Azur Lane is a thrilling side-scrolling shoot 'em up mobile video game based on historical WWII warships. It requires an amalgamation of intellectual strategies, role-playing, and a vast collection of anime-style characters based on real-life warships. Azur Lane contains a collection of a great many about 500 warships, and it might be difficult for beginners to choose and invest in. Particularly, if you are playing as a free-to-play (F2P) player, you need to know which warships are worth your time and investment. The perfect collection of ships from the beginning will provide you with the utmost joy of playing the game and clearing up maps efficiently without a single struggle.
This guide will dig deep into the basics of each important warship necessary for a beginner to have, and how to focus on it and make your gameplay even better. So, tie your seatbelts tight, as we're in a rush to swarm you with a tsunami of great Azur Lane ideas!You can do Azur Lane top up from LootBar to easily get the ship of your choice.
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Selecting The Starter Destroyer
In your early game journey, you need to choose a starter warship, which will be one of your major decisions. But you will ultimately unlock all three options; there is no need to be anxious. Your first choice should be the one with which you resonate the most: the outfits, the features, everything matters.
So, the options include: Laffey, Javelin, and Z23, which are in EN/CN regions, or you can choose Ayanami in the JP/KR regions.
1.USS Laffey
She is DD-459, the Benson-class destroyer warship of the US Navy, which fought tremendously at the Guadalcanal Naval Battle.
Laffey is an all-around destroyer with an extremely balanced stat between her offence and defence. Her weapon efficiency at the beginning is 120%. The weapon efficiency can be improved later. Her skill called the Solomon Wargod, gives her an ultimate boost for the firepower, reload, and evasion. When retrofitting, she can also learn a new skill called the Termination Mode.
►So why should you choose Laffey?
She is a very well-rounded warship. If you are unsure which style to start with, then Laffey might be a perfect choice for you.
2.HMS Javelin
She is a J-class destroyer in the Royal Navy and one of the two ships of the same class that survived WWII.
Javelin's main focus is to evade the attacks, which makes her a perfect warship in the game. Her soaking of damage is not so great, but her skill activates frequently, which boosts her survivability and offensive output. She is very useful in prolonged fights. Also, after retrofitting, the Javelin can activate Assault Mode-EX, which can be used during the need for good strategies.
►So why should you choose Javelin?
Even though she is a bit harder to master, her skills and playstyle are unique with a glass-cannon approach.
3.KMS Z23
Z23 is the 3rd starter warship available to players playing the English and Chinese versions. She is the first ship in the Type 1936A destroyer class, and it is also the first Zerstörer not to be named after a German sailor.
Compared to Laffey and Javelin, Z23 is more offense-oriented and has the highest firepower stats among all the starters. Her Light Cruiser gun, her equipment, manages to cover more damage than a Destroyer gun. Although she has the best offence, you have to keep in mind that she also has the lowest evasion stats, and therefore, if you choose her, you have to be careful.
►So why should you choose Z23?
If you are planning to attack with full force with heavy equipment, Z23 is a perfect choice for you.
4.IJN Ayanami
Players in Japan and Korea can use Ayanami as a starter warship, but players in the Chinese and English regions can only access it through collection rewards. Ayanami is the lead warship of the Ayanami class, which is the second sub-class of Fubuki-class destroyers. She participated in Japan's Conquest of Southeast Asia and the Guadalcanal Naval Battle.
Ayanami doesn't offer the promise of Laffey or the output of Z23, but she can destroy enemies with her torpedoes, the thing she's built for. The retrofit improves her skill and powerset to a high level and makes her attacks very hard-hitting.
►So why should you choose Ayanami?
It is ideal for players who love burst-style gameplay and enjoy risky, adventurous strategies.
So, here is a small suggestion by us, if you are still confused, which starter warship should to take?
- Laffey: Pick her if you want safety and balanced performance.
- Javelin: Pick her if you type is a fast attacker.
- Z23: Pick her if you want a gun-focused gameplay.
- Ayanami: Pick her later and use her for torpedo bursts.
What do you need to do after choosing your Starter Ships?
1. Keep your focus on leveling: Prefer to use your starter warships to gain maximum EXP and play on easy maps so that you can score well and have a level around 30-40.
2. Upgrade your Warships: Enhance your warships with gear from drops or the depot. Try upgrading their levels. This will help you to upgrade your level. Top up Azur Lane to make ship upgrades easily.
3. Building a Balanced Fleet: Add new ships and try aiming for a balanced fleet of 2-3 Vanguard ships of the Frontline and 2-3 mainline fleet ships for firepower and supporting.
4. Daily tasks: Completing your missions will help you gain more EXP and grow faster.
5. Join a Guild: You should find an active guild early. This will help you to access the guild shop, gaining important books and extra oil.
6. Unlock Commissions and Research: Use your free time to send ships on commissions and to start your research projects for gaining extra loot.
7. Events: Exploring events helps in gaining powerful ships, gears, and resources. You should keep an eye on event missions as you progress further.
Conclusion
Azur Lane is a game of tactics, skills, and a proper mindset. By enhancing your fleet of warships, you can build a strong guild. In the beginning, players might feel the game is overwhelming. But as time proceeds, you will notice that the plans you have formed all along this time will help you reach success.
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Valid period: January 8, 2025, 12:55 PM – February 28, 2026, 12:00 AM
