World of Warships - Learn to Play: Tier VIII Japanese Destroyer Kagero

Let's take a look at another of the oldest lines in World of Warships: the original Japanese torpedo-centric destroyers. Continuing up the line, we arrive at Tier VIII's Kagero.
00:00 - Intro
00:08 - Meet Kagero
02:02 - Survivability
04:29 - Armor
04:37 - Maneuverability & Concealment
11:34 - Main Battery
14:00 - Torpedoes
17:11 - Depth Charges
17:47 - AA Defenses
18:40 - Upgrades
21:36 - Consumables
24:35 - Signals
25:09 - Commander Skills
28:11 - Sample Gameplay
The pendulum swings back pretty hard in Kagero, as you go from the (very nearly) worst-in-tier detection of Akatsuki to one of the lowest detection values in the game one tier higher. In exchange for this massive asset, her torpedo reload is significantly worse. It doesn't feel like a fair trade at first... until you start landing torpedo hits. In this video I'll talk about how I build my Kagero, why I fit her out that way, how I recommend playing her, and follow all of that up with a game demonstrating the ship in action.
Enjoy!
My Kagero build: share.wowssb.com/k3qX
UPGRADES EQUIPPED:
Upgrade Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
Upgrade Slot 2: Engine Room Protection
Upgrade Slot 3: Main Battery Modification 2
Upgrade Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 1
Upgrade Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1
SIGNALS EQUIPPED:
Juliet Charlie, Victor Lima, Juliet Whiskey Unaone, Sierra Mike, November Foxtrot
COMMANDER SKILLS:
Preventative Maintenance, Last Stand, Fill the Tubes, Concealment Expert, Adrenaline Rush, Radio Location, Grease the Gears
FIND ME ON:
Facebook - / searaptorna
Twitter - / searaptor
Twitch Channel - / searaptor
KZbin - / searaptor
#WorldOfWarships

[@RayT314]

Don't think I've said this before so I wanted to make sure to note how helpful it is. It's EXCELLENT to hear your thought process in the moments when you pause to talk through strategy. For me (and I can only speak for myself) this is the hardest "skill" to pick up in the game and the one that I continue to need the most work on. You need to be able to make good strategic decisions throughout the game and be able to take a quick mental check breaks to make those. Obviously in the game they are quicker and you can miss things in the moment, but I love how you talk through your decision making and wanted to sincerely thank you for the insights. It's making me a better player and enjoy the game even more.

[@Elvroom]

I’d love to see the harugumo line featured on your channel also

[@subodhsrinivasamurthy6866]

Hello, searaptor really love this series keep making these type of videos

[@KPen3750]

I will stand by Torpedo Reload Booster Kagero. She is hard to play, but oh so worth it

[@SeaRaptor]

She is INCREDIBLY difficult to play in my opinion, and not for (a) beginners or (b) the feint of heart.

[@rjcolombe]

Agreed. Super fun, but super risky. CV matches need not apply.

[@richardosuave5137]

I've played Kag for a long time but only came to terms with it after the rework and it moved to T8. I lamented the loss of Fubuki at T8 but grew to love Kag and she remains strong for me. TRB is the only way i play her IMO and its not for those inexperienced with IJN torp boats. Keep her moving, know your detection distance and have Radio Location which helps against unexpected DD visits. Great vids Searaptor, nice to see the thought process of quality players.

[@rjcolombe]

@@richardosuave5137 Agreed with TRB most of the time, but you give up the escape mode with smoke if a CV wants to keep you lit. CV matches are the bane of your existence at that point.

[@richardosuave5137]

@@rjcolombe I used to be more worried about CVs and with the pitiful 'drum roll' AA Kag has they can be your doom, but i find with the very low airplane detection you can often avoid them and many CVs give up looking for you. I feel Kags strength is the torps so putting as many as possible in the water is a must. It's a great boat and worth the effort to know her even with the plethora of gun boats these days. I enjoy playing close to detection, avoiding being spotted and dropping those mighty fish as often as possible. Get your fun where you can 😄

[@wildlifeman6365]

As always, a great video. Still I think that there is a bit more of a discussion of the TRB/Smoke option on both her and the Yugumo. I've been playing this game for a bit more than 6 years, and I do love my dd torp boats. The IJN line was first line that I ground to T10 (this was before the split) so I have a bit of experience in playing these ships. You are right in pointing out that the TRB option is high risk, but it's also high reward. It's a graduate level course in dd torp boat play. You have to be in a particular mindset to play a TRB IJN dd. NASA calls the concept single point failures, one mistake and the mission fails. It's not a playstyle for everyone, but I have come to enjoy the challenge. With that in mind please allow me to make a few recommendations when playing TRB build IJN dds: 1) Don't try a TRB build unless you have RPF on your captain, 2) if there is a CV in the game, start cautious and stay under the AA protection of your cruisers (such as it is in the game these days), 3) absolutely pay attention to the minimap and confirm the location of any radar equipped ships, 4) in sending your torps into BBs or CAs, send the first set, hit the TRB and wait to see what happens. BB players especially will maneuver to avoid the first set and then straighten out assuming you are a smoke dd. Avoid sending out the "wall of skill". That's my two-cents-worth.

[@Swift_Boat]

Hi Reptor, now I am grinding this line together with your excellent videos. Playing European Torpedo DDs for a long time with my favorite Öland, I thought I give it a try. It was difficult especially with Akazuki. But Kagero is a breeze. I play the torpedo reload booster and this ships makes it sooo easy for me. Now I play Kagero and Öland one after the other. Öland is far more risk to play. Kagero just easy, if I stick to your advise. Thanks for your excellent videos. I really love the for being so analytical. Keep doing this great work.

[@jasonmariani1258]

You are FAR and away the best player/instructor (if u will), to put vids up on KZbin for a wows enthusiast. Your attention to WHATS IMPORTANT, is what sets you apart and I’m positive others see that too. Thx a lot man!

[@SeaRaptor]

Wow, thanks! I appreciate the kind words. =)

[@bryandavidson6386]

Great instructional video as ever. Thanks Searaptor 🖒

[@SeaRaptor]

You're most welcome.

[@boomshanka4667]

These videos are fantastic to watch, thanks man.

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad you like them!

[@gamkem1405]

Great advice SR! I really like this ship! And I do use the torp reload a lot of the time. Works well in Operations but have to be careful in Ranked and Randoms. o7

[@raidenthesamurai]

Love your vids

[@SeaRaptor]

Appreciate the kind words, glad these help!

[@Yasharvl]

Best in tier guides! Thank you!

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad you think so!

[@Yasharvl]

Love your detailed strategy, positioning, and situational awareness tips! ✊

[@frosty3693]

Fun to watch and well done. You mentioned a couple of times about turning off your AA. You must have confused this ship with another. Kangero only has 2.5 km range on the AA guns and that is your air detection range too, so you can ust leave them on. The depth charge pattern is short and dense. One off the stern then both side launchers and it repeats. TRB may be a less bad choice if you play CoOp than playing Randoms. The game play is different so you can learn bad habits in CoOp for playing in Randoms. For instance the Mainz in CoOp , the bot captain would probably not stopped behind the island but kept on coming. But sometimes they do stop behind islands. (but it is rumored that bot captains know immediately when torps are launched at them and when they are being tracked.) I play both IJN and French DDs so often forget I have smoke and how best to use it.

[@SeaRaptor]

Good point about the AA; her AA range is more-or-less equal to her AA range, so if you choose to leave it on it probably won't hose you. Still, it's a good skill to develop, because Yugumo and Shimakaze can't say the same thing.

[@ekscalybur]

Thanks! This was helpful.

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad it helped!

[@craig.gearhart]

Good stuff man!

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad you liked it!

[@shikikankillzone4239]

I'd say, if you're matching uptiers, you're better off with TRB. The sheer amount of radar and hydro in t10 just makes smoke obsolete, while TRB makes you be able to hold chokes with ease and firing walls of torps at enemies, which is really your only source of damage against t10s

[@ceciletokarev3689]

I don't get the point to play Kagero without Reload Booster :) This ambivalent role "Prey vs Predator" is maximised with this ship + config. The only concerns: - be ready to have a long learning curve (especially now with Radar everywhere, sub spotting from nowhere, BB carrier, CV, ...) - if you are facing a good CV player who want to kill you. At one point, he will.

[@SeaRaptor]

Concur. This is why I highly recommend players start with smoke, and as they become more comfortable in the ship they can experiment with TRB. For newbies, TRB is too high a risk of dying so quickly you don't get to play or learn anything about the ship, IMHO.

[@Pipe_Avileins]

I've had kagero for a year and i'm "experimenting" with the torp reload, so far is a mixed experience; when you dont have CVs is excelent for harassing and dev strike ships; when there is CV, is a pain escaping the airstrikes while trying to be useful. The ship is really nice tho, even playing solo in randoms.

[@shaunli4295]

In 31:12 you said you wanted to burn the ss damage control. I wouldn't have fired bc you cannot guarantee a fire, and even if you did, the cons outweigh the cons. The mainz would've at least took some of your HP off since the ss was the only thing between him and you. The ss is submerged so the Mainz WILL FIRE AT YOU

[@SeaRaptor]

Sure he will, I knew that when I did it. It was a risk, but one I was willing to take given the value of the sub as a target and my confidence in my ability to slip away from the Mainz afterwards.

[@old_guard2431]

RPF: subs at periscope depth and small-island ring-around-the-rosy with opposing destroyers.

[@SeaRaptor]

The periscope depth thing was messing with me, because of how low Kagero's aerial detection is. Watching the replay it becomes a tad more clear how RPF interacts with the sub... but it is super confusing at first.

[@windwardsailor6427]

Great video, you should go into radio or sports play by play!

[@SeaRaptor]

Maybe one day!

[@piratevirus227]

Will you do Battleships next?

[@SeaRaptor]

I am not as confident in my ability to recommend BB plays to folks. I may do one or more of the battlecruiser lines, though (German or Brits).

[@mikesarich1680]

Textbook execution

[@nomaddc5289]

Great advice but I got no friends 😂