World of Warships: Legends ship guide

Northern Dragon

Beta
Pan-Asia · Tier VII · Destroyer · Fenyang Variant
Hybrid destroyerBalance guns and torps; cap, spot, and trade as the map allows.
Playstyle
  • Use concealment to spot and set up torpedo attacks, then punish destroyers or broadside light targets w…
  • Rotate between threats instead of committing to one mode
  • Avoid: Do not assume she is only a torpedo boat or only a gunboat
Community Data

Northern Dragon Community Stats

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Playstyle

Overview

Northern Dragon is a Pan-Asian premium destroyer whose official changes improved HE penetration/damage, AP arcs/penetration/damage, torpedo reload, and concealment. Play her as a stealthy hybrid destroyer that can pressure with both guns and torpedoes.

Positioning

Use concealment to spot and set up torpedo attacks, then punish destroyers or broadside light targets with the improved gun package when support is present. Rotate between threats instead of committing to one mode.

Potato Avoidance

Assume she is only a torpedo boat or only a…

Northern Dragon’s buffs are split across concealment, torpedoes, and shells; tunnel vision wastes the hybrid advantage.

Acquisition

How to get Northern Dragon

Northern Dragon is a Premium ship and not available to unlock in the Tech Tree. Acquisition path: Containers. Container chances are shown as the listed odds of receiving this exact ship, dividing grouped ship-pool odds across the resolved ships and including nested container paths when a crate can drop another crate.

Best listed chance for this ship

  • Lunar New Year '25 Crate 1% Lunar New Year Premium ship Event containers · Lunar New Year '25 Crate · 1 of 2 ships
  • Piñata Chest 0.125% Tier V, VI, or VII Premium ship Event containers · Piñata Chest · 1 of 24 ships
Official WG availability sources
Show direct source rows

Builds Beta

Build for concealment, torpedo reload, gun reload/shell performance, and survivability. The ship rewards flexible pressure and careful fight selection.

Open in Build Tool →

Examples to consider Careful

Have a build you swear by? Open it in the Build Tool and hit Save build to share it here.

The stats below come from the base ship, Fenyang. This ship is built on the same hull; in-game data for the variant itself is not available.

All values are ship base stats with modifications and upgrade changes denoted inline.

Def-AASmokeEngine Boost
Survivability
Hit Points19,200
Displacement3,700 t
Armor range13–20 mm
Plate armor thicknesses13, 19, 20 mm
Armor material/layer entries23
Fire resistance30%
Fire duration30 s
Torp Reduction0%
Magazine HP
ƒThe magazine is the module a detonation comes from. Penetrating hits to it raise the detonation chance from 1% toward 30% as its HP is worn down, so a larger magazine pool rides out citadel hits longer before a detonation becomes likely.
9,600
Steering gear HP
ƒDurability of the steering gears. As this pool drops, hits are likelier to jam the rudder; unlike most modules the steering can be knocked out and repaired but is never permanently destroyed.
5,800
Main Battery
ModuleArtillery: 8×100 mm
Mounts / barrels4 mounts / 8 barrels
Reload time5.5 s
Firing range10.6 km
Turret traverse16 °/s
Shell Grouping (σ)
ƒShell grouping (sigma); shown in-game as Shell Grouping.
2
Max Horiz Disp
ƒHorizontal dispersion ellipse width at max range. (R/30·(idealRadius−minRadius)/idealDistance + minRadius)·30 = (10550/30·(8−0.5)/1000 + 0.5)·30 = 94.1 m
94.1 m
Max Vert Disp
ƒVertical dispersion ellipse height at max range = max horizontal × radiusOnMax = 94.1 × 0.6 = 56.5 m
56.5 m
Med Horiz Disp
ƒ50%-hit horizontal radius = max horizontal × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 94.1 × 0.32 (σ=2) = 30.1 m
30.1 m
Med Vert Disp
ƒ50%-hit vertical radius = max vertical × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 56.5 × 0.319 (σ=2) = 18 m
18 m
Turret turn time
ƒ180 degrees / 16 deg/s traverse speed = 11.2 s.
11.2 s
Base shells/min
ƒ8 broadside guns x 60 / 5.5 s base reload = 87.3.
87.3
HE shells
HE Damage1,500
HE Velocity1000 m/s
Fire Chance8%
HE penetration
ƒIn-game data: 20 mm = 100 mm caliber / 5 (non-standard HE penetration ratio).
20 mm
HE full-salvo alpha
ƒ1,500 HE damage x 8 broadside guns = 12,000.
12,000
Base HE DPM
ƒ12,000 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5.5 s base reload = 130,909.
130,909
Base fires/min
ƒ8 HE shells x 60 / 5.5 s reload x 8% fire chance = 6.98.
6.98
AP shells
AP Damage1,900
AP Velocity1000 m/s
Min Ricochet60 deg
Guaranteed Ricochet67.5 deg
Fuse Timer0.01 s
Fuse Threshold17 mm
AP overmatch
ƒfloor(100 mm caliber / 14.3) = 6 mm (AP auto-penetrates plating this thick or less).
6 mm
AP Pen Close
ƒCanonical community AP formula (jcw780/wows_shell), evaluated at muzzle velocity: 1e-7 × Krupp × mass^0.69 × caliber_m^-1.07 × v0^1.38 = 1e-7 × 1754 × 17.5^0.69 × 0.1^-1.07 × 1000^1.38 = 205 mm. Matches the in-game spec card.
205 mm
AP Pen Far
ƒSame formula at the ship's max firing range (13.2 km), where the shell has slowed to 286 m/s: 1e-7 × 1754 × 17.5^0.69 × 0.1^-1.07 × 286^1.38 = 36.4 mm.
36.4 mm
AP full-salvo alpha
ƒ1,900 AP damage x 8 broadside guns = 15,200.
15,200
Base AP DPM
ƒ15,200 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5.5 s base reload = 165,818.
165,818
AP AOE Radius
ƒAP shell over-penetration splash radius; scales with shell mass. Wickes 102mm = 3, standard 152mm CL ~ 20, Iowa 406mm ~ 270, Yamato 460mm = 400, Incomparable 650mm = 550 (max). Larger value = bigger splash damage area when AP over-pens.
7
Torpedoes
ModuleTorpedoes: 610 mm Type90 mod. 1
Launchers / tubes1 launchers × 4 tubes = 4 tubes
Reload time50 s
Projectile speed67 kt
Range12 km
Maximum simulated damage22,367 (est.)
Alpha damage67,100
Torpedo detectability1.1 km
Torpedo launcher traverse25 °/s
Torp Turn7.2 s
Torp Arming517 m
Deep-Water TorpedoesYes
Per-side salvo damage
ƒper-side salvo x per-torpedo simulated damage.
89,468
AA Defense
AA mount points7
Close-range AA DPS
ƒSum across every AA aura on this ship of (aura.continuous_damage x 3.5 x aura.hit_probability). Here: (39×3.5×1) + (32×3.5×1) = 248. Covers AA-only mounts plus dual-purpose secondaries (Bismarck 105mm, USN 5"/38 cruiser secondaries) and dual-purpose main batteries (Sumner-class 5"/38, Akizuki-line 100mm). Formula validated against in-game captures on California, Sumner, Manfred von Richthofen, Dante Alighieri (exact) and within +/-17% on the remaining verified ships.
248
Maximum AA range
ƒLongest-reaching aura across AA-only + dual-purpose auras.
5 km
40 mm Bofors Mk32×1 40mm
40 mm/60 Type 55×2 40mm
Far aura
DPS
ƒIncludes 32 continuous AA damage from dual-purpose main battery firing as AA in this range band.
32
Range5 km
Medium aura
DPS39
Range3.5 km
Total DPS in Aura
ƒFar 32 + Medium 39 = 71
71
Maneuverability
Engine moduleEngine: 52,000 hp
Engine power52,000 hp
Maximum speed33 kt
Turning circle radius730 m
Engine power multiplier speed threshold7 kt
Traverse-to-turn ratio12.0× snappy
Concealment
Detectability by sea6.61 km
Detectability by air3.31 km
Smoke firing penalty2.15 km
Detect after firing main guns6.61 km
Detect Fire Sea8.61 km
Detect Fire Air6.31 km
Guaranteed Detect2 km
Consumables
Damage Control Party∞ charges · 40 s reload · 5 s active
Smoke Generator2 charges · 240 s reload · 15 s emit / 124 s cloud active
Engine Boost2 charges · 180 s reload · 120 s active · +8% speed bonus
Defensive AA Fire3 charges · 140 s reload · 25 s active · +100% flak burst boost

See all derived stats

Show

Numbers the spec table cannot show directly: alpha-strike math, DPM, dispersion, AP penetration. Click the formula chip on any row to reveal how it is calculated.

Main battery formulas

Shell Grouping (σ)2
Shell grouping (sigma); shown in-game as Shell Grouping.
Max Horiz Disp94.1 m
Horizontal dispersion ellipse width at max range. (R/30·(idealRadius−minRadius)/idealDistance + minRadius)·30 = (10550/30·(8−0.5)/1000 + 0.5)·30 = 94.1 m
Max Vert Disp56.5 m
Vertical dispersion ellipse height at max range = max horizontal × radiusOnMax = 94.1 × 0.6 = 56.5 m
Med Horiz Disp30.1 m
50%-hit horizontal radius = max horizontal × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 94.1 × 0.32 (σ=2) = 30.1 m
Med Vert Disp18 m
50%-hit vertical radius = max vertical × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 56.5 × 0.319 (σ=2) = 18 m
AP Pen Close205 mm
Canonical community AP formula (jcw780/wows_shell), evaluated at muzzle velocity: 1e-7 × Krupp × mass^0.69 × caliber_m^-1.07 × v0^1.38 = 1e-7 × 1754 × 17.5^0.69 × 0.1^-1.07 × 1000^1.38 = 205 mm. Matches the in-game spec card.
AP Pen Far36.4 mm
Same formula at the ship's max firing range (13.2 km), where the shell has slowed to 286 m/s: 1e-7 × 1754 × 17.5^0.69 × 0.1^-1.07 × 286^1.38 = 36.4 mm.
HE penetration20 mm
In-game data: 20 mm = 100 mm caliber / 5 (non-standard HE penetration ratio).
AP overmatch6 mm
floor(100 mm caliber / 14.3) = 6 mm (AP auto-penetrates plating this thick or less).
AP AOE Radius7
AP shell over-penetration splash radius; scales with shell mass. Wickes 102mm = 3, standard 152mm CL ~ 20, Iowa 406mm ~ 270, Yamato 460mm = 400, Incomparable 650mm = 550 (max). Larger value = bigger splash damage area when AP over-pens.
Broadside guns used for alpha8
All 8 barrels bear on the broadside.
Turret turn time11.2 s
180 degrees / 16 deg/s traverse speed = 11.2 s.
HE full-salvo alpha12,000
1,500 HE damage x 8 broadside guns = 12,000.
AP full-salvo alpha15,200
1,900 AP damage x 8 broadside guns = 15,200.
Base HE DPM130,909
12,000 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5.5 s base reload = 130,909.
Base AP DPM165,818
15,200 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5.5 s base reload = 165,818.
Base shells/min87.3
8 broadside guns x 60 / 5.5 s base reload = 87.3.
Base fires/min6.98
8 HE shells x 60 / 5.5 s reload x 8% fire chance = 6.98.

Torpedoes

Torpedo detectability1.1 km
Estimated torpedo reaction time6.3 s
detectability / (speed kt x 2.6 community game-speed factor).
Torpedo speed67 kt
Travel time to max range68.9 s
range / (speed kt x 2.6 community game-speed factor).
Tube count4
1 launchers x 4 tubes.
Per-side salvo4 torpedoes
4 (centerline launchers train across - full salvo to either side).
Full-salvo damage89,468
tube count x per-torpedo simulated damage (all torpedoes hitting).
Per-side salvo damage89,468
per-side salvo x per-torpedo simulated damage.

AA defense

Close-range AA DPS248
Sum across every AA aura on this ship of (aura.continuous_damage x 3.5 x aura.hit_probability). Here: (39×3.5×1) + (32×3.5×1) = 248. Covers AA-only mounts plus dual-purpose secondaries (Bismarck 105mm, USN 5"/38 cruiser secondaries) and dual-purpose main batteries (Sumner-class 5"/38, Akizuki-line 100mm). Formula validated against in-game captures on California, Sumner, Manfred von Richthofen, Dante Alighieri (exact) and within +/-17% on the remaining verified ships.
Maximum AA range5 km
Longest-reaching aura across AA-only + dual-purpose auras.
AA threat index1038
SUM over AA auras of (aura DPS x aura range km). A plane crossing the AA bubble is exposed to each aura for a time proportional to that aura's range, so long-reach DPS is worth more than the same DPS in a short bubble. Units: DPS*km; used to rank overall AA threat across the cohort.

Balance History

Balance updates affecting Northern Dragon. Cards are condensed; use each source link for full context.

Buff ×8Main Battery ×6Concealment ×4
2025-06-26

Ministry of Balance: Declaration of Changes

  • Main battery HE shell penetration increased from 17 to 30 mm.
  • Main battery maximum HE shell damage increased from 1,500 to 1,800.
  • Main battery AP shells now have a flatter shell arc.
  • Main battery AP shell penetration increased by 58%.
  • Main battery maximum AP shell damage increased from 2,050 to 2,200.
Read the full official post
2023-06-15

Ministry of Balance: Italian Concerto

  • Distinguishing Northern Dragon while improving her is a difficult task, so we're improving her torpedo reload and her concealment to give her a stealthy edge over her gunboat competitors.
  • Torpedo reload time reduced from 122 to 105 s.
  • Detectability range by sea reduced from 7.1 to 6.6 km.
  • Detectability range by air reduced from 3.6 to 3.3 km.
  • Detectability when firing in smoke reduced from 2.22 to 2.15 km.
Read the full official post
Exteriors

Skins & permanent camouflages

Every custom exterior Northern Dragon can equip, from in-game data.

  • Northern Dragon default exterior
    DefaultThe ship’s standard exterior

Primary official WG sources

Filtered to official World of Warships: Legends pages where this ship is a focus, reward, line member, or high-context variant mention.