Updated October 8, 2026
Hero bans are not the same at every rank in Overwatch Season 5.
Some heroes become much bigger ban targets as you climb, while others can actually see their ban rate fall at higher ranks. That means there isn't one universal Season 5 ban list that applies equally to everyone.
The current Grandmaster data is particularly interesting, with Jetpack Cat, D.Mon, Cassidy, Sombra and Roadhog among the biggest ban targets.
These numbers are also changing quickly because Season 5 has only just begun. Treat the figures in this guide as a current Season 5 snapshot, rather than permanent rankings.
Quick Answer
In the current Grandmaster sample, the biggest ban targets include:
- Jetpack Cat: 56.8% ban rate
- D.Mon: 47.7%
- Cassidy: 30.4%
- Sombra: 27.6%
- Roadhog: 25.0%
The important takeaway is that your rank matters. A hero heavily banned in Grandmaster isn't automatically the best ban in Diamond, Platinum or Gold.
📋 Table of Contents
- Quick Answer
- Which Heroes Are Banned Most at Higher Ranks?
- How Hero Bans Change Between Diamond and Grandmaster
- Sombra's Season 5 Ban Rate
- Roadhog's Season 5 Ban Rate
- Why D.Mon and Jetpack Cat Stand Out
- Does a High Ban Rate Mean a Hero Is Overpowered?
- Why Season 5 Ban Rates Can Change Quickly
- How to Use Season 5 Hero Ban Rates
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts
Which Heroes Are Banned Most at Higher Ranks?
The current Grandmaster numbers have several clear standouts.
| Hero | Grandmaster Ban Rate |
|---|---|
| Jetpack Cat | 56.8% |
| D.Mon | 47.7% |
| Cassidy | 30.4% |
| Sombra | 27.6% |
| Roadhog | 25.0% |
Jetpack Cat and D.Mon are the biggest outliers in the current sample, with both being removed from a very large share of competitive matches.
However, ban rate is not the same thing as power level.
A hero can attract bans because of perceived strength, difficult matchups, frustration, team-composition concerns or other factors. The statistic tells you how frequently players are removing the hero, but not exactly why.
That is why it makes more sense to compare ban rates by rank rather than treating the overall number as a tier list.
How Hero Bans Change Between Diamond and Grandmaster
One of the most useful patterns in the current Season 5 data is that ban priorities change as you climb.
Sombra is a good example.
Her current ban rate is around 22.5% in Diamond, rising to 27.6% in Grandmaster. Roadhog follows a similar pattern, moving from roughly 23.5% in Diamond to 25% in Grandmaster.
Zarya goes in the opposite direction.
Her ban rate is around 22.3% in Diamond, but falls to approximately 15.7% in Grandmaster in the current comparison.
| Hero | Diamond | Grandmaster |
|---|---|---|
| Sombra | 22.5% | 27.6% |
| Roadhog | 23.5% | 25.0% |
| Zarya | 22.3% | 15.7% |
The difference is important because it shows that ban priorities are rank-dependent.
What this means for your games
If you're playing Diamond, copying the exact bans used by Grandmaster players may not give your team the best result.
The same applies in reverse. A hero that doesn't attract many bans in lower ranks can become a major target higher on the ladder.
Instead of asking:
"Who is the most banned hero?"
ask:
"Which hero is causing the biggest problem in my rank and this particular match?"
That is usually the more useful question.
Sombra's Season 5 Ban Rate
Sombra is one of the most interesting heroes to watch in Season 5 because she received a major rework.
She moved from Damage to Support, with Hot Fix and the redesigned Cyberspace changing how she contributes to fights.
Her current Grandmaster ban rate is 27.6%, making her one of the more frequently banned heroes in the current high-rank sample.
Sombra's role change also means that old assumptions about how she should be played don't always apply anymore.
If you're learning her new Support playstyle, our guide Overwatch Support Sombra: When to Flank, Dive, or Stay With Your Team explains when to stay with your team, join a dive or take an off-angle.
Her Data Packet perk also creates a cooldown loop around hacked health packs. If you're trying to get more Hot Fix uptime, see Overwatch Sombra Data Packet: How to Get More Hot Fix Healing.
The important point for this article is that Sombra's ban rate is another example of why rank-specific data matters.
Roadhog's Season 5 Ban Rate
Roadhog is another useful Season 5 example because his kit was substantially reworked.
His current Grandmaster ban rate is 25%, compared with roughly 23.5% in Diamond.
That places him among the more frequently banned heroes in the current high-rank sample.
Roadhog's Season 5 rework introduced Trash Compactor, giving him a new way to absorb incoming projectiles and turn that pressure into an explosive return attack.
If you're learning the reworked ability, our Overwatch Roadhog Trash Compactor Explained: How to Use It Effectively covers when to activate it, what kind of projectile pressure to look for and how to get more value from the return shot.
Roadhog is particularly useful as a case study here because his ban rate shows that a newly reworked hero can quickly become a significant ban target while players are still adapting to the new kit.
Why D.Mon and Jetpack Cat Stand Out
D.Mon and Jetpack Cat are the biggest high-rank outliers in the current data.
At Grandmaster:
- D.Mon has a 47.7% ban rate.
- Jetpack Cat has a 56.8% ban rate.
Those figures are substantially higher than the ban rates of many established heroes.
But don't automatically translate those numbers into:
"These are definitely the two strongest heroes."
The statistics don't prove that.
Instead, they tell us that these heroes are being removed from a particularly large share of matches in the current Grandmaster environment.
That makes them worth watching as Season 5 develops, but their ban rates should be interpreted alongside pick rate, win rate and rank-specific performance.
Does a High Ban Rate Mean a Hero Is Overpowered?
No.
Ban rate, pick rate and win rate measure different things.
A hero can have:
- A high ban rate but an ordinary win rate.
- A high pick rate but a relatively low ban rate.
- A high win rate without being the most frequently banned hero.
- A dramatically different ban rate depending on rank.
Zarya is a useful example.
Her current ban rate is around 22.3% in Diamond, but approximately 15.7% in Grandmaster.
That doesn't mean Zarya suddenly becomes a weak hero when you reach Grandmaster. It demonstrates that players at different ranks can have different ban priorities.
Ban rate is a warning signal, not a power ranking
If a hero's ban rate is high, ask a few additional questions:
- How often is the hero being picked?
- What is the hero's win rate?
- Does the ban rate change significantly by rank?
- Was the hero recently reworked or released?
- Is the hero particularly difficult for common team compositions to handle?
Looking at those factors together gives you a much better picture of the current competitive environment.
Why Season 5 Ban Rates Can Change Quickly
Season 5 is still in its early days, so today's ban leaders may not remain at the top for long.
The season introduced Doctrine, a new map and substantial changes to heroes including Sombra and Roadhog. Players are still learning the new matchups and deciding which heroes are worth removing during the Ban Phase.
That creates several reasons for the current numbers to move:
- Players are still adapting to the Season 5 reworks.
- New strategies are developing.
- Players are learning how to play against Doctrine.
- New heroes and reworked heroes may initially attract more bans.
- Balance changes can shift the competitive environment.
For that reason, use the current numbers as a snapshot of the early Season 5 meta, not a prediction of how the entire season will look.
How to Use Season 5 Hero Ban Rates
You don't need to memorize the entire roster before every match.
Instead, use the statistics to understand the environment around your rank.
1. Know which heroes are frequent targets
If your main hero is frequently banned at your rank, have a backup ready.
This is especially important if you rely heavily on one hero.
2. Don't blindly copy Grandmaster bans
A hero with an enormous Grandmaster ban rate isn't automatically the best ban in Diamond, Platinum or Gold.
Your rank has its own hero popularity, matchup patterns and team compositions.
3. Look at your own matches
Statistics tell you what players are doing across a large sample.
Your own matches tell you which heroes are actually creating problems for your team.
If one particular hero consistently shuts down your composition, that can be a more meaningful ban target than a hero with a higher global ban rate.
4. Consider your team's preferred heroes
Hero Bans are part of your team's pre-match strategy.
If your teammates heavily rely on certain heroes, consider how the ban phase affects the composition you want to play.
5. Remember that ban rate isn't a tier list
The most-banned hero isn't automatically the strongest hero.
The current Season 5 data demonstrates why: some heroes have extremely high ban rates without those numbers alone proving that they are the most powerful heroes in the game.
FAQ
What are the most banned heroes in Overwatch Season 5?
It depends on rank. In the current Grandmaster sample, Jetpack Cat and D.Mon have particularly high ban rates, followed by Cassidy, Sombra and Roadhog.
Does Overwatch Season 5 have different hero bans by rank?
Yes. Current statistics show that hero ban rates can change substantially between competitive tiers.
Is Sombra heavily banned in Season 5?
Sombra is currently a significant ban target at higher ranks, with a 27.6% ban rate in the current Grandmaster sample.
Is Roadhog heavily banned in Season 5?
Roadhog currently has a 25% ban rate in the Grandmaster sample, making him one of the more frequently banned heroes there.
Does a high ban rate mean a hero is overpowered?
No. Ban rate measures how frequently players remove a hero from competitive matches. It should be considered alongside pick rate, win rate, rank and the current meta.
Where can I check current Overwatch hero ban rates?
Blizzard's Hero Statistics page provides current pick rate, win rate and competitive ban-rate information with filters for different competitive contexts.
Will Season 5 hero ban rates change?
Yes. Season 5 is still in its early stage, and ban rates can change as players adapt, new strategies emerge and balance updates arrive.
Final Thoughts
Overwatch Season 5 does not have one universal hero-ban list.
The heroes being removed most often can change significantly depending on your rank.
The current Grandmaster numbers make that particularly clear, with Jetpack Cat and D.Mon standing out while Sombra and Roadhog are also frequent ban targets.
The most useful lesson is not to blindly copy the highest overall ban rate.
Instead, look at what is being banned at your rank, what is causing problems in your matches, and how those numbers compare with pick and win rates.
Season 5 has only just begun, so expect the ban landscape to keep changing as players become more familiar with the new Sombra, Roadhog and Doctrine.
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