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Over many years, I had little interest of multiplayer games. I played plenty of them with my friends, but none kept my attention. My aim was poor, and seemed more a liability than aid to my squad. Then, 2016’s Overwatch arrived and introduced me to a hero and an skill that's remained memorable ever since.

Initially, D.Va, a gamer girl turned child-soldier who pilots a mech, didn’t seem the type that should have appealed to me. The sniper Widowmaker was more my style, with her dark aesthetic and monotone drawl. But D.Va had the benefit of being my favorite class: a tank. The one who soaks up all that incoming fire while protecting damage-dealers and support classes. 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. This duality make her quite distinctive, but there’s something else that sets her apart among other defenders, and is the reason I inevitably fell in love: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Thrusters.

Thrusters represent a skill that lets D.Va (in her MEKA form) launch into the air, providing a velocity increase and allowing her to fly forward for a set distance. But you can also change directions mid-flight, opting to rise onto a elevated position or divert completely and head around obstacles like corners or the payload. It gives D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that none of the other tanks can really replicate — not even Reinhardt with his forward assault. D.Va’s Boosters is brilliant for my playstyle: I prefer to absorb attacks and protect my team, while also being able to get out if it gets gnarly so I may reassemble – it makes me feel indestructible, even though this isn't entirely true.

The Thrusters ability is not just for travel; it also inflicts harm to enemies along the route.

There’s even a damage element to the Thrusters skill. If enemies get in the way as activating Thrusters, you send them flying backwards for a set amount of harm. Let me tell you, few things are as gratifying than eliminating a troublesome Ashe by striking her directly with your MEKA. That’ll teach her to attempt long-range attacks.

The hero might not rank as the “best” tank in Overwatch 2 nowadays, especially when you’ve got heroes like Orisa and Ramattra 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 competitive title. It seems unlikely there really is a direct counterpart to D.Va, and trust me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I’ve been looking for a replacement for D.Va, and my next Boosters, for a long time. In reality, after playing her for years, it seems no future tank character as enjoyable and groundbreaking to play as D.Va. For all the faults Overwatch 2 might have, hero creation and skills are certainly not among them.

• The MEKA Pilot excels in movement and interference.
• Her Boosters provide unmatched aerial control.
• She can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a fan-favorite for distinctive approach.