im lost with the atago

[haha_ufail]

I've had this ship for a while despite only having 30 or so games in it, but i cant make this ship work at all, along with having a very large profile, and a monstrously large citadel, it seems to be the main target for about every player in the battle due to its tenancy to become a 1 shot auto 40k for just about everything, i'm also having a really hard time dealing damage due to its "19%" fire chance with commander perks, but i'm barely landing fires once every 20-30 shots, though i though the 19% would be giving around 1 per 5-10 hits, and trying to use the torps isn't exactly that easy when the moment you're spotted trying to launch them at max range, you get focused down harder than most CV's at the end of a battle .

[Nechrom]

The general tactic for using the Atago effectively is staying at such a range that you can go undetected while not firing. When you do fire and get spotted, assuming you're also being targeted, the best course of action is to just show stern or bow and make yourself a difficult target that way and weave when you see shots incoming.

Unless BBs hit you straight through the bow or stern, you have really thick deck armor for a cruiser. So shots hitting your deck will just bounce/shatter, even most HE shells.

 

The trick is to decide when to continue firing and when to stop and go invisible. That will depend entirely on how many and what ships are targeting you and at what range. It's something you'll just have to learn to judge.

 

And don't play around your torpedoes. They are not worth getting into visibility range for. Just use them situationally when you can.

[RAHJAILARI]

Yeah, Atago is the favorite target of everyone due to its inherent problem - It is a Japanese Cruiser, which are built from Citadels, so whenever you are spotted (it does not matter how, where or whether you see anyone yourself), weave and never drive in a straight line. It is also a premium, which makes it a premium target for many Silver ship players. It has a good concealment, which can still be improved, so make sure you take the Concealment Expert skill for your captain ASAP. Guns are very good and their fire chance will ensure you will set many fires, though you must be sure to aim for the superstructure to take advantage of this.

 

You have also the chance of citadelling other Cruisers with your AP, which are not bad either. As for torps, they are just an opportunity and area denial weapon, fire them often at choice targets and directions (taking care not to hit friendlies) but keep in mind, Atago is not a torpedo boat, you can have a Kagero for that. Your main weapon is the guns. When you decide to fire, keep in mind that every enemy ship in range WILL target you immediately, so after firing, turn immediately towards your own team and weave until reloaded, then fire again and repeat, if the fire is too heavy, do not fire and head away from the enemy until you are concealed again, then repeat.

 

With Concealment Expert skill your spotting range will become just slightly over 10km, which makes the first torpedo strike from concealment a possibility, but only against ships, which are coming towards you. They are of most value, if you end up in a close-up firefight (but avoid those, if possible) or as revenge weapons, fired just before you bought it.

 

It also sounds to me, that you might be a tad too eager for a fight and tend to charge forward and be the one in your team to fire first. This will automatically break your concealment and make you the only enemy ship they can see at the time, hence they will all be targeting you, it will be a very long 20 seconds to get back into concealment after that. Always remember, Atago is also NOT a battleship and as a Cruiser it remains excessively vulnerable and due to that problem should stay with the main fleet - DO NOT even try to go solo!

 

Accompany your battleships and provide support for them (shoot at the same targets they are shooting at) and let DD's go first to scout for you (also support them by firing at enemy DD, whenever they get spotted). Atago performs best at around 12-15km ranges so do not deliberately attempt to close in more than that unless absolutely necessary, its guns also have very good ballistic qualities, which allow you to occasionally fire over islands while staying concealed to the enemy, take every opportunity to do so.

 

Oh yeah and of course, when you start firing, try to make sure there are minimum number of enemies within range to fire back at you, 1on1 is ideal or you could simply let someone else in your team fire first and then join them (yeah, I know it is a cheap shot to let someone else take the rap first, but it works).

[TerTerro]

3 hours ago, Nechrom said:

The general tactic for using the Atago effectively is staying at such a range that you can go undetected while not firing. When you do fire and get spotted, assuming you're also being targeted, the best course of action is to just show stern or bow and make yourself a difficult target that way and weave when you see shots incoming.

Unless BBs hit you straight through the bow or stern, you have really thick deck armor for a cruiser. So shots hitting your deck will just bounce/shatter, even most HE shells.

 

The trick is to decide when to continue firing and when to stop and go invisible. That will depend entirely on how many and what ships are targeting you and at what range. It's something you'll just have to learn to judge.

 

And don't play around your torpedoes. They are not worth getting into visibility range for. Just use them situationally when you can.

How torpedo use is not worth on Atago? U can get to 9.3Km visibility and your torps are 10km. They perfect if you want to use them.

Another use is to fire into smoke when you see enemy DD smoking up.

Also if u go bow in vs another CA or BB (1v1 of course), u can tank pretty good. Then u even have torps when needed. 

I play Atago a lot. And first 20-40 battles were hard, had very interesting playstyle for me. As i played mostly DD then :) After that i got used to it and it's still one of my favourite ship.

Just don't show your broadside and you tanky enough. Also try to be angled all time when shooting. Don't overcommit. Also if you see it's getting to much, try stopping shooting and go beyond 9.3km to get unspotted, heal and get back in :)

[Live85]

4 hours ago, haha_ufail said:

I've had this ship for a while despite only having 30 or so games in it, but i cant make this ship work at all, along with having a very large profile, and a monstrously large citadel, it seems to be the main target for about every player in the battle due to its tenancy to become a 1 shot auto 40k for just about everything, i'm also having a really hard time dealing damage due to its "19%" fire chance with commander perks, but i'm barely landing fires once every 20-30 shots, though i though the 19% would be giving around 1 per 5-10 hits, and trying to use the torps isn't exactly that easy when the moment you're spotted trying to launch them at max range, you get focused down harder than most CV's at the end of a battle .

 

Atago is a really solid cruiser. What you're describing is normal tier VIII+ cruiser life: the moment you're spotted, you're going to see at least three or four ships taking potshots at you. There might also be issues with your angling and positioning, the last line about the torps sounds a bit weird. I hope you're not trying to use it like a destroyer to stealth torp just because you can. It's fine to drop them from stealth if you know that you have a chance to land them, but overextending just to try to stealth torp is not a good idea no matter what. Still, the reason why you're struggling is that you don't have enough high tier cruiser experience. Your damage output is normal (it's actually your second best cruiser when it comes to damage after the Leander) definitely not living up to the ship potential, but better than a lot of player I've seen floating around on it. I wouldn't worry too much about that.. My advice is to grind at least a cruiser line apart from the RN one (they have a peculiar gameplay due to the smoke) and after you get enough experience on regular tier VIII+ cruisers your performance in the Atago will improve a lot.

Another interesting question would be the build of the captain you're using on it and the ship equipment.

[RUSSIANBlAS]

Atago is one of the all time greats...

 

Get Priority Targeting and Concealment Expert. Those 2 are key skills, although you'll need Expert Marksman too.

 

NEVER trade with a BB. As soon as you're being shot at, you stop firing and slip into concealment. Don't be the first in as you'll get focused. Your torps are exceptional for a Cruiser as they have decent coverage and range, torping from stealth like a DD is entirely possible.

 

Take Hydro instead of Defensive AA most of the time as you'll be needing it to prevent yourself being torped.

[WashedandDeceased]

1 hour ago, Negativvv said:

 

Take Hydro instead of Defensive AA most of the time as you'll be needing it to prevent yourself being torped.

No. Just no. Atago is maneuverable enough to dodge torps and if you pay attention to the minimap you can avoid most of them in the first place. No defensive AA is just creating a weaknesses for yourself. Same goes for Zao as well 

[Ferry_25]

Afraid you made the same mistake as I did OP. Too little experience in higher tier cruisers. Though you're not even doing half bad in Atago I sincerely advice you to park it for a while and start grinding the IJN cruiserline ASAP. That grind is, to put it very shortly, 1 big preparation for the Zao. You're highest "grind ship" is Buddyony. Granted: there are similarities in the Soviet and IJN cruiserlines but also vast differences.

I hope you'll trust me. I've been through exaclty the same thing. Take it out when you're comfortable with at least Myoko. You'll find Atago a beastly murderer then...

[RUSSIANBlAS]

9 minutes ago, Freyr_90 said:

No. Just no. Atago is maneuverable enough to dodge torps and if you pay attention to the minimap you can avoid most of them in the first place. No defensive AA is just creating a weaknesses for yourself. Same goes for Zao as well 

Maybe... Ranked might disagree with you as the Atago is an excellent DD hunter. Most torps isn't enough as one is enough to ruin that particular game for you. Besides if it's Ranked then just press escape and re equip Defensive AA if you see CVs in the queue.

 

Zao would make sense with Defensive AA as you work at longer ranges.

[JapLance]

I would say you lack experience in Japanese cruisers. For what I can see in your stats, you just started with Furutaka. Playing Furutaka, Aoba and Myoko would give you more experience to face tier 8+ games.

 

Having said that, your damage in Atago is over the average, so I wouldn't worry too much. Win Ratio is irrelevant with the low number of battles you have in the ship.

[philjd]

Atago is a superb ship - fragile, fast, fairly nimble, superb guns, but slow reload and sneaky.

 

My advice, don't just rely on the HE, her AP is very good - cruisers, not a problem, broadside BB's - AP, you can even get citadels on quite a number of them. Kiting and stealth are your friends, as is the heal. 50% health is not enough to face a BB if you have to show broadside :) Torps are situational, if the opportunity presents itself and it is safe to try, then yes, they are very good, if it is not safe to use them, then you are likely to die trying to use them.

[WashedandDeceased]

52 minutes ago, Negativvv said:

Maybe... Ranked might disagree with you as the Atago is an excellent DD hunter. Most torps isn't enough as one is enough to ruin that particular game for you. Besides if it's Ranked then just press escape and re equip Defensive AA if you see CVs in the queue.

 

Zao would make sense with Defensive AA as you work at longer ranges.

 

As you can see I'm not much of a ranked player, however the statement that Atago is a good DD hunter kinda baffled me. It has slow reload and lacks radar. Yes it has good alpha but it would depend on spotting from radar ships, CVs or other destroyers, all of which is abundant in competitive.

What I'm saying is that the primary use of hydro in this situation would be to avoid torps and if you use brain. exe you don't need it. Atago has great concealment. You stop firing.. are you still spotted? Yes? DD nearby - wasd. Coming up on a corner? Slow down. Launch plane (or two). 

When it comes to ranked and competitive people actually go last stand on this thing btw, but it's different from random battles :) 

I guess we just have different playstyles though and it's just a matter of opinion 

[RUSSIANBlAS]

36 minutes ago, Freyr_90 said:

 

As you can see I'm not much of a ranked player, however the statement that Atago is a good DD hunter kinda baffled me. It has slow reload and lacks radar. Yes it has good alpha but it would depend on spotting from radar ships, CVs or other destroyers, all of which is abundant in competitive.

What I'm saying is that the primary use of hydro in this situation would be to avoid torps and if you use brain. exe you don't need it. Atago has great concealment. You stop firing.. are you still spotted? Yes? DD nearby - wasd. Coming up on a corner? Slow down. Launch plane (or two). 

When it comes to ranked and competitive people actually go last stand on this thing btw, but it's different from random battles :) 

I guess we just have different playstyles though and it's just a matter of opinion 

 

It's only because I've hit Rank 1 in an Atago. You do need a DD to spot for you but the concealment is good enough to shadow your own DDs and give them decent support. The guns need a bit of practice and you're screwed if you miss yes. 

 

Also you can stand in as a bad DD if both sides DDs die off. Ranked is too knife edged to rely on just your brain, hydro gives you that extra helping hand and can be the difference between losing or gaining a star.

 

I still use Atago the same in Random and the odd Haku still farms me but I try and chill in various AA bubbles. 

 

That's just my experience of the mighty Atago anyway!

 

[Torped1ne]

40 minutes ago, Freyr_90 said:

 

As you can see I'm not much of a ranked player, however the statement that Atago is a good DD hunter kinda baffled me. It has slow reload and lacks radar. Yes it has good alpha but it would depend on spotting from radar ships, CVs or other destroyers, all of which is abundant in competitive.

What I'm saying is that the primary use of hydro in this situation would be to avoid torps and if you use brain. exe you don't need it. Atago has great concealment. You stop firing.. are you still spotted? Yes? DD nearby - wasd. Coming up on a corner? Slow down. Launch plane (or two). 

When it comes to ranked and competitive people actually go last stand on this thing btw, but it's different from random battles :) 

I guess we just have different playstyles though and it's just a matter of opinion 

With mogami 203 that is her cheaper sister i use hydro for indeed hunting dd's but is situational a good things to do when the dd is not covered by bb's or when the dd is smart and permaspot you for his team , torpedos are not in top of my worries bb's ap are

[_VAMPA_]

28 minutes ago, Negativvv said:

 

It's only because I've hit Rank 1 in an Atago. You do need a DD to spot for you but the concealment is good enough to shadow your own DDs and give them decent support. The guns need a bit of practice and you're screwed if you miss yes. 

 

Also you can stand in as a bad DD if both sides DDs die off. Ranked is too knife edged to rely on just your brain, hydro gives you that extra helping hand and can be the difference between losing or gaining a star.

 

I still use Atago the same in Random and the odd Haku still farms me but I try and chill in various AA bubbles. 

 

That's just my experience of the mighty Atago anyway!

 

Random DefAA. with current CV spam at least i get CV in more than half of the battles

Atago is canoe with citadel u have no job close to enemy BBs at begining of battle when all are grouped and focused in direction of caps

Atago better not use as close DD support point of noreturn is very very close and deceptive than u have kamikadze which can land torpedoes on multiple targets hard to do, but gives you that lulz effect

 

at ranked at 1st place you see is there CVs in queue so....

 

Ranked - Mogami 155 and let god have mеrcy on they souls (if i pick IJN)

 

[TerTerro]

1 hour ago, philjd said:

Atago is a superb ship - fragile, fast, fairly nimble, superb guns, but slow reload and sneaky.

 

My advice, don't just rely on the HE, her AP is very good - cruisers, not a problem, broadside BB's - AP, you can even get citadels on quite a number of them. Kiting and stealth are your friends, as is the heal. 50% health is not enough to face a BB if you have to show broadside :) Torps are situational, if the opportunity presents itself and it is safe to try, then yes, they are very good, if it is not safe to use them, then you are likely to die trying to use them.

Atago is Fragile, u kidding right? Compared to what? BB? I say the diff, it's quite tanky if angled correct. Yes citadel is more exposed, but i don't call it fragile. Atlanta is fragile (Paper armor), but not atago :)

Agree that you need to use AP especially on broadside cruisers.

Again, torps are not situational, torps are there to be used and angles of them are very good. For example, u can use torps to force enemy to turn. Also agree, don't show broadside to BB :)

[ForlornSailor]

@Negativvv gave a perfect description on how to play the Atago. Ill add some small things. If you face superior enemys (BBs, higher Tier Cruiser like Des Moines) you use your stealth to get nearer, turn away before sending the first salvo or beeing spotted and then shoot while kiting away. If you see packs of BBs you dont use your guns if you are not in cover (island / smoke) but refer once again to your stealth and go torpedo only. Also, driving the Atago broadside is one of the biggest mistakes to make. Never ever do it.

[IsoA]

Atago is awesome, but like many cruisers, it's a bit difficult ship to do well in. Meaning that it has a relatively high skill floor. If the player is average, then it's probably best played at near max range spamming HE.

 

However, Atago can be played very aggressively, but to get good results you MUST have good situational awareness skills. I have played the whole IJN CA line very aggressively. At first I go support nearest DD at cap. I position myself so that my torp range just covers the back end of cap. At this point the DDs have usually spotted each other at the cap and if you can at this point land a single volley on opposing DD, you will very often win the cap for your team, because the HE broadside is very punishing. If the DD smokes, drop torps at the smoke, wait until concealed, turn and GTFO. Expect to take hits if you do this. Many, many times, I've been down to half health after doing this early cap support at the very start of the battle, but still managed to come up as one of the top xp earners of the battle.

 

Sometimes doing this will result in quick death. This is why you need situational awareness skills. Know where to go, when to shoot, who to shoot, when not to shoot, where to bail, when to turn etc. All in all it's rather difficult, but exciting gameplay. A bow on BB slowboating at 18 km range is easy and lifetime is long, but the gameplay is rather boring.

[__Helmut_Kohl__]

My experience with IJN cruises is simple. 

Sneak up on guys and kite away while setting them on fire. 

The kiting will allow you to evade BB shells. 

[Kartoffelmos]

Regarding the squishiness: Atago's main weather deck (aka everything except the fore/aft decks) is 41 mm thick and her citadel deck (citadel roof) is 35/47 mm thick. What this means is that as long as you don't show a "flat nose" or give full broadside, a lot of incoming battleship shells will either bounce, overpenetrate or yield regular penetrations. Combine that with her repair party and you have one durable cruiser.

 

Of course, not being shot in the first place is a better tactic and Atago's concealment makes this very viable.

[Tyrendian89]

can I just randomly say that you have a veeeery amusing name to make this kind of topic with OP...

[Tubit101]

Imo, the basic way to play the Atago is as a flanker. A flanker harasses the enemy while its distracted, then runs away when it gets a lot attention. You separate yourself from the main force, but not so far that you can't help securing your team's own flank. This means that my main objective is both to hurt the enemy when they're not looking and to distract them from doing damage to other ships. The more the enemy wastes time turning their ships and guns to me, the better. Ideally, my gun bloom (extra detection range from shooting) will have faded by the time they get in a position to shoot at me. Hopefully I will even annoy them enough to start chasing me. When they do, I'm already undetected and start spamming torpedoes. Being undetected means I can easily fire all my torpedoes from both sides of the ship. Atago torpedoes can be a great source of distraction, and every once in a while they hit something too, which is nice. The torpedo range on the Atago is good and is made even better by the fact that ships will be traveling towards you, which extends the normal torpedo range by quite a bit.

 

Basically I want people to waste time reacting to my harassment. When they don't, I want to punish them for it. When done correctly, it's a win-win, up until that moment when RNG decides to send some BB shells tearing lengthwise through your ship.

[haha_ufail]

4 hours ago, Tyrendian89 said:

can I just randomly say that you have a veeeery amusing name to make this kind of topic with OP...

get that a lot haha, and i'm normal fine with them so long as its not a direct insult.(which i don't see here) 

[Tyrendian89]

50 minutes ago, haha_ufail said:

get that a lot haha, and i'm normal fine with them so long as its not a direct insult.(which i don't see here) 

wasnt intended as one at all, just an expression of amusement. You're doing the exact right thing by coming here and earnestly asking for advice (which you got - the fine folk had already covered anything I could have added at that point, hence the not-particularly-helpful comment...), so right back at you

[_VAMPA_]

7 hours ago, ForlornSailor said:

@Negativvv gave a perfect description on how to play the Atago. Ill add some small things. If you face superior enemys (BBs, higher Tier Cruiser like Des Moines) you use your stealth to get nearer, turn away before sending the first salvo or beeing spotted and then shoot while kiting away. If you see packs of BBs you dont use your guns if you are not in cover (island / smoke) but refer once again to your stealth and go torpedo only. Also, driving the Atago broadside is one of the biggest mistakes to make. Never ever do it.

BBs are best victims for atago in random just kite if there is more than 2 is even better that means you are taking care and deflecting from ur team more than 50% of enemy BBs as benefit when they are group probability 1 to disengage and starts running after eat some torpedo and too much fires is  lower.

force is with them meanwhile your team have advantage, best works in lemingtrains

6 hours ago, Ofenkartoffel said:

My experience with IJN cruises is simple. 

Sneak up on guys and kite away while setting them on fire. 

The kiting will allow you to evade BB shells. 

well said and spaming torps  every time that u allow enemy BBs at 13km if they are chasing u in full speed without using rear turets and 14++km is no problem to release the fishes