What is D.va's main job?

Alright, so I know this might be a very dumb question. I’ve actually been playing D.va lately (both in qp and in competitive). I managed to get to low gold with her, but a few times now, I’ve heard that I’m picking the wrong targets. For example, I normally use my rockets to get rid of shields, for which I got the comment “stop focussing on Rein”.

And that’s actually what brought me here. I want to improve on my D.va plays, help my team more, but for that I need to know what my targets are and what my main job should be. Could anyone give me advice for this?

Being ult charge for zarya

I am far from a D’va player but when I do get her (usually in mystery heroes) I tend to try and dive in and focus down the squishy heroes and attempt to jump back out. Also use her at a start of a push to negate incoming projectiles.

Whether I am doing that right is beyond me if I’m being honest.

Oh I thought it was a sarcastic topic, I was going to say “dying”

I would dive on the snipers and squishes and use matrix with rockets at the same time.

I thought this was a RP question , was gonna say " look pretty and play video games".
Well as a D.VA you basically need to chase the low hp targets : starting with healers , dps and then tanks. Also use your matrix to block enemy ultimates or high dmg like soldier helix rockets etc ( you get the point). Know when to use your Ultimate:you can use it to make space also not to kill people only . You can also kill a Phara , fly to her and then just use your rockets when you are close enough and she will die fast if she isn’t pocketed by a mercy. I recommend when you face a Zarya to just switch off D.VA since she is your counter ( you can’t matrix her beam). Also when you dive in for a target don’t forget to use your melee attack also in combination with the rockets when you’re next to it. And work on your aim.
Also i’m sure there are plenty of videos you can check out to see how other people play D.VA at higher ranks , and it will give you an idea of how to improve.
Hope this helps at least a bit.

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d.va main here (at least some seasons). D.va has tons of different things/roles she can execute, and to be good with her you need to try to identify what is needed the most.

Disrupting is one of the bigger jobs. This involves, usually identifying the most dangerous opponent from the enemy team and trying to make his/her life as difficult as possible. This is most needed when an enemy player is more or less ignored by your team, and is killing your team. So look out for a soldier, hanzo, mcree, widow alone on high ground. Remember, even if you can’t kill them, they can’t kill others as efficiently if you harass them. Make sure you survive though, or you’ll be just feeding.

Another big job for d.va is peeling. In other words, when enemy team has a flanker or a dive team, you track their movement, and try to have a rough idea of where they are at all times. When you see them dive your healers, boop them off, harass them, try to kill them or at least force them to retreat. You need to try to do this as efficiently as possible. This means that you don’t spend all your time looking at a tracer, or chasing her endlessly. Rather you need to keep battling front line (and possibly reacting to openings there), and only help your healers when they are at risk. This requires some game sense. If you just stand behind with your healers, then the flankers get automatic value even if they do nothing at all, when you’re not putting pressure anywhere else.

Making space: usually this involves going in first, or standing in the front line, making yourself the target that enemy wants to shoot at. Make sure that your own team is ready to use the space you create, cos’ otherwise you are just feeding ult charge. You can sometimes, for example, briefly run past rein shield with matrix, find a corner, high ground or fly back, so that you won’t die. It should distract the enemy team and maybe give more opportunity for your team to make moves.

Covering dives: if you have winston, or even a dps diver like genji, keep an eye out for them and if they go in for a target, you need to follow them and protect them with matrix.

When a fight starts, keep an eye out for squishy, easy to kill targets. If you realize you can focus them, then call that target on voice. Focus down rein shield only if there is good reason for that (mcree or soldier ult), and if your team composition and strategy depends on it. Or if there’s simply nothing else you can be doing.

Last but not least, you can flank with d.va, and dive for healers.

edit: want to add one more thing. When you decide what your “job” is, you should think about what has most value (not just what is the bare minimum so that people won’t flame you). Important factor here is what your own team is able to do. If no kills are happening, it is not enough that you play passively and peel for healers, or harass that big threat on the high ground. You need to go in and make big kills yourself as well. That’s when you want to setup flanks yourself. If your main tank can’t make enough space, and your dps is forced to shoot from the other side of the map, then help main tank create space and put less emphasis on other jobs. If you have an incredible mcree who kills everyone and is able to kill the flankers alone, look for something else to do than peeling.

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Thanks a lot for the advice! This really helps a lot.

@Rivah thank you as well! I’ll definitely look for videos as well.

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am far from a D’va player but when I do get her (usually in mystery heroes) I tend to try and dive in and focus down the squishy heroes and attempt to jump back out. Also use her at a start of a push to negate incoming projectiles.

Whether I am doing that right is beyond me if I’m being honest.