Ship classes

In Modern Warships, the entire fleet is divided into several classes of ships based on real-life prototypes. Each class differs not only in its characteristics but also in its tactical role in battle. Some ships are compact and maneuverable, making them ideal for flanking attacks, reconnaissance, and quick raids. Others are large and well-protected combat units capable of withstanding serious damage and breaking through enemy defenses head-on.

This variety of classes allows you to choose a play style to suit any preference. Let's take a look at all the ship classes featured in Modern Warships.

Corvette

Real class description: A corvette is a small surface combat ship designed for operations in coastal and near-sea zones. It combines compact size with high maneuverability and is capable of performing a wide range of missions, from patrolling and guarding maritime borders to anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare. Thanks to their relatively low cost and versatility, corvettes are widely used by navies around the world.

In Modern Warships: The corvette is an ideal starting point for players who want to feel the fast pace of combat and grow as tactical players. In the game, this class is represented exclusively in Tier 1 and Tier 2. As a rule, corvettes cannot boast a large arsenal or high durability, making them less survivable in direct confrontations. However, their key strengths lie in high speed, excellent maneuverability, and solid detection and radar range. These qualities allow corvettes to effectively conduct reconnaissance, quickly secure key positions on the map, and be the first to spot enemies and relay information to allies. This class is perfectly suited for newcomers, helping them master ship controls, understand positioning fundamentals, and learn how to cooperate with teammates in battle.

Frigate

Real class description: A frigate is a medium-displacement, multi-role warship designed to escort larger vessels and defend against submarine, surface, and aerial threats. Modern frigates feature advanced electronics and often serve as patrol and escort units within task forces.

In Modern Warships: Frigates are a natural progression from corvette gameplay, offering a broader tactical toolkit. While retaining good maneuverability and detection range, they gain stronger armament and increased durability, making them an excellent platform for engaging enemies from a safe distance. The most effective strategy for frigates is delivering strikes from behind cover or from positions behind heavier allies, especially in Tier 3, where missiles feature high speed and strong resistance to interception. This playstyle allows frigates to deal consistent damage and provide meaningful team support without entering direct engagements. Frigates are particularly well suited for players who want to move beyond early-game dynamics toward a more deliberate and, at times, positional style of play.

Destroyer

Real class description: A destroyer is a large, multi-role combat ship focused on long-range weaponry and high speed. Modern destroyers perform a wide variety of tasks, from launching missile strikes to protecting carrier groups. They are equipped with powerful air defense, missile defense, and anti-submarine systems.

In Modern Warships: Destroyers represent the golden mean among all ship classes, combining the best traits of both light and heavy combat vessels. Thanks to smart module layouts and excellent mobility, destroyers can effectively conduct long-range missile barrages, hunt enemy submarines, or operate independently by launching bold raids deep into enemy territory. Their balance of firepower, maneuverability, and survivability allows them to perform well both on the front line and in covert operations against vulnerable targets, including enemy aircraft carriers. This makes destroyers an excellent choice for players seeking tactical variety and flexibility on the battlefield.

Cruiser

Real class description: Cruisers are heavy surface combatants with expanded command-and-control capabilities and the ability to deliver powerful long-range strikes. They are equipped with a wide array of sensors and weapons, including air defense systems, anti-ship missiles, and even missile defense systems. Cruisers often serve as flagships within naval formations.

In Modern Warships: Cruiser gameplay is more deliberate and methodical, especially compared to the agile and fast-paced destroyers. Due to their lower mobility, cruisers demand thoughtful positioning and timely decision-making, but this is more than compensated by one of the richest and most diverse arsenals in the game. A cruiser can carry almost everything: heavy missile systems, air defense, and anti-submarine weapons, allowing it to perform confidently in any combat scenario. To fully unlock this class’s potential, players are expected to operate near the front line—dealing damage with offensive systems while simultaneously protecting themselves and allies with defensive tools. Cruisers truly shine in prolonged, intense battles where endurance, balance, and adaptability are crucial. This class is ideal for those who value power, control, and stability without sacrificing versatility.

Battleship

Real class description: A battleship is a heavy artillery warship focused on engaging surface targets at long range. In reality, battleships disappeared from modern naval warfare in the second half of the 20th century, giving way to missile ships and aircraft carriers.

In Modern Warships: Battleships are a tribute to the classic era of naval combat, reborn within a modern gaming context. Although their real-world concept is long outdated, in gameplay they still demonstrate immense power thanks to their massive main-caliber guns, capable of delivering fast and reliable damage. Battleships are among the slowest classes in the game, requiring a thoughtful and strategic approach. Choosing a movement direction in advance is crucial, as changing course mid-battle can be difficult and may result in missing the main engagement entirely. Some models are equipped with modern weaponry—missile launchers, air defense systems, and grenade launchers—but these usually play a secondary role, supporting the primary goal of artillery dominance. With proper positioning, a battleship becomes a cornerstone of an offensive push, capable of breaking through enemy defenses with sheer mass, firepower, and resilience. This class is for players who prefer confidence, raw strength, and overwhelming superiority, turning every hit into a decisive contribution to victory.

Aircraft Carrier

Real class description: An aircraft carrier is the core element of a modern naval strike group, functioning as a floating airbase. Its primary role is to secure air superiority and strike targets at long range, independent of coastal infrastructure. Its arsenal includes fighters, strike UAVs, and attack aircraft. Helicopter carriers, as a related subclass, fulfill similar roles on a smaller scale, mainly in close-range zones and during amphibious operations using their helicopter wings.

In Modern Warships: Aircraft carrier gameplay stands apart from all other classes due to its unique mechanics and strategic depth. Unlike most combat ships engaged in direct firefights, carriers allow commanders to stay at a safe distance from the frontline while attacking enemies with carrier-based aircraft. This makes the carrier not only a damage platform, but also a powerful tool for aerial reconnaissance, tactical pressure, and surprise strikes against key targets. A successful air strike in the opening minutes of a match can disable an enemy ship, disrupt team formations, and create a numerical advantage. However, this power comes with risk: losing a carrier means losing both strike aircraft and aerial vision, often resulting in a critical strategic setback. Carriers demand precise strike planning and careful positioning, as they are among the highest-priority targets for the enemy.

Special attention should be given to subclasses—assault carriers and helicopter carriers. Assault carriers focus on heavy bombers with high survivability, capable of dealing devastating damage, sometimes stripping away half of an enemy’s hit points in a single run. Helicopter carriers rely on flexibility and numbers, using multi-role helicopters to pressure multiple areas of the map, control space, and hunt submarines. Aircraft carriers are the choice for players who favor strategic thinking, map control, and a high level of influence over the battle from a safe distance.

Submarines

Real class description: Submarines are stealth strike platforms operating beneath the surface. They are used for reconnaissance, covert attacks, and the destruction of key naval targets. Submarines are equipped with torpedoes, cruise missiles, and advanced stealth systems, playing a vital role in strategic naval balance.

In Modern Warships: Submarines are the stealthiest and most fragile class in the game, offering gameplay radically different from surface ships. They possess very limited durability, making direct confrontation almost certain death. Their primary advantage lies in their ability to dive, granting them unique tactical superiority. While submerged, submarines are immune to most weapon types, including artillery and many missiles, allowing them to stalk enemies, set ambushes, and strike unexpectedly at high-value targets. Oxygen management is critical, as staying submerged for the entire battle is impossible—eventually, surfacing is required to replenish it. During these moments, submarines become extremely vulnerable, especially if forced to surface in open water or near enemies. Although their arsenal may seem limited to torpedoes and missile systems, its effectiveness is fully revealed through smart use—stealth salvos from unexpected angles are often lethal. Submarines are the choice for players who prefer operating from the shadows, relying on surprise, patience, and precision rather than armor and raw firepower.

Assault Landing Ships

Real class description: Assault landing ships are designed to transport and deploy marines, vehicles, and equipment onto shore. They are often equipped with helicopter decks, air defense systems, and fire support weapons. These ships play a crucial role in operations requiring amphibious capabilities.

In Modern Warships: The assault landing  ship is one of the most unusual and tactically rich classes in the game, distinguished by its unique mechanic of deploying naval drones. These drones are the class’s defining feature and main strength. Depending on player choice, they may take the form of mini surface vessels or underwater drones, each with distinct roles. Without drones, gameplay resembles that of a weakened cruiser or helicopter carrier, with limited offensive and defensive capabilities. Everything changes once drones are deployed: the assault ship becomes a dangerous opponent capable of reconnaissance, sabotage, and long-range attacks without exposing itself to direct danger. In some ways, this gameplay resembles that of an aircraft carrier, but instead of aircraft, players control fast naval drones operating on or beneath the surface. These drones are comparable to some Tier 2 ships in terms of durability, armament, and speed, but have limited ammunition and cannot repair independently. To reload and recover, they must return to the host ship, adding an element of planning and logistics. Amphibious assault ships are ideal for players interested in a hybrid role—part remote commander, part frontline combatant—who enjoy coordination, micromanagement, and unconventional tactics.

Ekranoplans

Real class description: An ekranoplan is a hybrid of an aircraft and a ship, utilizing the ground-effect phenomenon—lift generated when flying just a few meters above the water’s surface. These vehicles combine extreme speed with the ability to carry heavy payloads or weaponry at low altitude. In reality, they remained experimental or niche platforms, but in the game they are implemented as highly mobile strike units.

In Modern Warships: Ekranoplans are among the most striking, dynamic, and memorable classes in the game, instantly standing out due to their unusual combination of traits. Their primary advantage is exceptional—often record-breaking—speed, allowing them to outpace any other ship and rapidly secure advantageous positions. While they generally lack the durability of heavier combat vessels, their maneuverability and ability to rapidly change direction more than compensate for this weakness. Thanks to their mobility and powerful missile armament, ekranoplans are perfectly suited for hit-and-run tactics—dealing damage and immediately disengaging before the enemy can respond.

Playing an ekranoplan is especially satisfying, as it demands quick thinking, unconventional decision-making, and using speed itself as a weapon. Some players even favor ramming tactics—a risky but spectacular approach that can catch opponents off guard. However, the most effective strategy remains wide-arc maneuvering at maximum speed around enemy ships while continuously launching missile attacks. This allows the ekranoplan to maintain pressure, evade incoming fire, and deal consistent damage with minimal exposure. As a result, ekranoplans are far from fragile targets—they are agile hunters capable of wearing down and destroying enemies through mobility, positioning, and relentless pressure.

Hovercraft

Real class description Hovercraft are amphibious transport-combat platforms capable of traveling over both water and land. Thanks to their air-cushion design, they boast excellent mobility and maneuverability in shallow waters and coastal areas. Militarily, they are often used for rapid troop deployment, equipment transport, and operations in hard-to-reach locations.

In Modern Warships: In Modern Warships, hovercraft gameplay is in many ways similar to ekranoplans, emphasizing high speed and sudden raid-style attacks, but with several key differences. Most notably, hovercraft offer significantly greater maneuverability, allowing them to perform confidently even in narrow, corridor-like map areas. Instead of focusing on missiles, their strength lies in a versatile, multi-role arsenal, making them effective at almost any engagement range. The core tactic revolves around fast flanking or rear attacks followed by rapid withdrawal. Additional tactical advantages come from two consumables—smoke screens and electronic warfare (EW) systems—enabling quick disengagement or disruption of enemy systems. All of this makes hovercraft a flexible and versatile combat class capable of exerting substantial influence over the course of a battle.