Welcome to my very long pinned post, where there's everything you need to know about this tumblr !
"What is Azur Lane ?"
Azur Lane, shortened to "AL" is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game created by Chinese developers Shanghai Manjuu and Xiamen Yongshi, released in 2017 for the iOS and Android operating systems. Set in an alternate timeline of World War II, players engage in side-scrolling shooter gameplay, using female moe anthropomorphic characters based on warships from the war's major participants.
"Isn't that just a weeb waifu game ?!"
Of course it is. The Characters can be obtained by building them with ingame currencies such as "cubes" and "gold coins". The game isn't the first of the genre, "Kantai Collection" did the shipgirl trope first and it's why Azur Lane's first characters are looking a bit like they're from Kantai Collection with a touch of fantasy regarding the riggings they're wearing.
[Left : Prinz Eugen from Kantai Collection - Right : Prinz Eugen from Azur Lane]
"So those are girls made from real ships then ? People playing the Germans are Nazis !!!"
Well, no. The girls are just inspired by the ships, not the captains or commanders nor the crew. The factions are not real life accurate, only fantasy counterparts. Germans are Ironblood, British are Royal Navy, Japanese are Sakura Empire, Chinese are Dragon Empery, Italian are Sardegna Empire, Americans are Eagle Union, French are either Vichya Dominion (occupied France) or Iris Libre (free France), Russians are Northern Parliament and Canada is Maple Monarchy (event tho we don't have Canadian ships yet, they've been mentioned)
The game started with retelling of well known world war two naval battles but very quickly devolved into a Trigger Studio anime plot : "We're fighting aliens from another dimension" and just rolled with it. And I'm glad they ignored real-life event of world war two since there's no German dictator, no known war generals or heroes, it's really just humanized ships.
"Okay but I have a shit luck at gacha games"
Don't be afraid, the highest rarity units are Ultra Rare and have a pity rate of 200 pulls. So far we have one UR unit gacha every three months, the Event pool size have been recently diminished, meaning you need less cubes to get everything and playing with basic intelligence allows you to save more than enough cubes and coins to reach the 200 roll pity. And if you get the unit before that pity, you can still get a double at 200 if you want.
"Yeah okay but then what ? Is there some gameplay or is it just PNGs for one-handed gaming ?"
The girls are indeed sexy, but the gameplay is a side-scrolling shooting game paying homage to the danmaku genre, with a lot of the screen occupied by bullets. Where in real Bullet Hell games you have to dodge it or risk dying, Azur Lane allows you to move around the screen, but you can survive taking shots. However, you can't sit in a torpedo barrage and go make your coffee or your ships will die.
[ This is a screenshot of one of the game's most difficult battles, as you can see there's no room to avoid everything ]
"Bruh like I actually have time to play this shit lmao"
Well don't fret comrade, there's an "auto" mode allowing the game to play itself while you do your chores, study or whatever. If you don't have time or just don't want to play in manual, you can play in auto. But be warned that auto AI is kinda dumb, so don't expect the game to solo itself the hardest levels with ease. Besides, playing on manual is almost mandatory on the hardest parts of the game, like EX mode or the latest campaign chapter.
"Wait, you need a brain for this ? I thought I could only take PNGs I liked, slap 'em together and roll with it !"
The game can be played with a waifu fleet, you don't need to be a connaisseur of the entire wiki and advanced mathematics to enjoy it. You can take your favorites and play them as a fleet without caring much about anything else than your gear. As I write those lines, the game can be played with a fleet made of girls you like without caring about their rarity, unless you're unfortunate to like only the lowest rarity ships. You're going to struggle then.
"Alright, how do I make a fleet ?"
You need 6 ships in total. Three "Main fleet" made of usually large ships like Aircraft Carriers (CV), Light Aircraft Carriers (CVL), Aviation Battleships (BBV), Battleships (BB), Battlecruisers (BC), Monitors (BM) or Repair ships (AR).
Then you use three "vanguard" ships that can be Destroyers (DD), Missile Guided Destroyers (DDG), Light Cruisers (CL), Heavy Cruisers (CA), Large Cruisers (CB) or Ammunition Ships (AE)
"That's it ? I just put 'em together and click play ?! I can make a vanguard made of three ammunition ships and steamroll the game ?! Neat !"
Well yes, but actually no. While there's no real restrictions while making a fleet, you have to think about your ships skills. The key is synergy between your ships, you can get farther with a well thought dynamic rather than taking random ships. But if that's your thing, then go on, have fun !
"What do you mean, synergy ???"
Quick example : Let's take HMS Newcastle's skill : "Reload order". It says, "Every 20s: 25% chance to increase entire fleet's Reload by 5% (maximum 25%) for 8s. Does not stack with the same skill." As you can see it will help all your fleet reload, in this case, no issue, you can use her in any fleet.
Now take IJN Abukuma's skill : "Torpedo Command Destroyers" : "Increase Torpedo stat of Destroyers in the fleet by 5% (15%). Does not stack with other command skills that have similar effect." As you can see, this ship increase the torpedo stat for Destroyers and nothing else. If you put her with Light Cruisers or Ammunition ship; they won't benefit from the skill. Just keep that rule in mind, and you'll be able to build a decent fleet. This is a basic recommendation guide, my best advice would be to try by yourself what you like and if it works like you want. Never forget that it's a video GAME, and it must remain a game, not become a chore. Fun must stay above everything else, or you'll end up bored or disgusted.
"Why should I play this game rather than Raid Shadow Legends ?"
Unlike this piece of crap they dare call a game, Azur Lane has no ads in the game, no special pool for paying users, everyone has the same chance of pulling a ship and whipping out the credit card won't guarantee you to get a gold unit. You CAN pay to buy cubes and gold but if you play in a smart way you can nearly have all ships without paying a dime.
"How the fuck are they making profit then ??????"
Skins. Lots of skins. And rings, for wedding.
"Wedding ??? Am I getting involved with a mahou shoujo battleship girl for real ???"
Yes.
it grants the girl a 3% boost in basic stats (but it doesn't boost Luck or Speed for example) and SOME ships awards a special wedding skin whenever you marry them, in those cases you're buying a ring and get a skin, but not all girls are equal for wedding dresses, unfortunately.
"Nice, now I'm here and I'm too lazy to google anything, gimme links"
Here's The English Azur Lane Wiki :
https://azurlane.koumakan.jp/wiki/Azur_Lane_Wiki
there you will be able to find any information you'd like.
"Like I'm gonna read all that, give me something more easy to use"
You're super lazy, uh ? Here's a decent global gearing guide made by the English community, no brain required other than basic reading skill. There's even a fleet maker tool ! :
https://slaimuda.github.io/ectl/#/home
there's even a fleet maker for super lazy peeps like you !
https://slaimuda.github.io/ectl/#/fleetmaker
"But why are you doing that ? You're paid by the publisher or something ???"
Absolutely not, but in an age of gacha games spamming you with exclusive scams deals when you just open the game, separate gacha pools paid VS free, unskippable ads after a battle or one gorillion menu hub with two gorillion different things to do, Azur Lane is a really, really nice game and doesn't make the player close 8 pop-ups before accessing the main hub of the game, and it won't show you exclusive deals every five minutes to ensure you're going to buy that $5 pack of 2000% value and create gambling addiction on younger players with no self-control, to me Azur Lane is a mobile gaming oxygen bubble, I feel like I'm playing a game without having a money knife under my throat every two minutes. It's refreshing.
It's the only game I've played consistently for more than three years without feeling bored or disgusted, and the fact the game isn't threatening me to boy packs or exclusive items actually makes me willing to pay for a skin or the battle pass
"A-HA ! There's a Battle Pass ! They're as guilty as many other games !"
Azur Lane's Battle Pass is called Fair Winds Cruise Missions and the only things paying players get over non-paying ones is a little more resources, one character skin and gear skins which are both cosmetic items with no stat boost. And it's $10 and lasts for two months. It's $5 per month. Over a year, it's $60, the price of a full AAA game. 60 bucks over one year isn't exactly expensive if you have a decent, steady income. And the game can be played without the Cruise Mission pass, like 100% playable. You don't get rate-up or anything that gives you a blatant advantage over normal players.
"Nice. But what if I have questions regarding some aspects of the game ?"
You can make an ask or send me a private message, I'll do my best to help you.
I wish you a nice day, dear reader. Thank you for reaching this point if you've read everything. Take care of yourself, happy gaming and don't forget to drink a glass of water, you gotta stay hydrated, comrade.
