I Think I'm Becoming a DD Fan

[Zaikadi]

I began this game with the debut of the open beta, and I was determined to head up the Japanese cruiser line and stop at Aoba, Myoko, or Mogami and concentrate on upgrading and learning one ship. I'm even getting the hang of Furutaka. I always figured I was cut out for cruisers.

 

But, whenever I had an early expiration of Furutaka, I took a spin in my Umikaze destroyer. Quite surprisingly, I've managed a pretty good set of games with Umikaze. I moved on to the Wakatake recently and have done equally well. They're pretty fun, and I feel like I generally make a greater contribution to the team when I use one. My immediate goal is the Isokaze. By all accounts, the Minekaze is excellent, but I'm wondering how much it will get nerfed in the future.

 

I'm not through with cruisers, I have also had good runs in Kuma, which plays a bit like a destroyer. I'll see how Aoba feels once I unlock it. The grind in this game is much longer than the one for World of Tanks, maybe due to the longer matches.

 

I'll keep working on the destroyers. Maybe that's where I belong.

[Harkonen_siegetank]

DDs in general are good up to tier 6 (arguably). But then it'll be pretty much a pain to play, because at higher tiers there are a lot of planes around. Which means torps get spotted way too early and as such doing ambushes do need some planning.

[Poidachi]

DDs are fun until tier 5-6. Tier 7 is when the difficulty spikes and specialization kicks in. You better be an exceedingly tactical and stealthy player, or frustration is all you'll get. Spotter planes/Fighter planes from BBs allow faster torpedo spotting, player competence increase, and CV competence will be the end of you. Don't be fooled by the massive number of torpedoes you can fire, many times it'll just be for strategic area denial. 

[Cobraclutch]

DD's are fun no matter what tier. IT is more difficult going up past tier 6,  but if you believe the class is made for you than do not let the negativity currently surrounding DD's stop you. 

 

"The History of the Pacific war can never be written without telling the story of the U.S.S. O’BANNON. Time after time the O’BANNON and her gallant little sisters were called upon to turn back the enemy. They never disappointed me.

Out-numbered, out-gunned, during the dark days of ’42 and ’43 they stood toe-to-toe with the best the Japanese Fleet could offer—and never failed to send them scurrying home with their tails between their legs . . .

No medals, however high, can reward the gallant men of the tin-can fleet for their brave deeds. In her darkest hour their country called. They answered with flaming guns and high courage." — Adm. Halsey

[Zaikadi]

Well, I have the Isokaze, and it looks like I've found my niche in WOWS. I seem to have a knack for the IJN DDs. Although the Minekaze is considered great, I'll probably stick with the Isokaze, learn it well and fill the Commander with skills. My first (2x) game tonight, I received over 3000 XP (after the doubling) with 3 sunk. Last night, I had 8 kills in 3 games, all by torpedoes.

 

After playing the Tier II, III, and IV IJN destroyers, I think they are about equal for their tiers (as Harkonen's post infers).

 

These things are fun!

[Camo68]

DD's are fun no matter what tier. IT is more difficult going up past tier 6,  but if you believe the class is made for you than do not let the negativity currently surrounding DD's stop you. 

 

I agree with cobra DD's are fun no matter what tier. However the grind in tiers 6-9 in both lines really does threaten to spoil the fun sometimes. The tier 10's both US & IJN are highlights though. I've only played them in CBT & Test Server so can't wait to get back in them soon.

 

Zaikidi if you love the Isokaze just wait for the Minikaze (even with all the nerfs) you'll love it and drive the enemies crazy! 

[Zaikadi]

Zaikidi if you love the Isokaze just wait for the Minikaze (even with all the nerfs) you'll love it and drive the enemies crazy! 

 

Yeah, I'll give the Minekaze a try. I'm about 7000 XPs from unlocking it. I have read that the ship is one of the best in the game, but that the Isokaze is preferred by some players because of the kinder match-making.

[Carl_the_Cuttlefish]

DDs are incredibly fun. They are the class that clicked first with me and one of my best scoring classes. Now whats fun is after you figure out the rhythm of DDs to go back to light cruisers and mix the cruiser and DD strategy. 

 

Tiers VI-IX do suck for IJN, but since everyone knows that, just hang out and don't bother going there and in a couple of patches they should be better. Everyone rage grinded the Furutaka, and I said I'm going to wait, and now I get a fun ship to grind instead of an awful one. 

[sushimaster]

DDs are incredibly fun. They are the class that clicked first with me and one of my best scoring classes. Now whats fun is after you figure out the rhythm of DDs to go back to light cruisers and mix the cruiser and DD strategy. 

 

Tiers VI-IX do suck for IJN, but since everyone knows that, just hang out and don't bother going there and in a couple of patches they should be better. Everyone rage grinded the Furutaka, and I said I'm going to wait, and now I get a fun ship to grind instead of an awful one. 

Na, IJN DD tier 8 and up are pretty good.

[travisdh1]

I've been working up the American tree (all of it, slow going.)  The best games I've had have all been teamed with a Japanese DD.  It's REALLY hard on me in my American DD as I'm always the one close in.  Really nice tho, when after they see me and turn to avoid my torpedos to have another set of torps hit em from another direction.  It can also be really hard on personal scores if you're not actively grouped up, but makes for a much more effective dd force.

[Zaikadi]

I posted my update to this venture here (post #24).

http://forum.worldofwarships.com/index.php?/topic/47422-best-japanese-dd-for-its-tier/page__st__20

[alexf24]

I like DDs, though I stopped at Mutsuki (VI) and Nicholas (V). I dislike Mutsuki, and can't have a good game. Those torps are easy to see from afar, and avoid.

 

OTOH Minekaze is still very good after the nerf, and Isokaze was always good. Clemson and Nicholas are excellent at what they do. Any lower tier DDs I dislike and higher tiers I had read bad/tough things and getting to Mutsuki has not gone well for me. I concentrate more on CL/CA which I prefer, but add a good T4-T5 DD game every other day.

 

I do not have the Gremy but have played against it enough to get a healthy respect for it. We'll see what the (newly announced today) Russian DD line will bring. Excitement for sure.

[ColonelYumYum]

I'm in a Fubuki now and although it's not a bad DD in upper tier battles it sucks. I don't get people who say it's fun no matter what because my experience says otherwise. Upper tier battles suck because there are planes all over the place and most CV drivers will park fighters or DB over you till your dead so say goodbye to stealth. Enemy ships change course and speed so much getting a good firing solution for your torps is hard and even then they dodge them most of the time. Enemy cruisers are almost as fast as you are so you can't out run them to get away. Destroyer AA is a joke and will NEVER save you or anyone your trying to escort. All your good for is hunting other destroyers and spotting for your fleet, that's about all.

[Camo68]

I'm in a Fubuki now and although it's not a bad DD in upper tier battles it sucks. I don't get people who say it's fun no matter what because my experience says otherwise. Upper tier battles suck because there are planes all over the place and most CV drivers will park fighters or DB over you till your dead so say goodbye to stealth. Enemy ships change course and speed so much getting a good firing solution for your torps is hard and even then they dodge them most of the time. Enemy cruisers are almost as fast as you are so you can't out run them to get away. Destroyer AA is a joke and will NEVER save you or anyone your trying to escort. All your good for is hunting other destroyers and spotting for your fleet, that's about all.

 

It's a whole new ball game at higher tiers and you have to adjust your game play, you have to be less aggressive and plan ahead. I took a long time to adjust in the Fubuki but got steadily better as games went on. It was never a game dominator but could reliably perform and have an impact. I also pretty much turned off AA and used smoke to cover me from planes (and had to rely on my team's cruisers to a far greater extent with AA). It was also handy to note where planes were initially likely to go on maps as you can avoid a lot of aggro as there is nothing more painful than having a group of fighters sit on you. But as you well know sometimes you're lucky and others not.

 

The good news is that the Kagero is far better than the fubucki and the Shimikaze is fantastic.

 

If care free destroyer play where you can be aggressive and dominate a game is what you want stick to the Isokaze/Minekaze otherwise adapt you have to adapt your tactics.