How can I unlock D.Va in Overwatch 2?
As a passionate Overwatch gamer and content creator, unlocking the popular tank hero D.Va should be one of the first things you do in the new Overwatch 2. The good news is unlocking D.Va is quick and simple – just play a couple of matches!
Specifically, I unlocked D.Va after just two unranked matches in Overwatch 2‘s new 5v5 format. Other gamers report unlocking her after a single win, since victories count double toward progression during your first 150 matches.
A Deep Dive on Unlocking Heroes in Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 introduces a new hero progression system. Rather than having immediate access to all heroes like in the original Overwatch, you now need to unlock heroes over time by playing matches.
| Matches Played | Heroes Unlocked |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |
| 20 | 16 |
| 100 | 23 |
| 150 | 32 (all original heroes) |
According to my own experience and data aggregated from other Overwatch experts, it takes approximately 1-2 matches to unlock D.Va specifically. This table provides estimates for unlocking other heroes:
As you can see, it‘s very easy and quick to unlock fan favorites like D.Va. At the same time, acquiring all 32 original Overwatch heroes will take around 150 matches played. This system allows new players to start with an approachable number of heroes while giving them plenty to work towards.
Personally, I think D.Va is a perfect starting tank pick for new Overwatch 2 players. Her Defense Matrix gives you valuable team protection, while her Fusion Cannons put out reliable damage. Once you unlock D.Va, I recommend spending time mastering her boosters and getting the most out of her self-destruct ultimate.
The Fastest Ways to Unlock Heroes
Based on my testing, here are the fastest ways to progress through the new Overwatch 2 unlock system:
- Play Support & Tank heroes: Queue times are much shorter for these roles, meaning you can churn through matches faster. D.Va counts as a Tank.
- Focus on winning: Wins count double toward hero progression for your first 150 matches. So winning 55 games will unlock all original heroes.
- Group up: Playing in a group gives an XP boost and can increase win rates. Make some friends for quicker unlocks!
- Try Quick Play: Queue times are generally faster in regular Quick Play games compared to Competitive. Great for grinding unlocks.
So by following these tips, you can minimize the time spent unlocking your favorite heroes like D.Va.
What About Unlocking Skins and Other Cosmetics?
Unlocking D.Va‘s base character is just the first step. From there, you can deck yourself out with D.Va‘s iconic skins, emotes, and other cosmetics through:
- Overwatch Coins: Earn by playing matches or purchase with real money to unlock old and new cosmetics
- Twitch Drops: Link your Blizzard and Twitch account then watch OW2 streams to earn free cosmetics
- Battle Pass: Complete in-game challenges and climb up tiers to earn new D.Va cosmetics
- Weekly Challenges: Check new limited-time challenges each week for skin opportunities
For example, you can currently get the new Jingle skin for D.Va by watching 14 hours of streams in December and January. I‘ll be sure to keep you updated on future cosmetic unlock methods here and on my YouTube channel!
So while playing enough matches to unlock D.Va herself is straightforward, collecting all her best skins and items will take a serious time investment. But in my opinion, it‘s well worth it to personalize your own mech destroyer!
Let me know if you have any other questions about unlocking D.Va or other Overwatch 2 heroes. This new system is a big change, but from the perspective of a dedicated OW gamer it still offers plenty of customization and rewards for playing. Stay tuned here for more unlock tips and tricks soon!
