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Over many years, I had little interest of multiplayer games. I played plenty of them with my friends, but few held my interest. I was bad at shooting, and seemed more a liability than aid to my squad. Then, the release of Overwatch in 2016 happened and introduced me to a hero and an skill that's remained memorable ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who commands a MEKA, didn’t seem the type that should have appealed to me. Widowmaker was more my style, with her gothic look and monotone drawl. But D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a defender. The one who soaks up all that damage while protecting damage-dealers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has two forms: her out-of-mech state, in which she moves with a blaster, and her MEKA configuration, in which she’s seated within her MEKA. These two forms make her pretty unique, but another feature that makes her stand out among other defenders, and is why I ultimately adored her: her melee and movement ability, Boosters.

Boosters is an ability that lets D.Va (in her MEKA form) propel skyward, providing a velocity increase and allowing her to fly forward for a set distance. But you can also alter course while airborne, opting to rise onto a higher level or veer entirely and navigate past barriers like turns or the payload. This grants D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that none of the other tanks can truly emulate — not even Reinhardt with his charge ability. D.Va’s Boosters is ideal for my approach: I prefer to absorb attacks and defend allies, while having the option to retreat if it gets gnarly so I may reassemble – it creates a sense of invincibility, even though this isn't entirely true.

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 you’re using Boosters, they are knocked back for a set amount of harm. I assure you, few things are as gratifying than eliminating a troublesome 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 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 that any a D.Va equivalent, and trust 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 a long time. In reality, after playing her for years, it seems no future tank character 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 excels in movement and interference.
• Her Thrusters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• She can soak damage while creating opportunities for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for her unique playstyle.