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For a long time, I was not a fan of online competitive titles. I played plenty of them with companions, but none kept my attention. My aim was poor, and felt like more of a hindrance 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.

At first glance, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who pilots a mech, wasn’t the sort of character that should have appealed to me. The sniper 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 damage while shielding attackers and healers. Additionally, D.Va has dual modes: her out-of-mech state, in which she moves with a blaster, and her MEKA configuration, in which she’s seated within her MEKA. These two forms make her pretty unique, but another feature 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, giving her a boost of speed and letting her advance through the air for 24 meters. Additionally, players may alter course while airborne, choosing to ascend onto a higher level or veer entirely and navigate past barriers like corners or the objective. This grants D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that no other defender 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 makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

D.Va’s Boosters is not just for travel; it additionally deals damage to enemies along the route.

There’s even a damage element 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, few things are as gratifying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by bopping her on the nose 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, particularly with characters like certain other tanks whose raw defensive abilities make them a better pick for the current meta. Yet she remains one of the most unique characters I have experienced in a multiplayer game. I don’t think there really is a D.Va equivalent, and trust me, following experiences like Marvel Rivals since leaving Overwatch 2, I have sought a replacement for D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for a long time. In reality, after playing her for years, it seems no future tank character as fun and innovative to play as D.Va. For all the faults Overwatch 2 might have, character design and abilities are certainly not among them.

• D.Va shines at movement and interference.
• Her Boosters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• The hero can soak damage while opening chances for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for distinctive approach.