Battleship - Germany Tier VIII Odin
Captain & Ship Build and Strategy Guide
- Build focus: Secondary battleship build
- Playstyle: Stealthy close-range brawler
- Main strength: Excellent concealment combined with strong secondary range
- Main weakness: Lower HP and main-battery firepower than many Tier VIII battleships
- IFHE: Not required for 32mm penetration
- Alternative: Close Quarters Combat can replace a secondary-focused skill when prioritizing main-gun performance
- Tank build: A standard Preussen-line tank build is also viable
- Commander: Lütjens is particularly useful for improving secondary performance
- Applies to: Odin
Odin is a German Tier VIII battleship that gives up some conventional battleship firepower and durability in exchange for unusually good concealment. That combination makes her particularly dangerous when she can choose when and where a close-range engagement begins.
The secondary build gets the most out of what makes Odin different. Her maximum secondary range can approach her surface detection range, allowing her to begin dealing damage surprisingly soon after becoming visible. IFHE is not required for the build because her secondaries already have enough penetration to deal with the 32mm armor commonly encountered at Tier VIII.
Close Quarters Combat is a good alternative when you would rather improve the main battery in close fights instead of committing fully to the secondary setup. Lütjens is also a strong commander choice because his improved skills and talents can further enhance the ship's secondary-focused playstyle.
Odin's concealment is the key to playing her well. Use it to approach threatening positions without being detected too early, disengage from fights you cannot win and dictate the distance against opponents that would prefer to fight at range. You can often get much closer to an enemy battleship before committing than a larger German battleship could.
Once the engagement starts, Odin plays much like other secondary battleships. Look for isolated targets, use islands and friendly ships to limit incoming fire, and let the secondary battery continuously work while your main guns contribute to the fight. The important difference is that Odin does not have the staying power of the larger German battleships, so trading HP carelessly can end the engagement quickly.
This makes timing especially important. Do not rush simply because you have good concealment. A stealthy approach only helps if it lets you reach a favorable position. Once several enemy ships can focus you, Odin's relatively low durability becomes a serious liability.
You can also turn Odin's concealment into a defensive tool. Breaking contact and disappearing can be just as valuable as pushing forward. If an engagement becomes unfavorable, use your stealth to reset the fight rather than remaining visible and giving the enemy an easy target.
A standard Preussen-line tank build is another viable option, particularly if you want Odin to share a captain with your German battleships. In that case, follow the Preussen tank-build playstyle and rely less heavily on Odin's secondary specialization.
Odin rewards cunning more than brute force. Use your superior concealment to create the engagement you want, get into secondary range at the right moment and disengage when the fight turns against you. She may not have the raw combat power of larger German battleships, but few opponents can afford to ignore an Odin that reaches the right position unseen.