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Over many years, I was not a fan of multiplayer games. I engaged in numerous 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, 2016’s Overwatch arrived and introduced me to a character and an skill that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who pilots a mech, didn’t seem the type that should have appealed to me. Widowmaker was more my style, with her dark aesthetic and measured speech. But D.Va possessed the advantage of being my favorite class: a defender. The character that absorbs all that damage while shielding attackers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has two forms: her out-of-mech state, in which she moves with a blaster, and her mech form, in which she’s strapped into her MEKA. These two forms make her quite distinctive, but another feature that sets her apart among her fellow tanks, and is why I ultimately adored her: her melee and movement ability, Boosters.

Thrusters represent a skill 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 change directions mid-flight, choosing to ascend onto a higher level or divert completely and navigate past barriers like corners 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 protect my team, while having the option to retreat if it gets gnarly 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 movility; it additionally deals harm to enemies along the route.

An offensive component exists to D.Va’s Boosters ability. If enemies get in the way as activating Thrusters, you send them flying backwards 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.

D.Va may not be the top defender in Overwatch 2 nowadays, 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 that any a direct counterpart to D.Va, and trust me, following experiences like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I have sought my next D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for years. In reality, after playing her for years, 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.

• The MEKA Pilot excels in movement and interference.
• Her Boosters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• She can soak damage while creating opportunities for allies.
• Regardless of strategy changes, D.Va stays a fan-favorite for her unique playstyle.