Should I grind past t7?

[MoveZig]

I've already got every line I want to t7. We all know that it's the sweet spot for MM, while also still not too costly in credits. And we all know how much t8 MM sucks. But really, what is the point in even getting past t8? It just gets more expensive, the stock grind gets longer and there's just no incentive to do it. You gain more EXP, but you need credits to keep playing. T7 can be your main, but without premium t9 can never be. Let alone t10. The only thing I can think of is: you get a better chance of completing those ridiculous missions and if you get to t10 maybe down the line you'll get some dragon flags at the game's anniversary. And you're always top-tier, although arguably some of these t10s are a sidegrade to the t9, not a straight upgrade.

 

So if you got a t10... why? I'd like to know what kept you going through those horrible stock grinds, the expenses and the allegedly static gameplay. The only reason why I'm considering it now is to do the campaign just so I can get the Shinonome (which doesn't look very good), and because there's nothing else for me to grind until UK or French DDs.

[Aotearas]

I'd say that depends on the line you're grinding.

 

Some lines have a good deal fun to play ships at the high tiers or as a tier X. Gems like the Yamato (the mighty king of lolpen) and the Khabarovsk (this thing is simply ludicrously fun to play, just pure aggression and nonstop firing at stuff) are ships that I have and can heartily recommend.

 

As for the static/passive hightier meta ... yeah, that sucks. But I found it bearable with divisionmates that I can count on and simply be proactive myself. And I can tell you the results of an aggressive gameplay move in the hightier meta can be downright hilarious. I've seen Yamato's turn out in a panic from my charging Izumo (thus giving me their broadside ), they simply couldn't handle that unfamiliar aggression.

 

Playing the hightiers solo is not something I recommend though. If you got no one to back you up, you're forced to stick with the team or else you get focused quickly and that's the end of it. DDs and CVs can be played solo since they work very well playing on their own, but BBs and cruisers ... that's mostly just painful.

 

Playing with friends is more or less the answer to your question. And at that point you might aswell grind all the way to tier X so you can play those tiers together

[Molybdane]

Well, if you let yourself be shut down by the narrative that "We all know how much T8 MM sucks" sure, stick with T7 then.

 

For me, T8 can be an attractive tier because of the introduction of the concealment module. For example, I've picked up the grind to the New Orleans again because I know that with a better concealment I expect a better game than with a Pensacola.

 

Also, Bismarck.

 

As for your credit balance. I have noticed that any type of gameplay that does not involve camping in the back is generally well rewarded, enough at least to break even, often enough to make some credits. Your credit intake will be lower of course so sticking with a few lower tier ships is a good idea.

[MoveZig]

I'm looking at the German DD line. Z-52 gets the best hydro in the game and some of the best base AA for a DD, but I wonder how much the latter matters against high-tier CVs. They get so many planes and squads, you'd think losing a few wouldn't matter to them. So I question just how useful that Z-52 AA would be without Def AA. Otherwise it's a pretty boring line to grind, about the only thing that changes is 150mm availability and new turrets at t9.Maybe I'll go ahead with it anyway, and use my Anshan to balance the budget. I'll be kicking myself though if they release a credit-sink premium like how the Missouri is a FXP sink.
 

For me, T8 can be an attractive tier because of the introduction of the concealment module. For example, I've picked up the grind to the New Orleans again because I know that with a better concealment I expect a better game than with a Pensacola.

 

That's true, t8 is an important milestone for DDs thanks to that concealment mod. Still not worth the MM aggravation and reduced credit income.

[Robber_Baron]

There are some really great t8 ships that are a big improvement over their predecessors. The Benson and North Carolina come to mind for example. It gets more expensive, but if you do decent on t8 it won't turn in a credit loss. I wouldn't sell all my t7's though.

 

Edit: whoops just saw your post. No experience with German DDs past t3 yet.

 

 

[shamelesscreature]

So I question just how useful that Z-52 AA would be without Def AA.

 

You can shoot down the odd plane that's keeping you spotted, but any DD without Defensive AA is completely helpless against CVs trying to strike you, Z-52 included. 

 

I just finished grinding the German DD line earlier this week and would definitely recommend the T9 and T10. Z-46 gets gun DPM (hooray!) and fast turrets, Z-52 regular German hydro (as you mentioned), better turret layout and gun range. 

[Dampfboot]

If you are a decent player and are fine with fighting 50% TX games with your TVIII ship i.e. against opponents which are vastly superior to you in all aspects and will just roflstomp and lolpen you, then go ahead. I wouldn't recommend a cruiser line for the first try. Maybe try Japanese DDs, if you are an ok torpedo boat captain. That way you get the experience without suffering too horribly.

[YukiEiriKun]

Well .. it depends if there's any ships you want.
For me I wanted:
- Fuso 'cos she's so pretty (got her).
- Yamato 'cos ... Yamato (still going).

- Tirpitz 'cos my father made me read the sinking of Tirpitz when I was 12 (got her).

- Bismarck 'cos ... well because of her amazing, yet unfortunate run.

- Iowa, because of Iowa. WG gave me her for free so no USN BB grind, thanks WG!
... umm ..

So currently I has no reason except Yamato to grind, and I'm just playing for fun.
If there is some bote you want, grind her.
If not; HAVE FUN!

 

[ColonelPete]

If you grind, stop playing.

Playing should be fun, not grind.

[walter3kurtz]

Yamato, Fletcher, Bismarck, Mogami, Zao, just some ships that you will miss out on if you stop at tier 7.

 

In short you'd be crazy to stop at 7.

[Yohane1]

Yamato, Fletcher, Bismarck, Mogami, Zao, just some ships that you will miss out on if you stop at tier 7.

 

In short you'd be crazy to stop at 7.

 

Grozovoi! Shimakaze, khabarovsk, minotaur ftw, hakurayu/midway.. damn somany lovely and powerfull tier 10s

[Flid_Merchant]

Depends what ships you want to play, i don't have any T10s (nearly at Minotaur) but I have Neptune and Izumo. The former is great fun to play, if difficult compared to it's predecessors. Izumo is a PITA but of course we all want Yamato. Tier 8 against Tier 10 is not such a drastic difference as T3 vs T5 IMO.

[Yohane1]

Depends what ships you want to play, i don't have any T10s (nearly at Minotaur) but I have Neptune and Izumo. The former is great fun to play, if difficult compared to it's predecessors. Izumo is a PITA but of course we all want Yamato. Tier 8 against Tier 10 is not such a drastic difference as T3 vs T5 IMO.

 

Izumo is a pain. but once you know how to play her. Then she is great! When i was close to Yamato i really had the hang of it.. Sad to see i sold her for Yamato.

[chazwozza]

No

 

 

 

[Pivke]

tier 8 and above?

the ships are great.

the players are not.

this is were you will meet the worst of the worst. so many bad players! wallet warriors, (ex) botters, plain bads, clueless people, all those types like to hang out in tiers 8-10 for some reason. it is safe to say that a salad from your garden has more brain cells than half of the players in every match have combined. 

[Hawg]

Looking back at it... I don't think it was worth going beyond T7.  I say this mainly because at least for me, the subjective "fun factor" has gone way, way, way down the more I play at higher levels.   Part of this is because of the passive meta, which does not fit my game-style at all.   I find that if I want to do well in a T8+ battle, my best bet is to start the match, then go heat something to eat, or go do dishes, take a crap, whatever, but basically do nothing for the first five minutes of the game.   Then maybe some of the team have moved up and I can join them and be somewhat aggressive.... even then I still get caught pushing only to find the rest of my team have bailed and run like chickens.

 

At T10 I have the Shimikaze and the Minotaur.   At T9 I have the Tashkent and Izumo.   

 

The Shimikaze was a huge let down, I enjoyed the Jap DD line until the Shimikaze (which I got like the day before the patch that nerfed stealth fire).   It's stealth is good, but at T10 the enemy is sure to have tons of radar, hydro, and often CV's, so its very difficult to stay undetected.   The main batteries aren't bad, but at this tier they really pale in comparison to the the artillery of the Russian and American dd's.   On paper the torps look great, but in reality they are pathetic, because they can be seen for miles away and they take forever to reload.   Its really a ship that imho is in dire need of some buff's from WG.

 

The Minotaur is fantastic in the right hands, which unfortunately are not my hands.  To be effective in the Minotaur you have to play ultra conservatively, hide behind the rest of your fleet, wait for them to get in place and then fine a spot to become a machine gun.   Turn your broadside to the enemy team for even a second and you are toast.  Because of its reputation, its sort of like the Belfast where you always become the priority target...  Let the smoke dissipate, and you will suddenly see the entire enemy team shift from their current targets to you, and "poof" you are dead.

 

The Izumo is kind of fun, but BB play is just so slow imho, I just can't hold back and join the "fire from 19km" club that apparently is the best way to be successful in BB's in the current meta.   As a result, I eventually either just get sick of playing it, or I yolo (but have fun going down).

 

The Tashkent is the the line I am currently griding, not because I particularly like the Russian DD play (I can imagine it was really fun before the stealth fire nerf), but because I've read so many things about how much fun the Khaba is.   I have many of the same problems with the Tashkent that I have with the Minotaur, I just hate standing back and letting my team slowly move forward before I get into the action.   And due to the horrible stealth on the Russian dd's you basically have to play it like a zig-zagging gunboat running through your fleet so you don't become the primary target.  If you do, you are melted.  If you try and cap, you are melted.  (And be prepared to get a lot of crapfrom team members because you did not rush in for the cap.)

 

Bellow T7, people generally play more aggressively.   There is less of the shooting from the edge of the map.  Less of the battles where the first 10min is positioning and only the last 5min is actual battle.   So for me, I find my "fun per battle" is significantly worse at above T7, and the only reason I do it is to satisfy the collector urge in me.

[_DeathWing_]

tier 8 and above?

the ships are great.

the players are not.

this is were you will meet the worst of the worst. so many bad players! wallet warriors, (ex) botters, plain bads, clueless people, all those types like to hang out in tiers 8-10 for some reason. it is safe to say that a salad from your garden has more brain cells than half of the players in every match have combined. 

 

^This

[jss78]

Personally, I still don't have a single ship beyond T8. This is both because of the specific ships concerned, and general gameplay in the high tiers.

 

For example I have a 19pt guy and 200+ games in the NC, and I love that ship. Then Iowa, I very specifically don't like as a ship. So why move ahead? A second thing is that at least for me, the stagnant and slow gameplay in high tiers just sucks. Or to be fair, it's fun, but the mid tiers are MORE fun. I get enough of that in the NC and it kills my desire to move ahead.

 

For me the T9-10 ship would need to bring something exceptionally interesting to the table, to make the generally worse gameplay worth it. Maybe one day I'll see that T9-10 ship that I NEED to have.

 

I'd agree that T7 is something of a sweet spot for the game. Best of the mid-tier gameplay style, relatively experienced players, and even a friendly MM.

[Krikkio82]

MMhhh if you only use math to decide there are really not many reason to go ahead.

 

If you look at it with passion there are many reason to grind.

 

Some lines are painfull and T10 gameplay is usually bad but man is my ZAO sexy and my KAB fun !!!

[Shirakami_Kon]

I've already got every line I want to t7. We all know that it's the sweet spot for MM, while also still not too costly in credits. And we all know how much t8 MM sucks. But really, what is the point in even getting past t8? It just gets more expensive, the stock grind gets longer and there's just no incentive to do it. You gain more EXP, but you need credits to keep playing. T7 can be your main, but without premium t9 can never be. Let alone t10. The only thing I can think of is: you get a better chance of completing those ridiculous missions and if you get to t10 maybe down the line you'll get some dragon flags at the game's anniversary. And you're always top-tier, although arguably some of these t10s are a sidegrade to the t9, not a straight upgrade.

 

So if you got a t10... why? I'd like to know what kept you going through those horrible stock grinds, the expenses and the allegedly static gameplay. The only reason why I'm considering it now is to do the campaign just so I can get the Shinonome (which doesn't look very good), and because there's nothing else for me to grind until UK or French DDs.

 

IMO if you think you could stand the slow and full of sniping type of play, sure, go ahead and enjoy your tier Xs. Other than that, no, you pretty much defined it pretty well. I got to Mogami for example and the tier VIII battles made me quit. A long time ago I free XPd to Yamato like an idiot and don't get me wrong, at first I washorrible, but after some time I returned to Yamato and the ship is awesome but I can't stand that type of battles. I'm pretty happy stopping at tier VII with some tier VIII premiums that can handle the type of MM they get, not much point in keep going for me.

[urr027]

High tier games are harder, so you might learn something and maybe become a better player.

[Hawg]

High tier games are harder, so you might learn something and maybe become a better player.

 

Maybe harder in terms of controlling your inner desire for action... and maybe controlling your temper, but I'm not sure they are any harder in terms of "skill".

[urr027]

 

Maybe harder in terms of controlling your inner desire for action... and maybe controlling your temper, but I'm not sure they are any harder in terms of "skill".

 

I think they are, players at tier 10 seem more competitive than at tier 7.  Then again, I only have experience with US DD at tier 10. A match in Gearing makes me sweat more than a match in Sims.

[AgarwaenME]

Play what you find funny, but never trying higher tier because you listen to those who complain too much might stop you from exploring every possibility.

 

Personally while I find lower tiers plenty fun, playing t8+ feels like playing without training wheels on.

[Babykim]

Playing should be fun...

 

and therefore I recommend quitting this game altogether.