An Azur Lane tier list helps you identify the best ships to prioritize for your PvE fleet, cutting through the hundreds of available ship girls to focus on those that deliver the strongest performance.
A quick Azur Lane gameplay overview
Combat in Azur Lane is an instanced, side-scrolling shooter. You deploy fleets into a stage and must eliminate all spawned enemy ships to proceed. Some missions also include planes or submarines that are not part of the standard enemy-ship clear condition. Your fleet is divided into a vanguard (front row) and a main fleet (back row), and you manually move your ships vertically or horizontally to aim their automatic fire and dodge incoming attacks. Upon selecting 'Battle' then 'Main Campaign' from the home interface, a map appears, and you click on a stage to move your ship girl on a tiled area to scan for naval battles or supplies.
How to obtain new ship girls
You can acquire new ship girls through three verified methods: building ships, completing missions, and claiming daily login rewards.
Build ship girls
The Build tab is where ship construction happens. You can also check construction status, trade medals for ships, and retire ships here. There are four construction pools: Light Ship Construction, Heavy Ship Construction, Special Ship Construction, and Event Construction. You have to wait a few hours to get a new character from building unless you spend rare Quick Finishers. The availability of characters in the Build tab may change depending on the in-game event that is ongoing.
Finish missions
The Missions menu is accessed from the Main Menu, where all available missions are shown. Missions can be filtered by type using the buttons on the left side of the screen. Completing tasks may reward you with a random ship girl, so check your daily and weekly mission lists regularly.
Consistently log in
Upon logging in for the first time each day, the game automatically claims the Login Reward. Loyal players can obtain the featured character in daily rewards without relying on random pulls.
Azur Lane tier list: Best ships by class
This tier list is community-driven and unofficial. It reflects player consensus for PvE performance. Being super rare, priority, or decisive does not guarantee a ship is the best. The ships are grouped from highest to lowest tiers per class. When you are comparing options across different games, checking mobile game tier lists can help you spot which characters translate well between different titles.
Destroyer tier list
Destroyers are great attackers with powerful torpedoes that inflict high damage per second. They are also speedy and can evade well.
- Ultimate: Kitakaze, Tashkent, Tashkent μ, Ayanami, Yukikaze, Le Malin, Le Malin μ, Suzutsuki, Naganami, Marie Rose, Allen M. Summer, Le Triomphant, Nicholas, An Shan, Tai Yuan, Tanikaze, Kawakaze, Yuudachi, Kagerou, Z1, Z46, Yoizuki, Harutsuki, Hanazuki, Fu Shun, Chang Chun, Amazon, Shigure, Kizuna AI, Hamakaze, Kiyonami, Hardy, Hatsuharu
- Strong: Minsk, Carabiniere, Cooper, Hibiki, Eskimo, Gromsky, StremiteIny, Z24, Z28, Hatsushimo, Fubuki, Maury, Fletcher, Kasumi, Kasagumo, Cygnet, Shiranui, Shirayuki, Z23, Laffey, Javelin
- So-so: Vauquelin, Fortune, Tartu, Grozny, Z2, Z25, Z26, Grenville, L'Opiniâtre, Forbin, Niizuki, Bailey, Z35, Z36, Vincenzo Gioberti, Le Mars, Gremyashchy, Le Téméraire, Sims, Mullany, Foxhound, Hammann, Matchless, Comet, Urakaze, Isokaze, Hazelwood, Nekone, Blanc, White Heart, Nowaki, Makinami, Matsukaze, Uranami, Musketeer, Acasta, Kamikaze, Vampire, Icarus, Crescent, Ooshio, Asashio, Gridley, Shiratsuyu, Michishio, Inazuma, Akatsuki, Wakaba, Arashio, Kuroshio, Oyashio, Ikazuchi, Hatakaze, Jupiter, Benson
- Weak: Halsey Powell, Charles Ausburne, Cassin, Glowworm, Downes, 22, 33, Z18, Z19, Z20, Z21, Thatcher, Dewey, Bush, Radford, Jenkins, Hunter, Hobby, Kalk, Kimberly, Echo, Aylwin, Mutsuki, Bache, Juno, Jersey, Kisaragi, Uzuki, Mikazuki, Minazuki, Fumizuki, Nagatsuki, Stanly, Smalley, Aulick, Craven, Beagle, Foote, Spence, Bulldog, McCall, Specialized Bulin Custom MKIII, Prototype Bulin MKII, Universal Bulin
Kitakaze's full barrage skill activates after 10 seconds or after 10 of her regular torpedoes hit the opponent fleet, requiring high manual aiming accuracy. Yukikaze can restore ship health by 4 or 10 percent if it falls under 20 percent during an enemy encounter.
Battleship tier list
Battleships are offense-oriented and excel at taking down multiple enemy ships at once with their high-caliber guns.
- Ultimate: Friedrich der Große, Sovetskaya Belorussiya, Nagato, Richelieu, Monarch, Howe, Champagne, Georgia, Gascogne, Sovetskaya Rossiya, Odin, Warspite, Bismarck, Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Alabama, Amagi, Honoka, Tosa, Jean Bart, Marco Polo
- Strong: Super Gamer Kizuna AI, King George V, Izumo, Kii, Gascogne μ, Littorio, Suruga, Kaga, Washington, Hood, Massachusetts, South Dakota, North Carolina, Nagisa, Hyuuga, Tirpitz, Gangut, Valiant, Dunkerque, Little Renown, Queen Elizabeth, Mutsu, Yamashiro
- So-so: Nelson, Mikasa, Rodney, Maryland, Ise, Fusou, Kirishima, Colorado, West Virginia, Giulio Cesare, Erebus, Abercrombie, Gneisenau, Hiei-chan, Terror, Scarnhorst
- Weak: Hiei, Kongou, Haruna, Renown, Conte di Cavour, Oklahoma, Nevada, California, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Repulse
Sovetskaya Belorussiya's barrage skill can slow down enemy movement by 40 percent after her first limit break level. Richelieu's critical hit is guaranteed the first time you manually aim at the enemy ship, provided she is at her second limit break.
Heavy cruiser tier list
Heavy cruisers are slow but durable, making them great for fleet protection and effective long-range attackers.
- Ultimate: Drake, Tallinn, Azuma, Saint Louis, Cheshire, Roon μ, Roon, Prinz Heinrich, Baltimore, Ibuki, Bremerton, Anchorage, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Portland, Zara, Kasumi, Ägir
- Strong: Elegant Kizuna AI, Prinz Eugen, Mogami, Algérie, Takao, Pola, Wichita, York, Exeter, London, Baltimore μ, Choukai, Atago, Admiral Graf Spee, Deutschland, Maya, Black Heart, Astoria, Quincy, Indianapolis, Vincennes
- So-so: Suzuya, Kumano, Kuon, Admiral Hipper μ, Admiral Hipper, Noire, Dorsetshire, Ashigara, Norfolk, Chicago, Northampton, Suffolk, Kako, Furutaka, Nachi, Myoukou
- Weak: Shropshire, Kent, Salt Lake City, Houston, Sussex, Trento, Pensacola, Aoba, Kinugasa
Light cruiser tier list
Light cruisers deal consistent damage and are quick enemy finishers. They are also less tedious to level up compared to other classes.
- Ultimate: San Diego, Noshiro, Seattle, Dido, Chapayev, Mainz, Pamiat Merkuria, Yat Sen, HMS Neptune, Misaki, Reno, Sirius, Jintsuu, Montpelier, Swiftsure, Kirov, Isuzu, Ping Hai, Ning Hai
- Strong: Cleveland, Cleveland μ, Kinu, Hermione, Columbia, Denver, Sendai, Lena, Birmingham, Biloxi, Belfast, Émile Bertin, Li'l Sandy, Newcastle, Yuubari, Curacoa, Nürnberg, Sheffield, St. Louis, Little Bel, Phoenix, Black Prince
- So-so: Rurutie, Purple Heart, HDN Neptune, Ajax, Köln, Juneau, Achilles, Agano, La Galissonnière, Sheffield μ, Glasglow, Edinburgh, Brooklyn, Leander, Chao Ho, Ying Swei, Penelope, Honolulu, Naka, Abukuma, Mikuma, Karlsruhe
- Weak: Memphis, Fiji, Marblehead, Jamaica, Concord, San Juan, Southampton, Arethusa, Galatea, Richmond, Atlanta, Raleigh, Nagara, Omaha, Königsberg
Carrier tier list
Carriers bring fighter planes and bombers into battle. Fighters counter enemy planes, while bombers deal massive damage with torpedoes or bombs.
- Ultimate: Hakuryuu, August von Parseval, Shinano, Formidable, Essex, Centaur, Ark Royal, Enterprise, Shangri-La, Peter Strasser, Saratoga, Illustrious μ, Graf Zeppelin, Shoukaku, Akagi μ, Taihou μ
- Strong: Akagi, Hiryuu, Intrepid, Kaga, Zuikaku, Taihou, Souryuu, Anniversary Kizuna AI, Victorious, Bunker Hill, Ranger, Green Heart, Lexington, Hornet, Nyotengu, Akagi-chan, Eagle, Béarn, Bataan, Weser, Little Illustrious, Zeppy
- So-so: Independence, Vert, Ryuujou, Yorktown, Princeton, Bogue, Houshou, Hermes, Langley, Long Island
- Weak: Saraana, Uruuru, Chiyoda, Chitose, Hiyou, Junyou, Wasp, Glorious
August von Parseval's airstrikes have a 45 or 75 percent chance to damage each vessel of the opposing fleet by 234 points.
Support tier list
Support ships aid the fleet, with most focusing on healing or repairs. They may come from the main classes, often carriers and cruisers.
- Ultimate: Ryuuhou, Perseus, Helena, Unicorn, Illustrious, Jeanne d'Arc, Shouhou
- Strong: Ardent, Akashi, Casablanca, Aurora, Curlew, Ariake, Stephen Potter, Yuugure
- So-so: Avrora, Vestal, Chaser, Arizona, Monica, Eldridge, Leipzig, Gloucester
- Weak: Kashino, Fumiruiru
Ryuuhou's healing percentage is based on her high HP. Perseus can heal the entire fleet at maximum limit break for a limited time during battle and can carry out up to three airstrikes in her best state.
Submarine tier list
Submarines are uncontrollable and are summoned in exchange for ammunition and fuel. They attack the enemy fleet on their own, consuming oxygen. They are challenging to enhance. Submarines can only be leveled up by letting them stay at your dorm and require the rarest equipment to be at their best forms.
- Ultimate: U-81, U-96, U-37, U-47, U-101
- Strong: Nautilus, Cavalia, Albacore, Albacore μ, Surcouf, I-168, I-13, I-19, I-25, I-56, U-522, U-110, U-410
- So-so: U-557, I-26, I-58, Bluegill, Dace
- Weak: U-73, U-556
U-81 can trigger flooding that damages the enemy fleet for nearly half a minute.
Tips for building your first fleet
When building your first fleet, place destroyers and light and heavy cruisers in the vanguard (front row). Battleships, battle cruisers, and carriers should comprise the main fleet (back row). Submarines go on the submarine tiles. Your fleet has six tiles per fleet and three tiles for submarines. Focus on leveling a core group of ships rather than spreading resources too thin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I limit break a ship girl?
Limit breaking improves a ship girl's star rankings using duplicate copies of that ship or universal ship types called Bulins. Each limit break level unlocks new skills or stat boosts.
What is a retrofit in Azur Lane?
A retrofit is an upgrade that surpasses a ship's maximum limit break level and statistics using special blueprints. It can dramatically improve a ship's performance, as seen with San Diego.
Can I get the same ship girl from different construction pools?
Yes, some ship girls appear in multiple construction pools, but their availability often depends on the current in-game event. Event Construction pools typically feature limited-time ships.
How do I get more wisdom cubes for building ships?
Wisdom cubes are earned through completing missions, daily logins, and event rewards. They are the primary currency for ship construction alongside coins.
What is the Siren Killer skill?
Siren Killer is a skill that increases damage dealt to Siren enemies, which are common boss-type foes in later PvE stages. Ships like Monarch, Drake, and Seattle have this skill.
For the wider topic, see mobile game tier lists.
