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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 none kept my attention. I was bad at shooting, and seemed more a liability than help to my teammates. Then, 2016’s Overwatch arrived and introduced me to a character and an skill that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

Initially, 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 more my style, with her gothic look and monotone drawl. However D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a tank. The one who soaks up all that damage while shielding attackers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has dual modes: her out-of-mech state, in which she runs around with a gun, and her MEKA configuration, in which she’s strapped into her MEKA. These two forms 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, Boosters.

Boosters is an ability 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 veer entirely and head around obstacles like turns or the objective. This grants D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement that no other defender can really replicate — including Reinhardt with his charge ability. Her Thrusters 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 isn't solely 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 activating Thrusters, they are knocked back for a set amount of harm. I assure you, there’s nothing more satisfying than eliminating a troublesome Ashe by striking her directly with the mech. That serves as a lesson to attempt long-range attacks.

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 superior choice for the current meta. Yet she remains among the most original heroes I have experienced in a competitive title. It seems unlikely that any a direct counterpart to D.Va, and believe me, following experiences like Marvel Rivals since leaving Overwatch 2, I have sought my next D.Va, and my next Boosters, for a long time. The truth is, after playing her for years, I feel like 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.

• The MEKA Pilot shines at mobility and disruption.
• Her Boosters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• The hero can soak damage while opening chances for her team.
• Regardless of strategy changes, she remains a beloved choice for her unique playstyle.