I’m curious about the California battleship. I already know that the WV44 is considered the best, and I have that one. But I think the California is a super cool ship, and my friend from California really wants to get it just for the name. We’re both not the best players, so I’m wondering if the California is actually usable in battles or if it’s just a flop that isn’t worth taking out.
5 Answers
It’s a pretty average ship at best. Think of it like a New Mexico but with much better AA, range, and acceleration. The downsides are that the long reload time and those 14″ guns make it feel underwhelming, especially when facing Tier 9 ships. I really enjoy playing it, but I do have a love-hate relationship with those guns.
California is great for HE spamming and punishing broadsides, but the gameplay can get boring due to the speed issues. I gave it a couple of tries and decided it wasn’t really for me.
Honestly, every ship has its uses, no matter how bad they say it is. If you like the California, then go for it! I personally think it’s pretty rough compared to others. I’d rather jump in a New Mexico if I’m looking for a slow battleship with 12 guns. It seems like it was meant to be a mini Vermont, but the accuracy isn’t great, and the reload is painfully slow. The hull isn’t good either—lots of 26mm armor. But for some reason, I still manage to perform decently in it, averaging about 90k damage with a 60% win rate, even while I hate every second in the ship, lol.
The California plays somewhat like the Tennessee if you’re familiar with that one. Imagine it as a middle ground between New Mexico and Tennessee. It’s not as slow, and you’ll have 14″ guns. You’ll be more accurate than with New Mexico, but less so than Tennessee. So, if you can deal with a better New Mexico, it should be usable, but it won’t dramatically change your gameplay if you can’t stand how slow New Mexico is.
California can actually be fun since it got a boost in acceleration. It’s got 12 accurate guns and pretty decent armor, plus the best AA of any Tier 7 battleship! The maneuverability is excellent, but don’t expect to win races. It rewards good positioning and smart play. Just keep in mind that your 356mm shells won’t overmatch same-tier battleships, so try to set up crossfire situations.
