Japanese Light Cruisers: How Best to Play Them

A new ship branch is now available for players to research.
Starting from Update 12.0, all players are able to research a new branch of Japanese Tier V–X light cruisers.
Read on how to learn the best ways to play these new ships and how they differ from their compatriots that have already won over the hearts of many players.

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[grandadmiralzaarin]

The low speed is a puzzling choice as IJN cruisers focused heavily on being fast historically.

[stevenchan]

I like it when opponent team plays them

[donnybrook]

"Prove that you are a master of cruisers by playing these". I think the statistics will already be telling you that most people are going to decline your very kind invitation given these boats are complete and utter rubbish. They simply cause a massive squabble amongst all opposing BB and CAs on the map as to who gets to shoot at them and make them explode first. I am sure your counter argument would be that is good because it is distracting them from shooting at everyone else other than for the fact that it really only takes one decent salvo to make them go BOOM.

[colmcorbec]

Don't. Just skip the entire line and save yourself some time.

[thexlonewolf]

I've played a little bit with the IJN light cruisers, and in my opinion, gunboating is not the strength of the IJN CL line. You tend to want to want to play them more like big destroyers: torps are what you want to go all-in on in your build. That's not to say gunboat builds don't work, but you really want to approach these ships like they're an outsized Shimakaze.

[leonardopezente]

How to play the new cruisers: you don't

[Akkznxn]

The ambient music absolutely slaps with the cinematography of this video!

[mrbushi]

Efficient and easy to learn>???? What game are you playing IJN CAs crazy hard to play

[Chocolate_cooki]

"easy to learn"

heavy cruiser and aircraft carrier lines :

[thetrujelo]

So its a light cruiser but doesn't get: Light cruiser DPM, Light Cruiser Utility, or Improved Shell Characteristics.
And in exchange you get more range, flatter arks, torpedoes, one of the longest light cruisers ever with a massive citadel.
This feels like a Zao that underwent mitosis and spit into two halves, leaving it with smaller but double the guns, and more torpedoes, with all the amazing attributes Zao brings that no other ship has to offer, such as:

[Legatus]

This entire line needs a MASSIVE buff, not only that, the heavy cruiser line of IJN also needs a massive buff, no one plays Zao in 2023.

[carmelomancia]

we introduce shiity line, for the "cruiser art masters"

[BigD]

Man, they’re really dodging around how unbelievably average and unimpressive these things are lmao

[Watchdogger]

TLDR: bad ROF, weak DPM, vulnerable hull and low HP. Their advice: avoid ships.

[BayPofuduk]

8:00 meanwile harugumo: im joke to you?

[JohnSmith-uxtt]

Easy. Select another ship or Exit Game.

[kaloyanradkov]

TLDR - They don't have dps/ range or any special ability to make them even remotely worth playing.

[georgeradu]

They are just huge destroyers, even the game recommends researching torp improvement skills

[baohoang]

After experienced a very painful time grinding this line, i wonder.. has i wrong using it as a Gunboat !! Then i chose the capt skill focus on Torps, but the mods were full on gun power ! Make it a hybrid, then it's good, honestly !!
The trick of this line is you have to play it like the Minotaur line with Torpedoes ! Their's Torps were scary, so they're useful for acquiring the gaps between island ! While the decent guns with high firing angle will be kinda good for farming behind island ! Their's role would be like the Chinese cruisers, to deal with the Brawler ! Ofcouse this meaning it would depend on MM, i mean if you got in to a match with 2 Vermount then basically you're done, but if you got into a match with German or Soviet ships, you would be nightmare to them with the Torpedoes

[bdfno]

I personally really like the ijn light cruiser line. It's fun once I learned how to play properly. Although Omono is unbearable...