D.Va's Thrusters Establish Her as the Supreme Flying Tank

Over many years, I was not a fan of multiplayer games. I played plenty 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 arrived and introduced me to a hero and an skill that's been stuck in my mind ever since.

At first glance, D.Va, an esports star turned pilot who commands a MEKA, wasn’t the sort of character that would attract to me. The sniper Widowmaker was more my style, with her dark aesthetic and measured speech. However D.Va had the benefit of being the role I prefer: a defender. The character that absorbs all that incoming fire while protecting damage-dealers and support classes. Additionally, D.Va has dual modes: her pilot form, 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 makes her stand out among other defenders, and is the reason I inevitably fell in love: her melee and movement ability, Thrusters.

Thrusters represent a skill that enables the MEKA pilot (in her MEKA form) launch into the air, giving her a boost of speed and allowing her to fly forward for a set distance. But you can also alter course while airborne, choosing to ascend onto a elevated position or veer entirely and head around obstacles like corners or the payload. This grants D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement that none of the other tanks can really replicate — including Reinhardt with his charge ability. Her Thrusters is brilliant for my playstyle: I prefer to absorb attacks and defend allies, while also being able to get out if the situation intensifies so I can regroup – it creates a sense of invincibility, even though that’s never really the case.

D.Va’s Boosters isn't solely for travel; it also inflicts harm to enemies in its path.

There’s even a damage element to D.Va’s Boosters ability. If enemies get in the way as activating Thrusters, they are knocked back for 25 damage. I assure you, there’s nothing more satisfying than eliminating a troublesome Ashe by striking her directly with your MEKA. That’ll teach her to try and snipe you from afar.

D.Va may not be the top defender in Overwatch 2 nowadays, particularly with characters like Orisa and Ramattra whose pure defensive skills make them a better pick for present strategies. But she’s also one of the most unique characters I have experienced in a multiplayer game. I don’t think there really is a direct counterpart to D.Va, and trust 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, I feel like 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.

• D.Va shines at mobility and disruption.
• Her Thrusters provide unmatched aerial control.
• She can absorb attacks while creating opportunities for her team.
• Despite meta shifts, D.Va stays a beloved choice for distinctive approach.