Saipan or Kaga?

[Merlox]

Hey guys, I've been debating on getting a Premium CV as something to just have it. It's really down to Kaga or Saipan and I am 100% not interested in Graf Zep or Enterprise. (The reason behind this is that I despise tier 10 games, and it's one of the largest reasons why I attempt to stay clear of even tier 8 ships.) 

 

Both of these ships have been considered really good. but i'm not sure what I want to do. Advice from the more experienced captains? 

I'm also perfectly ok with dropping some money on this as well, As I want to support WG =)

[BiggieD61]

Both are unique and fun to play, but since regular IJN carriers excel over US carriers, it's probably more useful to get a Kaga to train your IJN Captain.  Kaga is easy mode too, very easy to do damage with the planes it carries.

[LemonadeWarrior]

I currently started playing CV again, because I bought the Kaga. Though Kaga was the reason I also wanted to have Saipan :P

 

I am enjoying both and even continued playing my Ryujo again. I found the TB drop pattern of Kaga difficult, because it isn't displayed, so it is just memorizing how it will drop...

[CozyCola]

If you want to annihilate anything and everything at your tier and have people calling you a wallet warrior left and right, play Saipan. It has tier 9 planes that absolutely nothing can defend against.

I'm not joking, I'm sure you've seen people complain about it.

[BlailBlerg]

Are you experienced at a T6 or higher CV? - Then Kaga. 

No? Saipan

 

Do you like to be perfectionist and busy? - Kaga

No? Saipan

 

Do you like to make BBs cry?  Kaga

Do you like to make CVs cry?  Saipan

 

Kaga is extremely demanding. 

Saipan has less squadrons and less to do. 

 

 

I have Kaga.  Have T6 Ryuujo, but IJN CVs low priority.  Imo, if you have USN captain, pick Saipan. 

[Flashtirade]

Kaga can obliterate any surface ship she sees but her planes have high attrition rates against any kind of meaningful anti-air. Any veteran of Hiryuu (or even Ryuujou and pre-nerf Zuihou) line should know how to use Kaga's fighters to maximize her strikes.

 

Saipan near-guarantees air control with fast and durable planes, but her attack power against surface ships is lacking. The latter is made up for the fact that Saipan's strikes will go uncontested due to the former, so the constant string of attacks add up over the course of the match.

[Warlord78]

The Kaga gives you Taiho levels of strike power at two tiers lower, now it requires more skill than the Saipan since its fighters are notoriously weak. In typical click engagements against other fighters, the Kaga's fighters will at best kill 1 or 2 of the enemy CV's fighters. The Saipan if played correctly can be far more effective at air control than the Kaga but it does lack striking power. A super unicum Saipan player typically averages 80,000 damage per battle whereas a super unicum Kaga player averages around 120,000. The range of damage that the Kaga can achieve is far higher than the Saipan with damage numbers above 170,000 damage completely possible, the Saipan, however, is kind of locked below 170,000 damage. The Kaga, in my opinion, handles up tiering far better than the Saipan because 6 torpedo bombers will not make a mark against an Iowa or a Missouri whereas with the Kaga you can swarm strike an Iowa or a Missouri with 12 torpedo bombers and 7 dive bombers with some success. However, for both these CVs you have to pick your targets wisely. 

[Tandin]

Is the Kaga even available on the premium shop currently? I'm not seeing it.

[GreyFox78659]

3 minutes ago, Tandin said:

Is the Kaga even available on the premium shop currently? I'm not seeing it.

Tech tree only for now.

 

[anonym_Hf93Jbjm9WjT]

I have a Saipan, which I play quite a bit. It is very easy to do well with it, simply. Kaga, which I don't have, sounds more involved but also more exciting to play. if you are going to spend most of your time with the IJN carriers, Kaga is also probably better for you. 7500 doublons, from in game tech tree.

[Tandin]

4 hours ago, GreyFox78659 said:

Tech tree only for now.

 

Awesome, thank you.. :-)

[GreyFox78659]

As I struggle to play Saipan anymore Kaga.

[Sir_Davos_Seaworth]

All good points...but if I had the money I would get the Saipan simply for the reason that she uses two of my all time favorite planes. Silly I guess, but there it is. 

[Not_Your_Average_Potato]

I have both.  Kaga u can carry harder cause u have the stile power.  Saipan is more relying on your team cause even though your fighters are strong and u have air control.  Your 2 squads of toro bombers even though is tier 9 is lacking alpha damage to sink ships.  Been in games where I own the sky and cripple ships with TB.  Team failed to finish or win the game.  3 planes per wave compared to 6 planes per wave in TB is a huge difference not to me to mention Kaga's torpedoes are faster.  But that being said, Saipan can give Kaga a hard time if u shut down his planes and your team doesn't go full [edited] and separate.  Saipan is easier to play cause lesser waves.  Kaga is a little more exciting causing I can just delete isolated ships with no AA cover.