New Dota 2 Ban System: How to Improve Your Game Strategy

Dota 2 continues to engage its audience with regular content updates and features that keep players coming back for more. Despite being more than a decade old, this popular MOBA shows no signs of losing its appeal. The developers are constantly improving the game, with features like the new ban system introduced this year, which allows players to pre-select specific heroes for banning, a capability that was not previously available. This guide will explain how the new ban system works and why it is so useful.

How to Ban Heroes in Dota 2

Previously, players could ban heroes during the hero selection phase after starting a match. However, following patch 7.35d, this process has changed.

Here's how you can now ban heroes in Dota 2:

1. Launch Dota 2 and click on the "Heroes" tab at the top of the screen.
2. Find the four boxes labeled "Bans."
3. Click on each box to select a hero.
4. Once you’ve made your selections, you can start a match. At least one of your selected heroes is guaranteed to be banned at the start, but this applies only to All Pick matches.

Why the New Ban System?

There is speculation about why Valve made this significant change, but most agree that it enhances the game for everyone, especially new players. It also allows players to ban heroes that are overpowered or meta, ensuring a more balanced gameplay experience. The new ban system offers several advantages:

• Players won’t forget to ban heroes before starting a match.
• Players are no longer rushed to choose a hero to ban.
• Targeted bans are less likely against well-known personalities or random players in public matches after their data is reviewed.

With this information, you can now effectively use the new ban system to improve your chances of success in Dota 2. Banning specific heroes allows you to eliminate counters for your chosen hero, making you a valuable team member.