New Explanation of the Overwatch 2 Avoid Slot System

In its 12th season, Overwatch 2 will be revamping its avoid slots and introducing a new priority list, while also increasing the number of available slots.

During Season 10, the developers of Overwatch 2 hinted at a number of upcoming changes, including a highly anticipated revamp of the avoid slot system in the following seasons.

With an expansion from a mere three slots to a spacious 15-person slot, including a priority list and other features, it ensures that you can steer clear of specific players in your matches.

Overwatch 2: Avoid Slots Expanded to 15 Players

In Season 12, players will now have the ability to avoid up to 15 players at once, a significant increase from the previous limit of only three slots.

At first, when the announcement was made in April, the updated system was planned to have only 10 avoid slots. However, between the time of the announcement and the release, it seems that the developers have chosen to expand the slot even more.

Overwatch 2 avoid system slots — Blizzard

You’ll now be able to avoid 15 players, being able to pin three of them.

If you encounter any troublesome trolls, griefers, or toxic players that you have previously avoided due to your full avoid slots, you will now have 15 available slots to use.

Overwatch 2: Permanent Avoidance of Teammates

Furthermore, you will have the ability to permanently avoid three players by pinning them.

These three players will always remain at the top of your avoid list and will never be selected for your team unless you choose to remove them from the pinned position.

Is there a one-trick Genji throwing your games? You can now perma avoid them!

In regards to the remaining 12 slots, you will have the opportunity to rank all 12 of them according to your level of comfort in queuing with them on your team.

Despite being placed in one of the 12 slots, a player may still be queued with an avoided player as the system prioritizes finding a game. However, the ranking system allows for the prioritization of avoided players, enabling players to choose who they do not want on their team.

Despite this, Senior Systems Designer Gavin Winter clarified that the majority of players will not have to contend with this, as the feature is specifically implemented for those who are ranked highest.

Despite the small size of Master to Champion lobbies, players will still have to prioritize their comfort in choosing who to play with. However, for those not in these high-ranked lobbies, it is likely that we will not be matched with players we have actively avoided.

Please take note that whoever is placed in the 12 avoid slots will be excluded from the slots for seven days. Therefore, if you truly wish to avoid playing against a specific player, you must pin them.