Changes

| {{Ship/Banner|Shimakaze|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Yukikaze|small=true}} || These two are unique in that they come online and reach their full potential (or most of their full potential) at only level 20. Their all around stats are excellent and Yukikaze will likely be your first reliable Torpedo Cut-In Destroyer.  

| {{Ship/Banner|Shimakaze|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Yukikaze|small=true}} || These two are unique in that they come online and reach their full potential (or most of their full potential) at only level 20. Their all around stats are excellent and Yukikaze will likely be your first reliable Torpedo Cut-In Destroyer.  

However, they are both rare and difficult to acquire, so do not fret if they don't show up right away or even at all. Both can be constructed through the rare DD/CL recipe, and also begin dropping in normal maps as early as 2-4.

However they are both rare and difficult to acquire, so do not fret if they don't show up right away or even at all. Both can be constructed through the rare DD/CL recipe, and also begin dropping in normal maps as early as 2-4.

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| {{Ship/Banner|Yuudachi|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Shigure|small=true}}<br/>{{Ship/Banner|Kasumi|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Ayanami|small=true}} || Top-tier DDs who, when at their final remodel, perform well in multiple roles or exceptionally well in a single role. While their Kai Nis will be out of reach for now due to their level requirement, it's good to get an early start in leveling them.  

| {{Ship/Banner|Yuudachi|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Shigure|small=true}}<br/>{{Ship/Banner|Kasumi|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Ayanami|small=true}} || Top-tier DDs who, when at their final remodel, perform well in multiple roles or exceptionally well in a single role. While their Kai Nis will be out of reach for now due to their level requirement, it's good to get an early start in leveling them.  

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| {{Ship/Banner|Asashio|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Michishio|small=true}}<br/>{{Ship/Banner|Hatsushimo|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Hibiki|small=true}}|| Other destroyers who, while strong, are not as good as the above ships.

| {{Ship/Banner|Michishio|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Hatsushimo|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Hibiki|small=true}}|| Other destroyers who, while strong, are not as good as the above ships.

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! style="max-width:725px"|Explanation

! style="max-width:725px"|Explanation

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| {{Ship/Banner|Tone|small=true}} || A relatively common CA that has exceptional stats at Kai. She later remodels into a CAV and continues to perform well at all stages of the game.

| {{Ship/Banner|Haguro|small=true}}{{Ship/Banner|Ashigara|small=true}} || Two sister CA with high Kai performance ''and'' great final remodels.  

| {{Ship/Banner|Myoukou|small=true}} || Another CA with high Kai performance ''and'' a great final remodel. Somewhat uncommon, but she's needed anyways for the quest to unlock your 3rd fleet.

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| {{Ship/Banner|Mogami|small=true}} || Remodels into a CAV at the very low level of 10. Likely to be your first CAV.

| {{Ship/Banner|Mogami|small=true}} || Remodels into a CAV at the very low level of 10. Likely to be your first CAV.

<div style="max-width:1000px;">They're like Standard Carriers, but with less of everything (including deployment cost). Map routing is kinder to them and sometimes requires them.<br/>Note that this is the first point at which ship speed comes into account in this guide. Every ship mentioned prior to this point is Fast, but from here on out some will be Slow. <br/>Most standard maps don't penalize slow ships, but 2-5 does, and it's recommended for new admirals to start clearing 2-5 monthly as early as possible in order to begin acquiring medals (and by extension, remodel blueprints). </div>

<div style="max-width:1000px;">They're like Standard Carriers, but with less of everything (including deployment cost). Map routing is kinder to them and sometimes requires them.<br/>Note that this is the first point at which ship speed comes into account in this guide. Every ship mentioned prior to this point is Fast, but from here on out some will be Slow. <br/>Most standard maps don't penalize slow ships, but 2-5 does, and it's recommended for new admirals to start clearing 2-5 monthly as early as possible in order to begin acquiring medals (and by extension, remodel blueprints). </div>

You should level '''two''' of them - one fast, one slow.

You should level '''two''' of them, with at least one of them being '''fast'''.

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| {{Ship/Banner|Hatsushimo/Kai Ni|small=true}}|| Frequently a historical ship and has and high starting luck, but otherwise worse than those above her due to her average stats. However she is able to equip Command Facilities and Landing Crafts, giving her some extra utility and allowing her to function as a second-string anti-installation ship.

| {{Ship/Banner|Hatsushimo/Kai Ni|small=true}}|| Frequently a historical ship and has and high starting luck, but otherwise worse than those above her due to her average stats. However she is able to equip Command Facilities and Landing Crafts, giving her some extra utility and allowing her to function as a second-string anti-installation ship.

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| {{Ship/Banner|Shigure/Kai Ni|small=true}}|| If Johnston utterly refuses to appear, more levels can be fed into Shigure as a less versatile backup.

| {{Ship/Banner|Shigure/Kai Ni|small=true}}|| If Johnston utterly refuses to appear, more levels can be fed into Shigure as a less versatile backup.

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| {{Ship/Banner|Urakaze/D Kai|small=true}} || For the terminally desperate. A dedicated ASW specialist with only average stats elsewhere. Uncommon drop and only appears in 2-4, 2-5, and 4-2. Only resort to her if you can't find Johnston or ''really'' don't like Shigure for some reason.

| {{Ship/Banner|Samuel B. Roberts/Kai|small=true}} || Low base stats and requires level 50 to Kai, but can perform OASW attacks regardless of equipment or level as long as she is at least '''Kai'''. However she is the only DD with slow speed, which may backfire on you when it comes to routing in maps. Drops in the boss node of 2-3.

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Heavy Cruisers are often, but not ''always'' interchangeable with CAV in maps. Compared to CAV they often have superior base stats, but are unable to carry Seaplane Bombers and Seaplane Fighters. Sometimes they can be used where CAV cannot, and sometimes CAV can be used where CA cannot.  

Heavy Cruisers are often, but not ''always'' interchangeable with CAV in maps. Compared to CAV they often have superior base stats, but are unable to carry Seaplane Bombers and Seaplane Fighters. Sometimes they can be used where CAV cannot, and sometimes CAV can be used where CA cannot.  

For the most part, they're restricted to performing only as beatsticks - with the exception of Maya, who has formidable anti-air presence. '''I recommend training Maya and at least one surface combat CA.'''  

For the most part, they're restricted to performing only as beatsticks - with the exception of Maya, who has formidable anti-air presence. '''I recommend training Maya and both surface combat CA.'''  

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! Explanation

! Explanation

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| {{Ship/Banner|Haguro/Kai|small=true}}<br/>{{Ship/Banner|Ashigara/Kai|small=true}}|| The two CA sisters from Part 1 - these two are essentially required to have access to late World 7. It is not necessary that they be Kai Ni - just leveled and modernized.  

| {{Ship/Banner|Haguro/Kai Ni|small=true}}<br/>{{Ship/Banner|Ashigara/Kai Ni|small=true}}<br/>{{Ship/Banner|Nachi/Kai Ni|small=true}} || Myoukou's three sisters. Very ''slightly'' weaker in exchange for reaching Kai Ni slightly earlier. Only level one if you did not opt to level Myoukou during Part 1 - otherwise they can be saved for later.

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Her performance increases even further with the use of a Reinforcement Expansion, which effectively acts as a full extra equipment slot. Consider giving your first Reinforcement Expansion to Maya.

Her performance increases even further with the use of a Reinforcement Expansion, which effectively acts as a full extra equipment slot. Consider giving your first Reinforcement Expansion to Maya.

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|-|Aviation Cruisers=

|-|Aviation Cruisers=

As you gain access to more equipment, maps, and events, CAV in their usage begin to branch out from CA. While their stats are typically lower on average, they gain access to equipment that CA don't - anti-installation rockets, Seaplane Bombers and Seaplane Fighters.  

As you gain access to more equipment, maps, and events, CAV in their usage begin to branch out from CA. While their stats are typically lower on average, they gain access to equipment that CA don't - anti-installation rockets, Seaplane Bombers and Seaplane Fighters.  

All CAV start out as CA and must be remodeled to Kai (Mogami-class) or Kai Ni (Tone-class) before they become CAV. I recommend trying to get '''two'''. The Mogami-class at Kai are much weaker than Tone, but do not require a blueprint to function as a CAV.  

All CAV start out as CA and must be remodeled to Kai (Mogami-class) before they become CAV. I recommend trying to get '''two'''.  

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| {{Ship/Banner|Mogami/Kai|small=true}} || Mogami is the best of the Mogami-class Kai CAV - she's extremely available, has a very low remodel level of 10, and the highest plane capacity. There is little reason to not use her as one of your CAV.  

| {{Ship/Banner|Mogami/Kai|small=true}} || Mogami is the best of the Mogami-class Kai CAV - she's extremely available, has a very low remodel level of 10, and the highest plane capacity. There is little reason to not use her as one of your CAV.  

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| {{Ship/Banner|Mikuma/Kai|small=true}} || Mikuma is the second best of the Mogami-class Kai CAV, and she comes with the rare and beloved {{EquipmentLink|20.3cm (No.3) Twin Gun Mount|text=20.3cm No.3 Twin Gun}} at only Kai - but she's the most difficult to get. She can ''not'' be constructed, and only drops from the boss nodes of some very inconvenient maps.  

| {{Ship/Banner|Mikuma/Kai|small=true}} || Mikuma is the second best of the Mogami-class Kai CAV, and she comes with the rare and beloved {{EquipmentLink|20.3cm (No.3) Twin Gun Mount|text=20.3cm No.3 Twin Gun}} at only Kai - but she's the most difficult to get. She can ''not'' be constructed, and only drops from the boss nodes of some later maps.  

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| {{Ship/Banner|Suzuya/Kai|small=true}}</br>{{Ship/Banner|Kumano/Kai|small=true}} || They have the same stats as Mogami, but need level 35 for Kai and have a lower aircraft capacity. Like Mikuma, their drop locations are both inaccessible and difficult to farm.

| {{Ship/Banner|Suzuya/Kai|small=true}}</br>{{Ship/Banner|Kumano/Kai|small=true}} || They have the same stats as Mogami, but need level 35 for Kai and have a lower aircraft capacity. Like Mikuma, their drop locations are tough to farm.

 

 

'''Warning:''' She requires the use of a Blueprint to remodel to Kai Ni. As blueprints are very short in supply during the early game and there are many high priority blueprint targets, do '''not''' remodel her to CAV unless something you are doing requires 2 CAV and you are unable to get your hands on Mikuma, Suzuya, or Kumano.

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|+ 🦃 Cranes

|+ 🐉 Dragons

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! style="width:170px"|Ships

! style="width:170px"|Ships

! Explanation

! Explanation

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| {{Ship/Banner|Shoukaku/Kai Ni A|small=true}} || If Abukuma is a player's ideal first blueprint remodel, Shoukaku is second. Her Kai Ni has extremely high stats and plane capacity, and her Kai Ni A form turns her into an armoured carrier (CVB) which gains the ability to shell at moderate damage.

| {{Ship/Banner|Hiryuu/Kai Ni|small=true}} || The best CV that doesn't need a blueprint or a Prototype Catapult. Much higher firepower and capacity compared to her previous form, but somewhat awkwardly distributed aircraft slots. Grants access to the very powerful Tenzan Model 12 (Tomonaga Squadron), potentially the most powerful Torpedo Bomber in the game (providing Type 97 Torpedo Bomber (Tomonaga Squadron) is improved before conversion).

 

Her remodel level is extremely high (80, then 88), but the pain of reaching that high level is lessened by the general ease of leveling carriers over other types of ships.

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| {{Ship/Banner|Zuikaku/Kai Ni A|small=true}} || Extremely similar to Shoukaku - she trades away some firepower in return for a slightly more effective aircraft layout.

| {{Ship/Banner|Souryuu/Kai Ni|small=true}} || Very similar to Hiryuu Kai Ni, with slightly lower stats and slightly worse aircraft distribution. Grants access to Suisei (Egusa Squadron), the most powerful Dive Bomber in the game.

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{| class="wikitable" style="max-width:970px"

{| class="wikitable" style="max-width:970px"

|+ 🐉 Dragons

|+ 🦃 Cranes

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! style="width:170px"|Ships

! style="width:170px"|Ships

! Explanation

! Explanation

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| {{Ship/Banner|Hiryuu/Kai Ni|small=true}} || The best CV that doesn't need a blueprint or a Prototype Catapult. Much higher firepower and capacity compared to her previous form, but somewhat awkwardly distributed aircraft slots. Grants access to the very powerful Tenzan Model 12 (Tomonaga Squadron), potentially the most powerful Torpedo Bomber in the game (providing Type 97 Torpedo Bomber (Tomonaga Squadron) is improved before conversion).

| {{Ship/Banner|Shoukaku/Kai Ni A|small=true}} || Shoukaku Kai Ni has extremely high stats and plane capacity, and her Kai Ni A form turns her into an armoured carrier (CVB) which gains the ability to shell at moderate damage.  

 

Her remodel level is extremely high (80, then 88), but the pain of reaching that high level is lessened by the general ease of leveling carriers over other types of ships.

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| {{Ship/Banner|Souryuu/Kai Ni|small=true}} || Very similar to Hiryuu Kai Ni, with slightly lower stats and slightly worse aircraft distribution. Grants access to Suisei (Egusa Squadron), the most powerful Dive Bomber in the game.

| {{Ship/Banner|Zuikaku/Kai Ni A|small=true}} || Extremely similar to Shoukaku - she trades away some firepower in return for a slightly more effective aircraft layout.

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|-|Light Carriers=  

|-|Light Carriers=