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For a long time, I was not a fan of multiplayer games. I engaged in numerous 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, 2016’s Overwatch arrived and introduced me to a hero and an ability that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who pilots a mech, didn’t seem the type that would attract to me. The sniper Widowmaker was closer to my preference, with her dark aesthetic and measured speech. However D.Va possessed the advantage of being the role I prefer: a tank. The character that absorbs all that damage while shielding attackers and healers. Additionally, 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. This duality make her quite distinctive, but there’s something else that sets her apart among her fellow tanks, and is the reason I inevitably fell in love: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Boosters.

Thrusters represent a skill that enables the MEKA pilot (in her MEKA form) propel skyward, giving her a boost of speed and allowing her to fly forward for 24 meters. But you can also change directions mid-flight, opting to rise onto a elevated position or divert completely and navigate past barriers 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. Her Thrusters is ideal for my approach: I prefer to absorb attacks and protect my team, while also being able to get out if the situation intensifies so I can regroup – it makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

The Thrusters ability is not just for movility; it additionally deals damage to foes along the route.

An offensive component exists to D.Va’s Boosters ability. When opponents obstruct the path as activating Thrusters, you send them flying backwards for 25 damage. Let me tell you, few things are as gratifying 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.

D.Va may not be the top defender in Overwatch 2 nowadays, especially when you’ve got heroes like Orisa and Ramattra whose pure defensive skills make them a superior choice for the current meta. Yet she remains among the most original heroes I have experienced in a multiplayer game. I don’t think there really is a D.Va equivalent, and believe me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I have sought a replacement for D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for years. In reality, 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, hero creation and skills are definitely not included.

• The MEKA Pilot excels in movement and interference.
• Her Thrusters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• The hero can soak damage while creating opportunities for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a beloved choice for her unique playstyle.