{"id":451,"date":"2025-06-19T11:09:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T11:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/?p=451"},"modified":"2025-06-23T13:04:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T13:04:34","slug":"pick-ban-in-siege-x-is-it-the-future-of-esports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/19\/pick-ban-in-siege-x-is-it-the-future-of-esports\/","title":{"rendered":"Pick &amp; Ban in Siege X: Is it the future of esports?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Rainbow Six Siege operator Blackbeard using a shield and rifle combo\" class=\"wp-image-190606 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Is-Pick-Ban-in-Siege-X-the-Future-of-Esports-large.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Blackbeard attacking in Rainbow Six Siege \/ Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.ubisoft.com\/en-us\/article\/4luBBDMfipI6BDrwGGMV0L\/rainbow-six-siege-operation-collision-point-operator-remaster-and-balancing-guide\">Ubisoft Website<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095b8bec\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"tldr-4\">TL;DR<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At the beginning of a round in Siege X, the Pick and Ban system allows teams to vote on an operator to ban.<\/li>\n<li>Bans reset upon a role swap.<\/li>\n<li>Some operators will be prohibited more often based on their gadgets and weapons, affecting the overall meta in Rainbow Six Siege X.<\/li>\n<li>Lesser-used characters will have new opportunities due to the Pick and Ban mechanic.<\/li>\n<li>If Pick and Ban is popular in the long term, then it could inspire other character-based esports games to implement their own ban systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#9f367b;color:#9f367b\" \/>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095b95b0\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Rainbow Six Siege X is a huge step up for the first-person shooter, especially for the competitive community. With a <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/rainbow-six-siege-esports-tab\">new esports tab<\/a> and operator ban system, there&#8217;s a lot to understand about <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/siege-x-beginners-guide\">the next chapter of the Tom Clancy FPS<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095b9d55\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>The Pick and Ban system will completely change how Ranked matches play out, so let&#8217;s take a closer look at how it will affect competitive Siege, and, eventually, esports as a whole.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095ba4a1\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"what_is_the_pick_ban_system-2\">What is the Pick &amp; Ban system?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"890\" height=\"501\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Group of Rainbow Six Siege X operators standing on a snowy helipad in front of a helicopter and mountain lodge\" class=\"wp-image-190599 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Final-winning-team-lineup-in-Siege-X-match.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Winning operators at the end of a match in Rainbow Six Siege \/ Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.ubisoft.com\/us\/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-siege-x\/67c0ae5b4997ec4c09ed9c34.html?lang=en_US\">Ubisoft Store<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095bad48\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>The Pick and Ban system was implemented in the Siege X update on June 10, 2025, so players are still getting accustomed to its nuances. Instead of operator bans taking place at the beginning of a new match, each team can now vote to select a character to ban from the opposing team&#8217;s roster before every round.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095bb462\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Bans reset when teams switch between attacking and defending, so you&#8217;ll still be able to play as a defender you banned while you were attacking, for example. The new system allows you to strategically pick off operators that are causing your team trouble mid-match, so it&#8217;ll likely shift the meta and give less popular characters a chance to shine.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095bbbe6\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"how_will_pick_ban_impact_the_operator_pool-2\">How will Pick &amp; Ban impact the operator pool?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"890\" height=\"501\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Two Rainbow Six Siege operators rappel down a building while aiming weapons\" class=\"wp-image-190600 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Tactical-rappelling-maneuver-during-a-Siege-X-match.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Characters rappelling in Rainbow Six Siege \/ Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.ubisoft.com\/us\/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-siege-x\/67c0ae5b4997ec4c09ed9c34.html?lang=en_US\">Ubisoft Store<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095bc491\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Pick and Ban will probably result in a long-term meta shift, as players may save their best operators for later rounds to prevent losing access to their main characters. Whether you&#8217;re new to Siege or you&#8217;ve been playing since the start, Pick and Ban will have a major effect on how you approach choosing an operator, especially in Ranked.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095bcc62\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"who_might_be_banned_first_in_siege_x-2\">Who might be banned first in Siege X?<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095bd38f\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Popular characters, like Zero and Finka, could be commonly banned in the Pick and Ban system. However, we don&#8217;t expect the most popular operators to be the primary target of Pick and Ban. Instead, the most difficult characters to counter will probably be banned first, even if they&#8217;re not as commonly used.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095bdaa8\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Mira is a defender who can create holes in walls to watch or attack unsuspecting opponents, so she&#8217;ll probably be banned often in competitive matches and tournaments. Operators who can impair vision, equip a shield, or track opponents might also be commonly banned.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095be1ec\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>There are dozens of possible characters that players will hone in on when choosing an operator to prohibit, but the great thing about Pick and Ban is that bans can be adjusted mid-match, so every game will have a unique lineup of available characters. Some lesser-used operators might even become more popular in Ranked as a result, which could include characters with weaker gadgets like Twitch and Alibi.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095be96e\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"pick_ban_will_switch_up_the_meta_in_siege_x-2\">Pick &amp; Ban will switch up the meta in Siege X<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"890\" height=\"501\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Rainbow Six Siege player setting up barbed wire inside a fortified room with teammates nearby\" class=\"wp-image-190601 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Preparing-barbed-wire-in-a-Rainbow-Six-Siege-match.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Player holding barbed wire in Rainbow Six Siege \/ Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.ubisoft.com\/us\/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-siege-x\/67c0ae5b4997ec4c09ed9c34.html?lang=en_US\">Ubisoft Store<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095bf269\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>The meta in Rainbow Six Siege X is affected by many factors, and a new ban system will certainly have a huge effect on how players approach combat. As previously highlighted, some operators will now become more popular due to the ban system, while powerful characters will likely be less used at the beginning of a match to prevent being banned early.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095bf99d\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>This will result in teams requiring more versatile strategies in case their favourite operators get banned. Players need to learn more characters now, which may shift Siege towards a meta where players rely less on operator-specific gadgets and more on weapons that can be used with multiple attackers or defenders.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095c00d9\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>The introduction of destructible ingredients across each modernised map could also result in fewer operator combos and a greater focus on strategies that rely on weaponry or secondary gadgets that aren&#8217;t locked behind a certain character, like Barbed Wire. The esports meta will likely become less focused on individual operators in 2025, and upcoming tournaments could help display this shift.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095c0830\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"how_does_sieges_new_ban_system_compare_to_other_esports_titles-2\">How does Siege&#8217;s new ban system compare to other esports titles?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Apex Legends character Sparrow leaps through the air amid heavy gunfire and explosions on a futuristic map\" class=\"wp-image-190603 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sparrow-mid-jump-in-Apex-Legends-large.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sparrow mid-jump in Apex Legends \/ Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ea.com\/en\/games\/apex-legends\/apex-legends\/news\/introducing-sparrow\">EA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095c1091\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Other hero-based shooters, like <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/esports-titles\/battle-royale\/apex-legends\">Apex Legends<\/a>, have also implemented character ban mechanics in recent years. The Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) recently added a system that bans the most-picked character from a series at the end of each match.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095c17a3\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Unlike in Siege, opposing teams can&#8217;t choose who gets banned in Apex Legends, but the ALGS ban system also results in a situation where the most powerful characters are often banned first. Siege&#8217;s Pick and Ban may inspire similar mechanics in other esports titles, like <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/esports-titles\/shooters\/valorant\">VALORANT<\/a>. Some games have implemented character ban systems for esports competitions, but not for everyday play.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095c1f08\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Pick and Ban proves that a voting-based ban system can work for Ranked play, as opposed to using it exclusively for <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/explainers\/what-is-esports\">esports<\/a>, so hopefully, we&#8217;ll see more of these mechanics due to their recent popularity in Siege X and the ALGS.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095c26e2\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"pick_ban_could_be_the_future_of_character-based_esports-2\">Pick &amp; Ban could be the future of character-based esports<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"890\" height=\"501\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Rainbow Six Siege player preparing to throw a grenade while teammates engage enemies through a breached wall\" class=\"wp-image-190604 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Operator-preparing-to-throw-a-grenade-during-a-Rainbow-Six-Siege-match.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Player holding a grenade in Rainbow Six Siege \/ Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/store.ubisoft.com\/us\/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-siege-x\/67c0ae5b4997ec4c09ed9c34.html?lang=en_US\">Ubisoft Store<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095c3045\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Competitive video games that focus on a roster of selectable characters will always be somewhat unbalanced by default. Some heroes are simply more powerful than others, and the meta shifts in every patch. Systems like Pick and Ban allow players to take control over who they face, and as a result, the meta of the game at large.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-68595095c37c4\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>The Pick and Ban system represents a move towards increased agency for competitive players, as it puts the control in the hands of real fans. As esports gain popularity, we may see more ban systems implemented to help counter unbalanced character pools in competitive shooters, and Siege X offers a fresh format that could inspire the next generation of FPS titles.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095c3f40\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"faqs-4\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\">\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1750329188269\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the Pick &amp; Ban system in R6 Siege X?<\/strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Pick and Ban is a new mechanic in Rainbow Six Siege X that lets each team take a vote on which character to ban from the opposing team at the start of every new round. Bans are reset whenever a team swaps between defending and attacking.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1750329272072\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What Siege X operators are most affected?<\/strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The list of operators that could potentially be most affected by Pick and Ban is extensive and will vary in each season of Siege. The map on which a match is played may also affect which operators are banned first.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve listed a few popular and hard-to-counter characters below that we predict will be commonly banned in Ranked:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Zero<br \/>\u2022 Finka<br \/>\u2022 Vigil<br \/>\u2022 Clash<br \/>\u2022 Ying<br \/>\u2022 Mira<br \/>\u2022 Blackbeard<br \/>\u2022 Dokkaebi<br \/>\u2022 Fenrir<br \/>\u2022 Blitz<br \/>\u2022 Kaid<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-68595095c475c\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"references-4\">References<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ubisoft.com\/en-us\/article\/4luBBDMfipI6BDrwGGMV0L\/rainbow-six-siege-operation-collision-point-operator-remaster-and-balancing-guide\">https:\/\/news.ubisoft.com\/en-us\/article\/4luBBDMfipI6BDrwGGMV0L\/rainbow-six-siege-operation-collision-point-operator-remaster-and-balancing-guide<\/a>&nbsp;(News Ubisoft)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/store.ubisoft.com\/us\/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-siege-x\/67c0ae5b4997ec4c09ed9c34.html?lang=en_US\">https:\/\/store.ubisoft.com\/us\/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-siege-x\/67c0ae5b4997ec4c09ed9c34.html?lang=en_US<\/a>&nbsp;(Store Ubisoft)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ea.com\/en\/games\/apex-legends\/apex-legends\/news\/introducing-sparrow\">https:\/\/www.ea.com\/en\/games\/apex-legends\/apex-legends\/news\/introducing-sparrow<\/a>&nbsp;(EA)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/siege-x-pick-and-ban-esports\">Pick &amp; Ban in Siege X: Is it the future of esports?<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\">Esports Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blackbeard attacking in Rainbow Six Siege \/ Image credit: Ubisoft Website TL;DR At the beginning of a round in Siege X, the Pick and Ban system allows teams to vote on an operator to ban. Bans reset upon a role swap. Some operators will be prohibited more often based on their gadgets and weapons, affecting&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=451"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":460,"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451\/revisions\/460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jstarwear.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}