🔗 Share this article

For a long time, I was not a fan of multiplayer games. I engaged in numerous of them with my friends, but few held my interest. My aim was poor, and felt like more of a hindrance than aid to my squad. Subsequently, 2016’s Overwatch arrived and presented me with a character and an ability that's remained memorable ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who pilots a mech, wasn’t the sort of character that should have appealed to me. Widowmaker was more my style, with her gothic look and monotone drawl. But D.Va possessed the advantage of being my favorite class: a tank. The character that absorbs all that damage while shielding attackers and support classes. Additionally, D.Va has dual modes: her pilot form, in which she runs around with a gun, and her mech form, in which she’s strapped into her MEKA. This duality make her quite distinctive, but another feature that makes her stand out among her fellow tanks, and is the reason I inevitably fell in love: her melee and movement ability, Thrusters.

Boosters is an ability that enables the MEKA pilot (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, choosing to ascend onto a higher level or divert completely and head around obstacles like corners or the objective. This grants D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that none of the other tanks can really replicate — including Reinhardt with his charge ability. Her Thrusters is ideal for my approach: I prefer to absorb attacks and protect my team, while having the option to retreat if it gets gnarly so I can regroup – it creates a sense of invincibility, even though that’s never really the case.

D.Va’s Boosters isn't solely for travel; it additionally deals harm to enemies along the route.

There’s even a damage element to the Thrusters skill. When opponents obstruct the path as activating Thrusters, they are knocked back for a set amount of harm. Let me tell you, there’s nothing more satisfying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by bopping her on the nose with the mech. That serves as a lesson to try and snipe you from afar.

D.Va may not be the top defender in Overwatch 2 currently, particularly with characters like certain other tanks whose pure defensive skills make them a superior choice for present strategies. Yet she remains among the most original heroes I have experienced in a competitive title. I don’t think there really is 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 a similar mobility skill, for years. The truth is, with extensive time as her, I feel like there isn’t ever going to be as fun and innovative to play as D.Va. 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 superior flight maneuverability.
• She can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for distinctive approach.