Valve released a new Battle Pass for DOTA 2 in May 2019. This time, it includes not only new tasks to complete but also a social feature that players have been waiting for.
What is this feature? It is the “Avoid Players” feature, which many MOBA competitors have offered for some time now. This feature is intended to prevent you from being matched with certain players again.
New Feature: “Avoid Players” in DOTA 2
This is how the feature works: To avoid a player, you should simply select the option on the end screen after the game for the corresponding player. However, this apparently only works for your own team.
The players will then no longer be able to play with you. You should not be able to join them in random matchmaking any longer. However, they can still appear as opponents.
The feature is currently still in the “experimental” phase, which is why it apparently does not work flawlessly yet. Players report on Steam that they are sometimes still matched with avoided players.
Why do I have to pay? To use the feature, you need to purchase the new Battle Pass for 2019 in DOTA 2. This currently costs 8.75€ on Steam. The feature will only be available to you functioning after that.
Valve has not yet commented on why such a feature is included in a Battle Pass. Many players and other sites are already talking about a “paywall”.
Can this be done without the Battle Pass? So far, there have been no news on whether there are plans to make the feature available to all players afterward. Since it is part of the Battle Pass 2019, it is unlikely to come to the game until after its expiration.
User Shadow Pool made a joking remark about how you can also avoid players in other ways:
“Avoid Players” does not work without a Battle Pass. But if you meet a player with a Battle Pass, you just have to go to their lane and feed there so they avoid you.
The feature has been requested repeatedly by the community for many years now. It is therefore possible that after the experimental phase, it will be available for everyone.
The best players in the world are currently having problems against computer opponents:
