Overwatch 2's Avoid List: Now With 70% More Salt
Discover the transformative Avoid as Teammate system in Overwatch 2, enhancing player experience with expanded slots and reduced toxicity.
Ah, the sweet symphony of Overwatch 2 matchmaking – where 'diff' isn't just a meme but a lifestyle choice. We've all been there: staring at that one teammate whose gameplay resembles a Roomba stuck in a staircase, or the verbal equivalent of a flamethrower in voice chat. Enter the Avoid as Teammate system – our digital garlic against the vampire hordes of tilt. But hold onto your golden guns, folks – Blizzard just cranked this feature from "mildly helpful" to "passive-aggressive superweapon" with Season 10's overhaul.
The Avoid List Metamorphosis
Let's break down the glow-up:
-
Old System: 3 slots total (enough to avoid your ex's smurf account and two particularly cursed Hanzo mains)
-
New System: 10 slots with 3 permanent VIP passes to Nopeville 🎟️
| Old Avoid List | New Avoid List | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3 | 10 |
| Permanent Slots | 0 | 3 |
| Priority System | None | Ladder-based |
| GM Player Impact | Constant matchmaking déjà vu | Reduced awkward reunions |
The Fine Print Nobody Reads
Here's where it gets spicy – those 7 non-VIP slots operate on a "sins of the father" priority ladder. Imagine your avoid list as a nightclub bouncer:
-
Top 3: Permanent blacklist ("You tried to throw on Illios? Never again, fam")
-
Next 7: Rotating door policy ("Sorry ChadGenji69, new toxic Mercy main just cut in line")
GM and Champion players might still get matched with lower-priority avoids during:
-
Full moon hours 🌕
-
When the matchmaking algorithm drinks expired Mountain Dew
-
That cursed 3AM queue where everyone's either a Korean Smurf or sleep-deprived chaos gremlin
Why This Matters More Than Your Main's Pick Rate
-
Flex Players Rejoice: Finally avoid that one-trick Bastion who thinks payload = camping spot
-
Toxicity Containment: Three permanent slots for your personal arch-nemeses (looking at you, "xXEdgelordXx")
-
High Rank Sanity: Fewer games where Top 500 feels like family Thanksgiving dinner
The Unspoken Rules
-
Priority Ladder Strategy:
-
Tier 1: Actual war criminals (teabaggers, leavers, mic spammers)
-
Tier 2: Chronically tilted DPS who blame supports for existing
-
Tier 3: That Zenyatta who keeps ulting into D.Va bombs "for the meme"
FAQ: Because Someone Always Asks
Q: Can I avoid Jeff from the Overwatch team?
A: Only if he keeps picking Wrecking Ball into Sombra comps. Professional courtesy applies.
Q: Will this fix my 13-loss streak?
A: No, but at least you'll lose with style minus the guy who types "EZ" after every team kill.
Q: What happens when I avoid all support mains?
A: Congratulations, you've invented Hardcore Mode. Enjoy your 45-minute DPS queue.
Q: Can avoided players still endorse me?
A: Yes, because nothing says "I hate you" like a Sportsmanship endorsement from your avoid list.
The Philosophical Part Nobody Asked For
Is 10 slots enough? In a perfect world, we'd have unlimited avoids and a personal ban hammer. But let's be real – when has common sense ever stopped a Genji main from diving into 1v5 situations? This update isn't a solution, it's containment. And honestly? I'll take it if it means fewer games with "MuteAllChatGuy87" trying to 1v1 the entire enemy team while spamming Russian hardbass.
So go forth, my salty comrades. Curate your avoid list like it's a Pinterest board of pure, concentrated nope. Just remember – the real toxic player was inside us all along. Or maybe it's that Torbjörn building turrets in spawn. Hard to tell sometimes.