A D.Va rework may be coming soon, one that possibly adds some Micro Missiles to her arsenal. The missiles, along with other changes, was announced on Monday in a forum post by Overwatch principle designer Geoff Goodman. The full list of changes in the D.Va rework can be found below:
- Defense Matrix: Energy drain increased by 2x. This means her effective uptime for the ability has been reduced by 50%
- Boosters: D.Va can now use her Fusion Cannons while flying.
- Micro Missiles (New Ability): D.Va launches a long salvo of small missiles that explode on impact, dealing damage in a small radius around them. This ability can be used while using her other abilities or firing her Fusion Cannons.
According to Goodman “these changes will allow [D.Va] to play more aggressively and deal more damage.” While at the same time “reducing her reliance on Defense Matrix.” Goodman goes on to explain that the overall goal is to make D.Va “more fun to play.” Goodman concludes the post by saying that they hope they will have a new PTR with these changes up soon. But until that PTR goes live let’s speculate on how these changes may play out starting with Defense Matrix.
D.Va rework: Defense Matrix
The Defense Matrix nerf will definitely change D.Va’s play style. In fact, we expect this nerf will force D.Va to play even more like Winston. What we mean is that D.Va will be spending more time diving and disrupting instead of standing near her team and eating shots. It will simply be more effective for her to be diving on targets, especially given the change to her Boosters.
D.Va rework: Boosters
Giving D.Va the ability to fire while boosting just makes an aggressive play style inevitable. If this change comes to pass we expect to see D.Va’s boosting into backlines while riddling healers with rounds. We also can’t forget that this change now also gives D.Va an easier time of dealing with Pharah. All in all this change just solidifies her role as the dive tank opposite Winston. Yet the change that has us most excited, and worried, is the Micro Missiles ability.
D.Va Rework: Micro Missiles
All we know about the Micro Missiles is that it will feature a “long salvo of small missiles.” We can only speculate about everything else.
Since they are missiles, we will assume that they are projectile weapons. We come to that conclusion because every explosive in the game is a projectile weapon. We will also assume that each individual missile will deal a small amount of damage because of their size, though we do not know their collective damage.
D.Va can also use Micro Missiles when she’s using other abilities or while firing her cannons. It’s this trait, and our lack of knowledge of their collective damage, that worries us. Because “other abilities” doesn’t exclude Defense Matrix. Which leads us to believe she can fire missiles while Defense Matrix is active; a dangerous proposition.
It’s dangerous because it eliminates one of Defense Matrix’s only weaknesses: D.Va can’t deal major damage while it’s up (she can still boop people while boosting with DM up but that deals minor damage). This means that D.Va, a highly mobile character, is able to jump on a target, activate DM and blast them with missiles at close range.
This is where our worry about the Micro Missiles collective damage comes into play. Because if the missiles have a maximum damage output that’s similar to, say Hanzo’s Scatter Arrow, then Blizzard has introduced an ability that virtually guarantees a kill on squshies at close range. Not just a kill, but a quick kill, a near instakill.
The DM/Micro Missile combo has the potential to be powerful. Too powerful.
D.Va rework: Conclusion
The jury is still out though, and it won’t be until these changes are in the PTR that we can actually see how they play out. Let me end this article by saying that the conclusions drawn are purely speculations based on the post made by Geoff Goodman. Agree, disagree, let us know in the comments below.
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