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For a long time, I was not a fan of online competitive titles. I engaged in numerous of them with my friends, but none kept my attention. 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 character and an skill that's remained memorable ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who pilots a mech, wasn’t the sort of character that would attract to me. The sniper Widowmaker was more my style, with her gothic look and measured speech. But D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a tank. The character that absorbs all that damage while shielding attackers and healers. Additionally, D.Va has two forms: 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 there’s something else that sets her apart among her fellow tanks, and is why I ultimately adored her: her melee and movement ability, Thrusters.

Boosters is an ability that lets D.Va (in her MEKA form) launch into the air, providing a velocity increase and letting her advance through the air for 24 meters. But you can also alter course while airborne, choosing to ascend onto a elevated position or veer entirely and navigate past barriers like turns or the payload. It gives D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that none of the other tanks can truly emulate — including Reinhardt with his forward assault. D.Va’s Boosters is ideal for my approach: I like to soak up the damage and defend allies, while having the option to retreat 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 travel; it additionally deals harm to foes along the route.

An offensive component exists to D.Va’s Boosters ability. When opponents obstruct the path as activating Thrusters, you send them flying backwards for a set amount of harm. Let me tell you, few things are as gratifying than eliminating a troublesome Ashe by striking her directly with your MEKA. That’ll teach her to attempt long-range attacks.

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 better pick for present strategies. Yet she remains among the most original heroes I have experienced in a multiplayer game. It seems unlikely that any a D.Va equivalent, and trust 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 a long time. The truth is, with extensive time as her, it seems no future tank character as fun and innovative to play as she is. For all the faults Overwatch 2 might have, character design and abilities are certainly not among them.

• The MEKA Pilot shines at movement and interference.
• Her Thrusters provide unmatched aerial control.
• The hero can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for her team.
• Despite meta shifts, D.Va stays a beloved choice for distinctive approach.