What is a Warzone 2 shadowban?

Warzone 2 players inside vehicle
Credit: Activision


Warzone 2 players inside vehicle
Credit: Activision

What exactly is a Warzone 2 shadowban? That's a question on the minds of players dropping into Al Mazrah on a regular basis. Despite the best efforts of Ricochet anti-cheat, hackers continue to slip through the net and ruin matches. Although they may slip through initially, the ability for developers to perform a shadowban often saves the day.

Ahead of Season Two, a bug is issuing several shadowbans to most players that score ten kills over the course of a match. Even former CoD pro and 100 Thieves founder Matt "Nadeshot" Haag was affected.

Before we share more intel on a Warzone 2 shadowban, take a look at our other guides revealing the current Warzone 2 meta and everything you need to know about upcoming Warzone 2 double XP events.

Warzone 2 shadowban explained

Rather than banning them without proof, a shadowban places suspect hackers in lobbies with others that's bound to make any certified cheaters rage. If you think you've been hit with a shadowban, these are a few telltale signs to look out for:

  • Consistently high pings.
  • Other suspect players.
  • Long queue times.

You won't receive any shadowban notifications. You'll notice plenty more hackers when you drop into Al Mazrah.

Warzone 2 shadowban players
expand image
Credit: Activision

How to appeal Warzone 2 shadowban

Have you fallen victim to an accidental shadowban? Fear not! There is an appeal process you can follow in order to rejoin normal lobbies containing legitimate players. Here's what you need to do:

  • Head to the Activision ban appeal page.
  • Log into your Activision account.
  • Follow the process and wait for an outcome.

With thousands of players receiving wrongful shadowbans, it might be a while before your account escapes the shadow realm. Keep your eyes peeled for a sudden reduction in ping and your emails to see if your appeal was successful.

Warzone 2 shadowban bug fix

The start of Season Two isn't far away which is hugely promising news if you're afraid of receiving an accidental trip to the world of shadowbanned Warzone 2.

In addition to numerous other problems impacting players, many are hoping the second seasonal update for the battle royale contains numerous bug fixes improving the experience for everyone, and stopping shadowbans from affecting innocent players.

There you have it. That's everything you need to know about a Warzone 2 shadowban. For more, take a look at our other guides showcasing the best Warzone 2 SMG and the best Warzone 2 controller settings to use.

This Article's Topics

Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!

GuidesCall of Duty: Warzone 2Battle Royale