Destroyer Strategy

Discussing techniques to succeed as a destroyer from beginning to end of the game. I discuss objective play, flanking opportunities, cooldown usage, and weapon tips. Hope you have a wonderful day and I'll catch you next time!
Tier X German Destroyer Z-52 Replay
[e-mail] for replay submission
Streaming at / notser around 2:00pm EDT on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday

[@Lt5K1TZ]

Holy crap, this was the match I was in. It was awesome to play against you, Notser. Hope to see you again soon.

[@Panzer_Runner]

You defeated Notser, congrats

[@cutterbacon]

Battle starts,try to cap,detected,smoke up,radar,focus fire and dead. Life as a dd. Life and death of a dd in under 15 seconds.

[@roythedon4413]

well thats me when playing dd xD

[@Wildboy0001]

Soo true. Thats why wows is noting more then only 1 thing. World of tools! Who has more tools, who has more charges, and which tools run longer. Any skill and userEXP is irrelevant. Thats why I also gave up in wows. It's really no fun anymore as dd player like me. Bbs now have nearly same speeds as dds, dds getting slower and slower and slower and weaker, most cls have way more speeds then many dds, and overall I hate all this goddamnfucking slow turrets on all ships in this game! Guns can't hit a target at only 7km range, torps can be seen on Mars,........ This game was dead, is dead, and there is no real chance it will be comeback as a fungame!

[@Wildboy0001]

@hhwhitewolf009 True But some dds in the current game don't have smoke and I have such dd. And Leningrad is my favorite dd but as I said playing dd in the current game is senseless. No aa No guns you can hit anything Guns are not fucking able to hit shit at only 4km range When lucky you can start a fire but this fire is gone in seconds, stopped by user or stopped at 30 sec. 1 bb Salvo with any ammo type and you loose 50% or more hp on your dd. This are only some examples dds are long time ago Hopeless underpowered. Only bbs are the big players. Bye

[@Wildboy0001]

@hhwhitewolf009 Thanks dude, but I know how to play wows👍 I play that game since the beta and have currently 23000games made. 3 wows accounts and 2 wot🎯 But thanks anyway

[@kujousara101]

When you encounter Ntrprise on tier 8 battles

[@margretfortune1524]

Mr. Noster Every video you complete you get better and better at it. You are a wonderful sensei. I always enjoy learning from you.

[@margretfortune1524]

I review this media numerous times. I attempt develop tactical plan. Your videos are very descriptive though to advanced for me. at this moment. Thank you for all the help you give community. and for speaking clearly, helps me translate it in my brain.

[@coryng528]

Can we get guides for newbies without high level commander skills?

[@kujousara101]

dats high tier not higher level lmao

[@InRainbows287]

Wo-chan oh sod off you know what he meant

[@frederickvlogs2895]

MNF Dunkerque what?

[@The_Conqueeftador]

23,000 survivability compared to my current 2000. Big difference me thinks.

[@Gregi98]

Yea and without 18mins of fucking talking

[@GrimReaper-oz1zi]

I really enjoy your videos, Notser. I learn something new with each one. As someone who primarily plays IJN DDs, I would take exception to the statement that the role of the DD is to CAP. Without exception, every game that I play a T8+ where I try to CAP at the beginning of the game, I last less than 2 minutes. Radar is the biggest issue we face in a DD, and German hydro is next. Rushing to CAP, getting lit up while your "team" lingers behind islands is not a fun way to play. Keeping out of sight/radar/hydro is the only way to be effective and support the team. Spot for the team, cause as much damage as you can, then, move in for the CAP. One last thought. As for the IJN DDs that can opt for smoke or torpedo re-load. Again, smoke does the DD NO GOOD IF LIT, I go for the re-load so I can have a fighting chance, or at least cause damage as I sink.

[@lonny3344]

Notser these types of videos are my favorite. Thank you.

[@louisforlibertarian]

I really smiled when you ran into a friendly... so funny

[@AndrewYLee]

I love to see game analysis like this. iChase used to make such video but not recently. I learn a lot from these videos. I played 5K battle and it's easy to trap myself into a comfortable strategy that I am used to. The game analysis video is a good source to learn.

[@sanguinerain1660]

Glad to see some extra love for the German DDs Notser. They are my favorite flavor of Destroyer. The early bad reviews tarnished their reputation, which is a real shame. Would love to catch more KM DD action. And thanks for the content.

[@dirtydoge756]

Loved this vid, Notser. My favorite vid from you yet.

[@goodman528]

In the Z-52 fight if you send torps far behind the indicator you can force him to show you his side and AP pen him to death. Just a little trick to keep in mind with the Z-series DDs.

[@ThatAussieBloke1]

I love it when people get so mad at a russian dd for not capping, they get spotted from like 7-9km depending on their loadout. Then all the other Nations get 6km concealment or less. you can't contest caps with that

[@Aarrgghh1]

+1

[@nauticalpixel]

Yeah not a lot of people understand how Russian dd's are pure gun boats. If there is a island in the cap then it would be possible to cap then just ambush enemy dd's with the short range torps unless you got the alternative t-10 which is a more balanced dd that is just stealthy enough to cap. The Khab has a very rigid playstyle, if someone plays it wrong they die pretty fast.

[@geraldslonaker3289]

I hate when the team presses you to Cap as the DD even though there are 3 vs 1 (me in my DD) at the objective and the rest of my team is sitting way back not help push into the objective. How the hell am I supposed to survive alone in the Objective with 3 - 1 odds....SMH

[@TheSuperSport]

Really glad myself, to show strategy on a LOSS. Flamu never posted a bad game in his life, let alone a loss! Strategy is employed either way. Well done! 👍🏼

[@GreenChilliD]

Spotting enemy fleet is my first priority. Find the enemy destroyers in your area so back up can dispatch them. Try to clear out CAP so back up can take the point. Move onto the next CAP.

[@Matt43]

Great info! Need to level up the commander for sure.

[@philipwalls7695]

Thanks for this video, I'm only good at ambush, even though I keep watching videos about supporting with destroyer but I never really caught on. I think I did with this vid though and I'll try it.

[@alefymusic3614]

Need a video with DDs strategy when there ARE CVs

[@maikutsukino4743]

I see in the comments people already pointed this out, but most people looking for tips are usually brand new to the game WoWS. Using a T10 ship and maxed out specs aren't going to help the noobs. The Hashitashi(IJN) or Wicks(USA) are T3-T4 and have good speed, nimble rudder control and decent torp reload speed. It will also teach them the guns on low T DD's are for setting fires and annoyance instead of actual gun battles. Most new DD people will run out front, engage with guns, launch a spread of torps and try to deploy smoke just to sink before 2 minutes are up.

[@richardstrickland913]

From my standpoint, DD play reminds me of a saying that we had when I was in the Army. What can be seen, can be hit. What can be hit, can be killed. Ergo, don't be seen. Or only seen by a limited number of ships that can do something about it.

[@Gmanxxx1214]

My strategy is surprise attack and when then enemy turns and runs you shoot them in the back. Works good.

[@BearsTrains]

Great advice Notsur. I believe that a DDs role is cap,spot, kill . Trouble is, capping is hard and deadly , spotting is boring but the real fun is hunting battleships. Unfortunately, this doesn't really help the team unless you kill 3 or 4 of them.

[@SukottiYT]

I love German DDs they r my best type of ship thx for the helpful vid notser

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

You do make some very good general points. However, it's not very useful for lower-tier and new players, because much of the tactical discussion revolves around skills and modules they simply don't have access to, either because their ship is too low-tier to have the module or their captain hasn't been ground up the ranks high enough for them to obtain the skill set. I'm hoping a British destroyer line comes out soon, so the CC's and other high-powered WOWS KZbinrs can remember what it's like for the newbies.

[@szkoclaw]

German DDs have hydro starting at Tier 6. It's only a few hours of gameplay to get it.

[@mammothmk3355]

Lol those KZbinr may very well just free exp the line. And beside, the Galant just recently went on sale, so they already have a head start. ;)

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

They probably will. I can't see some of them wanting to hang around at a low level where everything is just guns, torps and smoke. They probably feel naked if they don't have their radar, hydro etc. And as for "only a few hours of gameplay", yeah, sure - if you're competent and if you don't run into higher-tier sealclubbers out to have fun. Not all of us are that skilled or have that much time to play the game regularly.

[@chadthundercock4982]

The problem is that newbies don't just go down on path. they might get a tier 3 cruiser here and a tier 4 destroyer and battle ship there. It's spread out.

[@ciri151]

I'm a beginner. started 3 days ago. and my highest is a tier 3 lol. I play about 1 to 2 hours a day.

[@buba4267]

There’s a reason why destroyers were the most feared enemy in WW2. Not just by the German U-Boats, but by everyone. They were fast, and deadly.

[@2694jordan]

Great gameplay, hope I retain some of this info

[@screes620]

I think the biggest issue i continue to have when playing DD's is sticking with my team. You start the game, everyone agree's we are going B/C, you go to C without checking the minimap and BAM your the only one there and now your dead. Just because people say they are going to do something, doesn't mean they will, especially in random games. Pay attention to the minimap.

[@RipinHimself]

Great video Notser! I'm glad to see this video as I just started down the German destroyer line and I wanted some advice on how to setup the commander and proper play with the destroyer. Keep up the good videos!

[@MrDmadness]

this was pro DD .. well done

[@tonkatoytruck]

Another great video. Do you have a video covering the maps and good ship positioning?

[@thiluongnguyen7956]

Thank you

[@christophermavromatis7724]

Notser you value your teammates for the points they represent to the enemy team's goal to win

[@DaKillerChipmunk]

You don't? Interesting.

[@mpetersen6]

Torpedo question Several times in the past week playing the Clemson in Blitz I have dumped two full spreads, port and starboard into enemy ships. Twelve fish per ship. They are sitting still dead in the water. They are shooting at no one. All torpedoes should have hit, it was fairly short range, and the fish ran straight through the target. Now have th hey issued faulty magnetic explodes. Or is this a situatio where the opposing player has exited the game for some reason. I mean it does happen. Life does happen after all

[@slak96u]

On yeah Nots. Only channel I still pay attention to. But. I don't like the new strategy of DDs. I like capping, I like playing support. But I don't like being driven away from the game by WG because I enjoyed a play style that WG no longer supports. They nerfed all my shit, everything I worked for. Khaba, Gearing, Shima. Fuck that. Tired. I'll play the game when I feel the itch but I no longer support it. Keep being you Notser, great channel.

[@Notser]

+Patrick yeah, I definitely feel like dds are rare atm

[@slak96u]

Notser playing now. Fun, frustrating. I play to kill other DDs, I learned to do that after the IJN nerf. Before..... I watched a certain IJN DD player play Kami R, picked up what I could and played IJN DDs. Made it to Kagero... And... Pshhhh. Ok. Let's finish Gearing. Finish Gearing. Some asshole (insanely great game, spectacular boat at the time, great player) puts up BB numbers in a DD. Fern Gearing now. Khaba. The shit list. Of all shit lists... Over it.

[@quatschkopq186]

Damn, 4 years

[@ZainalAbidin-fb5rj]

U Best jokey german destroy..

[@spwb2k]

2:21, the Neptune pulls a Notser. :-) May have mentioned this in a prior clips of yours but in my office of WoW nuts ranging in age from 22 to 60, when somone screws up (rare but it happens) we call it "Pulling a Notser" At Happy Hour on the last Friday of every month, if someone has earned it, we give out the Pulling a Notser award, and their trophy is they must chug a pint.

[@MicroDotTV]

great video :) cheers!

[@oldguywisdom2904]

Many times I die in the first 5 minutes of play and still have top score on my team. Floods and fire rack up damage

[@TabRipley]

wich key do you use to follow with the camera your torpedos once you shoot them?

[@Pienimusta]

Ram island and hope for best?

[@Vvoornth]

How are you able to switch your ammo almost immediately? It seems to take an eternity to change for me

[@teddysavero5955]

I hate and love this dd

[@quatschkopq186]

2:11 - eZ -24.3 kts

[@jensiegangsta]

Hey Notser, can you do a new vid on this with the current CV rework in mind? Because the rework just killed my fun playing dd’s. And other non AA ships like Atago and Molotov.

[@FrostyThundertrod]

I think this video could also apply to British and French cruisers

[@DaKillerChipmunk]

British yes, French not so much.

[@Macintoshiba]

Ramming a teammate is like Pulling a notser. *WITHOUT AN ISLAND NEARBY.*

[@rileyj.s.5899]

When I play low tier dd I just rush and get close to drop torps while dodging shots cause nobody can aim

[@wowcoolrex1040]

hahaha i like your tone guy :)

[@randymaatta8824]

Problem is Wargaming puts too much emphasis on damage and not on good team play. Good team play is not rewarded and poor team play is not discouraged. If you don't survive the battle, you lose a lot of well earned credits even if you spot 1M in potential damage. You spot only to find your team is in the rear with the gear and the potential damage is wasted, and oftentimes you are as well. You cap, then your team camps in the safe cap and you have no support to push another cap. I play the Z52 and love it. May I suggest you make a vid teaching CAs and BBs how to properly support their DDs? I agree, our job is to run into a cap and capture if possible, but it seems more and more BB and CA players don't want to properly support you and if you head into the wrong cap, you are toast, especially at T10 with all the DMs, Missouri s and other radar capable ships. My Des Moines can stay hidden until it gets within 10.7 km from a DD, which with 9.9 radar at 54 sec., unless the DD is near an island for cover, he is dead. Worse if the Des Moines is not taking any fire from my team, which is what happens more often than I would like, I am dead. Wargaming has got to give this whole thing some serious thought.

[@odd-ov4gf]

What captain skills do you use on your german destroyer

[@jakehickox7275]

03-2023 gg d ambushing the ambusher! 70

[@ziero1986]

Looking for a guide for new to mid-tier players.

[@SpaceFH]

Your main advance is speed

[@Dragunov302]

Hey this is who? I forgot from the last video?

[@quatschkopq186]

3:46 - you mean smoke *duration,* right?

[@crazycardz1]

thats me when those things happen..

[@gregpruitt1647]

What is a DD?

[@fef777777]

gret video man fok the haters

[@anthonyware4033]

Hey notzer i would love to play in a division with you. I have the Shimakaze and you could play your Montana. I dont mind spotting enemy ships and not beeing seen. I also ask where my BBs want smoke. I have my concealment down to 5.9. I also try to cap at the start of the game. After i cap i flank them and try to torp them to death. Lost of fun and the enemy BBs hate me for it

[@mammothmk3355]

Anthony Ware Just careful, there's one BB which will almost unable to spot unless you are lucky or the player is dunb: Conqueror. ;)

[@anthonyware4033]

Mammoth Mk3 I have successfully made torp runs on many conquerors, and they didnt spot me. :-P

[@mammothmk3355]

Anthony Ware Hmm? Did you kill them while they are alone? If it Is so then it's normal. If it's not, well...... good luck. ;)

[@anthonyware4033]

Mammoth Mk3 some yes some no. I have often sent 15 torps at a group of ship along with tier 10 BBs and had 8 or 9 torps hiting 3 or 4 ships. That always feels great. ;-) several times I have had one torpedo Salvo where i got 100k damage on a group of ships.

[@mammothmk3355]

Anthony Ware Oh. Nice. :D

[@bruce3579]

Does this advice still hold up?

[@lambda2857]

CVs render the Z-52 almost useless.I am open to suggestions.

[@faultymonarch586]

Should of used your torps more that game u relied on the main battery's which is good but also bad because a DD pressures battleships back with torps all you have to do is fire them.near a BB and he's not gonna wanna push by him self

[@dbvetter7485]

What is hydro acoustic?

[@iiiuwuiii4736]

XD

[@goldenalphawolf4583]

Why AP??

[@Gamer-zn2oc]

Noster you and everyone say "dds has to cap its their job" "caping and spoting is the only sure way to the win".But how am i supose to cap if there is a radar on that cap or when i smoke up you get torped by every fraeking ship that have torps.And why should i spot since it doesnt give me anything ,yes its important tis known but IT DOESNT GIVE YOU ANY REWARD you dont get XP for it credits either .The only thing that caping is giving you is one stupid stat that doesnt give you anything .So why should i cap and spot since it doesnt give ME anything.What is the point in wining if that win doesnt give you any xp or credits .Im saying this becase ive been caping ,ive been spoting in my dds and in those games ive been doing only around 30-40k dmg (T7)and at the final stats i get something like 1kxp and 70k credits .So why should i not jsut farm dmg since dmg is what gives you credit and xp

[@maikutsukino4743]

@@ericgrafe1144 Stats and rewards are good and all, but you forgot to tell him that Teamwork is also important in winning. Capping gives the faster points to win. Defending keeps the enemy from getting those points. Spotting gets a BB to smack that Cruiser that's tracking you in the Cap. Damage and kill are your own skills at piloting your ship and accurately firing your weapons. It all goes together. Solo players are no good to have on your team in Ranked or Random battles. They need to stay on Co-Op.

[@limmn3658]

Man I'm sucks in DD.

[@thomass4410]

Me too :'(

[@willemjanhofman6710]

Why always in a tier 10?

[@Notser]

I just liked the decisions in this game, I could show you a tier 2 game but that is also limited in discussion as well

[@InternetDisciple]

10-31-2019

[@Wildboy0001]

Wows is noting more now then 1 thing. World of tools! Skill userEXP.. useless! Bye WG!

[@walney2008]

i´m from brazil bye now II-V-25, videos training destroyer, please, for noob, thks, rs.

[@InternetDisciple]

08-2020 gg d

[@smf1176]

Not sure you should be giving any advice on strats...you said IFHE was worth it on Des Moines and really meant it. Hard pass on your advice.

[@maximinomorgado2150]

I dont really liked this one... It was funny, yes, and how you counter that z23 was hilarious, but it wasnt strategic at all for me. I hope u have a fantastic day too.

[@Apachers]

I agree. This is a very specific map and especially when you go C in the beginning you play DD quite differently than on most of the other maps.

[@lars9805]

I feel like his video's are turning into an endless loop of saying things such as fire ap on broadside and shoot at dd's, this is why I prefer flamu over notser (still like him nonetheless)

[@lkjyuiop1987]

Fucking big ships need to get the fuck out of the way of the other ships you don’t need to be in the way I play this on my phone

[@7vivo]

dupek

[@WishIwasBrit]

You do understand that most players with tier 10 ships are not exactly searching for "tips" on how to play/progress, right? Seriously - you do understand that - right?

[@doesntmatter3068]

@C/boy>>>> I been playing this game sine beta, with over 6000 battles. I probably play dd 80% of the time. I dont understand why you would say this.....it doesnt matter how "GOOD" you think you are. Their is ALWAYS someone better. That why I came here to search. And actually , Notser give some great tips here. I used to by very aggressive player, but I found out that its better to have patience, wait for your "Moment" I seen this in the video. Notser has great patience. Each kill can attest to that.

[@Ganderco]

If I could, I would personally guarantee that noobs are searching way more than experienced players. And tactics for noobs are different than advanced, especially in lower tier ships. Everyone must learn to walk before they can run. And there is little if any video's specifically for the noob...in most if not all of these video's, they are teaching you to run, and if you can't keep up, then too bad, tuff it out and learn the hard way by just jumping in there anyway. And yet, people complain all the time about people who don't know how to play right hehe.....how ironic.

[@WishIwasBrit]

Thank you. I was being snide, but you took the time to express what I (as well as others, or so I'm thinkin'), thought about this. I have no problem with the content - I'm just not clear on who it is directed at.

[@fef777777]

you do understand that you think you are smart but i am here to tell you you are not u understand that right ? I am here to tell you that you are wrong man i am going to get into tier X ships soon . So why do you think tier X ship players wont want tips or watch this video . Are you seriously gona sit there and tell me you are getting 4 kills per game and survive every time or anyone that is a tier X player . You need to understand that different players look at the game / see and play it in lots of diferent ways so its very interesting to see it from somoene elses perspective

[@Ganderco]

You may want to read his comment right above your comment. The point is that there is a need for more content directed at newbies and there is hardly any. It creates frustration. Because newbies have very little video tips etc to teach them, bad habits are learned at low tiers and carried all the way up to the high tiers. Notsers content is great! But wish there was more for the total noob or mid-tier and down. Hope this helps. PS Frustration often times causes people to say things in overly exaggerated ways....it happens.

[@ku9305]

This was absolutely painful to watch but I guess we all make mistakes.

[@maygayming5275]

ZED! Zed fifty-two you yankee texan yankee! XD

[@ohgoshtro]

Captain Griffin Dixie is the term you're looking for, Yankee is northern part of the United States. It's a mess.

[@maygayming5275]

All Americans are Yankees to everybody outside the US. Even the ones from the south. But I'll make you a deal, you guys stop saying zee and spelling things like armour and honour wrong, and I'll stop calling southerners Yankees XD

[@sinceRENEss]

No good example at all.. 6 minutes into game and still sitting behind an island and not even capping.

[@Jonashall1]

Hey Notser! I love your videos but this was painful to watch. You did not provide enough support to your team. You need to provide smoke if your team is under pressure and you were not using your torps enough. Also you were spending to much time lurking around in between the islands, with no results to show for. And finally, you firing AP against the other DDs was a nightmare to watch. There are certainly different ways to play and I guess this was one of them. Take care.

[@DaKillerChipmunk]

"You need to provide smoke if your team is under pressure" German smoke is pointless for team. "Also you were spending to much time lurking around in between the islands" Z52 can't afford to be spotted in the open, and with exception of the Z23, everyone outspots it. "you firing AP against the other DDs" It's a German DD. The ONLY upside of its guns IS the AP. HE works, but is weak as fuck. Though, he admitted he should've switched HE when the target angled.

[@Managarmr420]

Firing AP against other DD's is a valid tactic. You learn which ships to fire AP at over time. In the HSF Harekaze I can fire AP at the broadside of a gearing, and if he doesn't angle I will win the fight. In the Shimakaze I will only avoid using AP on the kagero's broadside.