It’s Thursday, which means we’re getting new hero bans in Overwatch. The hero bans this week are Mercy, Hanzo, and Wrecking Ball. This is the first week that has seen less than four hero bans.
How these hero bans will impact Overwatch
Every week, the different hero pools impact each game and player differently. This week’s bans will have less of a competitive impact, but it is still worth mentioning what to expect this week.
Mercy
Mercy isn’t overly popular or powerful at the moment, but she’s always a strong pick with Pharah. There are also the dedicated Mercy mains out there who will miss being able to play her for a week. This ban will have a higher impact on lower ranks where Mercy is a more common pick.
Hanzo
Hanzo is always a popular pick in competitive Overwatch. With him gone, Zarya loses the potential to combo her ultimate with his Dragonstrike. Hanzo being out also means there’s one fewer hero to pressure Widowmaker, Ashe, and McCree from a safe distance. These heroes are always popular, so expect to see a lot more of them this week.
Wrecking Ball
Wrecking Ball is an interesting ban. While the hero is not overly popular at the beginning of games, he is a go-to pick for players who need to get to the point fast and stall. Without having him in the mix, players will need to resort to using D.Va and/or Winston for stalling. Of course, Mei, Tracer, and Doomfist are all in the mix, so stalling shouldn’t be too much of an issue without Wrecking Ball.
All in all, the hero bans this week shouldn’t have too much of an impact on Competitive Play in Overwatch. Be sure to take advantage of playing heroes that these heroes traditionally counter, like Widowmaker and Ashe.
