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Vanguard Formation is an Event Exclusive Formation that was introduced in the Fall 2017 Event. This would be the first time in KanColle that a new formation would be introduced into the game. Unlike most formation, this formation had special position specific benefits and drawbacks that would be used to help bring out the fleet's capabilities depending on how you organized your fleet in the composition. It's most noted attributes were that it provided a way to protect your Flagship and Second ship with a high success rate (depending on if you were using a regular fleet or a Striking Force Fleet and would also provide a boost to the evasion of destroyers and other ships in the lower part of the fleet composition.
As of current, this formation is limited to Events Only Periods, but however, can be used in normal maps while the event is in session.
Regarding the Formation
The Vanguard Formation is based on the formation which Shouji Nishimura used as his fleet entered into the Surigao Strait during the night which would serve as his final battle during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Because the event would focus on the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the devs decided to make a formation that would help benefit the fleet during this event which in turn would make for a more complex event in which this formation would benefit being used in.
Looking at the Formation in Detail
The Vanguard formation appears in your composition menu much like all the other formations except this formation is located in the lower right corner of the composition menu which you select before entering battle.
As mentioned earlier, the Vanguard Formation has a series of benefits and back draws that are specific to the several major factors:
- The Type of Ship you use in your fleet.
- The position of the fleet composition in which the ship is in.
Based on current known information the following details are known regarding the Vangaurd Formation:
Vangaurd Formation Modifiers
| Fleet's Position | Surface Shell Modifier | Anti-sub Power Modifier | Anti-air Modifier [1] | Torpedo Modifier | Day Torpedo Hit Rate | Evasion Modifier [2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vangaurd Formation Ship Slots 1-3 |
50% | 100% | 110% | 100% | High | 15%' for Non-DDs 25% for DDs |
| Vangaurd Formation Ship Slots 4-7 |
100% | 60% | 110% | 100% | High | 15% for Non-DDs for Slot 4 25% for DDs for Slot 4 30% for Non-DDs for Slot 5-7 45%+ for DDs for Slot 5-7 |
- ↑ Source:[1] AA data
- ↑ Source: Xe-UCH's Twitter Current results are based on an estimation of what was collected during the event. Results may change once more information is gathered.
- Please keep in mind that the data is still under research and is subject to change.
In addition to this, the vanguard formation also has a targeting mechanic that protects the First 3 ships (or less depending on how many ships are in your fleet.) while allowing the other ships to protect and be more likely to be targeted.
As of current results have been noted as followed:
Vangaurd Formation Hit Chances For Striking Force Fleets
| Fleet's Position in Single Fleet | Chance of being Targeted [1] |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 | 0.43% |
| Slot 2 | 9.13% |
| Slot 3 | 8.26% |
| Slot 4 | 26.96% |
| Slot 5 | 27.37% |
| Slot 6 | 27.83% |
Vangaurd Formation Hit Chances For Single Fleets
| Fleet's Position in Striking Force Fleet | Chance of being Targeted [1] |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 | 0.99% |
| Slot 2 | 6.60% |
| Slot 3 | 6.27% |
| Slot 4 | 22.77% |
| Slot 5 | 23.43% |
| Slot 6 | 21.78% |
| Slot 7 | 18.15% |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Source: Syoukuretin's Twitter Results are based on an estimation of what was collected during the event. Results may change once more information is gathered.
Given the known information and details are seen within the event. What has been currently been determine is that the Vanguard Formation allows for your ships to be used in a way that has not been seen in any other formation. Where it can be quite possible to possible assemble an ASW and combat fleet.
But as noted more in the Fall 2017 Event the formation is more recognized for its use in allowing your fleets to evade shelling and torpedo salvos at a rather high rate. And more notably, it also allowed your fleet to go through night battle nodes by allowing your DDs to take advantage of their large evasion boost which allowed them to evade attacks and in most cases take only chip damage.
In return to these wonderful advantages, the Vanguard formation still has it's weaknesses as depending on how you set up your fleet, you'll need to make sure they will be in a position they can benefit from, or be simply protected since otherwise, it'll hinder their combat skills.
In addition, any Support Expedtion Fleets will also suffer a large penalty in terms of thier shelling output if your fleet is in the Vangard Formation.
Finally, the last thing to note regarding the dangers of the Vangaurd Formation is that any ship that is in the 4th slot position is in the highest risk of taking damage out of anyone in battle since they do not have the same evasion modifiers as the other ships in the 5th -7th slot. It's advices to have either a well armored or evasive ship be place in this slot reduce the likeliness of taking damage.
As such, admirals are recommended to carefully consider what ship the place in thier fleet as well as thier position before utilizing the Vangard formation.