Enemy Combined Fleet
The Enemy Combined Fleet is a new mechanic introduced in the October 5th, 2016 Update. It involves a battle where the player's fleet faces off against two Abyssal Fleets that form an opposing Combined Fleet. As of this time, the mechanic is featured in the boss node of 6-5, and has your fleet challenge 12 Abyssal units in one battle. Currently, only a Single Fleet vs. Combined fleet scenario exists.
Understanding Enemy Combined Fleets
As was previously mentioned, an Enemy Combined Fleet has your fleet face off against an enemy Abyssal Fleet that consists of two fleets: A Main Fleet and an Escort Fleet. While the only example of a combined fleet featured so far is from 6-5, information so far suggests that the Enemy Combined Fleet follows a set of rules similar to those involving a Regular Combined Fleet that the player can use during event maps.
So far, Enemy Carrier Task Force Fleets are the only type of Enemy Combined Fleet implemented in the game. No Enemy Surface Task Force has been introduced as of yet, and it is unknown if any mechanics will change based on the type of enemy combined fleet. Additionally, the current scenario only features a Single fleet vs. a Combined Fleet. However, using these mechanics, we can come to understand the basic rules behind how a battle works in this scenario.
Currently, LBAS phase, Air Strike phase, and the Preemptive Torpedo Phase remain the same as in regular fleet situations (in terms of the order they play out, with the exception being that they will target anyone from both the main and escort fleet). However, upon reaching the shelling phase, the mechanics change drastically in terms of shelling order, as your fleet will have to battle the main fleet as well as an escort fleet. The following chart below explains the steps as follows:
Single Fleet Vs. Enemy Carrier Task Force Fleet
| Phase Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Escort Fleet Shelling | After the Preemptive Torpedo Phase and the confrontation notification, your fleet will fire upon the Enemy Escort Fleet in the same fashion as 1st Phase Shelling in a regular fleet combat situation. Your Fleet will attack in order, based on their range, from longest to shortest. If all ships from the Enemy Escort Fleet are defeated during the shelling, Torpedo Salvo will be fired immediately. |
| Torpedo Salvo | Follows after Escort Shelling. Your fleet will fire torpedoes at any surviving enemy ships from both the escort fleet and main fleet. |
| 1st Main Fleet Shelling | Following the Torpedo Salvo, your Fleet will proceed to shell Enemy Main Fleet during this phase, again based on the fleet's range, going from longest to shortest. If any Enemy Escort Ships have survived the previous shelling and torpedo salvo, they can be targeted during this phase as well. |
| 2nd Main Fleet Shelling | After the 1st Main Fleet Fleet Shelling, your Fleet will proceed to shell Enemy Main Fleet based on the fleet's composition order, going from top to bottom. If any Enemy Escort Ships have survived the previous rounds, they can be targeted during this phase as well. Once complete, the day battle is over. |
Night Battle with Enemy Combined Fleets
If the enemy combined fleet has not been defeated in the day, you may choose to pursue them and enter night battle. The key difference is that depending on whether a few conditions have been fulfilled, the enemy escort fleet may participate in night battle in place of the main enemy fleet, thus preventing any further damage from being done to the main fleet.
The following list of conditions is known to cause the enemy escort fleet to be faced instead of the main fleet, note that this list is not exhaustive:
- If the enemy escort fleet flagship has survived with at least yellow health, and at least one other escort has also survived
- If at least three enemy escort ships have survived in yellow health or better
- If the entire enemy main fleet has been defeated (n.b. this is of little practical impact, except where S ranks are concerned)
Tips
- When dealing with an enemy combined fleet, it is highly recommended to take out Enemy Escort Fleet as soon as possible to allow for more opportunities for your fleet to target the main fleet.
- Assuming that the map allows for the use of LBAS, it is recommended to utilise LBAS to preemptively clear out the as much of the enemy fleets as possible, allowing your own fleet's attacks to focus on whatever remains.