The MEKA Pilot's Thrusters Make Her the Supreme Aerial Defender

Over many years, I was not a fan of multiplayer games. I played plenty of them with my friends, 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 happened and presented me with a character and an skill that's been stuck in my mind 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 closer to my preference, with her gothic look and monotone drawl. But D.Va had the benefit of being my favorite class: a tank. The one who soaks up all that damage while shielding attackers and healers. Better yet, D.Va has two forms: her out-of-mech state, in which she moves with a blaster, and her mech form, in which she’s strapped into her MEKA. These two forms make her quite distinctive, but there’s something else that sets her apart among other defenders, and is why I ultimately adored her: her melee and movement ability, Boosters.

Thrusters represent a skill that enables the MEKA pilot (in her MEKA form) propel skyward, providing a velocity increase and letting her advance through the air for a set distance. But you can also change directions mid-flight, opting to rise onto a higher level or divert completely and head around obstacles like turns or the objective. This grants D.Va a dynamism and freedom of movement that none of the other tanks can truly emulate — not even Reinhardt with his charge ability. D.Va’s Boosters is ideal for my approach: I prefer to absorb attacks and defend allies, while having the option to retreat if the situation intensifies so I may reassemble – it creates a sense of invincibility, even though that’s never really the case.

D.Va’s Boosters is not just for travel; it additionally deals damage to enemies along the route.

There’s even a damage element to D.Va’s Boosters ability. When opponents obstruct the path as you’re using Boosters, they are knocked back for 25 damage. I assure you, there’s nothing more satisfying than finishing off a pesky Ashe by bopping her on the nose with the mech. That’ll teach her 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 raw defensive abilities make them a superior choice for the current meta. But she’s also among the most original heroes I have experienced in a competitive title. It seems unlikely that any a D.Va equivalent, and trust me, after playing games like Marvel Rivals after falling off Overwatch 2, I have sought my next D.Va, and my next Boosters, for a long time. In reality, after playing her for years, it seems there isn’t ever going to be as enjoyable and groundbreaking to play as D.Va. For all the faults Overwatch 2 might have, character design and abilities are certainly not among them.

• The MEKA Pilot shines at movement and interference.
• Her Boosters provide superior flight maneuverability.
• The hero can soak damage while creating opportunities for her team.
• Regardless of strategy changes, D.Va stays a beloved choice for her unique playstyle.