes near it, or it reaches a gate.

Overtime will occur if the attacking team is still contesting as the timer runs out.

If the attacking team has more people on the payload than the defending team, then the defenders will have a longer respawn time.

Competitive Play

In Competitive Play, each round will switch the attacking and defending teams until a definite winner is determined. Teams will gain a point for each checkpoint reached.

In the first round, the timer begins at 4 minutes. Escorting the payload to the first checkpoint will add 2 minutes 30 seconds to the timer; the second checkpoint will add 1 minute 30 seconds. If the attacking team does not fully escort the payload, a marker is placed on both the ground and the progress meter at their farthest achieved distance.

In the second round, if the attacking team escorts the payload to the aforementioned marker, they will win. If both teams completely escort the payload, the match will continue for additional rounds. If neither team pushes the payload at all, or does not push the payload after it reaches a checkpoint, the match will end in a draw.

In the third and fourth rounds, the attacking team will have as much time as they had to reach checkpoints as they had left in their first attacking round. If a team had less than 60 seconds (but more than 0), their time is increased to 60 seconds and the opposing team gains the same amount of time that was added to the <60 second team. If both teams have no time left by the end of the fourth round, the game ends in a draw. In these rounds, the attacking team does not gain any time for reaching a checkpoint.

Locations

Dorado

Junkertown

Rialto

Route 66

Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Achievements

Can't Touch This

Prevent the attacking team from touching the Payload for 1 minute in quick or competitive play.
Reward: Red X Spray

Escort Duty

Push a Payload 100 meters without leaving it in quick or competitive play.
Reward: Out of my Way Spray

Patch changes

October 9, 2018 Patch: Reduced the setup timer for Assault, Escort, and Assault/Escort maps from 1 minute to 45 seconds; Assemble Your Team timer increased from 10 to 25 seconds in the second round on Assault, Assault/Escort, and Escort maps.  February 28, 2017 Patch: Fixed an audio bug that prevented the point capture sound from increasing in pitch as the capture progressed. Respawn Delay added to Assault, Assault/Escort, and Escort maps.  August 2, 2016 Patch: Fixed a bug that kept the 30-seconds-remaining music from activating correctly on Payload maps.  July 19, 2016 Patch: Fixed a bug that caused the “payload is nearing its final destination” music to continue playing even after the match was over.  July 6, 2016 Patch: Fixed a bug that prevented Overtime music from playing on Escort and Hybrid maps.  March 22, 2016 (beta) Patch: Route 66 map added. The payload progress bar now shows checkpoints as well as the distance to upcoming checkpoints (if < 5m).