Overwatch 2 Players Already Know Which Hero Is Getting Banned

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As hero bans make their debut in Overwatch 2 during Season 16, there’s been plenty of discussion among players about which characters might experience the most impact.

This often-discussed aspect allows players to exert more influence by prohibiting particularly bothersome characters, but not everyone is fully supportive of its implications for equilibrium and liberty. As GamesRadar reports, Overwatch 2’s director Aaron Keller clarified that the hero ban system operates on a voting basis. Each player chooses three heroes to veto, and once all votes are cast, the four most frequently chosen bans are eliminated from the game.

For a long time, Blizzard debated on whether or not to implement hero bans, but it wasn’t until they observed this feature succeeding in other team-based shooter games like Marvel Rivals that they decided to take action. Banning heroes encourages teams to come up with unique strategies and adapt accordingly. Typically, players will opt to ban the ones who cause them the most trouble rather than focusing on those considered overpowered.

Within the Overwatch community, there’s been swift speculation about which characters might be next to get the axe. Characters with playstyles that have received significant criticism, like Widowmaker and Ana, seem to top the list. The reason for Widowmaker being a strong candidate is her effectiveness on maps with extended lines of sight, such as Havana and Circuit Royal.

In many games, players often believe that a highly skilled Widowmaker can significantly control the game’s tempo, making it essential for the other team to concentrate solely on neutralizing her. As one Reddit user pointed out, “Maps like Circuit and Havana are essentially Widowmaker bans. I wish to enjoy these maps without Widow.” Conversely, Ana is every tank’s worst nightmare.

One commonly criticized ability of her character is the Biotic Grenade, which inhibits healing. This skill, coupled with her buffs, often leads to disputes among players, particularly tank players who anticipate frequent bans of her character to dodge challenging matchups. Many tanks concur that the only fair solution is to prohibit the use of Ana in the game.

However, some gamers are finding hero bans quite displeasing. Particularly, those who excel with specific characters such as Widowmaker, Sombra, and Mercy, worry that these heroes might be banned too frequently, limiting their playtime. In the WidowmakerMains subreddit, some players have voiced concerns that this could drive them away from the game completely.

Some people believe that enforcing bans could potentially have positive effects. They contend that such bans might invigorate stagnant strategies by introducing a variety of team lineups. However, there’s concern as to whether these hero bans will truly be beneficial in the long run or simply conceal underlying balance issues.

Rather than leaving it up to the community to decide which characters should be taken out, some gamers suggest that Blizzard should concentrate on adjusting those heroes through updates instead. The reasoning behind this is that banning characters doesn’t tackle the underlying problem; it simply pushes it aside.

As a gamer, I appreciate the fact that bans provide us with the flexibility to customize our gaming experience. It ensures that each match feels balanced and enjoyable rather than overwhelmingly challenging. Take Marvel Rivals for instance, hero bans have significantly enhanced the gameplay by introducing more diverse strategies and making it less predictable. If implemented in Overwatch 2, this feature could bring a new level of excitement to the gameplay, allowing us to truly savor the thrill of competition.

It remains uncertain at this point how hero bans will impact Overwatch 2, but it’s evident that the player community is divided on the issue. However, one fact is certain: Overwatch 2 is on the brink of major transformations during Season 16, and fans of Widowmaker and Ana may need to consider alternative strategies.

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2025-02-17 09:12