🔗 Share this article

For a long time, I was not a fan of multiplayer games. I played plenty of them with my friends, but few held my interest. I was bad at shooting, and felt like more of a hindrance than help to my teammates. Subsequently, 2016’s Overwatch happened and presented me with a hero and an ability that's remained memorable ever since.

Initially, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who commands a MEKA, didn’t seem the type that should have appealed to me. Widowmaker was more my style, with her gothic look and measured speech. However D.Va possessed the advantage of being my favorite class: a defender. The one who soaks up all that incoming fire while protecting damage-dealers and support classes. Additionally, D.Va has two forms: her pilot form, in which she moves with a blaster, and her mech form, in which she’s strapped into her MEKA. This duality make her pretty unique, but there’s something else 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 lets D.Va (in her MEKA form) propel skyward, giving her a boost of speed and allowing her to fly forward 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 turns 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.

The Thrusters ability isn't solely for movility; it also inflicts harm to foes in its path.

There’s even a damage element to D.Va’s Boosters ability. When opponents obstruct the path as activating Thrusters, you send them flying backwards for 25 damage. Let me tell you, there’s nothing more satisfying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by striking her directly with your MEKA. That serves as a lesson to attempt long-range attacks.

The hero might not rank as the top defender in Overwatch 2 currently, especially when you’ve got heroes like Orisa and Ramattra whose pure defensive skills make them a superior choice 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, following experiences like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I have sought my next D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for a long time. The truth is, with extensive time as her, it seems there isn’t ever going to be as enjoyable and groundbreaking to play as she is. For all the faults Overwatch 2 might have, hero creation and skills are definitely not included.

• D.Va excels in movement and interference.
• Her Boosters provide unmatched aerial control.
• The hero can absorb attacks while opening chances for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for distinctive approach.