Post by FormulaZR on Aug 30, 2017 2:12:47 GMT
Until IFHE, the Atago was considered one of the strongest T8 cruisers. Is it still good? Let's take a look.
The good:
- Exceptional fire chance and damage with the 203mm main battery guns.
- 4x 4 10km torps 17k damage torps that do 62 kts. Good firing angles on the tubes.
- Heal
- Excellent 9.1km concealment with CE and perm camo (comes with perm camo).
- Very strong AP
- 35.5kts speed. Very fast for a cruiser.
- Serves as a great crew trainer for T5-T10 IJN CAs.
- Stealth torping is possible.
The bad:
- Squishy. Don't show broadside, you WILL be punished.
- 15.8km range. Not terrible for T8, but still limiting.
- Slow turret traverse.
- 16 second reload can feel brutal.
- Firing angles on the guns aren't great.
Tips:
- This ship is intro-to-Zao 101. Learn when to use HE for a brutal damage number and almost guaranteed fire. Learn when to use AP to humiliate anything brave enough to give you a broadside.
- Angle. The armor isn't great, but angle anyway. You might limp away with enough to heal and come back again. Like a cockroach.
- You aren't a DD, but have a DD mindset. Try to only get spotted when you're ready for the fight and have an escape plan.
- Brutalize lower tier opponents. Even though your DPM isn't great, you are sort of like a mini-BB in terms of how hard you can hit. (I will push on a Mogami/Ibuki long before I push on an Atago).
- Run away whenever necessary. 9.1km concealment at T8 is no joke.
- Use the +20% heal flag. You don't have RN heals, so you need to make the most of them.
- Use premium heal for reduced cooldown.
- As good as the ship is, you rely on enemies making a mistake. Keep your head on a swivel and be ready to punish mistakes.
Captain skills:
Priority target, Expert Marksman, Demolition Expert, Concealment Expert, Superintendent, Adrenaline Rush, Vigilance, DCCA (for Zao).
Bottom line:
Recommended. Still a very strong T8 cruiser. Shines when top tier and can still hold it's own bottom tier. Just don't yolo BBs and everything will be fine. If you do yolo BBs, remember you have 8 torps per side to rock their world. If IFHE ever does get a heavy nerf, this will be back on top.
Editors note: I don't know why, but most TK torps come from IJN CAs. Don't be that guy.
The good:
- Exceptional fire chance and damage with the 203mm main battery guns.
- 4x 4 10km torps 17k damage torps that do 62 kts. Good firing angles on the tubes.
- Heal
- Excellent 9.1km concealment with CE and perm camo (comes with perm camo).
- Very strong AP
- 35.5kts speed. Very fast for a cruiser.
- Serves as a great crew trainer for T5-T10 IJN CAs.
- Stealth torping is possible.
The bad:
- Squishy. Don't show broadside, you WILL be punished.
- 15.8km range. Not terrible for T8, but still limiting.
- Slow turret traverse.
- 16 second reload can feel brutal.
- Firing angles on the guns aren't great.
Tips:
- This ship is intro-to-Zao 101. Learn when to use HE for a brutal damage number and almost guaranteed fire. Learn when to use AP to humiliate anything brave enough to give you a broadside.
- Angle. The armor isn't great, but angle anyway. You might limp away with enough to heal and come back again. Like a cockroach.
- You aren't a DD, but have a DD mindset. Try to only get spotted when you're ready for the fight and have an escape plan.
- Brutalize lower tier opponents. Even though your DPM isn't great, you are sort of like a mini-BB in terms of how hard you can hit. (I will push on a Mogami/Ibuki long before I push on an Atago).
- Run away whenever necessary. 9.1km concealment at T8 is no joke.
- Use the +20% heal flag. You don't have RN heals, so you need to make the most of them.
- Use premium heal for reduced cooldown.
- As good as the ship is, you rely on enemies making a mistake. Keep your head on a swivel and be ready to punish mistakes.
Captain skills:
Priority target, Expert Marksman, Demolition Expert, Concealment Expert, Superintendent, Adrenaline Rush, Vigilance, DCCA (for Zao).
Bottom line:
Recommended. Still a very strong T8 cruiser. Shines when top tier and can still hold it's own bottom tier. Just don't yolo BBs and everything will be fine. If you do yolo BBs, remember you have 8 torps per side to rock their world. If IFHE ever does get a heavy nerf, this will be back on top.
Editors note: I don't know why, but most TK torps come from IJN CAs. Don't be that guy.