Sombra Dominates Hero Bans in Overwatch 2's Latest Data
In the inaugural Weekly Recall, Overwatch 2 reveals that Sombra leads the pack with staggering ban rates across platforms, highlighting player preferences and trends in Season 16.
At a glance
- Top Banned Hero on PC
- Sombra at 85% ban rate
- Top Banned Hero on Consoles
- Sombra at 93% ban rate
- Least Banned Hero on PC
- Baptiste at 0.16% ban rate
Hero Ban Overview
The Overwatch 2 team has launched a new blog series titled Weekly Recall, which aims to provide insights into various aspects of the game, starting with Hero Bans. The first installment focuses on the data collected regarding which heroes are being banned most frequently across different platforms and ranks during Season 16.
Sombra's Dominance
Sombra has emerged as the most banned hero, boasting an impressive 85% ban rate on PC and an even higher 93% on consoles. This trend indicates a strong player consensus on her impact in matches, leading to her frequent exclusion from play. Following Sombra, Zarya ranks as the second most banned hero at 59% on PC and 57% on consoles, while Doomfist rounds out the top three on PC with a 43% ban rate.
Rank and Regional Variations
The data also reveals significant differences in hero bans based on player rank and region. For instance, at higher ranks such as Masters and above, D.Va becomes the most banned tank across both PC and console platforms. Additionally, Ana is the most banned support hero on PC, while Mercy takes that spot on consoles. The analysis shows that players at higher ranks tend to agree more on which heroes to ban, with Grandmaster players averaging four bans per team compared to six at Bronze rank.
Future Implications for Hero Balance
The Overwatch team has indicated that the data collected from hero bans will inform future balance changes. While no immediate adjustments are planned, the insights gained from player behavior will help guide decisions on hero adjustments, particularly for those that are either too niche or underperforming. The developers are optimistic about the ongoing evolution of the hero ban system and its impact on gameplay dynamics.
