Best (favorite) Combos

JuggernautJ · Best (favorite) Combos

As I get deeper into the game I am seeing that much of the strategy... or at least much of the opportunity to influence the outcome of the game by builds... lies in the COMBINATION effects of special abilities (SAs).

I have seen recent posts on, for instance, the combination of abilities as regards the Halifax and PT boats, the Emily and Jill range one torp/shadowing pairing and (my own on) the Aoba/Oi Long Lance combo.

As a relative newb I'm sure there are many other potent combos that have, up to this point, eluded me.

What are some of your favorite, most devestating and/or deviously subtle combos?

Asbestos

Haven't tried it, but I imagine that a PT boats gunnery would be a cheesy way to set up 'Excellent Spotting' for Richelieu, Dunkerque, or the French cruisers.

The Brits can get a great Sub-killing DD squadron going with Saumarez, Arunta, and Javelin. All of them have sub-hunter, Jav has smoke, and the squad can put 4 torp dice at BBs at range 2 if they're feeling bold.

Stormhawk4107

An Obvious combo from looking at the cards, and one I found MOSt useful in Objective Crete Campaign
http://aaminis.myfastforum.org/about8991.html

Was the Stuka/Picc and Ju-88. Stick 2 of each and it makes your opponents sweat. Either they try to ward off the 9 dice bomb attacks or the 3 torpedoes from the Ju-88's . They both did alot of dmg to the British fleet in part 2 of the scenario.

Also Asbestos has a good combo with the 3 DD's I use it alot myself as an independent ASW group.

The_lucky_Y

The old JETS combo( not invented by myself)

Judy based on Shokaku, target is shadowed by an Emily and spotted by a Tone and you can throw 13 bomb dice.

Andreas3

USS Yorktown (CV-5)

A Hellcat with Yorktown.

The_lucky_Y

Enterprise+Dauntless+shadowing PBY Catalina = 13 Bomb dice
(oldest combo imho)

Ecclesiastes

My personal favorite is the combination of Aoba, Yahagi, Oi and some assorted destroyers..

If played correctly, with the +5 init bonus you can quite dominate the movement phase.

At the right moment 'fan out' the ships around Aoba, using torpedo run to occupy the 2 spaces in front of Aoba with Oi and a DD... The amount of LLances can be quite devastating. Especially since the 'blob of ships' can move from range 4 to range 1 in one move...

If only I owned a Nachi Sad

JuggernautJ

I found this one in the wiki (surprised no one referred me there).

Koln + E di Savoia
"Koln's most interesting feature is, without doubt, her Lead the Attack SA...., and the intriguing possibilities of pairing her with the Establish Screen SA of Eugenio di Savoia has led to increased play-time for this nifty ship." -- swarbs

From this are we to assume one could position a Koln and Savoia in the same hex and, before the first move, use the Establish screen SA to move both 1 square and then the Koln's SA to move that ship another two spaces? In effect allowing the Koln to move three spaces before the first turn occurs?

Asbestos

Yes. That is how it works. But then you need to figure out what to do with your lone Koln.

JuggernautJ

I was thinking two EdS and two Kolns working in concert could deliver two ships within striking distance on the first turn.

Now if only Koln had smoke (or long lances...).

fredmiracle

It's not an SA combo, but...

one idea I've been kicking around--although I don't have a specific build in mind--is Repulse+Jean Bart as a long-range/short-range combo for 68 points. The idea is to pin the enemy on the objective with Jean Bart (which can take a lot of damage and soak up more torpedo attacks), while Repulse stays at "standoff" range where it's unlikely to be vitaled. Maybe the enemy takes sub-par shots at long range on Repulse trying to vital her. Meanwhile, both battleships are throwing 11-12 dice and so have a decent chance of inflicting some damage in return...

JB's Incomplete SA is a problem though...

Diamondback

Illustrious with a horde of Torpedo Bombers and Catalinas, if you can get the Init 11/12 required.

Commissar_JPH

Illustrious + Avenger + Catalina + Enemy BB + Init 11/12 = 7 torps

Enterprise + Helldiver + Catalina + Damaged Enemy Ship = 15 bombs

Commissar_JPH

Also:

2x Koln
2x Eugenio di Savoia
2x Schleswig-Holstein
2x T-27
8x ME-109s

Drop a SH + T-27 right behind 2 objectives. Establish screen with the EdS's and the Kolns. Lead the Attack with Kolns. Move Kolns and SH's onto objectives, T-27s in front of objectives. Air-cover with the 109's. Smoke with T-27s, and hopefully the Kolns will survive to take the objectives.

Diamondback

2 Kolns + 2 DS'es = 2 OBJ's taken on Turn 1.

Needs backup, though.

Commissar_JPH

Diamondback...that's essentially what mine is, updated for Flank Speed and the addition of SH's and T-27s.

JuggernautJ · Phelps and Hoel (screen and smoke)

From the wiki (uss phelps entry by swarbs), indicates optimal use of smoke/concealment with examples.

swarbs:
Establish Screen is an ideal way to... push a unit with Lay Smoke Screen (USS Hoel for example) ahead of your larger units. Once in smoke, Phelps's final SA, Bad Weather Fighter boosts her chances of surviving enemy attack.

Mishkovic

So if you used 2 Holsteins coupled with a pair of Shigure to deploy right behind the Objectives, and paired 3 kolns with 3 Savoia's to Establish Screen/Lead the Attack to be positioned 3 rows out from starting box, you could not only claim all 3 objectives on turn 1, BUT also have your enemy in gun/torp range before he can react?

Is this legal or do the SA's Establish Screen/Lead the Attack not work in combination?

swarbs

It's perfectly legal.

dracos42

I've discovered that Bristling With Guns works good with two or more US fast battleships together. A battleship can't target the same ship twice with her own secondaries, but two or more battleships can target the same ship with seperate shots.

Norway

I like
Yorktown (23)
on it 3 Avenger (42)

Enterprise (25)
on it 3 Wildcat (21)

total 111

Best (favorite) Combos

Phelps and Hoel (screen and smoke)