How To Avoid Players in Dota 2?

Dota 2 is one of the deepest and most competitive games out there, and while that intensity is part of the appeal, it can also lead to frustrating encounters with toxic teammates. One bad experience can throw off an entire match and make you dread queuing again. To help players protect their experience, Valve added the Avoid Player system, a tool designed to reduce repeat encounters with people who make games miserable. In this guide, we’ll break down how the Avoid Player feature works, how it has evolved over time, and how to use it effectively to keep your matches cleaner, calmer, and more enjoyable as you climb or play casually.

How to Avoid Players in Dota 2

If you want to reduce the chances of being matched with the same toxic or frustrating teammate again in Dota 2, you can use the Avoid Player system built into the game. This feature is tied to Dota Plus, so an active subscription is required to use it. After a match ends, open the post-game screen where you normally see options to commend or report players. When you choose to report someone, an additional option appears that lets you mark that player as avoided. Once selected, Dota 2 will try not to place that player on your team in future matches. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll never see them again, but it significantly lowers the chance, especially during peak hours. Using Avoid Player smartly helps clean up your matchmaking experience and makes long grind sessions far less frustrating.

How Much Avoiding Player Feature Cost in Dota 2?

Avoiding players in Dota 2 is not a free feature and is tied directly to the Dota Plus subscription. To use the Avoid Player option after a match, you must have an active Dota Plus membership, as the feature is completely locked without it. Dota Plus typically costs around $3.99 per month, with cheaper monthly rates available if you choose a quarterly or yearly plan. Prices may vary slightly depending on your region and current Valve promotions, but there is no separate or additional fee just to avoid a specific player. As long as your Dota Plus subscription remains active, you can continue adding players to your avoid list through the post-match screen, helping reduce repeated games with toxic or disruptive teammates.

FAQs

Do you need Dota Plus to avoid players in Dota 2?

Yes, the Avoid Player feature is only available with an active Dota Plus subscription. Without Dota Plus, you won’t see the option after matches.

Is avoiding players permanent in Dota 2?

No, avoided players stay on your list only while your Dota Plus subscription is active. If your subscription expires, the avoid list is cleared.

How many players can you avoid at the same time?

Dota 2 limits how many players you can have on your avoid list. Once the list is full, you’ll need to remove someone before adding a new player.

Does avoiding a player guarantee you won’t match with them again?

It greatly reduces the chance, but it’s not a 100% guarantee. In cases of long queue times or low player availability, matches may still occur.

Can avoided players know you avoided them?

No, Dota 2 does not notify players when they are added to someone’s avoid list. The process is completely private.

Conclusion

Avoiding players in Dota 2 is one of the simplest ways to protect your experience from repeat toxicity and frustration. By using the Avoid Player feature through Dota Plus, you can limit future matches with players who consistently ruin games, communicate poorly, or create unnecessary tension. While it’s not a perfect system and doesn’t guarantee zero encounters, it significantly improves match quality over time, especially for players who queue frequently. Used correctly, the avoid system helps keep your focus on improving, enjoying the game, and climbing without the same negative influences dragging your matches down.