Each player of Overwatch 2 has at least one character they fear facing. With the implementation of hero bans, you now have the ability to vote for the removal of certain heroes, allowing you to avoid confrontation with your personal nemesis.
While it is easy to find information regarding hero pick rates through official sources, Blizzard remains relatively low-key about the ban rates for now. The last confirmed update came from May 2025’s Weekly Recall blog entry, which is starting to feel somewhat dated. Below, we have compiled the most recent official data that we could discover.
Top Banned Heroes in Overwatch 2 by Ban Rate (May 2025)
Overwatch 2’s ban statistics from May 2025 showcased some notable trends. Sombra leads significantly with an astonishing 85 percent ban rate, and this figure spikes to 93 percent on consoles. Recently introduced Freja follows with a 27 percent ban rate.
In the tank category on PC, Zarya (59 percent), Doomfist (43 percent), and Wrecking Ball are among the most banned, while in the support category, Ana and Mercy are frequently targeted. The percentages exceed 100 percent because players are allowed multiple bans in each match.
Focusing on matches at the Master rank and above on PC, Freja becomes the most prohibited DPS hero with around 70 percent, closely followed by Sombra at approximately 40 percent. D.Va gains a higher ban rate than Zarya in the tank category, whereas Ana and Zenyatta see an increase in banning.
The top five most banned DPS characters also include Pharah, Widowmaker, and Sojourn, while Wrecking Ball, Doomfist, and Orisa complete the tank category. The support role has less variability due to a smaller character pool, with Mercy, Brigitte, and Kiriko appearing on the list of the five most-banned heroes.
On the console front, D.Va’s ban rate skyrockets in Master ranks and above, making her the most banned tank. Sombra maintains an impressive ban rate on consoles as well, whereas Freja’s ban rate remains on the lower end. Players on PlayStation and Xbox are also concerned about Widowmaker, Sojourn, Tracer, and Cassidy. Despite D.Va’s dominance in bans, three tanks–Mauga, Wrecking Ball, and Zarya–exhibit nearly identical ban rates, with Orisa also making an appearance in the top five.
Comprehensive third-party tracking tools for Overwatch 2 have proven elusive, and Blizzard’s official stats pages do not seem to cover bans. The data presented here reflects a specific period. Furthermore, the blog post indicates that the studio intends to utilize these statistics for future balance alterations.
According to the publication, «Heroes that are more niche or map-specific may require broader adjustments if they are consistently banned in their optimal scenarios. Conversely, heroes that are seldom picked might undergo more changes regardless of their performance.» Developers also emphasized that adjustments to heroes will not be dictated solely by ban rates.
