10 Best Overwatch Heroes To Ban

Bans can completely change how an Overwatch match plays out. Removing one strong hero from the pool can shut down entire strategies, force different team comps, and give your squad a clear advantage before the fight even starts. That is why knowing which heroes are worth banning is just as important as knowing who to pick.

The best heroes to ban are not always just the ones with the highest damage numbers. Some heroes dominate because of their utility, survivability, or ability to control space. Others are frustrating to deal with in solo queue because they snowball fights or punish poor coordination.

In this article, we will break down the 10 best Overwatch heroes to ban right now, focusing on impact, carry potential, and how much they can disrupt your team if left open.

#10: Mercy

Mercy might not deal massive damage herself, but her impact on a match can be huge. In many ranked games, she turns average DPS players into hard carries simply by enabling them. That is why she is often a smart ban, especially if you are facing strong pocket duos.

The biggest reason to ban Mercy is damage boost. A well-positioned Mercy can amplify a hitscan or projectile hero and make them much harder to deal with. Suddenly, heroes like Sojourn, Cassidy, or Pharah start winning duels they normally would not. That extra damage adds up quickly in team fights.

Resurrect is another major factor. Winning a fight by securing an early pick feels great, but Mercy can completely undo that advantage in seconds. In uncoordinated games, teams often fail to punish or interrupt the revive, which can swing momentum back instantly.

She is also very difficult to catch. With strong mobility and the ability to constantly reposition between teammates, Mercy survives longer than many players expect. If left alone, she keeps fights going and forces your team to commit more resources just to secure eliminations.

Banning Mercy is especially useful if your strategy relies on burst picks or shutting down a single carry. Removing her limits the enemy’s sustain and prevents frustrating resets during key fights.

#9: Doomfist

Doomfist is one of the most disruptive tank picks in Overwatch. When played well, he creates constant pressure by diving into the backline, forcing cooldowns, and escaping before your team can punish him. In ranked, where coordination is not always perfect, that kind of chaos is extremely hard to handle.

The biggest reason to ban Doomfist is his mobility. He can engage quickly, knock players out of position, and isolate supports or DPS heroes. If your team does not react instantly, he can secure a pick and reset the fight in his favor. Even when he does not get eliminations, he forces space and splits teams apart.

He is also very strong in extended fights. With proper ability cycling, Doomfist can stay alive longer than expected while constantly applying pressure. His ultimate adds another layer of survivability and repositioning, allowing him to escape or re-engage at the perfect moment.

In solo queue especially, Doomfist thrives because he punishes poor positioning and slow reactions. If your team struggles against dive compositions or lacks strong crowd control, banning Doomfist can make the match much easier to manage from start to finish.

#8: Widowmaker

Widowmaker is one of the most polarizing heroes in Overwatch. In the right hands, she can completely take over a match without ever stepping onto the objective. One clean headshot can instantly remove a support or DPS and force your team to fight 4v5 before the engagement even begins.

The main reason to ban Widowmaker is her one-shot potential. Unlike most heroes, she does not need a full combo or follow-up damage. A single charged shot to the head is enough to secure a kill. In maps with long sightlines, this becomes even more oppressive because she can control entire areas just by holding an angle.

She also forces your team to play differently. Instead of focusing on strategy and positioning, players are constantly worried about being picked. This slows down pushes and makes aggressive plays much riskier.

Widowmaker becomes even more frustrating in ranked where coordination is inconsistent. Not every team can properly dive or pressure her. If left unchecked, a skilled Widow can dominate high ground and carry fights from a distance.

Banning Widowmaker is a smart choice if you want to avoid dealing with constant one-shot pressure and long-range map control throughout the match.

#7: D.Va

D.Va is one of the most flexible tanks in Overwatch, and that flexibility is exactly why she is such a strong ban option. She can dive the backline, peel for her supports, deny key abilities, and still deal solid damage. When played properly, she fits into almost any team composition.

The biggest reason to ban D.Va is Defense Matrix. This ability can completely shut down ultimates, burst damage, and important cooldowns. A well-timed Matrix can eat game-changing abilities and instantly flip a fight. Against heroes that rely on projectiles or explosive damage, she becomes even more oppressive.

D.Va also has excellent mobility for a tank. She can quickly fly onto high ground, pressure snipers, or chase down low-health targets. This makes her extremely hard to punish, especially in ranked where teams are not always coordinated enough to focus her properly.

On top of that, her Self-Destruct ultimate forces positioning mistakes. Even if it does not secure eliminations, it creates space and can reset fights by pushing enemies off objectives or key angles.

If you want to reduce dive pressure and avoid dealing with ability denial throughout the game, banning D.Va is a smart and safe choice.

#6: Kiriko

Kiriko is one of the strongest support heroes in Overwatch because she brings damage, mobility, and game-changing utility all in one kit. If you leave her open, she can completely shift the momentum of fights with a single ability.

The main reason to ban Kiriko is Protection Suzu. This ability can cleanse crowd control, prevent eliminations, and even counter powerful ultimates. A perfectly timed Suzu can erase your team’s hard-earned pick and instantly reset the fight. In ranked games, that kind of save is incredibly frustrating to deal with.

She is also very difficult to punish. Swift Step allows her to teleport to teammates, making her extremely slippery. Even if you dive her, she can escape quickly and reposition to safety. On top of that, she has solid damage output and can secure unexpected headshots from mid-range.

Her ultimate, Kitsune Rush, is another major threat. It speeds up cooldowns, movement, and attack speed, allowing her team to overwhelm opponents in seconds. When used correctly, it can completely decide a team fight.

If you want to avoid dealing with clutch saves, high mobility, and strong team fight ultimates, banning Kiriko is a very smart move in competitive matches.

#5: Zarya

Zarya is one of those tanks that can quietly take over a game if you let her scale. At first, she might not look threatening, but once her energy builds up, she turns into a walking damage machine that is very hard to stop.

The main reason to ban Zarya is her ability to snowball fights. Her Particle Barrier and Projected Barrier not only protect her and her teammates, but also increase her damage when they absorb shots. In ranked games, players often keep shooting her bubbles, which means she quickly reaches high energy and starts melting everyone in front of her.

She is also extremely strong against dive compositions. Her bubbles can completely deny burst damage and punish aggressive plays. If your team relies on diving the backline, Zarya can shut that down by protecting key targets at the right moment.

On top of that, Graviton Surge remains one of the most dangerous ultimates in Overwatch. A well-placed Grav can group your entire team together and set up an easy team wipe, especially when combined with strong follow-up damage.

If you want to avoid dealing with a tank that scales hard, punishes mistakes, and has one of the best combo ultimates in the game, banning Zarya is a very smart choice.

#4: Jetpack Cat

Jetpack Cat might look harmless at first, but in the right hands, this hero becomes one of the most annoying picks to deal with in Overwatch. High mobility combined with constant poke damage makes Jetpack Cat a serious threat, especially on maps with vertical space.

The biggest reason to ban Jetpack Cat is mobility. With the jetpack, this hero can constantly reposition, take off-angles, and escape before you can secure the elimination. In ranked games where coordination is not always perfect, that kind of freedom makes it very hard to punish mistakes.

Jetpack Cat also excels at pressuring supports and low-health targets. Quick dives from unexpected angles force backlines to panic and burn cooldowns early. Even if a kill is not secured, the disruption alone can win fights.

Another issue is how difficult it is to track this hero in chaotic team fights. Fast movement, vertical play, and constant angle changes can overwhelm players who are not used to dealing with high-mobility threats.

If you want to slow down the pace of the game and avoid dealing with constant aerial pressure and backline harassment, banning Jetpack Cat is a smart move.

#3: Domina

Domina is one of those heroes that can quietly control the entire pace of a match. She thrives in chaotic fights and punishes teams that are not disciplined with positioning. If left unchecked, she can turn small mistakes into instant fight losses.

The main reason to ban Domina is her ability to lock down key targets. Whether it is through crowd control, burst damage, or strong zoning tools, she makes it very difficult for enemies to play aggressively. Supports and squishy DPS heroes especially struggle against her pressure.

She is also extremely strong in tight spaces and objective fights. When teams group up, Domina can capitalize on it and create massive value. In ranked games where players often stack together on point, this becomes even more dangerous.

On top of that, her ultimate has strong fight-winning potential. When timed correctly, it forces enemies to either retreat or risk getting wiped. In coordinated teams, this can completely swing momentum.

If you want to avoid dealing with heavy crowd control, strong zoning, and constant pressure in team fights, banning Domina is a very solid choice.

#2: Vendetta

Vendetta is one of the most oppressive heroes you can face in ranked. She is built around pressure and punishment, and if your team makes even small positioning mistakes, she will capitalize instantly. In the right hands, Vendetta can control the tempo of the entire match.

The biggest reason to ban Vendetta is her burst potential. She excels at isolating targets and deleting them before supports can react. Squishy heroes are especially vulnerable, and once she secures an early pick, fights quickly snowball out of control.

She is also extremely strong at flanking. Vendetta thrives on off-angles and surprise engages, forcing your team to constantly check corners and split attention. In solo queue, where communication is inconsistent, that makes her even more dangerous.

Her ultimate adds another layer of threat. It amplifies her kill pressure and makes it very hard to contest space when she activates it. Teams often have to fully disengage or risk losing multiple players.

If you want to reduce sudden pick potential and avoid dealing with constant flank pressure, banning Vendetta is one of the smartest decisions you can make before the match even starts.

#1: Sombra

Sombra takes the number one spot because she can completely shut down how your team wants to play. In ranked games especially, she is one of the most frustrating heroes to deal with due to her invisibility, hacks, and constant backline pressure.

The biggest reason to ban Sombra is Hack. Disabling abilities at the wrong moment can instantly lose a fight. Tanks lose their defensive tools, supports cannot escape, and DPS heroes get caught without mobility. One well-timed hack is often all it takes to secure a free elimination.

Her stealth also makes her extremely hard to track. She can scout your team, call out positions, and set up dives without being seen. In solo queue, where communication is not perfect, she punishes teams that are not constantly aware of their surroundings.

EMP makes things even worse. It removes shields, disables abilities, and opens the door for a full team wipe. When combined with aggressive follow-up, it can decide the entire match in one push.

If you want to avoid constant disruption, surprise flanks, and game-changing ultimate combos, banning Sombra is one of the safest and most impactful choices you can make in Overwatch.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bans in Overwatch can completely change how a match plays out. Some heroes dominate through raw damage, others control fights with mobility, crowd control, or game-changing ultimates. The heroes on this list stand out because they either create constant pressure, punish small mistakes, or become extremely difficult to counter in ranked environments.

By banning high-impact picks like Sombra, Vendetta, Domina, or strong frontline tanks and supports, you remove some of the most frustrating and snowball-heavy threats before the game even begins. This gives your team more room to execute your strategy instead of constantly reacting to oppressive abilities.

At the end of the day, smart bans are about control. If you remove heroes that disrupt coordination, enable one-shot potential, or dominate team fights, you make the match more stable and easier to manage. Understanding which Overwatch heroes are worth banning can give your team a real edge before the first fight even starts.