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Over many years, I had little interest of online competitive titles. I played plenty of them with companions, but few held my interest. I was bad at shooting, and felt like more of a hindrance than help to my teammates. Then, the release of Overwatch in 2016 arrived and introduced me to a hero and an skill that's remained memorable ever since.

Initially, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who pilots a mech, wasn’t the sort of character that should have appealed to me. The sniper Widowmaker was closer to my preference, with her dark aesthetic and measured speech. However D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: 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. This duality 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 melee and movement ability, Boosters.

Thrusters represent a skill that lets D.Va (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 elevated position or veer entirely and head around obstacles like turns or the objective. It gives D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that no other defender can truly emulate — not even Reinhardt with his forward assault. D.Va’s Boosters is ideal for my approach: I like to soak up the damage and defend allies, while having the option to retreat if it gets gnarly so I may reassemble – it makes me feel indestructible, even though that’s never really the case.

The Thrusters ability is not just for travel; it also inflicts damage to foes in its path.

An offensive component exists to the Thrusters skill. 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 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, especially when you’ve got heroes like certain other tanks whose pure defensive skills make them a better pick for the current meta. But she’s also one of the most unique characters I have experienced in a competitive title. It seems unlikely that any a direct counterpart to D.Va, and trust me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals since leaving Overwatch 2, I have sought my next D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for a long time. The truth is, after playing her for years, I feel like there isn’t ever going to be as enjoyable and groundbreaking to play as she is. For all the faults Overwatch 2 might have, character design and abilities are definitely not included.

• The MEKA Pilot excels in mobility and disruption.
• Her Boosters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• The hero can soak damage while opening chances for her team.
• Despite meta shifts, D.Va stays a beloved choice for distinctive approach.