The Complete Guide to Overwatch 2 Hero Bans: Strategy, Adaptation, and Mastery

Hero Bans have finally arrived in Overwatch 2 with Season 16, fundamentally changing how competitive play functions. This long-requested feature gives players strategic agency before matches even begin, allowing teams to remove problematic heroes from play. Whether you're a competitive veteran or new to the ranked scene, understanding this system is crucial for maximizing your chances of victory.

Understanding the Hero Bans

The Hero Ban system implemented in Season 16 allows players to vote on which heroes should be excluded from a match. This democratic approach ensures that overpowered or frustrating heroes can be temporarily removed from play, creating a more dynamic and enjoyable experience for all players.

How Voting Works

The ban system uses a weighted voting mechanism that balances team preferences while keeping the process quick and efficient:

• Before voting begins, each player selects a "Preferred Hero" they intend to play (this doesn't prevent the hero from being banned, it just informs teammates).
• Each player selects three heroes they wish to ban, ranked by priority.
• First choice is worth 7 votes, second choice is worth 5 votes, and third choice is worth 3 votes.
• All votes are cast simultaneously, not in turns like some other games.
• A total of four heroes will be banned per match (two from each team).
• No more than two heroes from a single role (Tank, DPS, Support) can be banned.

Behind the Scenes Mechanics

The algorithm determining which heroes are banned follows a specific sequence:

1. The team with the most votes for a single hero becomes the "first" team, and their most-voted hero is guaranteed to be banned.
2. If both teams have the same number of votes for the top hero, the first team is decided randomly.
3. The other team becomes the "second" team, and their two most-voted heroes are banned next (unless they overlap with the first team's banned hero).
4. Finally, the second most-voted hero on the first team is banned.
5. In case of ties, the hero that received votes from the most individual players is banned; if still tied, it's resolved randomly.

This process ensures that both teams have fair input into which heroes are removed from play while preventing all bans from targeting a single role.

Privacy During Banning

A crucial aspect of the system is that teams cannot see each other during the ban phase:

• You cannot see the enemy team during the Ban Phase.
• Match-wide text chat is disabled during banning.
• This prevents teams from targeting bans specifically against enemy players.
• The focus is on banning heroes that are generally too strong or annoying, not on countering specific players.

Most Commonly Banned Heroes (April 2025)

Understanding which heroes face frequent bans can help you prepare alternative strategies or decide which heroes to target with your own bans.

By Role and Rank

Based on current data from April 2025, these are the heroes most frequently banned across different ranks:

Tanks

• Zarya: Nearly universally banned in many ranks, particularly in metal ranks.
• Wrecking Ball: Commonly banned in higher ranks.
• Doomfist: Frequently banned across multiple ranks.
• D.Va: Popular ban in diamond and above.

DPS

• Sombra: Extremely high ban rate across all ranks, reaching 100% in some console plat/diamond tiers.
• Sojourn: Commonly banned, especially in higher ranks.
• Widowmaker: Frequently banned, particularly in competitive environments.
• Tracer: Common ban in multiple ranks.

Support

• Mercy: High ban rate across multiple ranks.
• Ana: Frequently banned, especially in higher ranks.
• Moira: Common ban in lower and mid ranks.

Regional and Platform Differences

Ban preferences show interesting variations across regions and platforms:

• Console players tend to prioritize banning Sombra more than PC players.
• Chinese servers show different ban patterns, with Doomfist, Sombra, Zarya, and Ana being common targets.
• Lower ranks tend to ban heroes that feel "unfair" (like Zarya), while higher ranks ban heroes that synergize well with current meta compositions.

Strategies for Effective Hero Banning

To maximize the impact of your bans, consider these strategic approaches:

Personal Preference Banning

The most straightforward approach is to ban heroes you personally dislike facing:

• If you hate playing against a specific hero, ban them regardless of meta considerations.
• This strategy is valid because the ban system is designed for both competitive integrity and player enjoyment.
• Example: If you find Widowmaker frustrating to play against, even if you technically have the tools to counter her, banning her is reasonable.

Counter-Prevention Banning

Another effective strategy is banning heroes that counter your preferred pick:

• If you plan to play Doomfist, consider banning Sombra and Roadhog.
• Winston players might want to ban Reaper or Bastion.
• This strategy becomes even more valuable when coordinated with your team.

Map-Specific Banning

Different maps favor different heroes, making map-aware banning particularly effective:

• If playing on a map with significant high ground (like Gibraltar), consider banning D.Va or Winston if you don't plan to use them.
• For maps with environmental hazards, Lucio bans might be worthwhile.
• Coordinate with your team based on the specific map you're playing.

Meta-Based Banning

Targeting currently overpowered heroes can deny the enemy team access to the strongest options:

• In Season 16, Sojourn is considered extremely strong, making her a valuable ban.
• Torbjörn received buffs that make him unusually effective, especially with his turret perks.
• Winston is dominating high-level play, especially on maps with high ground.

Role Balance Consideration

Since no more than two heroes per role can be banned, consider the strategic implications:

• If your team has already banned two tanks, any additional votes for tank heroes will be ignored.
• This means you should diversify your ban choices across roles.
• Consider what bans might come from your team and the enemy team to avoid wasting your votes.

Adapting to Hero Bans: When Your Main Gets Banned

One of the biggest challenges of the ban system is having your preferred hero banned. Here's how to adapt:

Developing a Hero Pool

The ban system makes it essential to be proficient with multiple heroes:

• Aim to master at least 2-3 heroes in your preferred role.
• Focus on heroes with different strengths to cover various situations.
• Consider learning heroes that fulfill similar functions to your main (e.g., if you play Widowmaker, consider Ashe or Sojourn as alternatives).

Understanding Hero Synergies

When forced onto alternative heroes, understanding how they synergize with your team becomes crucial:

• If your team is running dive heroes like Winston or Tracer, choose supports or DPS that complement that playstyle.
• If your main tank is banned, communicate with your team about adjusting the overall strategy.
• Remember that perks progress is lost when switching heroes, making initial hero selection more important.

Predicting Likely Bans

Being proactive about potential bans can help you prepare mentally:

• If you main a commonly banned hero like Sombra or Zarya, have alternatives ready.
• Be aware of the current meta and which heroes are likely to be banned in your rank.
• Consider which heroes counter the current meta and might be targeted for bans.

Communication is Key

When adapting to bans, clear team communication becomes even more important:

• Discuss your "Preferred Hero" with your team during the ban phase.
• If your main is banned, communicate your alternative plan quickly.
• Coordinate with teammates who might also need to adjust their picks.

Advanced Ban Strategies for Different Ranks

Ban strategies vary significantly across the competitive ladder:

Bronze to Gold (Metal Ranks)

In lower ranks, bans often target heroes perceived as overpowered or frustrating:

• Zarya is commonly banned due to her carry potential and perceived strength.
• Moira and Sombra are frequent support and DPS bans, respectively.
• Focus on banning heroes that are difficult to counter with limited team coordination.
• Consider banning heroes like Pharah that require specific counterplay.

Platinum to Diamond

In mid-ranks, bans become more strategic:

• Sombra remains a high-priority ban, especially on console.
• Mercy bans become more common as players recognize her value in certain compositions.
• Consider banning heroes that enable specific strategies (like Mercy for Pharmercy).
• Target heroes that counter your team's planned composition.

Masters and Above

At high ranks, bans are often highly strategic and meta-focused:

• Ana and Doom are commonly banned in Master support queues.
• Sojourn and Zarya see high ban rates due to their effectiveness at this level.
• Bans often target heroes that enable the current strongest composition.
• High coordination means bans can be very specific to counter enemy team tendencies.

Future of Hero Bans in Overwatch 2

As the ban system matures, we can expect to see:

• Potential refinements to the ban system based on player feedback.
• Balance changes targeting heroes with consistently high ban rates.
• Evolution of meta strategies around the ban system.
• Possible expansion of the system to other game modes.

Which Hero you Perma-Banning?

Hero Bans represent one of the most significant changes to competitive Overwatch 2 since its launch. By understanding how the system works, developing flexible hero pools, and implementing strategic voting, players can gain a significant advantage in ranked play.

If you want to hear more insider information, it is worth checking the Overwatch's Director's Take, talking a bit more on how mastering the ban system is now an essential part of Overwatch 2 success. The days of one-trick dominance and stagnant metas are giving way to a more dynamic, adaptable competitive environment that rewards broader game knowledge and strategic thinking.

As Season 16 progresses, the ban meta will continue to evolve, requiring players to stay informed about which heroes are commonly banned and which strategies are most effective. By embracing this new layer of strategy, you'll be well-positioned to climb the competitive ladder in this exciting new era of Overwatch 2.

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Feature image credits: Blizzard

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