The Overwatch 2 community is praising hero bans as a valuable addition to professional play and is urging Blizzard to implement them in the ranked mode.
After being featured in the Esports World Cup, hero bans were introduced to Overwatch 2 players, giving each team the ability to ban a hero of their choice for each map.
As a result, there was a diverse selection of heroes being utilized, as the meta underwent a complete transformation. Teams with more versatility could now employ various tactics and were no longer limited to relying on a single dominant team composition.
After the tournament, Kevin ‘AVRL’ Walker, the caster, praised the format, stating that it was exactly what he had always hoped for.
According to him, the implementation of hero bans has greatly improved the competitive format and exceeded his expectations. He believes that it has elevated pro OW gameplay and led to more competitive games, a wider variety of team compositions, and increased strategic depth.
Hero bans have been the best possible addition to the competitive format I have seen in some time. Absolutely exceeded my expectations in how far it’s elevated the gameplay of pro OW. Far more competitive games. More varied comps. Greater strategical depth. Everything I’ve wanted
— Kevin Walker (@imAVRL) July 26, 2024
While there are significant differences between organized professional gameplay and solo-queue ranked matches, it is evident that players are eager for Blizzard to give it a try and determine if it can enhance the overall quality of matches.
Players started discussing ways to introduce the idea of hero bans to ranked play in a series of posts, suggesting options like limiting it to high-ranked players or implementing it in designated queues.
“One player argued that ranked games are already less reliant on the meta. They believed that regardless of rank, players can still win by selecting unconventional heroes and team compositions. Therefore, the purpose of hero bans may be questioned.”
“Perhaps implementing hero bans for the top 1% of players, who heavily rely on the meta and seek a more professional experience, would be beneficial. Alternatively, considering hero bans for 5-player groups matched with other 5-player groups could also be a possibility.”
Hero bans could come to Overwatch.
Another person also added their input, proposing that “Hero bans in a tournament mode”could be considered, although this feature has not been implemented yet.
“Another person recommends that a hero ban be implemented in Quick Play Hacked.”
Despite current plans, there is a chance that hero bans could be implemented in Overwatch 2, as hinted by the developers in the past.
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