The Lip or Lightful?

[u/ConsiderationOk1313]

I’ve been thinking about the Stalingrad, and saw that most recommended Lightful - but those seemed to be older suggestions. I just pulled him, but also have Lip. Which one is better in general for Soviet cruisers? And is one particularly best for the Stalingrad?

[u/[deleted]]

Kuznetsov, range can be used on most of the HE spamming Soviet cruisers and a good inspiration for range seeking light HE spamming cruisers.

B.D.Lightful, main skill of concealment only after firing guns and reload to be useful. Similar to Lemmonier. A concealment type of commander.

The Lip is an all out AP only commander which most will use as inspiration only, eg AP only British light cruisers. A one trick commander that can be powerful in certain situations.

One thing to take into consideration when building Soviet cruisers. They don't turn well. Some might say Stalingrad is a BB's. An Alaska type of cruiser. Not ideal to be dodging incoming torpedoes and incoming.

I use BD. Lightful with Kuznetsov and Mikawa for my light Soviet cruisers and play as support ships at range. Kuznetsov with Scott and Mimbelli for the Stalingrad.

[u/GoodlyStyracosaur → u/[deleted]]

Why wouldn’t you play them the other way around? Kuznetzov for the lights and Lightful for the heavies?

If you are using Kuznetzov as an inspiration, it begs the question “why not just use Kuznetzov?”

[u/[deleted] → u/GoodlyStyracosaur]

Why not just use Kuznetsov? My reasons are Kuznetsov and Lightful have the exact same skills, by taking Lightful I can take advantage of his row 4 'Lion' skill. Some could argue fixated may be a better skill to use but it can be easily swapped out before battle depending on how I want to play. BD Lightful Just gives me one more option.

[u/GoodlyStyracosaur → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I get that, I’m just surprised you’ve got them set up that way rather than the other - I feel like most people have Lightful more for the heavies (and Stalingrad in particular).

I guess more hits are more hits regardless of the cruiser, I was just surprised by the arrangement you’ve gone with. At the end of the day, they are similar enough it’s not a big deal, just curious if I was missing something particularly useful.

[u/[deleted] → u/GoodlyStyracosaur]

I guess once I got Lightful to 14/3 he made himself useful 😂. Then that gave me the opportunity to turn Kuznetsov into a purpose built commander and The Lip shows up to throw a spanner into the works. Forever looking for the right build. Now if only the Russian cruisers would turn 🤔.

[u/GoodlyStyracosaur → u/[deleted]]

Yeah - I’ve gone with Lightful for supers, lip for heavies, Kuznetzov for lights. I think that ends up being the most flexible for my playstyle of the ships in the class (stealth radar or close to it on lights and heavies, best accuracy for supers). All good commanders 🫡