D.Va's Boosters Establish Her as the Ultimate Aerial Defender

Over many years, I had little interest of multiplayer games. I engaged in numerous 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. Subsequently, 2016’s Overwatch happened and presented me with a hero and an ability that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

Initially, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who pilots a mech, didn’t seem the type that should have appealed to me. Widowmaker was closer to my preference, with her dark aesthetic and monotone drawl. But D.Va had the benefit of being my favorite class: a tank. The character that absorbs all that damage 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 strapped into her MEKA. These two forms make her quite distinctive, but another feature that makes her stand out among other defenders, 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 alter course while airborne, choosing to ascend onto a higher level or divert completely and head around obstacles like turns or the payload. It gives D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement 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 this isn't entirely true.

D.Va’s Boosters is not just for travel; it also inflicts harm to foes 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, there’s nothing more satisfying than eliminating a troublesome Ashe by bopping her on the nose with your MEKA. That’ll teach her to try and snipe you from afar.

The hero might not rank as the “best” tank 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’ve ever played in a competitive title. It seems unlikely there really is a D.Va equivalent, and believe 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, it seems no future tank character as fun and innovative to play as she is. Despite any issues Overwatch 2 might have, character design and abilities are certainly not among them.

• The MEKA Pilot shines at movement and interference.
• Her Thrusters provide unmatched aerial control.
• She can soak damage while opening chances for allies.
• Despite meta shifts, she remains a beloved choice for her unique playstyle.