Cruiser - Italy Tier IX Messina
Captain & Ship Build and Strategy Guide
- Build focus: Main battery performance, survivability, concealment and close-range SAP damage
- Playstyle: Close-to-mid-range cruiser using maneuverability and Exhaust Smoke to control engagements
- Main battery: Rapid-firing 152 mm guns with strong SAP performance
- Primary ammunition: SAP against lightly armored and appropriately angled targets, HE when SAP is ineffective
- SAP penetration: 42 mm, making it effective against destroyers, cruisers and vulnerable sections of battleships
- Smoke: Exhaust Smoke Generator provides concealment while moving and is especially useful when escaping while broadside or under heavy focus fire
- Captain build: Modified Italian heavy-cruiser build adapted for Messina's lack of Spotting Aircraft
- Alternative: Top Grade Gunner can be replaced with Outnumbered for improved speed and accuracy
- Shared captain: Venezia's captain build can be used if you do not want to dedicate a separate commander
- Commander: Sansonetti is a strong choice for Messina
- Survivability: The modified build invests more heavily in survivability because Messina lacks a Spotting Aircraft and has a vulnerable citadel outside Smoke
- Key strength: High maneuverability, strong SAP damage and reliable Exhaust Smoke utility
- Key weakness: Vulnerable citadel, poor performance against bow-in targets and relatively short-range torpedoes
- Applies to: Italy Tier IX Messina
Messinais a Tier IX Italian light cruiser that combines rapid-firing 152 mm guns with powerful SAP ammunition and an Exhaust Smoke Generator. She can produce strong sustained damage against lightly armored targets while using smoke and maneuverability to remain difficult to punish. Her major weakness is that she becomes considerably more vulnerable outside smoke, particularly when forced to show broadside, and she struggles to generate efficient damage against heavily angled targets.
Messina is essentially a Tier IX interpretation of the Amalfi concept, but with light-cruiser guns and a different balance between firepower and survivability. The smaller-caliber guns provide a higher volume of fire, while the ship retains the Italian combination of SAP and Exhaust Smoke that defines the nation's more unusual cruisers.
The recommended setup is a modified Italian heavy-cruiser build that compensates for Messina's lack of Spotting Aircraft by improving her survivability. Rather than relying on long-range fire as a primary strategy, the build supports the close-to-mid-range gameplay where Messina's maneuverability, SAP and smoke are most effective.
Venezia's build can be used if you do not want to dedicate a separate commander. This is a practical option because the underlying Italian cruiser skills remain useful on Messina. However, the modified Messina setup provides better optimization for her specific consumable and engagement profile.
Top Grade Gunner can be replaced with Outnumbered if you prefer improved speed and accuracy. This is particularly attractive when playing aggressively around objectives or when several enemy ships are likely to be nearby. The choice is ultimately between more general offensive consistency and the situational benefits provided by Outnumbered.
Sansonetti is a strong commander choice for Messina. His bonuses work naturally with a cruiser that wants to accumulate damage and remain active throughout the battle. He is particularly useful when you frequently engage multiple targets and can reliably trigger his talents.
The main battery is Messina's primary source of sustained damage. Her 152 mm guns allow her to fire frequently and maintain pressure against exposed targets. The ship's SAP is especially important because it deals substantial direct damage without requiring a favorable fire-setting cycle.
Messina's SAP penetrates 42 mm, which is a major part of her effectiveness. This gives the shells the ability to damage destroyers, cruisers and many vulnerable sections of battleships directly. The exact target location still matters, however. Against large ships, aim for sections where the armor is thin enough for SAP to penetrate reliably.
Against battleships, the superstructure, bow and stern are generally the safest targets for SAP. Depending on the ship, the upper belt can also be a viable target. Learning the general armor layouts of the ships you commonly encounter is therefore an important part of maximizing Messina's damage.
The ship is particularly effective against lightly armored cruisers and destroyers. SAP can deal substantial direct damage against these targets, while the fast-firing guns provide enough volume to punish them when they remain exposed. Messina is especially useful in supporting friendly destroyers because she can contribute meaningful damage without relying entirely on fires.
Bow-in targets are the major exception. When an enemy cruiser or battleship presents only its heavily armored front, SAP becomes much less efficient. Instead of repeatedly firing into an unfavorable section, look for another target or reposition until a more vulnerable angle becomes available.
This is one of the main reasons Messina works best at close-to-mid range. Getting somewhat closer increases your ability to hit vulnerable sections consistently while giving your guns a more practical relationship with the target. At the same time, you remain close enough to take advantage of Exhaust Smoke when the enemy begins concentrating fire.
Messina is highly maneuverable and should be played accordingly. Learn to dodge incoming fire rather than relying solely on armor. Vary your speed and rudder direction, especially when enemy battleships have already fired. The ship's agility is one of the most valuable defensive tools available to you.
Exhaust Smoke is an important part of this defensive system. Because Messina can continue moving while concealed, the consumable is ideal for disengaging from a fight, repositioning across exposed water or making a turn that would otherwise leave the cruiser vulnerable to concentrated fire.
One of the strongest uses for Exhaust Smoke is when you need to show broadside while escaping. Messina's vulnerable citadel makes this situation particularly dangerous in open water, but the moving smoke can conceal the ship while the turn is completed. This gives you much more freedom to disengage from an unfavorable fight.
The smoke should also be preserved for critical engagements. If islands or friendly ships can provide adequate cover, use those sources of concealment first. Saving Exhaust Smoke for open-water situations makes each charge considerably more valuable.
Messina's lack of Spotting Aircraft is one of the reasons the build places more emphasis on survivability. You do not have the same ability as some Italian cruisers to extend your safe gun range through an aircraft consumable, so maintaining enough HP and using concealment intelligently is especially important.
During the opening phase, Messina should generally support the frontline without becoming the first cruiser exposed. Her guns are excellent for punishing enemy destroyers and lightly armored cruisers, but her vulnerable citadel means that taking a battleship crossfire early can quickly end the engagement.
Look for opportunities to fire on enemies that are already focused elsewhere. If a battleship is firing at one of your allies, you can often exploit the distraction and maintain a firing position without immediately becoming the enemy's priority target.
Against destroyers, Messina should be particularly useful as a support ship. Her 152 mm guns can put a large number of SAP shells into an exposed target, and her maneuverability allows her to remain close enough to influence the fight without necessarily entering the capture point herself.
However, do not chase an enemy DD deep into hostile territory. A destroyer supported by several cruisers can quickly turn the engagement around. Use your guns while the target is visible and then disengage if the enemy support begins focusing you.
Against cruisers, ammunition choice depends primarily on angle. SAP is excellent when the target exposes vulnerable sections, while a heavily bow-in cruiser may require you to reposition or consider HE. The objective is to maximize direct damage rather than repeatedly shooting a target simply because it is currently visible.
Against lightly armored cruisers, Messina's SAP can be particularly punishing. Watch for ships turning into or away from you and aim accordingly. A cruiser that gives you enough side armor can take substantial damage from repeated SAP salvos, especially when it is already distracted by another enemy.
Against battleships, focus on superstructure, bow, stern and other vulnerable sections. The 42 mm SAP penetration gives you more target choices than a conventional light cruiser, but not every part of every battleship can be penetrated effectively. Learning common battleship armor schemes will noticeably improve your results.
Torpedoes provide another useful option against larger ships. Messina's torpedoes have relatively short range compared with some dedicated torpedo cruisers, so they are most useful when an enemy pushes toward your position or when an isolated target has already committed to a predictable route.
Do not force a point-blank torpedo attack simply because the torpedoes are available. Messina's greatest advantage is her maneuverability. Use that mobility to control the engagement and only enter torpedo range when the enemy's positioning makes the attack worthwhile.
The ship's maneuverability also makes open-water kiting practical. When enemy ships begin focusing you, start changing course and speed while maintaining your preferred engagement distance. Use Exhaust Smoke when the focus becomes too intense or when you need to make a dangerous turn.
A key habit is learning to recognize when your citadel is at risk. Messina can survive ordinary HE fire relatively well compared with the danger posed by battleship AP striking a poorly timed broadside. Do not make large turns simply to bring more guns onto an enemy if the resulting angle leaves the citadel exposed.
This is especially important when escaping. If you need to turn away from an enemy battleship, use Exhaust Smoke when appropriate and begin the maneuver before the next enemy salvo is ready. Once the ship is safely angled and moving away, you can resume firing without taking the same level of risk.
Mid-game is where Messina can become much more aggressive. Once enemy destroyers have been identified and the opposing fleet begins to spread out, the cruiser can use concealment and mobility to support vulnerable flanks. Isolated cruisers and battleships provide much better opportunities than large enemy formations.
A successful Messina engagement often involves short periods of intense activity rather than constant exposure. Move into range, fire enough salvos to force a response, then disappear or change position when the enemy begins focusing you. This rhythm allows the ship's survivability to last throughout the match.
Exhaust Smoke can be especially powerful when used offensively during this stage. Approach a vulnerable target, begin firing and then use smoke to cover a withdrawal once the target's supporting ships react. Because the smoke moves with you, Messina can remain mobile throughout the entire maneuver.
The ability to dodge is central to the ship's survival. Do not simply sail at a constant speed while farming. Battleships are extremely capable of punishing predictable movement, and Messina does not have the armor to absorb repeated large-caliber hits indefinitely.
In the late game, Messina's strengths become more pronounced. Fewer enemy ships mean fewer sources of crossfire, making the maneuverability and concealment much easier to exploit. An isolated cruiser or damaged battleship can be attacked aggressively without exposing the ship to the same level of risk seen earlier.
This is also the stage where the torpedoes become more valuable. With fewer ships providing overlapping support, an isolated enemy can be approached closer and forced to react to both gunfire and torpedoes. Use terrain and Exhaust Smoke to control the approach.
The biggest mistake with Messina is trying to farm from the open without paying attention to the enemy's guns. The ship's good DPM can be tempting, but its vulnerable citadel makes prolonged exposure dangerous. Use maneuvering and Exhaust Smoke to ensure that your damage farming does not turn into a one-way exchange.
Another mistake is ignoring SAP penetration mechanics. Messina's 42 mm SAP penetration is extremely useful, but only when the shells are directed toward sections they can actually penetrate. Against battleships, aim deliberately for superstructure, bow, stern and suitable upper-belt areas instead of simply targeting the center of the hull.
The ship's relationship with Venezia is also worth remembering. Venezia's build can be used without creating a completely ineffective commander setup, making it the easiest shared-captain option. However, the dedicated Messina build places more emphasis on survivability because the ship does not have the same tools as some other Italian cruisers to operate safely at longer ranges.
Overall, Messina is a fast and maneuverable Italian Tier IX light cruiser that combines rapid-firing 152 mm guns, 42 mm SAP penetration, short-range torpedoes and Exhaust Smoke. She excels against destroyers, cruisers and lightly armored sections of battleships, but her vulnerable citadel and weakness against bow-in targets make positioning and ammunition selection essential.
The ideal Messina captain should stay mobile, fight from close-to-mid range and use SAP to punish vulnerable armor sections. Support friendly destroyers when opportunities appear, use the Exhaust Smoke Generator to survive critical turns and open-water disengagements, and conserve HP for the late game. When played with disciplined movement and careful target selection, Messina can maintain strong pressure without giving the enemy an easy opportunity to punish her.