World of Warships Best Battleships For Every Tier

Updated:

28 May 2021

World of Warships is in constant flux. Over the years, we’ve seen leet ships nerfed to obscurity and underdogs buffed to meme-lord status. It keeps us grinding, guessing, and confused. Luckily, there are constants, and we’re going to get into that tier for tier. None of these battleships are premium, and they can all be ground out of the tech tree.

Note: Battleships are on the verge of gaining more dispersion, “Dead Eye” is being replaced with “Swift and Silence” in update 0.10.4. So we didn’t take dead eye into consideration.

Tier III: Nassau

Nassau, floating, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

It’s tier 3, the boats are slow and painful to watch. Not Nassau, she’s got all the guns. As you swing your perspective from port to starboard, you’ll have a weapon ready. This thing is probably the best ship in this tier, let alone the best battleship. Nassau is why so many people get sucked into german BBs. You can play this ship however you want, angle in, canoe out, kite, brawl, ram, whatever. Nassau is ready.

Why Nassau is Great

Good Penetration: its AP rounds mangle most armor. You should always aim a bit higher than the waterline when going for citadels; the Nassaus dispersion forces rounds down
Fast Reload: you can send follow-up volleys with the best reload in class
Firing angles: you needn’t worry which way your guns face; like a rising sun, there will always be more to bear
Brawler: Nassau has great secondaries, second only to the premium ship König Albert

III Nassau

Survivability: 38
Artillery: 71
Torpedoes: 0
AA Defence: 22
Maneuverability: 28
Concealment: 62
Main Armament: HE/AP

Lower Tier Guides: Nassau

IV Myogi

Myogi, floating, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

Hit like a sumo, glide like a leaf. That’s how Myogi do. This ship was never built, but that didn’t stop Wargaming from dropping into the fun. You’d think it’s lackluster six guns would be a hard adjustment coming from a Nassau, but no, they bonk everything they touch. Couple that with one of the fastest and most elegant feeling hulls in the game and you got yourself an agile death platform that can take a beating.

Why Myogi is Great

Turtleback: it has turtleback armor which means it can win a lot of short-range slug matches
Fourteen Inch Guns: not many tier 4 ships have this caliber, Myogi has some of the best penetrators in class
Fastest: one of the quickest in class, you can kite enemies if your HP pool dries up, just retreat and switch to HE

IV Myogi

Survivability: 53
Artillery: 82
Torpedoes: 0
AA Defense: 25
Maneuverability: 41
Concealment: 32
Main Armament: HE/AP

World of warships - Myogi OP

V König

Konig, floating, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

The Pyotr fires too slow, the New York is too slow, and the Kongo doesn’t have enough guns. You’re looking for accuracy by numbers at this tier, and for that, you need a König. This thing is a pyro. It can deliver blow after blow of fire starting goodness. If they get close and go sideways throw some armor-piercing rounds in the mix, you won’t be disappointed with the König. Fantastic ship for beginners and pros alike.

Why König is Great

ROF: Fastest Rate of Fire in class
Great HE: HE pen is fantastic, and the fact that you have ten guns means you have a decent fire chance
Fastest: like the Myogi it's quickest in its tier and available for kite tactics

V König

Survivability: 56
Artillery: 79
Torpedoes: 0
AA Defense: 51
Maneuverability: 33
Concealment: 41
Main Armament: HE/AP

Lower Tier Guides: König

VI Fuso

Fuso, floating, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

Fuso has twelve guns! That’s right, and Devastating Strikes are its game. I have been on the receiving end of a Fuso too many times. If you want a floating island of death, then here you go. It’s unanimous- this ship kills.

Why Fuso is Great

IJN Ballistics: you can lob over things but still hit them, the Japanese arc is a well-rounded one, and you should have no problem hitting things close and far
Dev Striker: if you want a dev strike, use this ship. You’ll find people don’t willingly give you their broadside, that doesn’t matter, splat them with your HE
DD Cruncher: you can clobber destroyers with Fuso’s heavy volleys; it leaves no wiggle room. I’m not saying you should get close or chase a destroyer but if one is in your sights, take the shot; you could save a fellow destroyer’s life and subsequently win that flank

VI Fuso

Survivability: 56
Artillery: 84
Torpedoes: 0
AA Defense: 43
Maneuverability: 24
Concealment: 19
Main Armament: HE/AP

World of Warships: Fuso Is Awesome

VII Gneisenau

Gneisenau, floating, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

The Sinop and Scharnhorst are just barely outshined by this crafty little bugger. Its agility, unique guns, and torpedo complement make it one of the most fun ships in the game. It has good secondaries, can rip holes in citadels, and can win or at least mutually die in every knife fight. A tactical muppet can use this ship; it has all the bells and none of the gristle. 10/10 would recommend.

Why Gneisenau is Great

Fish Ahoy: we had to include something with torpedoes, and this ship has the speed and armor to get them there. Although, don’t focus on torpedoes, remember you’re a BB, feel free to “deliver the fish,” but don’t focus on “delivering the fish,” they are merely there for close encounters
Turtleback: it has turtleback armor which means it can win a lot of short-range slug matches like the Myogi
Brawler: this thing is fantastic in a face-to-face battle. When you angle in, your secondaries do incredible work while your AP rounds drill them. Once they get too close, use your torpedoes, and voila

VII Gneisenau

Survivability: 72
Artillery: 87
Torpedoes: 14
AA Defense: 82
Maneuverability: 47
Concealment: 32
Main Armament: HE/AP

Gneisenau - Monster Carry

VIII Vladivostok

Vladivostok, floating, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

Sinop got squeezed from the seventh slot but never fear Vlad has brought and is still bringing the Soviet sledgehammers. This ship pounds armor, and its mighty guns care not which way the fool is angled. The Vlad will flatten people for mere insolence. I know this because I have, on many occasions, been Vladded. When I see a volley from a BB heading my way, I generally hope for dispersion in my favor. When I see a Vladivostoks volley coming toward me, I simply accept my silly fate.

Why Vladivostok is Great

Incredible Armor: the Vlad is a great ship to angle in and fire. Think of yourself as a sentry ominously getting closer and closer
Sledgehammers: it’s guns just ruin competition, you can shoot at everything regardless of angling, it’s meaty rounds always find damage

VIII Vladivostok

Survivability: 83
Artillery: 83
Torpedoes: 0
AA Defense: 62
Maneuverability: 36
Concealment: 31
Main Armament: HE/AP

World of Warships Vladivostok Replay Wows Guide Gameplay Highlights

IX Alsace

Alsace, floating, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

Here at tier IX, we’re faced with another 12 guns. These twelve 380 millimeter guns can do some nasty things. The Alsace is a glass cannon, but it’s damn fun and can deliver massive fire damage at dodgy speeds. If you want to make mistakes faster, use this ship, you’ll do a ton of damage, and who knows, you may escape with your flaky baguette armor.

Why Alsace is Great

Speed: this ship is the fastest in class
Rapid Reload: one of the few Battleships with Rapid Reload, this consumable speeds up reload allowing for devastatingly consistent volleys
Cruiser Killer: with a fast reload and strange fist-shaped volleys, it’s no wonder why cruisers fear the Alsace. It hits like a beefed-up Fuso with a faster reload

IX Alsace

Survivability: 86
Artillery: 87
Torpedoes: 0
AA Defense: 78
Maneuverability: 37
Concealment: 24
Main Armament: HE/AP

T9 FR BB Alsace [WiP] - Strong, But Inconsistent

X Yamato

Yamato, displacing a sea, as per tradition, WOWS 2021

When you want to kill a shark, you bring a big boat; when you want to sink a battleship, you bring a Yamato. It’s a mobile fortress ready to execute your will. The Yamato can snuff out any ship in the game from the comfort of his own territory. It was hard to pick from the tier X BBs; there are many choices. However, none deliver the consistent blows a Yamato can.

Why Yamato is Great

Overmatch: you can overmatch just about everything in wows with this beast
460MM: these cannons obliterate everything
Great Armor: this ship got first place for its ability to 1v1 anything in the game
Yamato: it’s a Yamato! Usually, when children learn of mid-century naval strife, they’re first inspired by the chonky Bismarck, then, the second they discover the Yamato, it quickly tickles the artist in them and steals the show. IJN hull design is a marriage of beauty and function, and this ship is no exception