Destroyer - U.S.A. Tier VIII Kidd - Captain & Gunboat Build
- Build focus: A close-range gunboat build for Kidd, with additional utility to take advantage of her Smoke Generator, Repair Party and strong main battery.
- Playstyle: Kidd trades one of her two torpedo launchers for a Repair Party, making her considerably more durable than many destroyers. Her limited torpedo armament is the main drawback when attacking larger ships.
- Captain skills: Use the standard gunboat destroyer build with additional utility. Trade 2-point Consumable Enhancement for Demolition Expert (DE) if you want more firepower, although Kidd's fires per minute remain limited even with fire-chance improvements.
- Anti-DD option: Radio Location (RPF) is a viable alternative for players who want to specialize in destroyer hunting. In this setup, trade the 3-point gun reload skill and Consumable Enhancement for RPF.
- Fearless Brawler: Fearless Brawler (FB) is viable but less recommended because Kidd benefits from using Smoke Generator or taking short engagements to compensate for her relatively slow shell velocity.
- Upgrade choice: If you do not have the Engine Boost Modification 1 upgrade, use Engine Room Protection (ERP) instead.
- Applies to: VIII Kidd.
Kidd is a specialized American destroyer that sacrifices one of its torpedo launchers for a Repair Party. That trade fundamentally changes how the ship should be played. Rather than relying on torpedo attacks against larger targets, Kidd can afford to take repeated short gunfights and recover some of the damage afterwards. The result is a durable destroyer that is particularly comfortable fighting other destroyers at close range.
The main battery is the centerpiece of the build, but Kidd's shell velocity makes long-range engagements less comfortable. This is one reason the recommended setup emphasizes utility rather than simply stacking every possible gun-damage skill. Smoke Generator can create controlled firing opportunities, while Repair Party gives Kidd the ability to recover from the damage accumulated during aggressive engagements.
Demolition Expert is an optional way to add more direct firepower by replacing Consumable Enhancement. However, the improvement should be viewed as a secondary benefit rather than a transformation into a dedicated fire-setting platform. Kidd's overall fires-per-minute potential remains limited even when multiple fire-chance improvements are selected.
Players who want to specialize in hunting enemy destroyers can instead build toward Radio Location (RPF). The information provided by RPF complements Kidd's close-range gunboat role by helping locate the nearest enemy and set up engagements. This version sacrifices some gun reload and consumable utility in exchange for stronger anti-DD capabilities.
Fearless Brawler can also work, but it is not the preferred option for this build. Kidd is better served by controlling the duration and distance of engagements, using smoke when necessary and avoiding prolonged long-range exchanges where her shell velocity becomes a liability.
Kidd's Smoke Generator has another useful application beyond personal concealment. Smoke can be used to farm larger targets from concealment, but it can also be deployed for allied ships. Helping teammates deal damage while Kidd provides vision and remains positioned to assist can generate valuable combat-scouting opportunities without unnecessarily exposing the ship.
The ship also has a notable real-world connection: USS Kidd is preserved as a museum ship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Fletcher-class destroyer is now part of the USS Kidd Veterans Museum and remains one of the most recognizable preserved U.S. Navy destroyers.