🔗 Share this article

Over many years, I was not a fan of online competitive titles. I played plenty of them with companions, 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 presented me with a hero and an ability that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

Initially, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who commands a MEKA, wasn’t the sort of character that should have appealed to me. Widowmaker was more my style, with her gothic look and measured speech. However D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a defender. The character that absorbs all that damage while protecting damage-dealers and support classes. Additionally, D.Va has two forms: her pilot form, in which she runs around with a gun, and her MEKA configuration, in which she’s seated within her MEKA. These two forms make her pretty unique, but another feature that sets her apart among her fellow tanks, and is the reason I inevitably fell in love: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Boosters.

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 24 meters. Additionally, players may alter course while airborne, opting to rise 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 none of the other tanks can really replicate — including Reinhardt with his charge ability. D.Va’s Boosters is ideal for my approach: I prefer to absorb attacks and defend allies, while also being able to get out if the situation intensifies so I may reassemble – it makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

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

There’s even a damage element to D.Va’s Boosters ability. When opponents obstruct the path as you’re using Boosters, they are knocked back for a set amount of harm. I assure you, few things are as gratifying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by striking her directly with the mech. That serves as a lesson to try and snipe you from afar.

The hero might not rank as the top defender in Overwatch 2 currently, particularly with characters like certain other tanks whose raw defensive abilities make them a superior choice for present strategies. But she’s also one of the most unique characters I have experienced in a multiplayer game. It seems unlikely there really is a direct counterpart to D.Va, and believe 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, after playing her for years, I feel like no future tank character as enjoyable and groundbreaking 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 excels in mobility and disruption.
• Her Boosters provide unmatched aerial control.
• She can soak damage while opening chances for her team.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for her unique playstyle.