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For a long time, I had little interest of online competitive titles. I played plenty of them with my friends, but few held my interest. I was bad at shooting, and seemed more a liability than help to my teammates. Subsequently, the release of Overwatch in 2016 happened and introduced me to a hero and an ability that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who commands a MEKA, wasn’t the sort of character that would attract to me. Widowmaker was closer to my preference, with her dark aesthetic and measured speech. However D.Va possessed the advantage of being my favorite class: a tank. The character that absorbs all that incoming fire while shielding attackers 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 strapped into her MEKA. This duality make her quite distinctive, but another feature that makes her stand out among her fellow tanks, and is the reason I inevitably fell in love: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Thrusters.

Boosters is an ability that lets D.Va (in her MEKA form) launch into the air, providing a velocity increase and allowing her to fly forward for a set distance. But you can also alter course while airborne, choosing to ascend onto a higher level or veer entirely and navigate past barriers like turns or the objective. It gives D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement that none of the other tanks can really replicate — not even Reinhardt with his charge ability. 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 makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

The Thrusters ability is not just for travel; it additionally deals harm 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 25 damage. Let me tell you, there’s nothing more satisfying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by striking her directly with the mech. That’ll teach her to attempt long-range attacks.

D.Va may not be the “best” tank in Overwatch 2 currently, especially when you’ve got heroes like certain other tanks whose pure defensive skills make them a better pick for present strategies. But she’s also among the most original heroes I’ve ever played in a multiplayer game. It seems unlikely there really is a D.Va equivalent, and trust me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I’ve been looking for my next D.Va, and my next Boosters, for a long time. The truth is, with extensive time as her, I feel like there isn’t ever going to be as enjoyable and groundbreaking to play as D.Va. Despite any issues 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 creating opportunities for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a beloved choice for distinctive approach.