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Game Guides

Azur Lane Gear Optimization for Maximum DPS

by QuinnHarry 22 Sep 2025 0 comments

You make your fleet stronger by working on Gear Optimization early. Upgrading things like Beaver Squad Tag or High Performance Steering Gear helps stats like evasion and HP. This means your ships live longer and do more steady DPS. For example:

Equipment

Evasion

HP

Skill Effect

Beaver Squad Tag

+35

+75

Fleet speed goes up by 20%

Repair Tools

N/A

+500

Heals 1% of ship's HP every 15 seconds

High Performance Steering Gear

+40

+60

20% chance to dodge all attacks for 2 sec

You should make the best gear in Gear Lab first. Try to upgrade gear to +13. Farm resources often to help with this. These steps let your ships do the most damage they can.

Gear Optimization Basics

DPS Stats

You want your ships to hit harder and faster in Azur Lane. The main stats that boost damage per second (DPS) are firepower, torpedo, aviation, and reload. Each ship class uses these stats differently. Destroyers and cruisers rely on torpedo and firepower. Battleships need firepower and reload. Carriers depend on aviation and reload. When you equip gear that increases these stats, your ships deal more damage in every battle.

A ship with high DPS stats can clear enemies quickly. If you use gear that boosts reload, your ship fires more often. If you add firepower or aviation, each attack does more damage. You should always check which stats matter most for each ship and pick gear that matches their strengths.

Enhancement Steps

You can make your gear stronger by enhancing it. This process uses materials and gold. When you enhance gear, you increase its damage output and weapon reload rate. You get the best results by spreading enhancements across several gear pieces instead of focusing on just one. Costs rise quickly if you max out a single item, so balancing your upgrades gives you more overall damage for the same amount of resources.

  • Upgrade gear for all main ships in your fleet.

  • Focus on enhancing weapons and auxiliaries that boost DPS stats.

  • Avoid spending all resources on one piece of gear.

  • Check which gear gives the biggest boost to your fleet’s damage.

Tip: Enhancing gear improves fleet power by increasing damage output and weapon reload rate. Spreading enhancements leads to greater overall damage for the same material cost.

Scaling Tips

Gear Optimization matters at every stage of the game. You might have a high-level ship, but weak gear can hold it back. Proper gear management can make a lower-level ship outperform a stronger one. This happens because gear scaling boosts the damage output for different ship classes. When you equip the best gear and keep it upgraded, your fleet becomes much more effective in combat.

"Izumo is a perfectly good battleship that's neither bad nor extraordinary, and entirely usable until players reach the deepest parts of the endgame. Her biggest downfall is her slow Reload stat, which prevents her from ever making it into top-tier fleet compositions due to her slower firing rate."

If you put weak gear on a strong ship, you waste its potential. If you put strong gear on a weaker ship, you can see surprising results. Gear Optimization helps you get the most out of every ship in your fleet. Always upgrade and swap gear to match the current meta and your fleet’s needs.

View Best-Selling Gear

Destroyer Gear Optimization

Main Guns

You want your destroyers to fire quickly and hit hard. The best main guns for destroyers boost your damage per second. You can see the top choices in the table below:

Gun Model

Damage

Base Fire Rate

Adjusted DPS

Ammo Type

Notes

Twin 130mm Main Gun B-2LM

15x6

1.73s/wave

52.33

Normal

Highest theoretical DPS among DD guns.

Single 138.6mm Main Gun (Mle 1929)

15x5

1.60s/wave

40.12

HE

Highest effective DPS among DD guns. Generally considered the best.

Twin 127mm MK12 Dual Gun

15x4

1.53s/wave

34.86

HE

High alpha damage, high DPS. HE shells.

You should pick the Single 138.6mm Main Gun (Mle 1929) for most destroyers. This gun gives you the best mix of damage and fire rate. The Twin 130mm B-2LM works well if you want the highest possible DPS.

Torpedoes

Destroyers rely on torpedoes for burst damage. The 533 mm Quintuple mounts stand out as the top choice. You can upgrade these torpedoes as you gather more resources. Strong torpedoes help you clear bosses and tough waves faster.

Tip: Always enhance your torpedoes to increase their damage. Upgraded torpedoes can turn the tide in hard battles.

Auxiliaries

Auxiliary gear boosts your survivability and damage. You should use items like the Beaver Squad Tag and High Performance Steering Gear. These increase evasion and HP, letting your destroyers stay alive longer and deal more DPS. You can also equip Repair Tools for extra healing.

Upgrade Focus

Focus on upgrading main guns and torpedoes first. Spread your enhancements across your fleet to maximize overall damage. You should not spend all your resources on one piece of gear. Balanced upgrades help every destroyer perform better.

  • Upgrade main guns to +10 or higher.

  • Enhance torpedoes as soon as possible.

  • Boost auxiliaries that increase evasion and HP.

Meta Choices

You want to use gear that fits the current meta. The QF 2-pounder Pom-Pom +13 is the best-in-slot gun for anti-air and DPS. The 533 mm Quintuple torpedo remains the top pick for burst damage. These choices help you keep up with top players and maximize your destroyers' potential. Our team at **Bahomu** always keeps an eye on the meta to provide the best news and updates for fans.

Gear Type

Best-in-Slot Option

Description

Gun

QF 2-pounder Pom-Pom +13

High AA and DPS

Torpedo

533 mm Quintuple mounts

Enhanced as resources allow

Gear Optimization for destroyers means picking the best guns and torpedoes, upgrading them, and matching your gear to the meta. You can boost your fleet’s DPS and win more battles by following these steps.

Cruiser Gear Optimization

Main Guns

You want your cruisers to deal strong damage with every shot. The right main gun makes a big difference in battle. Some guns fire quickly, while others hit harder. You should look at both damage and fire rate when choosing a gun. Here is a table showing top choices for cruiser main guns:

Gun Type

Effectiveness

Notes

Triple 305mm SK C/39 Prototype

Good general-purpose

Compromise between raw shell damage and rate of fire

Twin 406mm SKC

Better for burning

Higher shell damage and weapon coefficient

Twin 234mm (BL 9.2" Mk XII Prototype)

Insane raw DPS

Competitive with Roon gun, better vs light armor

Triple 234mm (BL 9.2" Mk XII Prototype)

Ultimate choice for specific ammo types

Incredible raw DPS, best-in-slot for many ships

You should pick the gun that matches your cruiser’s strengths. For example, the Triple 234mm works best for ships that need high DPS.

Torpedoes

Cruisers use torpedoes for burst damage. You should equip torpedoes with high base damage and fast reload. The 610mm Quad Torpedo Mount is a strong choice for many cruisers. Upgrading torpedoes helps you clear tough enemies faster. You can also try the 533mm Quintuple Mount for heavy cruisers.

Tip: Upgrade torpedoes to at least +10. This boosts your cruiser’s burst damage and helps you finish battles quickly.

Auxiliaries

Auxiliary gear helps your cruisers survive longer and deal more damage. You should use items like the Hydraulic Steering Gear for evasion and HP. The Repair Toolkit gives extra healing. You can also equip Radar gear to boost accuracy and anti-air.

  • Use Hydraulic Steering Gear for evasion.

  • Equip Repair Toolkit for healing.

  • Try Radar gear for better accuracy.

Upgrade Focus

You should focus on upgrading main guns and torpedoes first. Spread your upgrades across your fleet. This way, every cruiser gets stronger. Upgrade auxiliaries that boost survivability and damage. Avoid spending all resources on one item.

Meta Choices

You want to use gear that fits the current meta. For light cruisers, the Twin 152 mm (6″/53 Mk 18) +13 gives balanced burst damage. Heavy cruisers do best with the Triple 203 mm Main Gun Mount Mk 15 in boss fights. Here is a table with recommended gear:

Cruiser Type

Recommended Gear

Light Cruisers

Twin 152 mm (6″/53 Mk 18) +13 for balanced burst

Heavy Cruisers

Triple 203 mm Main Gun Mount Mk 15 for boss fights

Gear Optimization for cruisers means picking the best guns and torpedoes, upgrading them, and matching your gear to the meta. You can boost your fleet’s DPS and win more battles by following these steps.

Battleship Gear Optimization

Main Guns

Battleships need to hit hard with every shot. The main gun you pick matters a lot. The Triple 406mm MK6 Main Gun is one of the best for high DPS. It has strong firepower, shoots fast, and can reach far. Here is a table to compare:

Main Gun

Damage

Fire Rate

Stats

Range

Ammo

Triple 406mm MK6 Main Gun

156x3

24.02s/wave

FP+25

200

HE

Put this gun on your main battleships to get more damage. The HE ammo type helps you hurt most enemies even more.

Secondary Guns

Secondary guns help battleships fight close enemies. They also add to your total DPS. You want guns that shoot fast and are accurate. The Twin 127mm Dual Gun is a good choice. It fires quickly and can take out enemy destroyers and torpedo boats. Upgrading these guns helps your battleships survive tough fights.

Tip: Fast secondary guns can keep your battleships safe from lots of small enemies.

Auxiliaries

Auxiliary gear makes your battleships stronger and helps them last longer. Use the Type 1 Armor Piercing Shell to do more shell damage. The SG Radar helps you hit fast enemies by making you more accurate. Repair Tools give you healing during long battles.

  • Type 1 Armor Piercing Shell: More shell damage.

  • SG Radar: Better accuracy.

  • Repair Tools: Heals HP over time.

Upgrade Focus

Upgrade your main guns first for the biggest DPS boost. Then work on your secondary guns and auxiliaries. Spread upgrades across your main fleet so all battleships get stronger. Do not use all your resources on just one gear piece.

Meta Choices

Right now, battleships with high firepower and fast reload are best. The Triple 406mm MK6 Main Gun is still a top pick. The Twin 127mm Dual Gun is a solid choice for secondary guns. Pick auxiliaries that help with both damage and staying alive. Gear Optimization for battleships means picking the best guns, upgrading them, and following the latest trends.

Carrier Gear Optimization

Fighters

Carriers need strong fighter planes to help the fleet. Fighters shoot down enemy planes and keep your ships safe. The F6F Hellcat and Sea Hornet are both great choices. They do a lot of damage and reload fast. Pick fighters that work well with your carrier’s aviation stat. This helps you win air fights and do more DPS.

  • F6F Hellcat: Good mix of damage and reload speed.

  • Sea Hornet: High DPS and strong anti-air power.

Tip: Upgrade your fighters to +10 or higher. This makes them stronger and helps you win more air battles.

Bombers

Bombers hit enemy ships with heavy attacks. You should pick bombers that do lots of DPS and reload quickly. The SB2C Helldriver and XSB3C-1 are top choices for damage. The Wyvern is rare but is the best if you have it. Here is a table showing bomber models and their ranks:

Tier

Bomber Models

A

SB2C Helldriver, XSB3C-1, SB2C

B

BTD-1

C

Suisei, Suisei 12A, Firefly, SBD, Barracuda 831

Rare

Wyvern

A

Swordfish (Slow), XTB2D (Normal), Ju-87, Aichi (Converging)

B

TBM Avenger, Firecrest, Blackburn, Barracuda

C

TBD Devastator, Saiun Kai

Use SB2C Helldriver or XSB3C-1 on most carriers. These bombers give you high DPS and help beat tough enemies.

Torpedo Planes

Torpedo planes give your carrier extra burst damage. Barracuda and TBM Avenger are good picks for most carriers. Upgrade torpedo planes to make them stronger. Fast reload and high torpedo stats help you sink ships faster.

  • Barracuda: Great for burst damage.

  • TBM Avenger: Reliable and easy to upgrade.

Auxiliaries

Auxiliary gear helps your carriers in battle. Steam Catapult boosts aviation for more damage. Repair Toolkit helps your carrier last longer. Radar gear can help with accuracy and anti-air.

Note: Steam Catapult raises aviation and boosts your carrier’s DPS.

Upgrade Focus

Upgrade bombers and fighters first for the best results. Spread upgrades across your main carriers. Do not use all your resources on one plane. Balanced upgrades help your whole fleet do better.

  • Upgrade bombers to +10 or higher.

  • Enhance fighters and torpedo planes.

  • Boost auxiliaries that raise aviation and help you survive.

Meta Choices

Pick gear that matches the current meta. SB2C Helldriver and XSB3C-1 are the best bombers. F6F Hellcat and Sea Hornet are top fighters. Steam Catapult is still the best auxiliary for aviation. Carrier Gear Optimization means picking the best planes, upgrading them, and using gear that fits the meta.

Submarine Gear Optimization

Torpedoes

Submarines do most of their damage with torpedoes. You should use the highest-damage torpedoes you can find. The 533mm Quintuple Magnetic Torpedo Mount is the best for most submarines. It does a lot of damage and can follow targets. The 610mm Quad Torpedo Mount is good if you want faster reloads.

Torpedo Model

Damage

Reload

Special Effect

533mm Quintuple Magnetic Torpedo

High

Slow

Homing, Magnetic

610mm Quad Torpedo Mount

Medium

Fast

Standard

533mm Quintuple Torpedo Mount

High

Medium

Standard

Tip: Make sure to upgrade your submarine torpedoes to +10 or more. This makes your burst damage much higher.

Auxiliaries

Auxiliary gear helps submarines last longer and do more damage. The Oxygen Replenishment Device gives more torpedo damage and lets you stay underwater longer. The Improved Hydraulic Rudder helps you dodge attacks. The Battery lets your submarine fight for a longer time.

  • Oxygen Replenishment Device: More torpedo damage and longer underwater time.

  • Improved Hydraulic Rudder: Higher evasion.

  • Battery: Longer operation during battles.

Note: You can use different auxiliaries for each submarine. Pick what fits their job in your fleet.

Upgrade Focus

Upgrade your torpedoes first. Strong torpedoes give the biggest boost to DPS. After that, upgrade your best auxiliary gear. Spread upgrades across all submarines in your fleet. This helps every submarine get stronger and raises your total damage.

  1. Upgrade torpedoes to +10 or higher.

  2. Enhance Oxygen Replenishment Devices.

  3. Boost rudders and batteries for survivability.

Meta Choices

Right now, submarines with high burst damage and long underwater time are best. The 533mm Quintuple Magnetic Torpedo is still the top choice. The Oxygen Replenishment Device is the best auxiliary for damage. Always look for new gear and change your setup to match the latest meta.

Gear Slot

Best-in-Slot Option

Why Pick It?

Torpedo

533mm Quintuple Magnetic Torpedo

Highest burst, homing effect

Auxiliary

Oxygen Replenishment Device

Boosts damage, longer time

Auxiliary

Improved Hydraulic Rudder/Battery

Evasion or operation time

Keep checking for new gear. The meta can change, so the best choices for submarines might be different later. 🛠️

Gear Lab & Enhancement

Crafting Priorities

You want to get the best gear for your fleet as soon as possible. The Gear Lab lets you craft powerful equipment that can boost your ships’ damage. You should always check which gear is strong in the current meta. Focus on crafting gear that helps your main fleet do more DPS.

Start by looking at the top-performing guns, torpedoes, and planes. You can find lists online or in-game that show which gear is best right now. Make a plan to craft these items first. If you see a new event or update, check if new gear is better than your current setup.

Crafting Priority List:

  1. Main guns for battleships and cruisers with high firepower.

  2. Torpedoes for destroyers and submarines with burst damage.

  3. Bombers and fighters for carriers with high aviation.

  4. Auxiliaries that boost DPS stats like reload, firepower, or aviation.

Tip: Always craft gear that matches your fleet’s strongest ships. This helps you get the most out of Gear Optimization.

+13 Upgrades

Upgrading gear to +13 gives a huge boost to your fleet’s damage. You need special materials and gold to reach this level. You should pick which gear to upgrade first based on how much it helps your main ships.

Start with weapons that your top DPS ships use. Upgrade main guns for battleships and cruisers. Upgrade torpedoes for destroyers and submarines. Upgrade bombers and fighters for carriers. Auxiliaries that boost damage also deserve upgrades.

Best Gear to Upgrade to +13 First:

Ship Class

Gear Type

Example Gear

Why Upgrade First?

Battleship

Main Gun

Triple 406mm MK6

Highest firepower boost

Destroyer

Torpedo

533mm Quintuple Mount

Burst damage for bosses

Carrier

Bomber

SB2C Helldriver, Wyvern

Massive aviation DPS

Submarine

Torpedo

533mm Quintuple Magnetic

Top burst, homing effect

All Classes

Auxiliary

Steam Catapult, Beaver Tag

Raises key DPS stats

You should upgrade gear that your main fleet uses most often. This helps you win tough battles and clear stages faster.

Note: Upgrading gear to +13 costs a lot of resources. Plan your upgrades so you do not run out of materials.

Resource Farming

You need gold, materials, and blueprints to craft and upgrade gear. Farming stages is the best way to get these resources. You should pick stages that drop the gear you want or give lots of gold.

Resource Farming Tips:

  • Farm event stages for rare gear and blueprints.

  • Run daily missions for gold and enhancement materials.

  • Clear hard mode stages for better drops.

  • Use auto-battle to save time and get more resources.

You can check which stages drop the gear you need in the stage info screen. Focus on farming these stages every day. If you need gold, run gold missions and sell extra gear.

Tip: Set up a farming schedule. This helps you get enough resources for Gear Optimization and keeps your fleet strong.

Resource Farming Table:

Resource

Best Source

How Often to Farm

Gold

Daily missions, events

Every day

Blueprints

Event stages, hard mode

As often as possible

Enhancement

Daily missions, main story

Every day

Gear Drops

Specific stages, events

Targeted farming

You should always farm for resources so you can craft and upgrade gear. This keeps your fleet ready for new challenges and helps you stay ahead in the meta.


You can make your fleet stronger by taking simple steps. Upgrade the main weapons for each ship. Make auxiliaries better too. Use gear that is popular right now. Look for new equipment often.

  • Destroyers: Work on torpedoes and gear that helps dodge attacks.

  • Cruisers: Use both strong guns and gear that helps them survive.

  • Battleships: Focus on main guns and gear that helps them hit targets.

  • Carriers: Make bombers and aviation gear better.

  • Submarines: Try to get the most torpedo damage and stay underwater longer.

Keep working on Gear Optimization. Farm for resources every day and check for new gear to keep your fleet strong.

FAQ

What gear should you upgrade first for maximum DPS?

You should upgrade main guns for battleships, torpedoes for destroyers and submarines, and bombers for carriers. Focus on gear that your strongest ships use most often.

Tip: Prioritize +13 upgrades for gear that boosts your fleet’s main damage stats.

How do you know which gear fits the current meta?

Check in-game rankings, community guides, and event updates. Look for gear that top players use. You can also follow official patch notes for new releases.

Source

Info Provided

In-game meta

Top gear choices

Community

Strategy updates

Patch notes

New gear releases

Where can you farm resources for gear upgrades?

You can farm daily missions for gold and enhancement materials. Event stages drop rare gear and blueprints. Hard mode stages give better rewards.

  • Daily missions: Gold, materials

  • Event stages: Rare gear, blueprints

  • Hard mode: Higher drop rates

Should you spread enhancements across your fleet or focus on one ship?

You should spread enhancements across your fleet. Balanced upgrades help every ship get stronger. This gives you more overall DPS and keeps your fleet ready for tough battles.

Note: Avoid spending all resources on one ship. Balanced upgrades work best.

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