Overwatch 2 Reveals How Hero Bans Will Work in Competitive Mode
Blizzard has detailed how **Hero Bans** will function in *Overwatch 2*’s Competitive mode, ahead of their official rollout in **Season 16** on **April 22**. This new system will apply to **all ranks**, aiming to improve matchmaking and strategic diversity.
In a new **Director’s Take** blog, senior systems designer **Gavin Winter** explained the process:
How Hero Bans Work in Overwatch 2:
– **Preferred Hero (Optional):** Players can choose a Preferred Hero to show teammates who they might play, though this hero **can still be banned**.
– **Ban Phase:** Every player selects **three heroes** they want to ban. Each choice carries a weight:
– 1st pick = 7 points
– 2nd pick = 5 points
– 3rd pick = 3 points
– **Ban Selection:**
– Top-voted hero from Team A is banned
– Top two heroes from Team B are banned
– Second pick from Team A is also banned
– Max of **4 heroes** can be banned per match, with no more than **2 per role**
Tie-breakers will be settled based on how many players voted for a hero, or at random if still tied. Players **can’t see the other team’s choices** during the ban phase to prevent targeted bans.
*Overwatch 2*’s Hero Ban system is designed to be quick and fair, giving teams more tactical control without breaking the pace of gameplay. Season 16, titled **Stadium**, also introduces a new hero, **Freja**, and a new game mode when it launches April 22.
