The MEKA Pilot's Boosters Make Her the Supreme Flying Tank

Over many years, I was not a fan of online competitive titles. I engaged in numerous of them with my friends, but none kept my attention. My aim was poor, and seemed more a liability than help to my teammates. Then, the release of Overwatch in 2016 arrived and presented me with a character and an skill that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

At first glance, 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 closer to my preference, with her gothic look and measured speech. However D.Va possessed the advantage of being the role I prefer: a defender. The one who soaks up all that incoming fire while shielding attackers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has dual modes: her out-of-mech state, in which she runs around with a gun, and her mech form, 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 why I ultimately adored her: her close-quarters and mobility skill, Thrusters.

Thrusters represent a skill 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. Additionally, players may alter course while airborne, opting to rise onto a higher level or veer entirely and head around obstacles like corners or the objective. This grants D.Va a agility and unrestricted motion that none of the other tanks can really replicate — not even Reinhardt with his forward assault. Her Thrusters is ideal for my approach: I like to soak up the damage 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 movility; it additionally deals damage to foes in its path.

There’s even a damage element to D.Va’s Boosters ability. When opponents obstruct the path as activating Thrusters, you send them flying backwards for 25 damage. I assure you, there’s nothing more satisfying than eliminating a troublesome Ashe by bopping her on the nose with the mech. That serves as a lesson to attempt long-range attacks.

The hero might not rank as the top defender in Overwatch 2 nowadays, particularly with characters like certain other tanks whose raw defensive abilities make them a superior choice for the current meta. Yet she remains one of the most unique characters I have experienced in a competitive title. I don’t think that any a D.Va equivalent, and trust me, following experiences like Marvel Rivals since leaving Overwatch 2, I have sought my next D.Va, and a similar mobility skill, for years. The truth is, 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 definitely not included.

• D.Va shines at mobility and disruption.
• Her Thrusters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• The hero can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for her team.
• Regardless of strategy changes, she remains a fan-favorite for distinctive approach.