Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 may have gone through a turbulent few years, but it looks like the game is finally back on track thanks to a wave of fresh content, including the newly added Stadium Mode and Perks. One of the most impactful changes is the introduction of Hero Bans, a feature that feels like a clear improvement over what NetEase implemented in Marvel Rivals.
Why? Because it effectively removes target bans.
But let’s back up. Target bans are essentially the bane of any hero shooter’s existence. If a player has been one-tricking a hero since launch, say, insta-locking Spider-Man or Black Panther for hours on end, the enemy team can usually figure it out and ban that hero outright, locking them out of the match entirely.
In Marvel Rivals, this problem is amplified. Before a match begins, players can see the opposing team’s usernames and associated banners. If someone’s a Black Panther main and they’re rocking a banner from a specific skin bundle, it’s pretty obvious what hero they’re planning to use. Sure, streamer modes exist to anonymize players, and many will use that feature; what Overwatch 2 did completely bypasses that entire chore.
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+ 2READ: Is Marvel Rivals the Overwatch Killer?
Overwatch 2 handles things differently. Instead of exposing everyone’s names and hero banners before the match, the game jumps straight into a blind hero ban phase. Players don’t know who they’re up against until after the bans are locked in.
This is a huge quality-of-life improvement that virtually eliminates the problem of target bans; unless, of course, someone is using third-party tools (which are definitely not allowed) to identify frequently played heroes or track high win rates.
It’s a major step forward compared to Marvel Rivals, where complaints about target banning have been around since forever. To NetEase’s credit, Hero Bans are no longer exclusive to Platinum ranks and above after they lowered the requirement to Gold. Still, that doesn’t mean target bans are gone at lower ranks. A standout main will always be a target, especially if they’re not using streamer mode.
click to enlarge + 2While both games follow a similar hero shooter formula, each brings its own unique flavor that resonates with different types of players. Marvel Rivals has a more casual skill floor, while Overwatch 2 demands precision and mastery with its high skill ceiling. An Iron Fist main might struggle to get into Genji in Overwatch, but a seasoned Genji player would likely have no trouble switching to Iron Fist or Spider-Man (see: streamer Necros).
Both titles have held onto their loyal communities, and Overwatch 2 is slowly winning back players following a string of meaningful updates, especially after the backlash from its canceled PvE mode.
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