Draft
The pre-game ban-and-pick sequence where both teams select their five heroes.
Draft is the structured pick-and-ban phase before a match starts, where both teams alternate banning and picking heroes in a set order — in ranked and esports this typically includes multiple ban rounds specifically to remove top-tier picks before either team locks a hero. Reading the draft — what roles are open, what the enemy is likely building toward — is as important to winning as in-game mechanics at higher skill levels. A strong draft accounts for both individual hero power and how the five picks synergize as a comp.
Related terms
Ban PhaseThe part of draft where each team removes heroes from the pool before picking.Counter PickChoosing a hero specifically because it beats an already-revealed enemy pick.First PickThe very first hero locked in a draft, chosen before any enemy pick is known.Pick CompA draft built around isolating and killing single enemies rather than 5v5 fighting.