Battleships - Germany Preussen Line
Captain & Ship Build and Strategy Guide
KM BBs (Preussen Line) - Tank Build
- Build focus: Battleship survivability with improved main battery performance
- Playstyle: Flexible close- to mid-range battleship
- Main strengths: Excellent survivability, strong main guns, Hydroacoustic Search and useful secondaries
- Recommended build: Standard tank build rather than a dedicated secondary setup
- 2-point skill: AA Defense and ASW Expert is useful for the consumable cooldown bonus, especially in CV-heavy matches
- Alternative: Grease the Gears if you prefer faster turret traverse
- Commander: Lütjens works well thanks to his improved skills and talents
- Slot 5: Hydroacoustic Search Modification is preferred; use Damage Control System Modification 1 if unavailable
- Ideal range: Approximately 10–15 km
- Key warning: Avoid extreme-range sniping and do not push blindly simply because you are a German battleship
- Applies to: Nassau, König Albert, Kaiser, König, Bayern, Prinz Eitel Friedrich, Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, Bismarck, Tirpitz, Friedrich der Große, Pommern, Preußen, Großer Kurfürst and Hannover
The German Preussen battleship line is built around survivability, strong close- to mid-range combat performance and unusually useful Hydroacoustic Search at the higher tiers. This standard tank build improves the main battery while keeping the ship durable enough to remain effective throughout longer engagements.
The tank setup is recommended over the dedicated secondary build. German battleships still have strong secondary batteries, but specialized German battlecruisers and other secondary-focused battleship lines now offer a more natural home for a full secondary investment. The standard build instead keeps the Preussen line flexible and effective in a wider range of situations. If you prefer to fully specialize in secondary damage, you can use the dedicated Preussen Line Secondary Build instead.
AA Defense and ASW Expert is a useful 2-point skill when you expect to encounter a lot of aircraft. Its main value is the consumable cooldown reduction rather than the direct improvement to AA damage. Grease the Gears is a perfectly reasonable alternative if you dislike the relatively slow turret traverse and want more responsive main guns.
Lütjens is a useful commander for the line because of his improved skills and talents, although you may prefer to prioritize him for other German tech-tree ships depending on your roster. The important point is that the standard tank build does not require a specialized secondary commander.
At the higher tiers, Hydroacoustic Search is one of the line's defining advantages. German battleships receive a superior Hydro variant that provides additional warning against torpedoes and helps detect ships operating behind smoke or islands. This makes the ships particularly comfortable when fighting in confined areas and supporting pushes.
The ideal combat range is roughly 10–15 km. This keeps you close enough for your main battery to hit reliably while giving you enough distance to react to torpedoes and avoid unnecessary focus fire. Long-range sniping near maximum gun range is generally inefficient because these ships become less consistent as distance increases.
Do not feel obligated to push immediately. German battleships are often treated as if pressing W is the only acceptable strategy, but the Preussen line is versatile enough to remain at mid range and kite when a push is unfavorable. A controlled retreat is often more valuable than repeating Bismarck's famous last stand.
Early in the battle, concentrate on softening up the enemy. Look for broadside targets, punish cruisers and battleships that expose themselves and use your team's combined firepower to gradually weaken the opposing flank. Once the enemy loses ships or becomes committed to a forward position, your own survivability becomes much more valuable.
The line's good citadel protection and strong close-range characteristics make aggressive pushes viable when the situation supports them. Use islands and terrain to shorten the distance safely, keep Hydro available when torpedoes are a concern and avoid entering a position where several enemy ships can simultaneously focus you.
For the Hydro upgrade, Hydroacoustic Search Modification is preferred. If you do not have it, Damage Control System Modification 1 is the practical alternative. The extended Hydro utility is particularly valuable when fighting around objectives, islands and narrow approaches.
The Preussen line rewards adaptability more than a single fixed engagement pattern. Some battles will call for a controlled push into close range, while others are better handled by staying around 10–15 km and kiting away. Read the minimap, identify where your team needs pressure and adjust your position before the enemy forces the decision for you.
The key to the line is knowing when to use your durability and when to preserve it. Your armor, Repair Party and Hydro allow you to operate closer to the enemy than many battleships, but none of those tools make you invincible. Make every aggressive move create a meaningful advantage in damage, positioning or map control.
Overall, the Preussen line is best treated as a group of versatile German battleships rather than pure secondary brawlers. Fight primarily at close to mid range, punish broadsides, use Hydro to manage torpedo threats and stay flexible enough to push or kite depending on the battle.