Overwatch 2’s Long-Awaited Hero Bans Are Here — How Will the Game Evolve?

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In a long-awaited move since Overwatch 2’s initial release in 2016, Hero Bans have been added as a new feature. Players have been clamoring for this for quite some time, and Blizzard has finally delivered. With an extensive roster of characters that can significantly influence the game strategy (often referred to as the ‘meta’), this addition couldn’t be more timely.

So, how will this actually change the game? Let’s dive in.

How Banning Works

We’ve already touched on the new ban feature, but let’s break down exactly how it works.

Before a match begins, players select the hero they plan to use. This locks them into their role.

Subsequently, every player (either five or six in a 6v6 game) casts their vote to veto three characters that they believe should be temporarily removed from the game. This process mirrors the method employed in Marvel Rivals, where the hero with the most votes is more likely to face a ban. In simpler terms, the more often a character is selected for veto, the higher the chance of them being excluded from play.

In total, four heroes will be banned per match—two for each team.

Shifting the Meta

The biggest impact of Hero Bans? It’s going to seriously shake up the meta.

Excessively powerful characters who frequently control lobby games may face increased bans. Characters such as Ana, whose Biotic Grenade can cause trouble for tanks like Roadhog and Doomfist because of its healing-block property, often find themselves at the top of the list for potential bans.

On the opposing team’s side, it wouldn’t be unexpected for Doomfist players to experience increased opposition. He’s likely to become one of the most frequently banned heroes at higher skill levels. Similarly, characters like Ramattra and Zarya, who have demonstrated exceptional performance in competitive matches, may also encounter frequent bans.

Available for All Ranks

As a fan, I’m excited that Overwatch 2 is making Hero Bans available for all ranks, unlike Marvel Rivals which only allows this at Gold Rank and above. This means that even Bronze players like me will have the ability to counterbalance frustrating team compositions. It’s going to be intriguing to observe how frequently heroes such as Genji, Widowmaker, and perhaps even Sombra get banned within lower skill tiers.

Indeed, restrictions may differ based on individual skill, but it’s likely that familiar opponents who have given us trouble in the past will still be among the most challenging. Now, for those playing as Support characters such as Mercy and Zenyatta, there might be some relief knowing DPS heroes like Mei won’t be around anymore in the matchmaking room.

Overwatch 2 Moving Forward

Moving on, this marks only the start of Overwatch 2’s continued progression. The introduction of the Stadium game mode together with Hero Bans in Season 16 seems to truly embody the “2” in its name, suggesting a more advanced version of the game.

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to be part of the action as Freya, the latest hero, makes her grand entrance during the same season. This update is shaping up to be an unprecedented content extravaganza for Overwatch!

On April 22, you’ll find Season 16 available for play on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Pre-loading is already possible on certain platforms right now.

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2025-04-19 14:12