Submarine - U.S.S.R. Tier VIII S-189
Captain & Ship Build and Strategy Guide
- Build focus: Standard submarine build
- Key skill: Survivability Improvement
- Alternative: Replace Survivability Improvement with any combination of useful 1- and 2-point skills
- Important exception: Last Stand is not useful because submarines do not lose engine or steering functionality
- Applies to: S-189
S-189 is a Tier VIII Soviet submarine that uses the standard submarine captain build. The ship is particularly suited to players who want a straightforward setup without dedicating the commander to a highly specialized gimmick.
The recommended build includes Survivability Improvement (SI). However, this skill is optional rather than mandatory. If you do not find SI particularly useful in your games, it can be replaced with any combination of 1- and 2-point skills that better suits your playstyle.
There is one important exception: Last Stand should not be selected. Submarines do not lose their engine or steering in the same way as surface ships, so the skill does not provide the intended value on S-189.
S-189 is a Soviet Tier VIII premium submarine with low surface detectability, high underwater speed and strong alternative torpedoes. Her main weaknesses are the slow torpedo-tube reload and slow dive-capacity recharge, so avoiding unnecessary exposure and managing underwater time remain important.
Because the build allows several 1- and 2-point skill combinations, the final choice can be adjusted around your personal submarine playstyle. Defensive skills are useful when you frequently find yourself under pressure, while utility-oriented options can be preferable when you are already comfortable managing S-189's concealment and underwater endurance.
The important point is that SI does not need to dictate the entire build. S-189's standard setup is flexible enough to accommodate personal preferences, provided you avoid spending skill points on Last Stand, which offers no meaningful benefit to the submarine.
Overall, S-189 is a flexible Soviet premium submarine that works well with the standard submarine build. Keep SI if you value it, replace it when you have a better use for the points, and avoid Last Stand entirely.