RECOGNIZE YOUR SHIP’S IDENTITY TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN BATTLE
Destroyer
Gunboat Destroyer
Gunboat destroyers utilize guns as the primary method of fighting. Their main target is another destroyer. Their effectiveness when fighting other ships are pretty low because their torpedoes have low range, reload, or damage.
Gunboat destroyers usually have worse concealment than torpedoboat or hybrid destroyers. If a capture site is being contested by an invisible enemy ship, there’s a high chance that it’s an enemy destroyer. Gunboat destroyers should sail close to capture sites, use island cover, and ambush the enemy destroyer. When fighting enemy destroyer, don’t spend too much time aiming torpedoes. Just focus on using guns. In a way, their playstyle is similar to stealthy cruisers.
Examples: French destroyers, most of Soviet destroyers, Fenyang, and Akizuki.
Torpedoboat Destroyer
Contrary to gunboat destroyers, torpedoboat destroyers utilize torpedoes as the primary method of fighting. Their main targets are capture sites and any ship with big size (such as battleships and battlecruisers ). Their effectiveness when fighting other destroyers is pretty low because their guns have slow reload, slow turret traverse speed, slow shell velocity, or low damage.
Torpedoboat destroyers have the best concealment in their tiers. They must sail into a capture site first and avoid getting into places that has a lot of islands to prevent getting ambushed. Utilizing good concealment, they can spot the enemy destroyer first, let the team attack the enemy destroyer, spread torpedoes in the general direction of enemy destroyer, and shoot the enemy destroyer if needed. Torpedoboat destroyers can still win a destroyer duel with good support or lucky torpedo hit. Contrary to gunboat destroyers, a torpedoboat destroyer doesn’t have to chase enemy destroyer. Attack when needed, and if the situation is unfavorable, just smoke up and leave.
If there are no enemy destroyer but a lot of enemy battleships around the torpedoboat destroyer, that place will become a hunting ground for the destroyer. The torpedoboat destroyer can easily farm damage and control the enemy team if nobody is contesting it. However, remember that getting capture site is very important for the team. Don’t get too focused on hunting enemy battleships but leave the capture site unprotected.
Examples: IJN destroyers except Akizuki.
Hybrid Destroyer
Hybrid destroyers have decent guns and torpedoes. They are very versatile for all situations and can be a threat to any ship.
Hybrid destroyers usually have decent concealment. Sail to a capture site and try to spot the enemy destroyer. Unlike gunboat destroyers with bad concealment, hybrid destroyers can be more aggressive. The gun firepower is usually limited by slow shell velocity or bad accuracy, but if the player is experienced it can inflict a lot of damage in a short time. Hybrid destroyers can fight for capture sites quite safely.
Examples: US destroyers, British destroyers, Neustrashimy, Z1, Xi’An, and Pr47.
Cruiser
Stealthy Cruiser
Stealthy cruisers have extremely good concealment. With crew skills, their surface detectability can become less than 10 km. They can help ally destroyers to fight enemy destroyers. When there’s no destroyer, they can go for capture sites and spot enemies (just like a destroyer). Those utilities are very useful, but it’s still up to the team to maximize its potential. If the team has a lot of noobs, all the benefits given by those cruisers will be wasted. Moreover, those cruisers have low firepower and bad armor, so they can’t help much in attacking battleships other than spotting.
Examples: British light cruisers (except Neptune), Fargo, Cheyenne, and Maya.
Offtank Cruiser
Offtank cruisers have good enough bow armor to bounce some BB shells. Not as good as battleships of course, but with careful positioning they can be quite hard to sink. If the enemy team has no ship that can overmatch their armor, they can fully replace battleship as the tank. An offtank cruiser must always use island as cover, so only 1-2 enemies can shoot at it and the enemy can only shoot it from the front. If it receives too much damage, it must hide behind the island. Because the position is bowtanking, their firepower is reduced drastically.
Examples: Wichita, Oregon City, Albany, Alaska, Guam, Black Prince, Des Moines, and Pr66.
Sniper Cruiser
Contrary to stealthy cruisers, sniper cruisers fight at long range most of the time. They have accurate and high shell velocity guns. Their damage output is usually very good. Their role in the team is to increase the team’s firepower, but in exchange they lose spotting and capture site potential. Some sniper cruisers have good enough concealment that allows them to spot targets, but it’s way more risky than just using stealthy cruisers.
Examples: IJN heavy cruisers (except Maya), Oxford, Duke of Edinburgh, Black Prince, German cruisers, Algerie, Mikhail Kutuzov, Kronshtadt, Pr84, and Pr66.
AA Cruiser
AA cruisers are characterized by long range and powerful anti-aircraft guns. They have high AA rating on their stats. They act as team support in CV battle. Sail together in the center of allied ships (not the front). Being in the center ensures flexibility. When the enemy planes are preparing to attack an ally, the cruiser can rush and protect that ally. Predicting where the enemy CV will attack is crucial. Always observe where the planes are going and intercept it as soon as possible. The downsides of this role are very low damage output and chasing the planes are often impossible (plane speed far exceeds any ship). In addition, AA is often not effective to prevent a CV strike. This is why most AA cruisers are not popular. The few popular AA cruisers are actually not chosen for their AA, but their ability to fill other roles.
Examples: British light cruisers, US cruisers, and Pr84.
Other
Some cruisers don’t fill any particular role and their playstyle is usually just kiting at medium range. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad, but the team usually expects some utility from cruisers and cruisers that don’t have utility are rarely picked.
Battleship
Tank Battleship
Tank battleships have good armor or damage resistance. Their main guns are usually bad at long range fights. However, when they get close, their firepower increases drastically and they can break the enemy’s formation. Tank battleships are harder to use in battles with lots of enemies because there are more incoming attacks before they can get close. Tank battleships must always preserve their health, use islands as shields, and try to ambush enemies at close range.
Examples: German battleships.
Sniper Battleship
Contrary to tank battleships, sniper battleships have good long-range firepower but bad survivability. Their guns have high accuracy, high shell velocity, and good penetration. They can easily destroy tank battleships in long range fights. Sniper battleships are good in battles with lots of enemies and few islands. However, they will struggle to fight in close combat. Pushing is possible, but must be done very carefully in this type of battleship.
Examples: all IJN battleships, Berlichingen, France, Charlemagne, Lord Constantine, West Virginia, Louisiana, Soviet battleships (except Pr21), and Italian battleships.
Medium-Range Battleship
Compared to the tank or sniper battleships, medium-range battleships have less eccentric stats. They have decent armor and maneuverability, but vulnerable citadel. They have decent guns, but at long range the performance is reduced drastically. Most medium-range battleships have unique gimmick that if used correctly can make them really strong. They are generally pretty versatile in combat but the player must be creative in using them.
Examples: US battleships, British battleships, Russian Empire battleships (except Lord Constantine), and French battleships (except France).
Other
Some battleships just don’t have any significant role but can be a wild card because they’re rarely picked by players. They require more experience and not recommended for new players.
Differentiating between types of ships may be difficult for beginners. Please read Battleship Reviews and Cruisers Reviews to find out what type of ship that you’re using and how to play it.
One ship might be able to fill several roles, and the playstyle can change depending on battle situation.
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Naval Creed: Warships Guides 
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