Akizuki Captain Build

[Tembin]

I just purchased the Akizuki, and I had a 10 point captain laying around in my reserve that was easy to retrain with elite captain exp.  However, now I'm kind of baffled about how to build this.

 

The build I want is obviously impossible as it would take something like 25 points.  There are just so many skills that seem important to this ship that I don't know which ones to give up.  I feel like I want to take concealment, AFT, manual AA, and IFHE.  However, it's definitely not possible to have 4 of the 4 point captain skills!

So my question is for the people who are more experienced in this ship, how do you guys spec your captains, and in which order would you pick up the skills?

I do have friends who play CV, so I kind of think a build with Manual AA and 7.2 km AA range would be useful for divisioning up with them.

[Cruxdei]

I just purchased the Akizuki, and I had a 10 point captain laying around in my reserve that was easy to retrain with elite captain exp.  However, now I'm kind of baffled about how to build this.

 

The build I want is obviously impossible as it would take something like 25 points.  There are just so many skills that seem important to this ship that I don't know which ones to give up.  I feel like I want to take concealment, AFT, manual AA, and IFHE.  However, it's definitely not possible to have 4 of the 4 point captain skills!

 

So my question is for the people who are more experienced in this ship, how do you guys spec your captains, and in which order would you pick up the skills?

 

I do have friends who play CV, so I kind of think a build with Manual AA and 7.2 km AA range would be useful for divisioning up with them.

 

correct me if i'm wrong but akizuki is all about torps(like most of the IJN dd line) so why the AFT,manual AA and IFHE?

[Peregrinas]

 

correct me if i'm wrong but akizuki is all about torps(like most of the IJN dd line) so why the AFT,manual AA and IFHE?

 

It is the tier 8 IJN gunboat.

[IJN_Cruiser_Jintsuu]

For 10 points the tier 4 skill you definitely want is IFHE and the tier 3 skill demo expert, this means her HE can do damage but also means she still has a small chance of lighting fires, for tier 1 and 2 it is entirely up to you and your play style how you build her, I would personally recommend priority target at tier 1 and tier 2 her large HP pool makes adrenal rush viable but her low speed means an engine knockout is a very big problem so Last stand is probably a good idea. Her AA is good yes but she got somewhat shafted by not having the def AA consumable, so I would not recommend Manual AA, using the AA mod in slot 2 and using AFT is a much better option as AFT also increases main battery range. 

[Mesrith]

I just purchased the Akizuki, and I had a 10 point captain laying around in my reserve that was easy to retrain with elite captain exp.  However, now I'm kind of baffled about how to build this.

 

The build I want is obviously impossible as it would take something like 25 points.  There are just so many skills that seem important to this ship that I don't know which ones to give up.  I feel like I want to take concealment, AFT, manual AA, and IFHE.  However, it's definitely not possible to have 4 of the 4 point captain skills!

 

So my question is for the people who are more experienced in this ship, how do you guys spec your captains, and in which order would you pick up the skills?

 

I do have friends who play CV, so I kind of think a build with Manual AA and 7.2 km AA range would be useful for divisioning up with them.

 

1 - PM or PT, your choice.  You can get both eventually.

2 - Last Stand

3 - BFT

4 - AFT, IFHE, Concealment, in that order.

 

Akizuki needs IFHE in order to make its HE remotely usable in some situations.  It drops the fire chance down to 2% (3% with flags) but I think it's worth it.  You'll still start fires through volume alone.  AFT takes the range out to 12.2km and gives it an invisifire window.  Concealment will drop it down to a max of 5.9km, letting you get into point-blank range before obliterating some poor destroyer with AP spam when you catch it broadside at that range.

 

I think Manual AA on the Akizuki is interesting, but ultimately wasteful of the ship's strengths.  Bring an AA cruiser if you want to swat planes with your friend.

[Estimated_Prophet]

For 10 points the tier 4 skill you definitely want is IFHE...

 

Did Honorable Service in Akizuki using a full concealment build and mostly AP. IFHE only matters if you intend to fire from mid to long range; I worked more towards manuvering in close (less than 7k,) and ambushing in such a way AP was the better choice.

 

For longer ranges I also worked more on manuever than just shooting, and either invisifired AP, or smoked up and fired what seemed appropriate. In that sense the torpedo booster was a must; since two spreads of torps was generally enough to sink charging enemies or make them turn away.

 

Akizuki needs IFHE in order to make its HE remotely usable in some situations

 

Why does it even have to be 'remotely usable?' I've started plenty of fires on bigger ships, and generally use AP against annoyingly close enemy destroyers.

[BlazerSparta]

IFHE+DE is basically mandatory.

 

LS is mandatory for all DDs.

[Mesrith]

Why does it even have to be 'remotely usable?' I've started plenty of fires on bigger ships, and generally use AP against annoyingly close enemy destroyers.

 

Because having something point its bow at you and go immune to damage unless you start a fire is very annoying.

[IJN_Cruiser_Jintsuu]

 

1 - PM or PT, your choice.  You can get both eventually.

2 - Last Stand

3 - BFT

4 - AFT, IFHE, Concealment, in that order.

 

 

WHAA? BFT is a terrible option because it prevents you lighting fires by using demo expert, and if you are going AFT instead of IFHE to start you aren't going to be able to do any damage

[Mesrith]

WHAA? BFT is a terrible option because it prevents you lighting fires by using demo expert, and if you are going AFT instead of IFHE to start you aren't going to be able to do any damage

 

Yeah, you're right, I probably don't know what I'm talking about.

[Fastwolf66]

BFT gives you a 10% fire rate increase and 20% best AA, the two strong points of the ship

 

My Azikuzi runs (1) PT, (2) LS, (3) BFT, (4) IFHE, AFT, CE

 

If you dont use IFHE, you need to rely on AP for many targets, and they bounce a lot on angled targets. DE is very useful, but you need to check if you prefer BFT or DE. I prefer to use raw firepower and start fires through massive hits, low chance per hit, but good with all. CE vital if you need to contest caps, the Azikuzi speed is the main weakness. 

 

Many choices there, but AA is good enough with the module (7.2 km range). Manual fire control would ve very nice, but had to trade for another (4) skill and they are all good and needed.

 

Finally, if you want to AA cover your friend, pick an US CA (now much better) or a kutuzov. Of course Des Moines still THE god of AA, closely followed by Minotaur now.

[Cruiser_Chicago]

The way I see it, there are 3 ways to build the Akizuki: Full AA spec with CE, IFHE spec with CE, or drop CE in favor of taking BFT + DE + AR

 

AA spec Akizuki with BFT + AFT + MAA + AA upgrade mod is actually quite potent against T8 planes. It would be a build worth considering if you division with a CV player often. Yesterday, I shot down 44 Lexington planes in one match in my AA spec Akizuki.  

Just don't expect your AA to do anything against T9-T10 CV planes. You're helpless against them since Akizuki has no DFAA.

 

The second build option is to grab IFHE + AFT + CE with DE being your tier 3 skill. You take DE over BFT because mathematically DE will give you more fires per minute over BFT. This build is the safe and versatile pick, since your concealment is a respectable 5.9km, and your stealth fire buffer is a generous 8.9km. I would choose this build if you're new to the Akizuki play style.

 

The third option is to drop CE to maximize your DPM with BFT + DE + AR. Instead of CE, your 2nd tier 4 skill would be MAA or IFHE. You will be spitting out ridiculous amounts of lead with this build, but the downside is your concealment is 6.6km and your stealth fire buffer is 9.6km. This means you're now terrible at contesting caps as you'll get out-spotted by almost every DD you run into. This build really accentuates the one-trick pony nature of the Akizuki.

 

I have 2 captains for the Akizuki. One with IFHE and the other with AA spec since I really enjoy playing the ship.

[Estimated_Prophet]

Because having something point its bow at you and go immune to damage unless you start a fire is very annoying.

 

I can't deny that, so I normally used torps in that situation, or just ran away.

 

I must not be using IFHE in the right situations or with the right ships; so far it hasn't shown itself to make any difference in a fight.

[Tembin]

1 - PM or PT, your choice.  You can get both eventually.

 

2 - Last Stand

 

3 - BFT

 

4 - AFT, IFHE, Concealment, in that order.

 

Thanks for the input everyone.  I think this is the build I'll go for.  The tier three debate between BFT and DE seems interesting, but the 20% AA is why I think BFT will be my pick.  I very often division with CVs, so if the main battery DPM difference is minimal, then I'll take the extra AA damage.  It looks like it will take a couple hundred games to reach CE, but this appears to be a fun ship, so I imagine it won't be a difficult grind.