Massachusetts - mini review
Jul 28, 2018 1:30:21 GMT
RagingxMarmoset, YureiKuma, and 4 more like this
Post by FormulaZR on Jul 28, 2018 1:30:21 GMT
I hate to review a ship that LWM has reviewed so recently and is so new to the game; but I feel like LWM missed the target a bit on this one (she calls it a "Mehbote" and I say it's a "Greatbote").
Massachusetts is yet another T8 premium USN BB. The Mass is another South Dakota class (same as Alabama), but there are some differences in the stats that make it a ship worth owning. While she is similar to the North Carolina and Alabama - I'll explain why it's also so vastly different in game.
TL;DR: this is not a good USN BB captain trainer - but it may be the best USN CL captain trainer.
Pros:
- 38 second Repair Party cooldown using premium consumables and flag (compared to 76s on Alabama, NC, and Montana)
- 11.3 km secondary firing range with module, flag, and AFT (compared to 7.6 km for Alabama with the same setup)
- Increased accuracy on the secondary battery compared to KM BBs
- Good AA
- Torpedo belt has 46% reduction (compared to 50% for Alabama and 19% on North Carolina)
- Turret rotation is slightly faster than NC and Alabama (36s vs 45s/40s respectively) means that Expert Marksman is not really required (Alabama is only 34.6s with EM).
Cons:
- 18.3 main battery range
- Worse sigma than Alabama - which is much worse than North Carolina
- Does not get 1/4 HE pen of the KM secondaries
- IFHE is kind of necessary for good secondary performance.
Tips:
- Don't use a USN BB captain - instead this is an ideal trainer for USN CL captains. AFT and IFHE coupled with CE make this ship shine. M-Sec would be a boost...but it's really not needed.
- Main battery range is kind of limited - but still very usable. Use a spotter plane instead of fighter for long range shots and punishing ships in smoke.
- Play this like you would any other USN BB. Don't show too much side - it may have a waterline citadel, but it's not difficult to punish if you show broadside.
- Ctrl + click what you want you secondaries to put more pressure on, but you can fire at multiple targets without M-Sec.
- While the dispersion is much worse than NC and slightly worse than Alabama, I honestly don't feel a difference from Alabama vs Mass. Take the same shots you normally would...but instead of aiming for waterline, aim for mid-belt and you'll do well. Neither hits with main guns like an NC.
- Seriously, it's like having a 95% Alabama with an inaccurate Atlanta strapped to your sides - hilarious as hell.
- Concealment can get down to 12.4 km with a secondary range of 11.3 km. Not using M-Sec means no one sneaks up on you - you'll know when something is in range.
Captain skills:
- Use your USN CL captain. Primarily you want AR, IFHE, CE, and AFT - not in that order per se, but those work so well with this ship. This isn't a USN BB captain trainer - it's a USN CL captain trainer that is more forgiving than an Atlanta or Boise
Bottom line:
- Absolutely the most fun I've ever had in a battleship (maybe any ship, really). This ship appeals to people who main almost any class of ship and is just a barrel of monkeys to play. I cannot recommend this ship enough. It does have weaknesses (as any premium really should) but it's just a riot to play. Just remember, don't show broadside (there's really no need, the secondaries have good firing angles). The quick Repair Party cooldown lets you actually make use of the heals - don't be afraid to use them.
Massachusetts is yet another T8 premium USN BB. The Mass is another South Dakota class (same as Alabama), but there are some differences in the stats that make it a ship worth owning. While she is similar to the North Carolina and Alabama - I'll explain why it's also so vastly different in game.
TL;DR: this is not a good USN BB captain trainer - but it may be the best USN CL captain trainer.
Pros:
- 38 second Repair Party cooldown using premium consumables and flag (compared to 76s on Alabama, NC, and Montana)
- 11.3 km secondary firing range with module, flag, and AFT (compared to 7.6 km for Alabama with the same setup)
- Increased accuracy on the secondary battery compared to KM BBs
- Good AA
- Torpedo belt has 46% reduction (compared to 50% for Alabama and 19% on North Carolina)
- Turret rotation is slightly faster than NC and Alabama (36s vs 45s/40s respectively) means that Expert Marksman is not really required (Alabama is only 34.6s with EM).
Cons:
- 18.3 main battery range
- Worse sigma than Alabama - which is much worse than North Carolina
- Does not get 1/4 HE pen of the KM secondaries
- IFHE is kind of necessary for good secondary performance.
Tips:
- Don't use a USN BB captain - instead this is an ideal trainer for USN CL captains. AFT and IFHE coupled with CE make this ship shine. M-Sec would be a boost...but it's really not needed.
- Main battery range is kind of limited - but still very usable. Use a spotter plane instead of fighter for long range shots and punishing ships in smoke.
- Play this like you would any other USN BB. Don't show too much side - it may have a waterline citadel, but it's not difficult to punish if you show broadside.
- Ctrl + click what you want you secondaries to put more pressure on, but you can fire at multiple targets without M-Sec.
- While the dispersion is much worse than NC and slightly worse than Alabama, I honestly don't feel a difference from Alabama vs Mass. Take the same shots you normally would...but instead of aiming for waterline, aim for mid-belt and you'll do well. Neither hits with main guns like an NC.
- Seriously, it's like having a 95% Alabama with an inaccurate Atlanta strapped to your sides - hilarious as hell.
- Concealment can get down to 12.4 km with a secondary range of 11.3 km. Not using M-Sec means no one sneaks up on you - you'll know when something is in range.
Captain skills:
- Use your USN CL captain. Primarily you want AR, IFHE, CE, and AFT - not in that order per se, but those work so well with this ship. This isn't a USN BB captain trainer - it's a USN CL captain trainer that is more forgiving than an Atlanta or Boise
Bottom line:
- Absolutely the most fun I've ever had in a battleship (maybe any ship, really). This ship appeals to people who main almost any class of ship and is just a barrel of monkeys to play. I cannot recommend this ship enough. It does have weaknesses (as any premium really should) but it's just a riot to play. Just remember, don't show broadside (there's really no need, the secondaries have good firing angles). The quick Repair Party cooldown lets you actually make use of the heals - don't be afraid to use them.
