Cruisers - France CA Henri IV Line
Captain & Ship Build and Strategy Guide
French CA Henri IV Line - Standard Build
- Build focus: Concealment, firepower and engagement control
- Playstyle: Mobile DPS cruiser focused on kiting and ranged damage
- Main strength: Strong mobility and firepower supported by good concealment
- Low-tier option: Swap Expert Marksman for Last Stand on cruisers below Henri IV if steering gears are frequently disabled
- Tier VI CL option: Use IFHE and Demolition Expert instead of Priority Target and Grease the Gears for a dedicated build
- Commander: Honoré is highly recommended because of his improved Grease the Gears and Adrenaline Rush skills
- Slot 2: Engine Boost Modification is preferred; use Emergency Repair Specialist if unavailable
- Alternative: A dedicated Lighthouse Build is also available for a more aggressive firepower-focused playstyle, Henri IV Line Lighthouse Build
- Applies to: Jurien, Friant, Duguay-Trouin, Émile Bertin, La Galissonnière, De Grasse, Montcalm, Dupleix, Algérie, Charles Martel, Saint-Louis, Henri IV and Condé
The French heavy-cruiser line leading to Henri IV is built around mobility, concealment and sustained damage. This standard build is designed as a balanced DPS cruiser setup, giving the ships enough firepower to pressure enemy targets while maximizing concealment and engagement control.
The ability to control the distance of an engagement is particularly important for these cruisers. Their speed allows them to kite away from advancing enemies, while concealment gives them opportunities to disengage and choose when to become visible again. The standard build is therefore focused on maintaining this flexibility rather than maximizing raw damage at any cost.
For cruisers below Henri IV, Last Stand can replace Expert Marksman if you regularly find your steering gears being disabled by cruiser-caliber HE. This is especially relevant while progressing through the lower tiers, where repeated module damage can make evasive kiting much more difficult.
The Tier VI light cruisers are another special case. When building a dedicated commander for these ships, IFHE and Demolition Expert can be used instead of Priority Target and Grease the Gears. This shifts the setup toward additional offensive pressure rather than using the broader heavy-cruiser configuration.
Honoré is highly recommended for the line because of his improved Grease the Gears and Adrenaline Rush skills. Faster turret traverse improves gun handling while additional reload performance becomes increasingly valuable as the ship takes damage during prolonged engagements.
Engine Boost Modification is the preferred Slot 2 upgrade because mobility is central to the French cruiser playstyle. The additional Engine Boost duration helps with repositioning, disengaging and maintaining the distance required for effective kiting. Emergency Repair Specialist is the fallback option if the modification is unavailable.
In battle, use the ship's speed to maintain a favorable engagement distance while continuously applying damage. Avoid sailing directly toward enemy formations when you can instead approach from a flank, fire while angled away and gradually kite the enemy into less favorable positions.
The standard build also gives these cruisers more flexibility around objectives. You can move forward when your team needs additional firepower and retreat when enemy pressure becomes overwhelming. The key is to avoid becoming trapped in a position that your mobility can no longer rescue you from.
For players who want to push the offensive side of the French cruiser playstyle further, there is also a dedicated Henri IV Line Lighthouse Build. That setup sacrifices some of the balanced characteristics of the standard build in exchange for additional offensive potential.
The Standard Build remains the most flexible option for the line. It provides a balanced combination of concealment, firepower and mobility while retaining the ability to adapt to different battle situations. The Lighthouse setup is better treated as an alternative for players specifically looking to maximize offensive output.
Overall, the Henri IV line rewards active positioning and constant movement. Use concealment to choose your engagements, Engine Boost to control distance and your main battery to steadily wear down enemy ships while kiting away from pressure.