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For a long time, I had little interest of multiplayer games. I played plenty of them with my friends, but few held my interest. My aim was poor, and seemed more a liability than aid to my squad. Subsequently, the release of Overwatch in 2016 happened and presented me with a hero and an ability that's remained memorable 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. 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 tank. The one who soaks up all that incoming fire while shielding attackers and support classes. Additionally, 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 there’s something else that makes her stand out among other defenders, 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 letting her advance through the air for 24 meters. But you can also change directions mid-flight, choosing to ascend onto a higher level or divert completely and head around obstacles like corners or the objective. This grants D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that no other defender can really replicate — not even 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 also being able to get out if it gets gnarly so I can regroup – it makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

The Thrusters ability is not just for travel; it also inflicts harm to enemies in its path.

There’s even a damage element to the Thrusters skill. When opponents obstruct the path as you’re using Boosters, they are knocked back for 25 damage. I assure you, there’s nothing more satisfying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by bopping her on the nose with your MEKA. That serves as a lesson to try and snipe you from afar.

The hero might not rank as the “best” tank in Overwatch 2 nowadays, 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. I don’t think that any a D.Va equivalent, and trust me, following experiences like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I have sought a replacement for D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for a long time. The truth is, with extensive time as her, it seems there isn’t ever going to be 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 Boosters provide unmatched aerial control.
• The hero can soak damage while creating opportunities for her team.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for her unique playstyle.