🔗 Share this article

Over many years, I had little interest of online competitive titles. I played plenty of them with my friends, but few held my interest. My aim was poor, and seemed more a liability than help to my teammates. Subsequently, the release of Overwatch in 2016 happened and presented me with a character and an ability that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who commands a MEKA, wasn’t the sort of character that would attract to me. The sniper Widowmaker was closer to my preference, with her dark aesthetic and monotone drawl. But D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a defender. The one who soaks up all that damage while shielding attackers and support classes. Better yet, D.Va has two forms: her pilot form, in which she runs around with a gun, and her MEKA configuration, in which she’s strapped into her MEKA. These two forms make her quite distinctive, 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 allowing her to fly forward for 24 meters. Additionally, players may alter course while airborne, opting to rise onto a elevated position or divert completely and navigate past barriers like corners or the payload. It gives D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement that no other defender can truly emulate — including Reinhardt with his charge ability. D.Va’s Boosters is brilliant for my playstyle: I prefer to absorb attacks and defend allies, while also being able to get out if it gets gnarly so I may reassemble – it makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

D.Va’s Boosters isn't solely for travel; it also inflicts harm to foes in its path.

There’s even a damage element to D.Va’s Boosters ability. If enemies get in the way as you’re using Boosters, you send them flying backwards for 25 damage. Let me tell you, few things are as gratifying than eliminating a troublesome Ashe by bopping her on the nose with your MEKA. That serves as a lesson to try and snipe you from afar.

The hero might not rank as the top defender in Overwatch 2 currently, particularly with characters like Orisa and Ramattra whose raw defensive abilities make them a better pick for the current meta. Yet she remains among the most original heroes I’ve ever played in a multiplayer game. It seems unlikely that any a D.Va equivalent, and believe me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I have sought a replacement for D.Va, and my next Boosters, for a long time. In reality, after playing her for years, it seems no future tank character as fun and innovative to play as she is. Despite any issues Overwatch 2 might have, character design and abilities are certainly not among them.

• D.Va excels in mobility and disruption.
• Her Thrusters provide unmatched aerial control.
• The hero can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, D.Va stays a fan-favorite for her unique playstyle.