🔗 Share this article

Over many years, I had little interest of multiplayer games. I engaged in numerous of them with companions, but none kept my attention. My aim was poor, and felt like more of a hindrance than aid to my squad. Subsequently, the release of Overwatch in 2016 arrived and presented me with a character and an skill that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

Initially, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who pilots a mech, didn’t seem the type that should have appealed to me. The sniper Widowmaker was more my style, with her dark aesthetic and monotone drawl. But D.Va had the benefit of being my favorite class: a tank. The character that absorbs all that incoming fire while shielding attackers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has dual modes: 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 sets her apart among other defenders, and is why I ultimately adored her: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Boosters.

Thrusters represent a skill that enables the MEKA pilot (in her MEKA form) propel skyward, giving her a boost of speed and letting her advance through the air for a set distance. But you can also change directions mid-flight, opting to rise onto a higher level or veer entirely and navigate past barriers like corners or the objective. This grants D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement that none of the other tanks can really replicate — including Reinhardt with his charge ability. D.Va’s Boosters is brilliant for my playstyle: I like to soak up the damage and defend allies, while having the option to retreat if the situation intensifies so I can regroup – it creates a sense of invincibility, even though this isn't entirely true.

The Thrusters ability isn't solely for movility; it also inflicts damage to foes along the route.

An offensive component exists to the Thrusters skill. When opponents obstruct the path as you’re using Boosters, you send them flying backwards for a set amount of harm. Let me tell you, there’s nothing more satisfying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by striking her directly with your MEKA. That’ll teach her to try and snipe you from afar.

D.Va may not be the “best” tank in Overwatch 2 currently, especially when you’ve got heroes like certain other tanks whose pure defensive skills make them a superior choice for the current meta. Yet she remains one of the most unique characters I have experienced in a competitive title. I don’t think that any a direct counterpart to D.Va, and believe me, following experiences like Marvel Rivals since leaving Overwatch 2, I’ve been looking for a replacement for D.Va, and my next Boosters, for years. In reality, with extensive time as her, it seems no future tank character as enjoyable and groundbreaking to play as she is. Despite any issues Overwatch 2 might have, hero creation and skills are definitely not included.

• D.Va excels in mobility and disruption.
• Her Thrusters provide unmatched aerial control.
• She can absorb attacks while opening chances for her team.
• Regardless of strategy changes, D.Va stays a beloved choice for her unique playstyle.