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For a long time, I had little interest of multiplayer games. I engaged in numerous of them with companions, but few held my interest. My aim was poor, and seemed more a liability than help to my teammates. Then, 2016’s Overwatch happened and introduced me to a hero and an ability that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

Initially, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who commands a MEKA, didn’t seem the type that would attract to me. Widowmaker was closer to my preference, with her dark aesthetic and monotone drawl. However D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a tank. The character that absorbs all that incoming fire while protecting damage-dealers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has dual modes: her pilot form, in which she moves with a blaster, and her MEKA configuration, in which she’s seated within her MEKA. This duality make her quite distinctive, 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.

Thrusters represent a skill that enables the MEKA pilot (in her MEKA form) launch into the air, providing a velocity increase and allowing her to fly forward for a set distance. Additionally, players may alter course while airborne, opting to rise onto a elevated position or divert completely and head around obstacles like turns or the payload. It gives D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion 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 prefer to absorb attacks and defend allies, 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 is not just for travel; it also inflicts damage to enemies along the route.

There’s even a damage element to D.Va’s Boosters ability. If enemies get in the way as activating Thrusters, they are knocked back for a set amount of harm. Let me tell you, few things are as gratifying than finishing off a pesky 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 nowadays, particularly with characters like certain other tanks whose raw defensive abilities make them a better pick for the current meta. But she’s also one of the most unique characters I’ve ever played in a competitive title. It seems unlikely that any a D.Va equivalent, and believe me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I’ve been looking for my next D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for a long time. The truth is, with extensive time as her, 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.

• D.Va shines at mobility and disruption.
• Her Thrusters provide unmatched aerial control.
• The hero can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for her team.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for distinctive approach.