Azur Lane Tier List (July 2025) Best 630+ Ships Ranked
Listen up, Commanders! If you're struggling to build the perfect fleet in Azur Lane, I've got you covered. After countless hours analyzing the meta and testing every single ship girl across all game modes, I'm bringing you the most comprehensive tier list for 2025.
With over 630 ships now available in the game, choosing the right ones can feel overwhelming. Trust me, I've been there. That's why I've meticulously ranked every single ship across all categories - from destroyers to battleships, submarines to aircraft carriers. This isn't just another generic tier list; it's your ultimate fleet-building bible.
Table of Contents
Azur Lane Best Battleships Tier List (July 2025)
Let's dive straight into what you came for. I've organized all ships by their hull type, making it super easy to find exactly what you need. Remember, these rankings consider performance across all content - campaign, PvP, Operation Siren, and boss fights.
Destroyer (DD) Tier List
| Ship Name | Tier | Type | Notable Stats | Special Abilities | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otto von Alvensleben | SS | DD | High EVA/TRP | Barrage + Torp buff | Meta-defining in all content |
| Shimakaze | SS | DD | 170% TRP Eff | Triple torpedo mounts | Torpedo nuke specialist |
| Kitakaze | SS | DD | High FP/RLD | Main gun +1, barrage | Gun-focused DD powerhouse |
| An Shan | SS | DD | Balanced stats | Fleet buff + barrage | Excellent support DD |
| Chang Chun | SS | DD | High FP | Main gun buff | Chinese fleet core |
| Yuudachi | SS | DD | Extreme TRP | Torpedo self-buff | Boss killer extraordinaire |
| Laffey II | SS | DD | High RLD | Barrage + reload buff | UR retrofit worth it |
| Attilio Regolo | S | DD | High SPD | Speed buff + barrage | Italian fleet enabler |
| Suzutsuki | S | DD | AA specialist | AA mode + barrage | W13-14 MVP |
| Tashkent | S | DD | Tanky DD | Shield + gun focus | Northern Parliament star |
| Wakatsuki | S | DD | Balanced | Sakura buff | Solid all-rounder |
| Halford | S | DD | Unique plane | Plane + torpedo | Hybrid specialist |
| Allen M. Sumner | A | DD | US gunboat | AA + barrage | Eagle Union staple |
| Ayanami | A | DD | TRP demon | Demon Dance skill | Starter ship excellence |
| Bristol | A | DD | Support focus | Fleet buffs | Great for new players |
| Javelin | A | DD | High EVA | Evasion buff | Dodge tank starter |
| Z23 | A | DD | High FP | Shield skill | Ironblood gunboat |
| Z46 | A | DD | Balanced | Barrage + buff | Premium Z-destroyer |
| Le Terrible | A | DD | Speed demon | Speed + reload | French fleet core |
| Yukikaze | A | DD | Lucky ship | Damage reduction | Survival specialist |
| Kawakaze | A | DD | TRP focus | Torpedo buff | IJN torpedo support |
| Marie Rose | A | DD | Collab unit | Unique skills | Limited but strong |
| Eldridge | B | DD | Rainbow skill | Invincibility frames | PvP meme queen |
| Kasumi | B | DD | Retrofit available | Decent stats | Budget option |
| Le Malin | B | DD | French DD | Okay stats | Collection priority |
| Z1 | B | DD | Z-buff | Z-destroyer buffer | Niche fleet builder |
| Shirakami Fubuki | B | DD | Hololive collab | Unique barrage | Fox friend |
| Nicholas | C | DD | US DD | Basic skills | Early game viable |
| Eskimo | C | DD | Royal Navy | Mediocre stats | Waifu > meta |
| Stephen Potter | C | DD | Event ship | Average performance | Skip if resources tight |
| Cooper | D | DD | Low stats | Basic skills | Retire candidate |
| Hammann II | D | DD | Tsundere cat | Mediocre remake | Original was better |
| Fortune | E | DD | Common rarity | Retrofit available | New player trap |
| Universal Bulin | E | DD | Limit break mat | Don't use as ship | Please just don't |
Battleship/Battlecruiser (BB/BC/BBV) Tier List
| Ship Name | Tier | Type | Notable Stats | Special Abilities | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musashi | SS | BB | Massive FP | Special barrage | Absolute unit, get her |
| New Jersey | SS | BB | High accuracy | Armor break | Best USS BB |
| Ulrich von Hutten | SS | BB | Tank + damage | Time stop barrage | IB fleet core |
| Friedrich der Grosse | SS | BB | Fleet buffer | Crit + damage buff | Enables IB fleets |
| Vanguard | SS | BB | UR Royal Navy | Special barrage | Worth the UR bulins |
| Bismarck Zwei | SS | BB | IB buffer | Fleet-wide buffs | Bismarck perfected |
| Kearsarge | SS | BBV | Planes + guns | Hybrid specialist | Unique playstyle |
| Sovetsky Soyuz | SS | BB | NP flagship | Armor + damage | Northern powerhouse |
| Flandre | SS | BB | Barrage queen | Screen clear | Bullet hell master |
| Constellation | SS | BB | Support BB | Healing + damage | Utility supreme |
| Alsace | S | BB | French power | Preload + barrage | Iris backbone |
| Clemenceau | S | BB | FFNF buffer | Fleet support | French fleet enabler |
| Howe | S | BB | Slow support | Time manipulation | KGV-class star |
| Marco Polo | S | BB | SAP shells | Unique ammo type | Italian innovation |
| Vittorio Veneto | S | BB | Italian pride | Empire buff | Sardegna core |
| Richelieu | S | BB | Quad guns | Preload salvo | French firepower |
| Odin | S | BC | Tanky BC | Secondary focus | PR grind worth it |
| Georgia | S | BB | Speed + guns | Accurate salvos | USS favorite |
| Champagne | S | BB | HE specialist | Burn damage | PR ship excellence |
| Monarch | S | BB | Barrage focus | AP barrage | HMS powerhouse |
| Alabama | A | BB | Lucky A | Protective skill | Solid all-rounder |
| Duke of York | A | BB | Debuffer | Slow + damage amp | Support BB |
| Warspite | A | BB | Retrofit god | Divine Marksman | Sniper BB |
| Hood | A | BC | Barrage classic | Glory of Royal | BC that matters |
| Prince of Wales | A | BB | USS buffer | Fleet support | Niche but strong |
| Washington | A | BB | Night fighter | South Dakota synergy | Historical duo |
| Nagato | A | BB | IJN buffer | Big Seven | Sakura enabler |
| Amagi | A | BC | Balanced | Kaga synergy | Fox mines support |
| Massachusetts | B | BB | Secondary focus | Close range | Big Mamie |
| Jean Bart | B | BB | Preload | Single salvo | One-shot potential |
| King George V | B | BB | Barrage | Quad guns | Decent HMS option |
| Queen Elizabeth | B | BB | HMS buffer | Retrofit available | Budget HMS support |
| Arizona | C | BB | Healer BB | Healing salvo | New player helper |
| North Carolina | C | BB | AA support | Washington sister | Outclassed |
| Pennsylvania | C | BB | Common BB | Basic skills | Early game only |
| Nevada | D | BB | Weak stats | Basic skills | Retire tier |
| Oklahoma | D | BB | Sister ship | Even weaker | Why use this? |
| Repulse | E | BC | Paper armor | Retrofit when? | Historical accuracy |
| Renown | E | BC | Hood's friend | Powercrept hard | Collection only |
Aircraft Carrier (CV/CVL) Tier List
| Ship Name | Tier | Type | Notable Stats | Special Abilities | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral Nakhimov | SS | CV | UR power | Special planes | Meta queen 2025 |
| Shinano | SS | CV | Support god | Fleet buffs + damage | Must-have UR |
| Hakuryuu | SS | CV | Plane swarm | Overwhelming strikes | DR investment worth |
| Enterprise | SS | CV | Lucky E | 70% proc rate | OG carrier goddess |
| Perseus | SS | CVL | Healer CV | Preload + heal | W12+ enabler |
| Yorktown II | SS | CV | Modern design | Time stop + damage | Eagle Union pride |
| Implacable | SS | CV | Royal Navy | Consistent damage | HMS carrier core |
| Volga | SS | CV | NP support | Unique mechanics | Enables new strats |
| Aquila | SS | CV | SAP planes | Sardegna carrier | Italian first CV |
| Unicorn | S | CVL | Healer classic | Reload + heal | Supports everything |
| Centaur | S | CVL | Torpedo focus | Swordfish memes | Still relevant |
| Essex | S | CV | Consistent | Union buff | Reliable damage |
| Independence | S | CVL | Retrofit strong | Cleveland synergy | Worth the grind |
| August von Parseval | S | CV | Slow planes | Unique pattern | IB carrier option |
| Ark Royal | S | CV | Slow support | Swordfish spam | Destroyer lover |
| Formidable | S | CV | Time stop | Support + damage | Enables combos |
| Chise Asukagawa | S | CV | Collab unit | Special mechanics | Get if possible |
| Illustrious | A | CV | Shield support | Armored carrier | Defensive option |
| Saratoga | A | CV | Retrofit good | Dive bomber focus | F2P friendly |
| Taihou | A | CV | Offensive | Hidden mechanic | RNG dependent |
| Graf Zeppelin | A | CV | IB carrier | Secondary guns | Hybrid approach |
| Shoukaku | A | CV | Crane sister | Zuikaku synergy | Pair them up |
| Zuikaku | A | CV | Lucky crane | Shoukaku pair | Better together |
| Kaga | B | CV | First carrier | Akagi synergy | Fox mines outdated |
| Akagi | B | CV | Quick launch | Kaga pair | Collection pair |
| Bataan | B | CVL | Support CVL | Decent skills | Budget option |
| Eagle | C | CV | HMS common | Basic carrier | Starter carrier |
| Hornet | C | CV | Doolittle | Historical | Outclassed sister |
| Lexington | D | CV | Large HP | Basic skills | Tank but why? |
| Ranger | D | CV | Retrofit exists | Still weak | Skip honestly |
| Long Island | E | CVL | Ghost | First CVL | Retrofit helps little |
| Bogue | E | CVL | Weakest CV | Please no | Retirement home |
Cruiser (CA/CB/CL) Tier List
| Ship Name | Tier | Type | Notable Stats | Special Abilities | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agir | SS | CB | Tank god | Shields + damage | PR4 masterpiece |
| Unzen | SS | CA | UR CA | Insane DPS | Get immediately |
| Brest | SS | CB | French CB | Unique mechanics | Worth PR grind |
| Drake | SS | CA | Royal Navy | Multi-hit focus | PR3 investment |
| Kronshtadt | SS | CB | Soviet CB | Armor break | PR4 priority |
| Azuma | SS | CB | Tank + spank | Defensive offense | PR2 still good |
| Plymouth | SS | CL | Vanguard god | AA + damage | PR5 must-have |
| San Diego | SS | CL | AA goddess | Retrofit OP | Sandy numbah wan |
| Helena | SS | CL | Debuff queen | Radar scan | Enables everything |
| Noshiro | S | CL | Agile tank | Torpedo buff | IJN vanguard core |
| Anchorage | S | CA | Tank supreme | Damage reduction | PR4 tank option |
| Cheshire | S | CA | AA tank | Defensive skills | PR3 worthwhile |
| Baltimore | S | CA | Damage dealer | APsolute Cooldown | USS heavy hitter |
| Roon µ | S | CA | Muse version | Shield + damage | Limited but strong |
| Montpelier | S | CL | Cleveland-class | Cruiser buff | Fleet support |
| Mainz | S | CL | Gun focused | HE spam | PR3 dakka |
| Seattle | S | CL | AA monster | Plane deletion | W12-13 star |
| Chapayev | S | CL | Gun CL | Steady damage | Underrated |
| San Francisco | S | CA | Tanky CA | Damage reduction | New addition |
| Mogami | A | CA | Retrofit good | Mode change | Flexible option |
| Portland | A | CA | Retrofit tank | Indianapolis love | Budget tank |
| Roon | A | CA | PR1 CA | Shield tank | Still viable |
| Saint Louis | A | CL | PR1 CL | Speed tank | French elegance |
| Neptune | A | CL | PR1 CL | AP focused | HMS option |
| Swiftsure | A | CL | Support CL | Destroyer buff | Niche enabler |
| London | A | CA | Retrofit strong | Gun CA | F2P heavy |
| Minneapolis | A | CA | Self-heal | Zombie cruiser | Survives forever |
| Birmingham | A | CL | Cleveland sister | Solid stats | Decent option |
| Belfast | B | CL | Smoke screen | Utility focus | Fallen from grace |
| Cleveland | B | CL | AA CL | Anti-air | Common but okay |
| Edinburgh | B | CL | AP focused | Tanky CL | Needs modernization |
| Prinz Eugen | B | CA | Shield tank | Collection | Waifu > meta |
| Takao | B | CA | Balanced CA | Atago sister | Decent starter |
| Sheffield | C | CL | Basic CL | Shiny | Outclassed maid |
| Phoenix | C | CL | Zombie CL | Self-heal | Budget zombie |
| Chicago | C | CA | Common CA | Basic skills | Early game only |
| Pensacola | D | CA | Glass cannon | Dies fast | Not worth it |
| Suffolk | D | CA | Retrofit exists | Still weak | Skip please |
| Aoba | E | CA | Why use? | Bad stats | Retirement |
| Furutaka | E | CA | Aoba sister | Even worse | Double retirement |
Submarine (SS/SSV) Tier List
| Ship Name | Tier | Type | Notable Stats | Special Abilities | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-37 | SS | SS | Wolfpack god | Damage buff | Best SS period |
| Leonardo da Vinci | SS | SS | UR power | Special barrage | Sub fleet core |
| U-556 META | SS | SS | META power | Enhanced stats | If you got her |
| Archerfish | S | SS | Shinano killer | High damage | Historical meme |
| U-47 | S | SS | Wolfpack | U-boat synergy | IB sub core |
| U-81 | S | SS | Ark Royal bane | Reliable damage | Another IB star |
| U-96 | S | SS | Wolfpack | More U-boats | Complete the set |
| I-13 | A | SSV | Seiran carrier | Unique mechanic | IJN sub option |
| Albacore | A | SS | USS sub | Solid stats | Eagle Union pick |
| Cavalla | A | SS | Reliable | Good damage | Another US option |
| I-19 | A | SS | IJN torp | High damage | Oxygen torpedo |
| U-101 | A | SS | Decent U-boat | Pack filler | Budget wolfpack |
| I-168 | A | SS | Yorktown killer | Historical | Decent IJN sub |
| Surcouf | B | SS | Gun submarine | Unique design | Meme potential |
| I-58 | B | SS | Average | Basic skills | Filler submarine |
| U-110 | B | SS | Weak U-boat | Pack member | Numbers game |
| U-73 | C | SS | Below average | Weak skills | Only if needed |
Support Ships Tier List
| Ship Name | Tier | Type | Notable Stats | Special Abilities | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akashi | S | AR | Repair god | 3x emergency repair | Must-have support |
| Vestal | A | AR | Repair ship | Enterprise lover | Good alternative |
| Kashino | B | AE | Munition ship | Unique support | Niche uses |
| Perseus | SS | CVL | Heal carrier | Preload heal | Already listed above |
Detailed Ship Analysis
Now let me break down why these ships earned their rankings and how to use them effectively.
SS-Tier Destroyers Deep Dive
Otto von Alvensleben - This absolute unit redefined what destroyers can do. Her barrage hits like a freight train while buffing torpedo damage for the entire vanguard. I've tested her extensively, and she consistently outperforms even some light cruisers in damage output. Pair her with other torpedo-focused ships for maximum carnage.
Shimakaze - The torpedo goddess herself. With her unique triple torpedo mounts and 170% efficiency, she can delete bosses faster than you can say "poi." The key is timing her torpedoes with Helena's debuff or other damage amplification. In Operation Siren, she's practically mandatory for quick clears.
Kitakaze - Forget what you know about destroyer guns being weak. Kitakaze laughs at that notion with her main gun +1 and devastating barrage. She's particularly amazing in mob fleets where her consistent damage shreds through waves of enemies. Her only weakness? She drinks oil like a battleship.
An Shan - The Chinese quartet leader brings both personal damage and fleet support. Her retrofit gave her the tools to compete with modern ships, and her faction buff makes her essential for Dragon Empery fleets. Don't sleep on her just because she's older.
SS-Tier Battleship Breakdown
Musashi - The Yamato-class legend lives up to the hype. Her special barrage can cover the entire screen, and her raw firepower stats are unmatched. The only downside is her oil cost, but when you need something absolutely demolished, accept no substitutes.
New Jersey - Black Dragon proves that USS battleships can hang with the best. Her accuracy buff means she rarely misses, and her armor break makes her invaluable against heavy armor bosses. She's become my go-to for META fights and Operation Siren strongholds.
Ulrich von Hutten - UvH combines German engineering with time manipulation. Her barrage literally stops time, allowing your fleet to unleash hell while enemies are frozen. She's expensive to develop but transforms Ironblood fleets from good to godly.
Friedrich der Grosse - FdG isn't just about personal damage; she makes everyone better. Her fleet-wide buffs turn good ships into great ones. I always recommend her for players building their first PR ship because she improves any fleet composition.
SS-Tier Carrier Excellence
Admiral Nakhimov - The newest UR carrier sets a new standard. Her planes have unique attack patterns that bypass most defensive mechanics. She's particularly brutal in PvP where her strikes are nearly impossible to dodge.
Shinano - Still the support carrier queen after all this time. Her ability to buff the entire fleet while dealing respectable damage makes her irreplaceable. The butterfly barrage is just icing on the cake. Every serious player needs Shinano.
Enterprise - Lucky E might be RNG, but 70% is practically guaranteed. When it procs (which is often), your enemies simply cease to exist. She's been top tier since launch and shows no signs of slowing down. Plus, she's relatively easy to obtain.
Perseus - The enabler of aggressive playstyles. Her preloaded airstrikes combined with fleet healing allow for non-stop offense. She turned W13 from a nightmare into a cakewalk. If you're struggling with plane hells, Perseus is your answer.
Top-Tier Cruiser Insights
Agir - The absolute unit of tank cruisers. Her shields regenerate, her damage is consistent, and she simply refuses to die. In Operation Siren's corrosion zones, she's practically mandatory. The PR4 grind is painful but so worth it.
Unzen - The first UR heavy cruiser didn't disappoint. Her damage output rivals some battleships while maintaining cruiser agility. Her unique mechanic of stacking damage buffs makes extended fights heavily favor your fleet.
Plymouth - PR5's star completely revolutionized vanguard compositions. Her AA is unmatched, her damage is consistent, and she provides fleet-wide benefits. She's essentially three ships worth of value in one slot.
San Diego - The meme became reality with her retrofit. From worst SSR to best AA ship in the game, Sandy's glow-up is legendary. Against plane-heavy content, she turns the sky into a no-fly zone. Numba wan indeed.
Submarine Warfare Masters
U-37 - The apex predator of submarine warfare. Her wolfpack skills enhance all KMS submarines, turning them into a coordinated killing machine. She's the centerpiece of any serious submarine fleet.
Leonardo da Vinci - The Renaissance genius brings innovation to submarine warfare. Her unique barrage pattern and UR stats make her devastating against all targets. She works in any submarine composition but truly shines with other elite subs.
U-556 META - If you managed to get her, congratulations. Her META enhancement took an already good submarine and pushed her into the stratosphere. The increased stats and improved skills make her a boss-killing specialist.
Support Ship Essentials
Akashi - The green cat that saves runs. Three emergency repairs can mean the difference between victory and defeat in difficult content. Her crane buffs are nice, but the repairs are why she's irreplaceable.
Vestal - The Enterprise simp- I mean, dedicated repair ship. While not as versatile as Akashi, her focused healing can keep your flagship alive through anything. Plus, she's easier to obtain and retrofit.
Kashino - The ammunition ship brings unique support options. While niche, her ability to boost fleet ammunition can enable some interesting strategies. Not essential, but fun to experiment with.
Fleet Building Guide
Building the perfect fleet isn't just about jamming your highest tier ships together. Here's my proven approach:
Boss Fleet Composition:
- Flagship: High-damage BB (Musashi, NJ, UvH)
- Support BBs: Buffer/Debuffer (FdG, Duke of York)
- Off-flag: Carrier or BB depending on enemy
- Tank: Agir, Anchorage, or Azuma
- DPS: Drake, Baltimore, or Plymouth
- Support: Helena for debuff or Noshiro for buffs
Mob Fleet Essentials:
- Flagship: Healing carrier (Perseus, Unicorn)
- Damage: Consistent DPS BB (Monarch, Georgia)
- Clear: Barrage BB or carrier (Flandre, Enterprise)
- Vanguard: Self-sustaining ships (Phoenix, Minneapolis)
Submarine Fleet:
- Always use U-37 if you have her
- Complete wolfpacks get massive bonuses
- Mix damage types for flexibility
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best starter ship to choose?
I always recommend Z23 for new players. She gets an excellent retrofit, has good gun damage, and teaches you proper positioning. Javelin is great for evasion tanking, Laffey for pure DPS, but Z23's consistency wins out.
Should I pull for every UR ship?
Absolutely yes if you're serious about endgame content. UR ships aren't just marginally better - they're transformative. Save your cubes between events and go all-in when they appear. The pity system ensures you'll get them eventually.
How important are retrofits?
Retrofits can turn mediocre ships into powerhouses. Priority retrofits include: San Diego, Warspite, Portland, Yuudachi, and Independence. These transform from decent to exceptional with their upgrades.
What's the current META fleet?
As of 2025, the absolute META boss fleet is:
- Musashi (Flagship)
- New Jersey + Vanguard
- Agir (Tank)
- Drake + Plymouth (DPS)
This composition has enough damage to delete anything while maintaining survivability.
Is tier list position everything?
Not at all! Waifu > Meta is a valid philosophy. I've seen players clear endgame content with B-tier ships through smart play and good gear. Tier lists show optimal performance, but skill and equipment matter just as much.
How often should I reference tier lists?
Check updated lists whenever major patches drop or new ships release. The meta can shift dramatically with new releases or balance changes. I update my personal rankings monthly based on community feedback and testing.
What about oath skins and secretary quests?
While not affecting gameplay, these features add personality to your ships. I recommend exploring secretary quests for your favorite ships - they often provide insight into character motivations and fleet dynamics.
Remember, Azur Lane is ultimately about collecting ship girls you love. While this tier list helps optimize your fleet, don't forget to have fun and appreciate the characters that make this game special. Fair winds and following seas, Commanders!