Kantai Collection

[Icarus]

The short answer: no, you can't. Once you clear on a difficulty, that map is locked on that difficulty on subsequent attempts. If you want a reward, clear that map on the minimum difficulty required for it.

Also important is that you can't jump up difficulties: say you clear a map on Easy, you can't tackle the next map on Hard. You have to work up gradually.

EDIT: Oh hey, ship-locking is also in effect on anything higher than Easy difficulty, for maps E-3 to E-5. That is going to suck. There's also the Combined Fleet mechanic in this event, so those with the Fleet Command Facility will have a small advantage here.
Maintenance done in just under 5hr. http://kancolle.wikia.com/wiki/Spring_2015_Event

[Icarus]

Flying through E-1 Hard at the moment, 2/5 done, 3 attempts done so far within 15mins going south - only retreat caused by a lucky sub hitting Fubuki to medium, then a followup on preboss by the gold CL. CL 5DD, with Ooyodo carrying night equipment and everyone else using 2x 10cm HA and surface radars.
By the way, U-511 drops on E-6 Hard, confirmed via video.
Will post my clear composition once I'm done with it.

[Blackbird]

Now that I think about it, I'm ineligible to even attempt Hard because my HQ level isn't at 80 yet. I'll just attempt Normal where I can - it looks like a lot of maps have worthwhile equipment at Normal.

There are definitely a lot of rare ship drops in this event that I would be interested in farming - U-511 is a pretty big deal, and there's also Ooyodo, Shoukaku, I-19, Zuikaku, and Amatsukaze - let alone the random rare DDs/CLs.

Not sure how the new ships are going to be yet, we'll have to see what their stats and equipment is before really figuring out if they're important or not. Not too crazy on the design of the Italian BBs, but the new CV and AV look really cool.

[Icarus]

What I started the event with, for reference.



E-1 (Hard) clear data:

R=Ship & Level & Equipment [standard] & Equipment [final kill] R=[CL] Ooyodo & 65 Kai & 2x 15.5cm [yellow] Night Scout Searchlight & [same] R=[DD] Shigure & 71 Kai2 & 10cm HA + AAFD 10cm HA Air 13 Kai Radar & [same] R=[DD] Yuudachi & 71 Kai2 & 2x 10cm HA Surface 33 Radar & 2x Quint O2 Torps Surface 33 Radar R=[DD] Ayanami & 73 Kai2 & 2x 10cm HA Surface 33 Radar & Quint O2 Torp Triple O2 Torp Surface 33 Radar R=[DD] Yukikaze & 58 Kai & 2x 10cm HA Surface 33 Radar & 2x Quint O2 Torps Surface 33 Radar R=[DD] Fubuki & 71 Kai2 & 2x 10cm HA Surface 22 Radar & [same]

R=Node & Formation R=A & Line Ahead R=B & [null] R=D & Line Abreast R=F & Double Line R=H [boss] & Line Ahead + Yasen

Notes:
Two retreats, sub node hit Yukikaze to medium, then critical by gold CL at preboss; and a closing torp double crit at first node.
Two boss kill fails, either by not enough available for yasen, night battle equips don't activate, or mis-targeting.
Switched to yasen torpedo cut-in setup on Yukikaze, Yuudachi and Ayanami for final boss after first fail attempt.
Based Ooyodo with the double crit kill on the flagship, and Ayanami rubbing salt into the wound by blasting the 6HP DD at the bottom for 448HP lol.
About 32 buckets used so far. That took much longer than expected. :V

Now that I think about it, I'm ineligible to even attempt Hard because my HQ level isn't at 80 yet. I'll just attempt Normal where I can - it looks like a lot of maps have worthwhile equipment at Normal.

You'll probably get through Normal clears quite easily if you take your time and pick your battles. The event is 20 days long, so there's plenty of time.
I'm speedrunning E-1 and E-2 so I can spend the next few days finishing up my weeklies for Improvement Materials, as I'm very close to making a 12.7cm + AAFD for Maya to use later.

Not sure how the new ships are going to be yet, we'll have to see what their stats and equipment is before really figuring out if they're important or not. Not too crazy on the design of the Italian BBs, but the new CV and AV look really cool.

Katsuragi is a big deal, both for a high-quality low-consumption CV that you probably won't find anywhere else for a while, and likely very rare equipment if Amagi and Unryuu were any indication.
Littorio and Roma I'm not too fussed with unless they're Kongou/Bismarck level BBs - their equipment will be useful at least. Akitsushima will be useful, and I can live without the rare Kagerou-class DD to be honest. I'm praying for Akizuki and Prinz Eugen, lol.

[Icarus]

E-2 (Hard) clear data:

R=Ship & Level & Equipment [standard] & Equipment [final kill] R=[FBB] Bismarck & 36 Eins & 35.6cm *8 35.6cm [Dazzle Camo] Surface 22 Kai4 Radar Type 0 Observation & [same] R=[FBB] Kirishima & 80 Kai2 & Prototype 41cm 35.6cm [Dazzle Camo] Type 91 AP Type 0 Recon & [same] R=[CV] Kaga & 76 Kai & 2x Reppuu Reppuu [601 Air] Type 62 Zero & [same] R=[CV] Shoukaku & 56 Kai & 2x Reppuu Type 52 Zero [601 Air] Suisei [Egusa] & [same] R=[CV] Akagi & 75 Kai & 2x Reppuu Type 52 Zero [601 Air] Ryuusei [601 Air] & [same] R=[CV] Souryuu & 84 Kai2 & Shiden Kai2 Type 21 Zero [Skilled] Tenzan [Tomonaga] Saiun & [same]

R=Ship & Level & Equipment [standard] & Equipment [final kill] R=[DD] Shigure & 72 Kai2 & 10cm HA + AAFD 10cm HA Air 13 Kai Radar & [same] R=[CA] Maya & 77 Kai2 & 20.3cm no3 10cm HA-CM Air 14 Large Radar 25mm AA Concentrated & [same] R=[CLT] Kiso & 88 Kai2 & 2x 15.5cm [yellow] Ko-hyoteki & change to [CLT] Ooi, 88 Kai2: 2x 15.5cm [yellow], Ko-hyoteki R=[DD] Fubuki & 72 Kai2 & 10cm HA Type 94 AAFD *8 Air 13 Kai Radar & change to [CLT] Kitakami, 88 Kai2: 2x 15.5cm [yellow], Ko-hyoteki R=[CL] Ooyodo & 66 Kai & 2x 15.5cm [yellow] Night Scout Searchlight & [same] R=[DD] Yuudachi & 71 Kai2 & 2x Quint O2 Torps Surface 33 Radar & [same]

R=Node & Formation R=C & [null] R=F & [null] R=E & Cruising [forward formation] R=G & Cruising [forward formation] R=K [boss] & All-out [+ Yasen if required]

Notes:
Carrier Task Force composition is used.
Done. Very rarely will one of the DDs get hit to medium, but the majority of the time you can fly through with only scratch damage. A couple of retreats due to double BB preboss getting lucky during double-line and hitting my CVs to medium/critical.
Night battle equipment is a precaution in case the boss node doesn't quite go according to plan. Multiple AACI setups also as a precaution against both pre-boss nodes, usually one of them triggers and obliterates all of the enemy bombers. Yuudachi has yasen cut-in setup as an absolute last resort.
Hilariously, a low level Bismarck is wrecking everything in her path. :V
Swapped out Kiso and Fubuki for Ooi and Kitakami for the last kill.
I'm speedrunning E-2, so I'm blowing through instant repairs, but if you're taking it easy, only instant repair if it takes longer than an hour or two (usually only BB and CV).

[Blackbird]

Katsuragi will definitely be a big help. I'll probably end up power leveling her mid-event just to have another fleet carrier, haha. I'd almost hate to promote her, I like the stock art just as much as the kai version.

Unfortunately I'll have to pass on Roma - from what I've seen so far, she's a Hard only drop. There are also an AAFD and a FuMO radar to be had on Hard, good stuff!

[Devdan]

I feel compelled to let you people know that almost a month ago, I was stuck in Yorii with nothing to do. I'm in Japan on an ALT thing (which I know is super trite) and I don't get paid until the end of May, and couldn't spare many expenses. So, I was spending a lot of time doing nothing on the internet, and I clicked on this topic, and I made me think "Kancolle is another one of those obnoxious Touhou type things that is popular for no reason, and is the most blatant propaganda ever...but I still don't actually know what the game is." so I followed some links, and long story short I've been playing it and it's all your fault. Or maybe it's my fault for coming here with so little money. Either way, it's helped me save money, so in that sense it's a good thing? We'll see in the long run. I did waste a whopping 300 yen on a gashapon machine to see if I could get a Shimakaze keychain figure thing. And I did! Most gashapon these days are really lame, so I don't feel TOO ashamed about it...her hair has a bunch of little scuffs in it though, what's that about.


So anyway, I hate myself, and I still don't have Shimakaze in the game. Finally got both a battleship and a light aircraft carrier today though. I want to go to arcades in Tokyo.

[Icarus]

I want to go to arcades in Tokyo.

I hear that Kantai Collection Arcade is either out or in loketest at the moment. Maybe it's in Tokyo.

E-3 (Hard) clear data:

R=Ship & Level & Equipment [standard] & Equipment [final kill] R=[DD] Hamakaze & 54 Kai & 10cm HA + AAFD 10cm HA Air 13 Kai Radar & [same] R=[FBB] Bismarck & 38 Eins & 35.6cm *8 35.6cm [Dazzle Camo] Surface 22 Kai4 Radar Type 0 Observation & [same] R=[CA] Furutaka & 62 Kai & 20.3cm no.3 20.3cm no.2 Type 0 Recon Surface 33 Radar & [same] R=[CA] Kinugasa & 55 Kai2 & 2x 20.3cm no.2 Type 0 Recon Surface 33 Radar & [same] R=[CAV] Mogami & 44 Kai & 20.3cm no.3 20.3cm no.2 Type 0 Recon Skill-based Aircraft Maintenance Personnel & [same] R=[CVL] Ryuujou & 80 Kai2 & Type 62 Zero Reppuu [601 Air] Tenzan [Tomonaga] Saiun & [same]

R=Node & Formation R=A & [null] R=C & Double Line R=D & Double Line / Line Ahead R=E & Line Ahead R=J [boss] & Line Ahead + Yasen

Notes:
Many have noted that going south on E-3 is harder as you have a chance to bump into two gold BBs in Double-Line formation, which is an instant ride back to the docks.
This setup seems to be quite popular as it consistently goes north. You do meet CL Demon on the way though, but if you're lucky, she might miss the closing torpedo attack, or you may stop her from firing it.
So far, 1 for 1 with only Ryuujou going moderate damage during the boss node, everyone else was scratched or lightly damaged. I'm purposely taking lower level ships through this because of map-locking - I'm hanging on to my high powered ships for later.

EDIT: Done. Only one retreat when the gold CVL at node D got lucky and full-crit my Kai2 Kinugasa. Otherwise, pretty leisurely. Burned through a lot of buckets speeding through it, though. >_>
Some nice rewards, including another Ryuusei (601 Air), and the new Italian 15.2cm secondary and anti-torpedo bulge. Also a Medal and 4x Improvement Materials, which will come in very useful. :3

[Blackbird]

So anyway, I hate myself, and I still don't have Shimakaze in the game. Finally got both a battleship and a light aircraft carrier today though. I want to go to arcades in Tokyo.

Shimakaze isn't too difficult to get - just keep trying the 250/30/200/30 construction recipe and you will get her eventually.

I had some good luck with the daily builds tonight. Hiryuu built me a Shiden Kai, Ryuusei Kai, and Ryuusei in 4 builds. Well, that's one air superiority fighter, finally! Now I just need 7 more, haha.

[Devdan]

Arcade version, really? How would that even *googles*, oh, it's one of those, ok, it won't replace anything I care about. Unless the arcades expand their space for that sort of game. Which they might. Why is it so hard to find 3rd Strike players outside of those 2 arcades that specialize in it.

Also, I've been doing that recipe almost exclusively since day 1. I've gotten Tama like 20 times. I was using her just as a placeholder, but now she's one of my highest level units. Also, Isuzu, who I kind of like, but now I see that her Kai Ni is one of the worst or something? Uguu, I need to not care about this, but I can't afford to place my cares elsewhere.

[Icarus]

Arcade version, really? How would that even *googles*, oh, it's one of those, ok, it won't replace anything I care about. Unless the arcades expand their space for that sort of game. Which they might.

I'd expect the arcade version to be a cross between the browser game and iDOLM@STER - connected cabs, daily special missions, portability, competition against other players.
What I found pretty funny is that it looked like they were using the exact same semi-blocky 3D models in the arcade version as they did in the action sequences in the anime.
If anything though, I'm more interested in the Vita version. >_>

Also, Isuzu, who I kind of like, but now I see that her Kai Ni is one of the worst or something? Uguu, I need to not care about this, but I can't afford to place my cares elsewhere.

http://kancolle.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_ ... imum_stats

Isuzu Kai2's stats are actually very good. The main problem people have with her is that her range is shortened when you Kai2 her, meaning she attacks last unless you equip something on her to increase her range. More problematic is that she can't use seaplanes at Kai2, but then again, neither can the more popular Yuubari, and most of the time you have a radar or sonar on her instead. Aside from those two issues, she has pretty much the highest AA among CLs (which is perfect if you can't or don't want to commit a DD to AACI duties in a super-light fleet map), and the highest ASW not counting equipment.

And if you don't want her, use her as modernisation fodder for your other ships - she provides +5 AA after you Kai her at lv12. :3

[Blackbird]

To add to what Icarus said, Isuzu promotes *very* early, at level 12. This means that, in the early game, she's one of your stronger CLs, just by virtue of unlocking the third equipment slot earlier. She also has good AA and ASW stats. When Isuzu promotes, she also comes with a lot of useful equipment, both at kai and kai 2. Early on, promoting Isuzu is actually your easiest method of getting Radars, which increase the accuracy of your larger ships. There are also oxygen torpedoes if you need more of them (they're good on certain DDs with the right setup). If you decide you don't want her after kai, she gives a large bonus to AA during modernization, a stat that's ordinarily harder to modernize. So yeah, Isuzu is a useful unit.

There are fairly few units in this game that are totally useless/redundant.

[Icarus]

So how are people coping with the event so far? I'm may tackle E-4 Hard later this evening once I've done a bit of prep work, as E-4 is another ship-locking map and I want to ensure I keep the best ships available for E-5 Hard, which I expect to be absolutely hellish. E-4 probably won't be too demanding given it's a Combined Fleet map, and they're generally pretty easy if you have good level, full-modernisation ships. I fully expect E-5 and E-6 to take up all of my time, though.

I'm also debating on whether it's better to hold off on E-4 for now and speedlevel Katsuragi to 60+, and run the monthly Medal gauntlet in a couple of days, so I have another CV available for it - giving me Unryuu, Amagi, Katsuragi and Shoukaku to use. That way I won't have to sacrifice the preferred primary CVs (Akagi, Kaga, Hiryuu, Souryuu) to the map-lock, and I won't have to risk running a CVL through it either. The only issue with that is that Katsuragi needs a Blueprint to Kai, and Choukai is already prepped and awaiting her Kai2 Blueprint, so a choice has to be made there: another CV, or another super-strong CA with a very useful piece of equipment…

On a related note, dragged Furutaka up another two levels to 65 this afternoon and gave her her Kai2, so she's ready to go (although she's map-locked to E-2).

Also yesterday night, for a bit of fun, I blew 6,000 bauxite on aircraft development (20/60/10/120, Hiryuu as flagship) while doing the dailies, and picked up another Reppuu and two Shiden Kai2 along with a bunch of high-quality red and blue bombers, which was nice.

[Blackbird]

To be honest, I haven't had too much time yet to do the event itself (with work going on). I did manage to do some initial investigation into E-1 today though. Easy is quite straightforward. Very glad I modernized my DDs before this, it's like night and day. They're actually good at fighting other light ships now =P. Still going through some buckets, but that's expected with lower levels and equipment. The South route is supposed to have better drops, and the only difference is an inconsequential sub node, so I recommend it. I tried Normal as well, and it isn't too much more difficult (not as big as I thought the difficulty gap would be). Definitely seems doable, so I'll try for the Normal clear when I'm ready to finish the map.

Shimakaze set a new personal damage record, double critting the boss for 434 damage altogether =P.

I didn't clear E-1 yet because I decided to stop and farm the map for a while, as it's much easier than the other potential locations to farm Ooyodo and/or Amatsukaze. If I haven't seen them in a few days though, I'll move on to the next one (just to make sure I have time to work through all the maps).

I did get Suzuya though:



This is actually kind of relevant, because she can be used to enable superior routing on one of the later event maps.

For E-5, one of the best compositions I've seen used only Kaga, with 3 fighters and 1 torp plane, to get air superiority. Then Ro-500 was added with a tanking setup (turbine and a damecon). If the sub is evasive enough, it can tank both the deadly pre-boss night battle and decoy the BBV boss' attacks for you. Forget the specifics of the rest of the composition, but it might have been two cruisers, a CLT, and a BB. I think you could probably expect from 1 to 4 CVs used on E-5 (depending on whether you can get AS with 1 CV, and if you take two teams to rotate).

[Devdan]

I got to the boss node of the first map last night. Now the event won't let me play it and I don't know why. I'm only using destroyers and light cruisers like the wiki says. There are other types in the support fleet, but that wasn't a problem last night.

[edit] oh, I had the max number of ships and the game was nice enough to warn me, but my Japanese is awful so I often assume I can't read stuff and then sometimes it turns out I actually can.

[Icarus]

[edit] oh, I had the max number of ships and the game was nice enough to warn me, but my Japanese is awful so I often assume I can't read stuff and then sometimes it turns out I actually can.

Yeah, unlike the standard maps, event maps only let you run them if you have five free ship spaces, and twenty free equipment spaces.
If you're full up, either modernise or scrap. Most ships are pretty common, the only ships you should really keep a hold of in the short-term are SS, CV/CVL and BB as they're generally tougher to get outside of higher difficulty maps.

EDIT: Haven't attempted E-4 Hard yet as I've been wrapping up the monthlies for Medals and Improvement Materials. Needed the screws especially, as I wanted to finish crafting a 12.7cm HA + AAFD.



Now Maya's equipment setup is complete, and I can focus pushing all the other Improvement Materials into building more 10cm HA + AAFD.

EDIT2: Cleared the Nishimura Fleet sortie quest (take Michishio, Mogami, Shigure, Fusou, Yamashiro and one other to 5-1 and S-rank the boss) on the second attempt and got the Medal so I could Blueprint Choukai to Kai2. 5-1 is a bit of a nuisance as everything has BBs that can potentially one hit something, but I got lucky here both with encounter type and by route.
Was thinking maybe using the blueprint on Katsuragi, but I think I might be able to get away with it on E-4 as I have enough high level CVL to cover the first fleet if necessary.
That equipment though - a Skilled Lookout and another Surface 22 Kai4 Radar. <3

[Blackbird]

So what do you do if you have too many subs ^_^;?

I've got like 5 I-168 now, and I just got 2 I-58 while morale farming 1-5. I feel like I probably need only 2 of each or so - one to promote to kai, and one to leave unpromoted for more efficient dailies/expeditions.

Is it safe to just use the others for modernization?

Still farming E-1. New ship girls so far =D:





Got Nagara mostly modernized now. She's pretty boss for a CL! I'm not going to go too crazy with Sendai and co. because there is a very distinct possibility that I'll power level her to Kai2 soon for all the night battle equipment.

[Icarus]

So what do you do if you have too many subs ^_^;?

Keep them. :3



The more you have:
- the faster you can world 1-1 sparkle run (if you use Maruyu with either one turbine or absolutely no equips);
- the faster you can spam 2-3 for weekly quest clears (transports, CV/CVLs, world 2 boss clears);
- the more you have for world 3-2 tanking;
- the more you have for world 3-3 tanking for the beat 5x bosses in world 3 weekly;
- the faster you can clear the beat 10x bosses in world 4 weekly using world 4-2;
- the more efficiently you can do world 5-3 (if you have the win/loss ratio to compensate) and world 6-1;
- the more you have for utility runs during other maps, long expeditions, and PvP.

I find SS are pretty hard to get next to CV, so keeping them is generally a priority until you have enough of each.

EDIT: If you have the time and the resources, and don't have Unryuu yet, she drops from node J at E-2.
And someone came up with a pretty cheap composition to farm the node for her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPTJB0Q1BUg
For new admirals, getting both Katsuragi and Unryuu easily is a huge bonus as they're amazingly good, and have considerably lower consumption than the high-tier CVs like Kaga and Taihou, while keeping up with them in terms of damage output and air superiority.

[Icarus]

E-4 (Hard) clear data:

R=Ship & Level & Equipment [standard] & Equipment [final kill] R=[CV] Unryuu & 72 Kai & 2x Reppuu Tenzan [Tomonaga] Fleet Command Facility & [same] R=[FBB] Hiei & 81 Kai2 & 35.6cm *8 35.6cm [Dazzle Camo] Type 3 AA Shell Type 0 Recon & [same] R=[FBB] Kirishima & 80 Kai2 & Prototype 41cm 35.6cm [Dazzle Camo] Type 3 AA Shell Type 0 Recon & [same] R=[CV] Amagi & 72 Kai & 2x Reppuu Ryuusei [601 Air] Skill-based Aircraft Maintenance Personnel & [same] R=[CV] Souryuu & 84 Kai2 & 2x Reppuu Ryuusei [601 Air] Saiun & [same] R=[CV] Hiryuu & 84 Kai2 & 2x Reppuu Tenzan [601 Air] Type 2 Carrier Recon & [same]

R=Ship & Level & Equipment [standard] & Equipment [final kill] R=[DD] Shigure & 72 Kai2 & 10cm HA + AAFD 10cm HA Air 13 Kai Radar & [same] R=[CA] Ashigara & 65 Kai2 & 2x 20.3cm no2 Type 3 AA Shell Night Scout & [same] R=[CA] Nachi & 66 Kai2 & 2x 20.3cm no2 Type 3 AA Shell Type 0 Recon & [same] R=[CL] Ooyodo & 66 Kai & 2x 15.5cm [yellow] Starshell Searchlight & [same] R=[CLT] Kiso & 89 Kai2 & 2x 15.5cm [yellow] Ko-hyoteki &[same] R=[DD] Ayanami & 74 Kai2 & 2x 10cm HA Wurfgerät 42 AGA & [same]

R=Node & Formation R=B & Cruising [forward formation] R=F & [null] R=E & Cruising [forward formation] R=M [boss] & All-out [+ Yasen if required]

Notes:
Carrier Task Force composition is used.
This is a tricky map to build a composition for, as it's a Combined Fleet map with an installation-type boss, meaning only Torpedo Bombers, Type 3 AA Shells and the WG42 anti-ground artillery will hurt her. And to top it off, she has 450HP. o_O
First attempt (and full kill) was a little interesting - only Kiso got hit to medium damage preboss by the gold BB, then Unryuu took a straight crit to 4HP during boss second shelling. Went into yasen and Ashigara went ham, and hit the boss for a double-crit totalling over 620HP.
I may have to both switch out Kiso for one of the Sendai-class (losing preemptive and closing torpedo attacks), and drop Shigure's AACI setup, in favour of equipping more anti-ground artillery if the later kills get too tricky, as the second fleet needs all of the help it can get if the first fleet fail to make enough of a dent on the boss.
Taking the Fleet Command Facility this time, just in case things get a little hairy later on. Also preferring the Skilled Aircraft Maintenance Personnel on one of the CV for extra damage output.

EDIT:
Done, all in three hours while watching streams, occasionally taking morale-generating breaks and letting the DDs heal up 2-3HP. Actually thought that'd be harder seeing as it's in the second half of the event. Only one retreat when gold BBs preboss whacked Ooyodo, but otherwise it wasn't too taxing. About 30 buckets used repairing anyone close to light damage. Leaving the rest in the docks along with Akashi while I sleep.
Got Kaga and 2x Shoukaku ( >_< ) as notable drops even though I already have them. The extra AA modernisation will be useful, I guess…
E-5 should be interesting. One of the best compositions I can't run as Ryuujou is locked to E-3, and both Suzuya and Kumano are underlevelled, so I have to find an alternative. :/

[Blackbird]

Nice going on E-4! A couple ideas on E-5: Even if you don't have the pairs for the better routing, it's not the end of the world, I've seen some players just go through the carrier node with a CA AA cut-in setup or something like that, and it worked out well enough because the sub protects you on the nodes after that. You also have enough time to power level Suzuya and/or Kumano if it really comes down to that.

I was working on Operation: Megane Cruiser today, and it was a success!



Unfortunately, Operation: Tsundere Destroyer is still incomplete.

Although I would like to get Amatsukaze, I think I need to move on from E-1 at this point. I have to keep in mind to budget enough time to clear the other maps (and any hurdles that might come up in the process). There are lots of drops on the other maps that I'd like to try for too (as you mentioned, Unryuu is really good) but I don't think I'll be able to farm all the maps as extensively as this one, both for resource and time concerns. I'll have to explore the other maps first before seeing how feasible farming is on them.

Edit: Oh wow, just took a look at that video. Farming Unryuu looks really doable - the route to that node is guaranteed every time, and the battle itself doesn't look too bad. I was kind of expecting to write it off because combined fleet farming can get very expensive. Do you know if she drops on Easy?

[Icarus]

Nice going on E-4! A couple ideas on E-5: Even if you don't have the pairs for the better routing, it's not the end of the world, I've seen some players just go through the carrier node with a CA AA cut-in setup or something like that, and it worked out well enough because the sub protects you on the nodes after that. You also have enough time to power level Suzuya and/or Kumano if it really comes down to that.

Yeah, I think I should just push them to about 45-50 very quickly and see what happens, as reports on the wiki are saying that using their route is actually quite easy compared to the standard route.
In hindsight it was a good idea withholding Maya from E-4, just in case. If I have to go with two standard CAs, Choukai Kai2 is now ready to go, and a 2CAV composition has Tone and Chikuma available, so I can experiment a little here since E-6 isn't ship-locked.

Edit: Oh wow, just took a look at that video. Farming Unryuu looks really doable - the route to that node is guaranteed every time, and the battle itself doesn't look too bad. I was kind of expecting to write it off because combined fleet farming can get very expensive. Do you know if she drops on Easy?

There are reports that she appears on Easy, though I find that hard to believe.
The main event page lists her as appearing on Medium or higher, so I'd say that's more likely given the quality of the CV and the type of equipment she unlocks. I would recommend coming to E-2 anyway, since a few of the high-quality CVs drop there, and you might get lucky.

Also, good going on Ooyodo! The Fleet Command Facility should be of use, and she's probably the better of the four-slot CLs since she can actually use seaplanes, and can actually take a hit.

[Blackbird]

What I really like about Ooyodo is her seaplane capacity. Seaplane scouting almost always seems to fail once you get under 10 planes or so, so Ooyodo seems like she'll be really good on maps like 1-6.

For the CAVs, keep in mind that they don't have Kai Ni's... after they're promoted at 35, their stat caps will basically be as good as they can get. With a little modernization, they should have decent armor (even if their evasion will be terrible).

I did a bit more reading about Unryuu and a few folks mentioned seeing Unryuu on Easy, but I'm skeptical. It's reportedly a 3-5% drop, and I don't want to waste a long time trying on a setting she might not even appear on =/.

If I have time though, I will try to find her. I was thinking about it more and realized that she's also mandatory for the quest chain that gives you the SCAMP equipment. One more reason to give it a try.

[Icarus]

For the CAVs, keep in mind that they don't have Kai Ni's... after they're promoted at 35, their stat caps will basically be as good as they can get. With a little modernization, they should have decent armor (even if their evasion will be terrible).

I'm already aware of that. They were just under lv40 as I basically sidelined them in favour of the much stronger Tone-class, but it shouldn't take long to get them to 50+ where they'll actually be strong enough to handle anything. Mogami is out of the question as she was already used in E-2, and I don't have Mikuma yet, but she isn't a priority any more.
Shame I didn't know about the Choukai+Ryuujou branching rule earlier, as I would have used Jun'you Kai2 at E-2 instead. Luckily I haven't been rotating my ships at all, so I have plenty of them to choose from for E-5.
At least boosting the girls through 3-2-A also gives me a chance to level up Katsuragi, Zuihou and Littorio, so there's an extra benefit to time spent.

EDIT: By the way, the 90mm HA you get from E-4 Hard and both Italia and Roma Kai can trigger AACI in the same way the 12.7cm+AAFD and 10cmHA+AAFD does.
http://kancolle.wikia.com/wiki/90mm_Sin ... _Gun_Mount
So for chuckles, I'm going to load the 12.7cmHA+AAFD, 25mm Concentrated and the 90mm HA onto Maya and see just how stupid AACI becomes. :V

[x91]

Mogami is out of the question as she was already used in E-2, and I don't have Mikuma yet, but she isn't a priority any more.

Mogami and Mikuma can be replaced with Kumano and Suzuya, since Mikuma is relatively rare. That'll do the same.

[Blackbird]

E-1 Normal cleared:



Took a siesta after that to replenish fuel supplies a bit. My CLs started at level 23... and ended at level 45 by the time I gave up farming =P.

I did get a chance to scout E-2 a bit. Unryuu farming is very doable, even assuming Normal setting.

I think you need about 35 air power to gain AS on the Unryuu node, which is achievable with 1 stack of decent fighters on a CVL. Bringing bombers makes it easier to destroy the node, but costs more resources. You can save some costs by using 3 subs in the escort fleet as poor man's CLTs (they also conveniently soak up most incoming damage). You can reduce the cost of hitting the maelstrom on repeated runs by bringing 3+ radars as well.

It's pretty morale draining though, because there's only one battle. You have to stop to rest or farm morale often.

[Icarus]

Leisurely levelled Suzuya and Kumano about 15+ levels to 50 this afternoon while watching streams, and I'm now ready to try out E-5 Hard.

E-5 (Hard) clear data:

See later post for compositions.

Notes:
Since the SS is the tank, I've outfitted her with a +13 Evasion turbine and a Repair Team just in case, but U-511's evasion with the turbine is 70, the highest in the fleet composition. She's also pre-sparkled, and put into the flagship position for even more tankiness.
I may need to move Haruna into the flag position though, as she has the Searchlight and is an instant target during the night battle node. She's pretty lucky though, so she might evade some of the attacks that come her way.
Annoyingly, the boss is another installation, so I'm forced to use Type 3 AA Shells on everything that can use them, and a Torpedo Bomber on Kaga.
First attempt didn't quite go according to plan, as the girls kept targeting the boss during the day (doing scratch damage) and ignoring the other enemies, and after yasen, the boss still had 84HP left. This is likely to be a boss-chipping map, then :/

EDIT: Yep, it's a boss-chipping exercise. Avoiding the fuel maelstrom is paramount if you don't want your ships to get obliterated at the boss node.

EDIT2: First full kill in three attempts was interesting. U-511 was hit to red preboss, but I took her into the boss node anyway as she had a Repair Team equipped. However, the enemies couldn't sink her, but the opening airstrike knocked Kaga to medium damage. Suzuya got angry and double-crit the boss to orange, then everyone chipped her to red. Yasen was tricky as there were still three trash mobs alive, but the girls cleaned up anyway. :3



I'm debating leaving U-511 in the flagship position for the extra evasion, as I moved her out of it this time and she took critical damage as a result.
Currently switching between FBBs Kongou and Haruna for evasion, and tanky-BBs Nagato and Mutsu to see which of them work best.
I still have 650 buckets though, so a chipping run isn't too problematic since only the kill to deplete the health bar completely is important.

EDIT3: Wow, just learned that the Repair Team has to activate at the end of a node in order to use it, rather than being consumed automatically as I had thought, so I really lucked out there, as U-511 could have been sunk. o_O
As a precaution I'm going to full-sparkle her from now on. No risks.

[Blackbird]

Really? I was under the impression that Repair Teams basically worked like a contingency: if the ship would be sunk, then it heals you slightly and prevents sinking for the rest of the battle. From the wiki: "A ship that has Repair Team equipped will be brought back to 20% of Max HP when sunk and will be unsinkable for the rest of the battle (including night battle). Ammo/Fuel bars are not replenished."

Oh, I think I see what you mean now. Since U-511 was the flagship, you needed to actively use the repair team (the item works differently in the flagship shot). Good thing she's so tanky!

If it doesn't work like that, then I want to know, because getting a high level ship sunk would be terribad =P.

The other option is to go double turbines and retreat if you get hit to red, just to skip the danger entirely (although you might end up retreating pre-boss more often).

I'm working on E-2. Having verified that I'd be comfortable farming Unryuu on Normal, I've decided to go ahead and clear the map on that setting since there are no other "must have" drops on this map. I'm feeling a bit of pressure to keep progressing in the event so I will have time to figure out/clear the later maps in time. I'll save further farming (except Roma, perhaps) for any spare time after the maps are cleared.

[Icarus]

If it doesn't work like that, then I want to know, because getting a high level ship sunk would be terribad =P.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf7xNTK ... .be&t=3m9s

In my case, since U-511 was in spot 6 in that run, she would have had to have been sunk for it to automatically activate. If she was in the flagship spot (like she was in subsequent attempts) it can be manually activated.
Still, I'm not going to take the risk, just in case.

[Blackbird]

Down to the last 2 kills or so in E-2. RNG is not with me at the moment, though - sniper BBs keep one shotting my sparkling CVLs =P. Time to take a break and try again later.

I really need to get better radars/accuracy. Even with high morale, my ships can't hit the broadside of a boat in combined fleet. Better radars are so expensive to make though. I suppose, compared with the opportunity cost of time and more repairs, I should just build them...

[Icarus]

I really need to get better radars/accuracy. Even with high morale, my ships can't hit the broadside of a boat in combined fleet. Better radars are so expensive to make though. I suppose, compared with the opportunity cost of time and more repairs, I should just build them...

In Combined Fleet, most of your fleet have an accuracy debuff applied. Radars likely won't help much until you get to yasen.
If you're using the Carrier Task Force, then the second fleet will barely hit anything, and most of the damage will be done by the first fleet when its their turn. With the Surface Combat Fleet, both fleets can do equal damage, but the composition generally isn't suited to maps with a lot of enemy carriers, which typically is most of them.
The only thing you can do to mitigate it is through good ship selection, and ensuring that when they do actually hit, they hit hard.

EDIT: E-5 Hard is down!

E-5 (Hard) clear data:

R=Ship & Level & Equipment [standard] & Equipment [final kill] R=[SS] U-511 & 96 Kai & New High Pressure-Temperature Steam Boiler Repair Team & move to slot 6 position R=[BB] Nagato & 69 Kai & 41cm 35.6cm [Dazzle Camo] Searchlight Night Scout & move to flagship position swap Searchlight for Type 3 AA Shell R=[BB] Mutsu & 69 Kai & Prototype 41cm 35.6cm [Dazzle Camo] Type 3 AA Shell Type 0 Recon & [same] R=[CAV] Suzuya & 50 Kai & 2x 20.3cm no.2 Type 3 AA Shell Zuiun [634 Air] & [same] R=[CAV] Kumano & 50 Kai & 2x 20.3cm no.2 Type 3 AA Shell Zuiun [634 Air] & [same] R=[CV] Kaga & 76 Kai & Tenzan [Tomonaga] Reppuu Reppuu [601 Air] Saiun & [same]

R=Node & Formation R=A/B & [null]/[fuel maelstrom] R=D & Double Line R=G & [null] R=H & [null] R=I & Echelon [yasen node] R=N [boss] & Line Ahead + Yasen

R=Boss Support Expedition & Level & Equipment [standard] R=[CV] Unryuu [fully sparkled] & 73 Kai & Suisei Model 12A Suisei [601 Air] Suisei [Egusa] Surface 33 Radar R=[CV] Amagi [fully sparkled] & 72 Kai & Suisei Model 12A 2x Suisei [601 Air] Surface 33 Radar R=[DD] Yuudachi & 71 Kai2 & 2x 10cm HA Surface 22 Radar R=[DD] Ayanami & 74 Kai2 & 2x 10cm HA Surface 22 Radar R=[FBB] Kirishima & 81 Kai2 & 2x 41cm Type 91 AP Shell *3 Surface 22 Kai4 Radar R=[FBB] Hiei & 81 Kai2 & 2x 41cm Type 91 AP Shell *3 Surface 22 Kai4 Radar

Notes:
That was quite the war of attrition. Between chipping attempts and retreats, I think my fleet was sortied about 20-25 times total, with lots of buckets used up. I logged off at about 3am this morning after a few hours trying to whittle down the boss's health bar while watching streams, and left E-5 with around one full kill remaining.
First attempt this morning was a straight retreat with the gold BB at the first node whacking both Suzuya and Mutsu (!) to red. Second attempt was a miss, leaving the boss with a grand total of 1HP on the overall bar left, and Kaga being completely disabled during the fight after taking critical damage from the opening airstrike.
Final attempt was all-or-nothing - even took a boss support expedition along for the ride, although they were typically useless and only managed to destroy one of the trash mobs and chip the boss. Suzuya took medium damage at the first battle node, U-511 took medium damage at the night battle node, Suzuya then took critical damage during the boss fight and didn't contribute a thing for the rest of the fight.
Come yasen, the RNG gods smiled, gave me the Night Scout proc, and both the boss and the surviving BB focused on the lifeless Suzuya, while the rest of the fleet cleaned up. Then Kumano took revenge for her sister, and obliterated the boss. :O
What was particularly scary about this run was that it went via the fuel maelstrom first, which meant that all of my ships had reduced evasion for the rest of the sortie.

E-6, here I come!