🔗 Share this article

Over many years, I had little interest of online competitive titles. I engaged in numerous of them with my friends, but none kept my attention. I was bad at shooting, and seemed more a liability than aid to my squad. Then, the release of Overwatch in 2016 arrived and introduced me to a character and an skill that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

Initially, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who commands a MEKA, didn’t seem the type that should have appealed to me. The sniper Widowmaker was closer to my preference, with her gothic look and measured speech. But D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a defender. The one who soaks up all that damage while protecting damage-dealers and support classes. Additionally, D.Va has two forms: her out-of-mech state, in which she runs around with a gun, and her mech form, in which she’s strapped into her MEKA. This duality make her pretty unique, but another feature that makes her stand out among her fellow tanks, and is why I ultimately adored her: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Thrusters.

Thrusters represent a skill that lets D.Va (in her MEKA form) propel skyward, providing a velocity increase and letting her advance through the air for a set distance. But you can also alter course while airborne, choosing to ascend onto a elevated position or divert completely and navigate past barriers like turns or the objective. This grants D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement that none of the other tanks can truly emulate — not even Reinhardt with his charge ability. D.Va’s Boosters is brilliant for my playstyle: I like to soak up the damage and protect my team, while having the option to retreat if it gets gnarly so I may reassemble – it makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

The Thrusters ability is not just for movility; it also inflicts damage to enemies along the route.

An offensive component exists to D.Va’s Boosters ability. If enemies get in the way as activating Thrusters, you send them flying backwards for 25 damage. I assure you, few things are as gratifying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by bopping her on the nose with your MEKA. That’ll teach her to attempt long-range attacks.

D.Va may not be the top defender in Overwatch 2 nowadays, especially when you’ve got heroes like certain other tanks whose raw defensive abilities make them a superior choice for present strategies. But she’s also one of the most unique characters I’ve ever played in a multiplayer game. I don’t think that any a D.Va equivalent, and believe me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I’ve been looking for a replacement for D.Va, and my next Boosters, for a long time. In reality, after playing her for years, I feel like there isn’t ever going to be as enjoyable and groundbreaking to play as D.Va. For all the faults Overwatch 2 might have, hero creation and skills are certainly not among them.

• D.Va shines at mobility and disruption.
• Her Thrusters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• She can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for distinctive approach.