🔗 Share this article

For a long time, I was not a fan 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. Then, the release of Overwatch in 2016 happened and introduced me to a hero and an skill that's remained memorable ever since.

Initially, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who commands a MEKA, wasn’t the sort of character that should have appealed to me. Widowmaker was more my style, with her dark aesthetic and monotone drawl. But D.Va possessed the advantage of being my favorite class: a defender. The one who soaks up all that incoming fire while shielding attackers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has dual modes: her out-of-mech state, 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 sets her apart among other defenders, and is why I ultimately adored her: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Thrusters.

Boosters is an ability that lets D.Va (in her MEKA form) launch into the air, giving her a boost of speed and allowing her to fly forward for a set distance. Additionally, players may change directions mid-flight, choosing to ascend onto a elevated position or divert completely and navigate past barriers like corners or the objective. This grants D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that no other defender can truly emulate — not even Reinhardt with his charge ability. Her Thrusters is brilliant for my playstyle: I prefer to absorb attacks and defend allies, while also being able to get out if the situation intensifies so I may reassemble – it creates a sense of invincibility, even though that’s never really the case.

The Thrusters ability isn't solely for movility; it additionally deals damage to enemies along the route.

An offensive component exists to the Thrusters skill. If enemies get in the way as activating Thrusters, 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 the mech. That’ll teach her to try and snipe you from afar.

D.Va may not be the top defender in Overwatch 2 currently, particularly with characters like Orisa and Ramattra whose raw defensive abilities make them a superior choice for present strategies. Yet she remains among the most original heroes I have experienced in a multiplayer game. I don’t think there really is a D.Va equivalent, and believe me, following experiences like Marvel Rivals since leaving Overwatch 2, I’ve been looking for a replacement for D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for years. In reality, after playing her for years, I feel like no future tank character 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.

• The MEKA Pilot excels in mobility and disruption.
• Her Thrusters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• The hero can soak damage while opening chances for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, D.Va stays a fan-favorite for her unique playstyle.