World of Warships Aircraft Carrier Tier List June 2026

Flying carriers hits different these days – the 2026 meta flipped everything, breathed life into some relics, and dropped Super CVs that straight-up wrecked the old balance. Months grinding every line, sifting player rants, tracking how these birds swing matches. This tier list nails the now: ranked killers, randoms bullies, sanity-savers to dodge.

Contents

Tier X Aircraft Carriers Ranked

Full rundown – every big T10 CV slotted by 2026 reality, mixing player gripes with pro stats.

Tier X Carrier Tier List

Carrier Name	Nation	Tier	Type	Rank	Strengths	Weaknesses
Midway	USA	X	Standard	S+	Universal squadron effectiveness; excels against all ship classes; balanced plane economy; forgiving for mistakes	No standout gimmick; requires solid fundamentals
United States	USA	XI	Super CV	S+	High-speed special fighters/torpedo bombers; heat bombers cause massive fires; unlimited plane respawns	Controversial balance; draws AA focus; requires target rotation mastery
Sekiryu	Japan	XI	Super CV	S	Concentrated alpha damage from special torpedoes; extreme squadron speed (350+ knots); travel mode immunity	Limited status application without Hydro ally; constants-locked buffs require C6
Hakuryu	Japan	X	Standard	S	Devastating torpedo/AP bomb alpha; excels against broadside targets	Less effective vs destroyers; high skill ceiling; nerfed damage output from previous patches
Essex	USA	IX	Standard	S	Infinite plane regeneration via tactical squadrons; brain-dead easy farming; Yorktown torpedoes hit hardest	Lower burst damage than Midway equivalents; IX tier limits competitive use
Audacious	UK	X	Standard	A	Best squadron speed in class; HE bombs apply constant fire pressure; excellent at attrition warfare	Lower alpha per strike; struggles against grouped AA
Manfred von Richthofen	Germany	X	Standard	A	AP rockets shred cruisers; skip bombers ignore some armor schemes; versatile loadout	Complex attack patterns; middling torpedo performance
Eagle	UK	XI	Super CV	A	Split bombers saturate targets; special fighters carry many missiles; fire/flood attrition builds	Lacks burst damage; longer strike setup windows expose planes
Franklin D. Roosevelt	USA	X	Standard	B	Heavy alpha from fewer, stronger planes; unique strike rhythm	Terrible plane economy; one bad push depletes reserves for minutes
Admiral Nakhimov	USSR	X	Standard	B	Skip bombers penetrate deck armor; unique attack angles	Slow plane speeds; limited flexibility; requires predictive positioning
Malta	UK	X	Standard	B	Strong rocket alpha; improved squadron handling over Audacious	Overlaps too much with Audacious; doesn’t justify grind investment
Shinano	Japan	X	Standard	C	Premium status grants credit/XP bonuses	Painfully slow squadrons; outdated mechanics; “skip unless premium grind” consensus

Why These Rankings?

Midway rules S+ – versatility crushes games. Pressure DDs holding caps, farm BBs, bust cruiser packs, no full swaps needed. Doesn’t smack you for bad spots like Hakuryu or FDR. Solo-carry beast if you stay sharp.

Supers snag top spots amid the hate. United States stacks fires non-stop with heat bombers, special fighters zip faster than ships turn. Sekiryu dumps torp walls that nuke low-health before they blink. Travel mode AA dodge lets you hit cracks anywhere, zero plane cost.

Hakuryu clings to S for showoffs nailing torp drops and AP timing. Ceiling beats Midway, but AA cruisers eat your air wing on mistimed runs. Players split: dive bombs drag it or “buffs overdue?”

Essex grabs S off Independence’s spam – planes back before AA clears ’em. Yorktown torps outpunch Lexington, faster too, easy farm. Folks dub it “brain-dead play,” but that’s now a thumbs-up.

Audacious grinds fires with top speed, but weak punches mean chipping, not deletes. Shines if team pushes your burns; flops if they ignore.

B-tiers flop same ways – trash reserves (FDR), wonky runs (Nakhimov), copycat roles (Malta). Shinano tanks C – slow planes lose sight fights; “prem grind only.”

Super Aircraft Carriers in 2026

Supers split the server hardest – endless planes, 350+ knot specials, modes twisting fights standard CVs can’t touch. One side has it, other loses before shells fly.

What Makes Super CVs Unique

Travel Mode blanks AA on repositions. Map-cross, flank scout, angle hunt – zero losses. Kills long-strike gamble.
Attack Mode sneaks squads to prime drop range, max hits, full punch. Speed means ships track too late.
Recon Mode bursts spots on DDs, hides – quick intel, timed to cut losses.

Special Squadrons

Special Attack Aircraft rocket walls, pen better, fire starters
Special Torpedo Bombers quick torps, tight fans, broadside killers
Special Bombers speed drops, big hits, heat stacks or bomb carpets

Current Super CV Roster

Sekiryu (Japan)

Nation: Japan
Special Squadrons: High-speed attack aircraft; special torpedoes with concentrated alpha damage
Battle Strengths: Bursts down isolated targets; repositions faster than enemies anticipate; excels in cleanup/assassination roles
Weaknesses: Needs Hydro allies for optimal status application; primary buffs locked behind C6 constellation upgrades; vulnerable when caught in crossfire
Community Sentiment: “Lunar reactions mechanic feels incomplete without dedicated team support”

United States (USA)

Nation: United States
Special Squadrons: High-speed special fighters; special torpedo bombers; heat bombers causing sustained fire damage
Battle Strengths: Overwhelming fire application forces Damage Control usage; torpedo alpha rivals Hakuryu; squadron speed denies AA counterplay windows
Weaknesses: Heavy AA focus can still deplete squadrons in attack mode; requires target rotation discipline to avoid overcommitting
Community Sentiment: “Heat bombers are absurd – permanent fires unless you waste Damage Control early”

Eagle (United Kingdom)

Nation: United Kingdom
Special Squadrons: Split bombers saturating wide areas; special fighters carrying extended missile payloads
Battle Strengths: Attrition warfare through fires/floods; wide saturation patterns hit multiple targets or guarantee hits on evasive ships
Weaknesses: Lower burst damage compared to Sekiryu/United States; longer attack setups expose planes to aimed AA fire
Community Sentiment: “British CVs always prioritize DoT over burst – Eagle continues that tradition with Super CV stats”

The Balance Controversy

Supers hand pilots no-risk pain machines, surface ships eat max hurt. Endless planes trash economy checks. Perma-spots neuter DD stealth, travel immunity hits every flank. No safe spots.

Players rage same: “Supers RUIN WoWS – endless planes, nuts damage, perma-spot, balance killer.” Not one trick, the combo kills counters.

Notable Standard Tier X Carriers

Standards fill hangars – Supers cost steel, old-school builds real skill. Each T10 packs unique edges.

Midway (USA)

Playstyle: Handles anything aware. Squad mix shifts targets seamless.
Squadrons: HE rockets bully DDs/light CLs; torps smack broad BBs/CVs; dive bombs fire heavies. Solid everywhere.
Unique Features: Deck armor cuts far HE/AP, lasts long hauls. Regen middling – not Essex spam, not FDR pain.
Skill Ceiling: Medium. Forgives mids; pays big on timing, picks.
Community Opinion: “Midway S+++ solo carry every game” – steady pick for ranked grind.

Hakuryu (Japan)

Playstyle: Predict, time, delete – not farm grind. Burst kings.
Squadrons: AP dives cit BBs/CVs perfect; torps wreck broad heavies. Rockets ok on DDs, trail Midway.
Unique Features: Top alpha clean hits. AP pens decks right.
Skill Ceiling: Steep. Predict angles, time runs – botch, lose squads.
Community Opinion: “Nerfed hard, dives save it” vs “skilled? Beats Midway.” Cuts hit less, ceiling nuts.

Audacious (United Kingdom)

Playstyle: DoT grind – fires, floods, DC force, cooldown exploits.
Squadrons: HE carpets light fires; torps flood burns. Rockets side damage. Fastest speed cycles quick.
Unique Features: Speed owns timing. Carpets clip dodgers.
Skill Ceiling: Medium. Clear picks: burn, flood.
Community Opinion: “HE slaps, speed god” – steady, but burst lacks bite.

Manfred von Richthofen (Germany)

Playstyle: Cruiser hunter, loadout flex. AP rockets delete broads; skips beat angles.
Squadrons: AP rockets crush CL broads hardest. Skips water-bounce armor. Torps meh.
Unique Features: Lone AP rocket real threat profile.
Skill Ceiling: Steep. Skip aim, patterns practice. Torps limit heavies.
Community Opinion: Ties Hakuryu tiers – skill grind, mastery wrecks.

Essex (USA)

Playstyle: Spam farm, infinite regen. Losses? Laughable.
Squadrons: Yorktown torps top Essex punch – faster than Lexi, easy lands. Rks/bombs light, regen covers.
Unique Features: Independence deplane-proof. Regen beats AA most times.
Skill Ceiling: Low. “Brain-dead play” – mediocre repeats win.
Community Opinion: Vets rank #1 – forgives all, farms steady.

Admiral Nakhimov (USSR)

Playstyle: Skip spec, predict spots. Angles niche, setup heavy.
Squadrons: Skips deck-pen citadels right. Attacks filler.
Unique Features: Soviet skip path – German diff.
Skill Ceiling: Steep. Slow speeds predict hard; slip costs runs.
Community Opinion: Niche only – clunky vs flex picks.

Malta (UK)

Playstyle: Audacious tweak, rocket punch up, handle smooth.
Squadrons: Rks harder; HE fires Brit way. Torps flood wrecks.
Unique Features: Brit tune, no revamp.
Skill Ceiling: Medium. Audacious easy, same fights.
Community Opinion: “Too Audacious-like” – grind waste.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA)

Playstyle: Few fat planes, rhythm unique. Alpha big, reserves trash.
Squadrons: Planes chunk harder, small groups, regen hurts.
Unique Features: Boom/bust – clean chunks huge, flop starves.
Skill Ceiling: Brutal. Picks perfect or pay long.
Community Opinion: Skip – punishes learns, Midway steady better.

Shinano (Japan)

Playstyle: Prem credit farm, old tricks.
Squadrons: IJN standard, slow as hell – spot loss sure.
Unique Features: Prem cash only hook.
Skill Ceiling: Medium, speeds kill flex.
Community Opinion: “Slow trash, prem only” – dodge.

Eagle (UK – Super CV)

Playstyle: Brit DoT supered. Splits soak; fighters missile spam.
Squadrons: Splits partial sure; fighters harass long.
Unique Features: Travel + DoT – map fires/floods free.
Skill Ceiling: Medium-high. Setups time AA dodge.
Community Opinion: Brit fans dig; balancers hate fire spam supers.

United States (USA – Super CV)

Playstyle: Heat fire walls + torp bursts.
Squadrons: Heats outpace DC; spec torps Hak alpha, reposition god.
Unique Features: Travel flank swaps free; speed blanks AA.
Skill Ceiling: Medium. Basic carries; rotation wrecks.
Community Opinion: “Balance ruiner proof” – planes/heat/move too much.

Sekiryu (Japan – Super CV)

Playstyle: Speed deletes isolates. Cleanup beast.
Squadrons: Spec torps tight fast (350+); attacks burst lows.
Unique Features: Fastest repos; travel deep scout.
Skill Ceiling: High. Hydro buffs; C6 gates.
Community Opinion: “Balance ignore, AA-out drops” – assassin respect, counter hate.

Aircraft Carrier Lines and Progression

Nation paths guide grinds – some steady strong, others mid suck before T10 payoff. Honest maps.

Nation	Line Name	Ship Progression	Notable Features	Community Recommendation
USA	Midway Line	Langley (IV) → Ranger (V) → Lexington (VIII) → Midway (X)	Balanced squadrons; forgiving mechanics; strong at all tiers; versatile against all targets	Grind – “Best line, overpowered in skilled hands, universally useful”
USA	Essex Line	Independence (VI) → Yorktown (VIII) → Essex (IX)	Infinite tactical squadrons; brain-dead farming; Yorktown torpedoes hit hardest	Grind – “Easiest damage farming; Independence can never be deplaned”
Japan	Hakuryu Line	Hōshō (IV) → Ryūjō (VI) → Shōkaku (VIII) → Hakuryu (X)	High alpha torpedoes/bombs; flashy mechanics; torpedo/AP bomb focus	Grind (skilled players) – “Fun and effective, possibly more powerful than Midway in skilled hands”
UK	Audacious Line	Hermes (IV) → Furious (VI) → Implacable (VIII) → Audacious (X)	Fire/flood attrition; carpet bombers; best squadron speed	Mixed – “HE bombs slap” vs. “Brit CVs all suck now”
Germany	Manfred Line	Rhein (IV) → Weser (VI) → August von Parseval (VIII) → Manfred von Richthofen (X)	AP rockets; skip bombers; anti-cruiser specialization	Conditional – Strong at Tier X but painful intermediate grind
USSR	Nakhimov Line	Komsomolets (IV) → Serov (VI) → Pobeda (VIII) → Admiral Nakhimov (X)	Skip bombers; unique angles; slow squadrons	Skip – Outdated mechanics; better options exist
Japan	Shinano (Premium)	Stand-alone Tier X premium	Credit/XP grind platform	Skip – “Unless prem grind”
UK	Malta Line	Specialty line variation	Improved Audacious mechanics	Skip – “Overlaps too much with Audacious; doesn’t justify grind”

USN Midway Line: Universal First Pick

Langley-Midway steady – no stock hell. Mix owns comps: AA heavies? DD hunt. No screens? BB farm. Rks/torps/bombs solid.

Vets crown best line new or old. “Jack all trades” fits – no Hak peak, every game counts.

USN Essex Line: The Brain-Dead Farming Route

Indy tactical spam – “deplane never.” Yorktown torps beat Lexi speed/damage.

Vet #1 pick – forgives bad, farms no matter. Relentless, not flash.

“Brain-dead” tag? Strong rec now. Farm > skill flex? This.

IJN Hakuryu Line: High Risk, High Reward

Hoso-Ryu-Shoka-Hak predict heavy. Torps/AP cit deck, but AA eats slips.

“Fun effective; skilled > Midway” nails. Torp/bomb skews BB/CL/CV. Flash deletes.

Skill pays; master rules.

UK Audacious Line: Fire Everything, Hope It Burns

DoT core – fires floods DC force. Carpets clip, speed cycles.

Split: “HE slaps speed” vs “Brit suck.” Chips steady, no deletes.

Implacable “rkt OP” – mid strong. Attrit fans grind; burst skip.

German Manfred Line: Anti-Cruiser Specialists

AP rks broad CL delete; skips angle beat. T10 worth spec.

Mids rough – Weser/Parseval meh vs USN. Commit or bail.

Soviet Nakhimov Line: Outdated Mechanics

Slow skips clunk. Angles niche, flex beats.

Skip – collect only. Midway/Hak/Essex better.

Premium and Specialty Lines: Niche Picks

Shinano prem cash – “slow skip prem.” Malta Aud copy – waste.

CV grind hate: “No regrind.” Mindset shift, not all dig.

Easy Grind Callouts

Non-CV? Libertad “easiest, leg cap OP joke.” Note for ports.

Key Aircraft Carrier Gameplay Mechanics (2026)

CV mastery hits surface blind spots – planes ammo, vision vs strike, hull hide power project. Essentials practical.

Carrier Role in Battle

Spotting: DD caps, flanks, ally light
Vision Control: Steal DD hide
Pressure Application: Maneuver force, DC waste, spot bail
Team Support: Fighters, smoke push/retreat, isolates delete

Farm tunnel loses caps/DDs high nums.

Aircraft Types and Optimal Targets

Fighters: AI hull guard, enemy air intercept, scout spot. T5+ patrol drop – ally air hell, caps deny.

Attack Aircraft (Rockets): Speed HE DDs (smoke force, low pool), weak CL. BB super farm weak.

Torpedo Bombers: Heavies – BB/CV/CL. Broad need; angle dodge. Flood stack/finish.

Dive Bombers: Fires deck pen. Bow-stern max; perp spread. All ok, flood-DC fire windows.

Depth Charge Planes (Tier V+): Auto sub hunt surfaced/detect. No micro.

Squadron Management: Economy and Rotation

Squads = mags – gone, wait dry. Reckless AA feeds; pick smart saves.

Attack/Recall Rhythm: Launch, strike, recall pre-flak. Greed loses; early sacs damage.
Strike Rotation: Rk-torp-bomb cycle. Regen while strike, multi-threat, DC exploit (flood>fire).
Avoiding Suicide Runs: Worc/Hall/Mino/DM shred. Bait DF, strike cool. Feed=zero.

Positioning: Hull Safety vs. Strike Range

No guns, AI secs weak. Pos = live when DD leaks.

Optimal Distance: 16 – 22km front. Quick flank, dodge BB torp. Island block.

Repositioning Triggers: Flank dead? Strong side. DD leak? Perp dodge torp. Spot hold? Move.

Manual Secondaries: DD 8-10km? Manual + wiggle, ally time.

Consumables: Defensive Tools

Damage Control Party: Auto fire/flood. Passive.
Patrol Fighters (Tier VI+): Drop spots – ally air, caps deny, hull guard.
Smoke Curtains (select carriers): Ally push/retreat. Check ship.

Spotting Mechanics: The 10 km Standard

Planes 10km base 2026. Tactics:

Short Scouting Bursts: DD sus, reveal pull. Orbit AA waste.
Cap Zone Reveals: Early cap DD pre-hold. Vision caps.
Choke Point Surveillance: Narrows/flanks ping share.

Defensive Play: Plane Preservation Techniques

Weaving: Side weave track hard. Straight flak feast.
Altitude Variation: Alt shift disrupt.
Early Recall: Heavy? Pull now. 4 next >1 now.
Rotating Plane Types: Torp shred? Rk/bomb. Regen time.

Nation-Specific Playstyle Tips

Midway (USA): Enemy check, pick chance. No gim, basics win.
Hakuryu (Japan): Broad/low hunt. AP angle; torp predict. Ally DD.
Audacious (UK): DoT stack DC exploit. Speed pressure.
Manfred von Richthofen (Germany): CL broad rks; skip angle. Torp BB.
Essex (USA): Aggro spam. York BB farm.
Super CVs (All Nations): Travel flank hop. Spec low delete/broad max.

Armored Flight Decks (Tier X USN/IJN)

US/Jap T10 decks cut far HE/AP. Lasts, torp/close still bite.

The Fundamental Truth: CVs vision/pressure/support. Grasp wins > damage chase ignore map/team.

Advanced Tips for Dominating with Carriers

Basics functional; pro turns match-molders. Winrate boosters.

1. Spotting and Vision Control Mastery

Scout Destroyers First: Early squad cap DD sus – 5s vision ally smack force smoke/retreat.
Cap Zone Surveillance: 30-45s bursts deny hold, save planes.
Flank Spotting: Collapse signs scout – reveal pre-crush.
Choke Point Coverage: Early narrows ping “B flank.”

2. Target Priority: What to Hit When

Priority #1 – Destroyers Contesting Caps: Cap DD > back BB. Rks clean cap take.
Priority #2 – Radar Cruisers: Worc/DM/Mino DD deny – chunk free DD caps.
Priority #3 – Low-HP Ships: 20% BB gone forever >100% fight.
Priority #4 – Isolated Targets: Lone no-AA easy.

Avoid: Full AA clump BB – squads 10k waste.

3. Plane Economy: Treat Squadrons as Ammunition

The Magazine Analogy: Start full, loss empty – regen spectator. Smart ends reserve; greed mid dry.

Bait Aimed AA: Approach DF pop (flak spike), pull 30s, strike drop.

Count Losses: 4+/strike med AA? Fix approach/target/weave.

Recall Discipline: 4 zero > commit 5k full loss.

4. Strike Rotation and Pressure Maintenance

Cycle Squadron Types: Rk>torp>bomb. Constant no deplete.
Force Damage Control Waste: Torp flood DC> bomb fire repair.
Pressure Multiple Flanks: Weak strike>strong. AA guess.
Timing Strikes with Allied Pushes: Push air cover + strike oppose.

5. Team Support and Synergy

Use Map Pings Aggressively: DD “B head.” Flank ping collapse.
Drop Patrol Fighters Over Allies: Air hell group/isolates.
Smoke Curtain Timing (if equipped): Retreat cover/push enab. Waste none.
Coordinate Destroyer Hunts: Radar reveal>strike vanish.
Assist Submarine Hunting: Surf/detect auto + ASW team.

6. Dealing with Heavy AA Ships

Identify AA Threats Early: Worc/Hall/Mino/DM/Salem delete. Mark avoid.
Strike During Cooldowns: Bait, 30s, pre-refresh.
Target Isolation Moments: Lone AA drop.
Accept Some Targets Are Off-Limits: Perfect pos? Skip feed.

7. Plane Preservation Micro-Techniques

Weave During Approach: Left-right flak miss.
Vary Altitude Randomly: 10-15s shift disrupt.
Recall at 50% Squadron HP: Half gone? Pull remain.
Avoid Extended Orbiting: Setup quick/pull – hover feed.
Rotate Depleted Types: Torp 2? Others regen.

8. Advanced Positioning Adjustments

Follow Strong Flank Momentum: Win side support snowball.
Island Cover Selection: Block BB sight squad launch.
Anticipate Flanking Routes: Pre-DD/CL paths.
Maintain Escape Routes: No dead-end, 2 ways min.

Decisions/priority/strike-scout split avg/dom. Master flow dictate.

Community and Expert Opinions on Carrier Balance

2026 CV chats fracture – surface hate air rule, pilots defend. Key rants/themes.

Overpowered Consensus

Midway: All nod comp pilot owns. “S+++ carry” x-many – no counters, phases hit. No nerfs.

Super CVs (All): Break core. “RUIN – endless/absurd/perma/balance swing.” Gripes:

Respawn no econ
Travel no pos counter
Spec alpha no vuln
Team have? Win

US/Sek heat/torp AA-out worst.

Essex: “Brain-dead farm” infinite. OP easy some; low ceil no top others. Vet #1 steady.

Implacable: Mid “rkt OP.”

Underpowered or Outdated

Shinano: “Slow skip prem.” Sight lose; old no comp. Cash only.

Admiral Nakhimov: Rare; slow niche clunk.

British CVs (General): “All suck” vs Aud/Imp str (speed/fire). Narrow ok.

Graf Zeppelin: “AP gim, torp tank” – niche.

Saipan: “T6+ trash delete.”

Colossus: Brit meh outclass.

Balanced or Conditional

Hakuryu: “Nerf hell dives carry” vs “skilled >Mid.” Skill split ok high.

Audacious: “HE speed” vs low alpha. Team push shine.

Manfred von Richthofen: Hak pair – skill reward.

New vs. Experienced Player Recommendations

For New Players:

Midway teach no gim
Skip Hak/FDR/Man high punish
Essex farm pri

For Experienced Players:

Hak/Man outplay max
Essex steady any
Supers dom hate expect nerf

Grind Recommendations

Definitely Grind:

Midway “best OP skilled”
Essex “easy farm”
Hak skilled “fun high”

Conditional/Niche Grinds:

Aud attrit
Man CL spec
Malta skip overlap

Avoid Entirely:

Nakh outdated
Shin prem
Saipan dismiss

Broader Class Sentiment

Vets “CV no regrind” often. Diff mind surface – vision/timing/econ – not all.

Master less joy – strong = “delete CV” hate.

Memes and Recurring Jokes

“Midway carry lul”
“Hak buff? Lul”
“Indy deplane no”
“Supers ruin”

Balance Outlook

No T10 shift – WG ok Mid/Hak/Aud/Man. Supers hot; expect respawn/travel cuts, no date.

Surface cut air; pilots “nerfed enough skill need.” No end.

Aircraft Carrier Nation and Ship List (2026)

Full Ship List

Ship Name	Nation	Tier	Type	Playstyle/Unique Feature
Midway	USA	X	Standard	Balanced squadrons; universal effectiveness; armored deck
Essex	USA	IX	Standard	Infinite tactical squadron regeneration; farming specialist
Franklin D. Roosevelt	USA	X	Standard	Fewer, stronger planes; heavy alpha with terrible economy
United States	USA	XI	Super CV	Heat bombers; high-speed special fighters/torpedoes; unlimited respawns
Hakuryu	Japan	X	Standard	High-alpha torpedoes/AP bombs; armored deck; skill-dependent
Shinano	Japan	X	Standard (Premium)	Slow squadrons; premium credit grind platform
Sekiryu	Japan	XI	Super CV	Concentrated torpedo alpha; extreme squadron speed; travel mode
Audacious	UK	X	Standard	Fire/flood attrition; carpet bombers; best squadron speed
Malta	UK	X	Standard	Improved Audacious mechanics; stronger rocket alpha
Eagle	UK	XI	Super CV	Split bombers; special fighters with missiles; saturation patterns
Manfred von Richthofen	Germany	X	Standard	AP rockets; skip bombers; anti-cruiser focus
Max Immelmann	Germany	X	Standard	German carrier variant with specialized mechanics
Admiral Nakhimov	USSR	X	Standard	Skip bombers; slow squadrons; unique attack angles
Admiral Orlov	USSR	X	Standard	Soviet carrier variant

Additional Notable Carriers (Sub-Tier X)

Ship Name	Nation	Tier	Notes
Lexington	USA	VIII	Midway line progression; balanced toolkit
Yorktown	USA	VIII	Essex line; strong torpedoes
Saipan	USA	VII/VIII	Variants exist; generally dismissed as weak
Enterprise	USA	VIII	Premium; unique mechanics
Shokaku	Japan	VIII	Hakuryu line progression
Kaga	Japan	VII/VIII	Large plane reserves; farming focus
Taiho	Japan	IX	Hakuryu line progression
Implacable	UK	VIII	“Rocket alpha OP”; Audacious line
Ark Royal	UK	VI	Early British carrier
Indomitable	UK	VIII	British line variant
Colossus	UK	VIII	British line progression
August von Parseval	Germany	VIII	Manfred line progression
Graf Zeppelin	Germany	VIII	Premium; “AP bombs gimmicky”
Erich Loewenhardt	Germany	VI	Early German carrier
Pobeda	USSR	VIII	Nakhimov line progression
Chkalov	USSR	VIII	Soviet premium variant
Aquila	Italy	VIII	Italian carrier representation
Bearn	France	VI	French carrier representation
Sanzang	Pan-Asia	VIII	Pan-Asian carrier

Tech Tree Paths to Tier X

USA (Midway): Langley (IV) → Ranger (V) → Lexington (VIII) → Midway (X)

USA (Essex): Independence (VI) → Yorktown (VIII) → Essex (IX)

Japan (Hakuryu): Hosho (IV) → Ryujo (VI) → Shokaku (VIII) → Hakuryu (X)

UK (Audacious): Hermes (IV) → Furious (VI) → Implacable (VIII) → Audacious (X)

Germany (Manfred): Rhein (IV) → Weser (VI) → August von Parseval (VIII) → Manfred von Richthofen (X)

USSR (Nakhimov): Komsomolets (IV) → Serov (VI) → Pobeda (VIII) → Admiral Nakhimov (X)

Super CV Acquisition

Super CVs (Sekiryu, United States, Eagle) require separate acquisition methods – typically special events, premium currency, or promotional campaigns. They do not progress through standard tech trees.

Version Notes

This list reflects the international (Wargaming) PC version of World of Warships as of June 2026. Console versions (Legends) feature different rosters and balance states. Upcoming additions like Independencia (Tier X) were announced but not yet released at time of compilation.

CVs 2026 contested – match dict, debate fuel. Midway vers, Hak bursts, Super cheats – meta grasp dom or flop. Patch shift list; vision/priority/econ stay. All here, no hunt.

World of Warships CV Tier List June 2026