How exactly does the deserter penalty work in Overwatch? When are you not allowed to leave a game anymore?
In Overwatch, players are encouraged to complete their matches until the end. Even a match that seems lost can often be turned around thanks to the “Overtime” mechanic. Those who leave their team hanging will not go unpunished for long before being marked as a deserter and receiving significantly less XP and, therefore, hardly any loot boxes.
But when are you actually not allowed to leave a game anymore? When does the “deserter” penalty take effect and how can you get rid of it?
Due to uncertainties among the player base about when they can leave a match “without penalty,” Blizzard has now made this clearer in a forum post.
- If you leave the game after WIN! or LOSE! has been displayed on the screen, this does not count as “leaving early.”
- If you leave the game during the “Gather your team” phase, that is in the 40 seconds before you can demolish everything in the spawn room, this does not count as “leaving early.”
- If you leave the game starting from the beginning of the preparation phase, that is the “waiting minute” in the spawn room/build minute for defenders and before the “WIN!/LOSE!” screen, this counts as “leaving early.”
Also important: If you leave a game because you were invited to a group and therefore join another game, this also counts as “leaving early”! The same applies if you leave the game because you were kicked for inactivity or lose your internet connection. The only exception is if the server disconnects you – for example, because it is no longer available (like during maintenance).
Overwatch stores player behavior over the last 20 matches. If players leave too many matches (an exact number is not specified) early within those games, they are penalized with a 75% penalty on earned experience points. In order to get rid of this “debuff,” it is required to fully complete games again. And that means until the number of completed matches is back above the previously mentioned limit – here, too, Overwatch monitors the last 20 matches. By contrast, this means that the penalty lasts longer if players continue to leave games even after the penalty starts.
Do you want to avoid a reason to rage quit? Then check out our guides to Overwatch to improve yourself.
