Special Commanders

A Skilled commander.

Special commanders perform the same functions as standard commanders, but have additional bonuses or traits that make them different from their freely-recruited counterparts. Thus a Special commander has a fixed portrait and name. They may be earned via in-game participation, for instance as a reward for a set of event missions or at the end of a lengthy campaign. Many are now available in the Armory.

A Talented commander.

An Enhanced Skill is a common skill that any commander may have, but with an enhanced effect. The commander must acquire the skill for the effect to be enhanced. All commanders available through the Armory come with at least 10 skill points.

A Talent is an ability similar to a very powerful skill that activates in unusual circumstances. Talents will not activate during a Clan Battle or in a Training Room. Some talents are activated by earning an achievement that can only be earned in Random or Ranked battles.

A Skilled commander is a special commander with Enhanced Skills.

A Talented commander is a special commander with Talents. All Talented commanders are also Skilled commanders. Talented commanders are commonly called Legendary commanders. They may also be known as Heroic or Historic.

Talented or Legendary commanders do not allow themselves to be dismissed.

Players can have only one copy of each Skilled or Talented commander.

A Historic commander is the World of Warships commemoration of a commander who existed in world history. He may have enhanced skills, or talents, or neither.

Skilled and Talented commanders have a star before their names. Talented commanders are displayed with a gold star, a gold name, and in the commanders screens, a gold portrait background. Skilled commanders are displayed with a white star and a sky blue background. Other special commanders have a haze gray background with no star.

World of Warships has adopted a set of terms for special commanders that is not descriptive. These are the terms that appear in the game client:

• Unique Commander — same as a Talented commander.
• Seasoned Commander — same as a Skilled commander.
• Special Commander — a special but unskilled commander (one that has no talents or enhanced skills.

List of Skilled and Talented Commanders

Nation	Portrait and Name	Special Traits		Origins
	Yamamoto Isoroku Legendary Commander Biography Wikipedia		The Emergency Reserve talent grants Yamamoto Isoroku's ship +1 charge to each mounted consumable (including squadron consumables) upon earning the "First Blood" achievement.	Awarded upon completion of the Yamamoto Isoroku campaign.
			The Second Wind talent activates upon earning a "Kraken Unleashed!" achievement. After activation, the ship's main battery gun reload time is reduced -34%, its torpedo reload speed and squadron restoration time is reduced -16%, and it steadily repairs up to 48% of its health over 120 seconds without expending a Repair Party charge.
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
			Preventive Maintenance −45% reduced risk of incapacitation of modules for destroyers/battleships/submarines (normally −30%). +20% to the HP of secondary and AA guns for battleships and destroyers (normally +15%)
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Fireworks
	Takeo Suzuki		Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).	Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Emergency Repair Specialist (enhanced skill for battleships) reduces cooldown of Damage Control Party and Repair Party -4% (normally -3%).
	Raizō Suzuki		Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).	Sold in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Emergency Repair Specialist (enhanced skill for battleships) reduces cooldown of Damage Control Party and Repair Party -4% (normally -3%).
	John Doe		Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).	Awarded for completing an in-game mission during Fall 2016. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Gun Feeder (enhanced skill for battleships/cruisers/destroyers) reduces reload time when switching shell types -60% (normally -40%).
	George Doe		Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).	Sold in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Gun Feeder (enhanced skill for battleships/cruisers/destroyers) reduces reload time when switching shell types -60% (normally -40%).
	William F. Halsey Jr. Legendary Commander The Story of Admiral Halsey Wikipedia		The Implacable talent activates on earning the "Confederate" achievement. The ship under Halsey's command receives the following bonuses: -20% to the main battery reload time. -20% to plane service time. -10% to torpedo reload time.	Awarded upon completion of the "Hit Hard! Hit Fast! Hit Often" campaign.
			The Untraceable talent activates after receiving the "Double Strike" achievement. * -10% to air and sea detection radius The effect will accumulate if multiple Double Strikes are received during battle.
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
			Gun Feeder (enhanced skill for battleships/cruisers/destroyers) reduces reload time when switching shell types -60% (normally -40%).
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Fireworks
	Jack Dunkirk		Consumables Specialist (enhanced skill) reduces cooldown on consumables −10% (normally −7.5%).	Awarded for completing the Dunkirk Collection.
			Consumables Enhancements (enhanced skill) increases action time of these consumables +12.5% (normally +10%): Smoke Generator Hydroacoustic Search Engine Boost Surveillance Radar
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
	Bert Dunkirk		Consumables Specialist (enhanced skill) reduces cooldown on consumables −10% (normally −7.5%).	Sold in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Consumables Enhancements (enhanced skill) increases action time of these consumables +12.5% (normally +10%): Smoke Generator Hydroacoustic Search Engine Boost Surveillance Radar
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
	Andrew Cunningham Historic Commander The Story of Andrew Cunningham Wikipedia
			The Equipment Spoils talent increases the number of ship consumable charges by one after destroying two enemy ships. Does not apply to aircraft carrier squadron consumables. Once per battle.	Available for Royal Tokens during the British Heavy Cruiser event with Update 0.9.1. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			With the Lightning Fast talent, the speed of his ship and squadrons increases +5% after scoring four "Caused flooding" ribbons. Once per battle.
			The Ruthless talent reduces the reload time of his ship’s main battery guns and torpedo launchers, as well as aircraft restoration time, -10% after earning the “Witherer” achievement.
			His Aircraft Armor enhanced skill is −11.5% to the continuous damage of AA guns, instead of the standard −10%.
			Consumables Specialist (enhanced skill) reduces cooldown on consumables −10% (normally −7.5%).
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Signal Flare
	Jean-Jacques Honoré		Adrenaline Rush (enhanced skill) changes the reload time of all types of armament -0.25% and the continuous AA damage +0.25% for each 1% of HP lost (normally -0.2%/+0.2%).	Awarded for completing the Vive La France Collection.
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
	Charles-Henri Honoré		Adrenaline Rush (enhanced skill) changes the reload time of all types of armament -0.25% and the continuous AA damage +0.25% for each 1% of HP lost (normally -0.2%/+0.2%).	Sold in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
	Philippe Auboyneau Heroic Commander The Story of Philippe Auboyneau Wikipedia
			With the Rampant talent, a "Devastating Strike" achievement speeds his main armament reload -5% for the main battery and torpedo tubes, and reduces squadron cooldown time by -5%.	Available for French Tokens during the French Arc beginning with Update 0.8.7. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			The Elemental Fury talent activates on each 'Captured' or 'Assisted in Capture' ribbon earned, increasing the fire chance for his main battery shells +1%, and increases the chance of causing flooding by +10%.
			For every 2,000,000 HP of potential damage received, his Surge Forward talent increases his ship's speed +8%.
			Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Fireworks
	Viktor Znamensky		Preventive Maintenance −45% reduced risk of incapacitation of modules for destroyers/battleships/submarines (normally −30%). +20% to the HP of secondary and AA guns for battleships and destroyers (normally +15%)	Awarded for completing a three mission marathon in May 2018. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
			Emergency Repair Specialist (enhanced skill for battleships) reduces cooldown of Damage Control Party and Repair Party -4% (normally -3%).
	Vasily Znamensky		Preventive Maintenance −45% reduced risk of incapacitation of modules for destroyers/battleships/submarines (normally −30%). +20% to the HP of secondary and AA guns for battleships and destroyers (normally +15%)	Sold in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
			Emergency Repair Specialist (enhanced skill for battleships) reduces cooldown of Damage Control Party and Repair Party -4% (normally -3%).
	Nikolay Kuznetsov Legendary Commander Admiral Kuznetsov's Biography Wikipedia		The Emergency Reserve talent grants +1 charge to each mounted consumable (including squadron consumables) upon earning the "First Blood" achievement.	Exchanged in the Armory for Provision Tokens awarded during the 2019 "Victory" Competition event. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Will for Victory talent: Once per battle, if his ship's HP drops below 10%, the following activate for 15 seconds: "Damage control party" effect is applied (no consumable charge expended) "Repair party" regenerates up to 5.25% HP (no consumable charge expended) Dispersion of shells fired by the enemy at his ship increases +20%.
			Consumables Specialist (enhanced skill) reduces cooldown on consumables −10% (normally −7.5%).
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Fireworks
	Günther Lütjens Historic Commander Admiral Lütjens's Story Wikipedia		Secondary Battery Loader talent: upon earning 100 "Secondary Battery Hits" ribbons, the secondary battery reload time speeds up +15%. (Once per battle.)	Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Main Battery Loader: upon earning 140 "Main Battery Hit" ribbons, the main battery reload time speeds up +7.5%. (Once per battle.)
			Resilient: upon earning three "Spotted" ribbons, the talent restores 300 HP/sec with action time in seconds equal to ship's tier (e.g 5 seconds for a Tier V ship, etc.). (Multiple times per battle.)
			Aerial Equipment Expert talent: upon earning 30 "Rocket Hit", "Bomb Hit", or "Torpedo Hit" ribbons, aircraft restoration speeds up +10%. (Once per battle.)
			Preventive Maintenance −45% reduced risk of incapacitation of modules for destroyers/battleships/submarines (normally −30%). +20% to the HP of secondary and AA guns for battleships and destroyers (normally +15%)
			Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).
			Improved Engine Boost (enhanced skill) extends the engine boost duration +7.5% for the aircraft carrier's squadrons (normally +5%).
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Signal flare
	Franz von Jütland		Consumables Specialist (enhanced skill) reduces cooldown on consumables −10% (normally −7.5%).	Awarded for completing an in-game mission chain during Spring 2018. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Vigilance (enhanced skill) increases the detection range of enemy torpedoes +35% (normally +25%).
	Reinhard von Jütland		Consumables Specialist (enhanced skill) reduces cooldown on consumables −10% (normally −7.5%).	Sold in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Vigilance (enhanced skill) increases the detection range of enemy torpedoes +35% (normally +25%).
	Sa Zhenbing Historic Commander Wikipedia		High Alert talent: upon earning earning the "Combat Scout" achievement, reduces the squadron preparation and main battery gun reload times by 20%. (Once per battle.)	Reward for completion of the "The Age of Sa Zhenbing" collection.
			Torpedo Attack Expert talent: upon hitting enemy ships with torpedoes six times, the following effects occur (Once per battle.): +5% torpedo speed -25% to the reload of the Torpedo Reload Booster  consumable +1 to the number of charges of the Torpedo Reload Booster  consumable
			Emergency Supplies talent: For every 1,500,000 potential damage recieved, consumable cooldown time is reduced by 6.5%. (Multiple times per battle.)
			Improved Engine Boost (enhanced skill) extends the engine boost duration +7.5% for the aircraft carrier's squadrons (normally +5%).
			Emergency Repair Specialist (enhanced skill for battleships) reduces cooldown of Damage Control Party and Repair Party -4% (normally -3%).
			Vigilance (enhanced skill) increases the detection range of enemy torpedoes +35% (normally +25%).
			Consumables Enhancements (enhanced skill) increases action time of these consumables +12.5% (normally +10%): Smoke Generator Hydroacoustic Search Engine Boost Surveillance Radar
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Signal flare
	Dà Róng		Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).	Awarded for completing the Dragon Dance Ship chain of combat missions in early 2019. Sold in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Demolition Expert (enhanced skill for destroyers/cruisers/battleships): Chance of HE shell causing fire to target: +1.5% (instead of +1%) Pyrotechnician (enhanced skill for aircraft carriers): Chance of HE rocket causing fire to target: +2% (instead of +1%) Chance of HE bomb causing fire to target: +6% (instead of +5%)
	Quán Róng		Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).	Awarded after obtaining all three bundles of the Lunar New Year Collection in sequence. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Demolition Expert (enhanced skill for destroyers/cruisers/battleships): Chance of HE shell causing fire to target: +1.5% (instead of +1%) Pyrotechnician (enhanced skill for aircraft carriers): Chance of HE rocket causing fire to target: +2% (instead of +1%) Chance of HE bomb causing fire to target: +6% (instead of +5%)
	Alexander Ovechkin Wikipedia		Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).	"American Ovechkin", representing the career of the hockey great in America. Awarded for completing "The Great 8" collection in late 2018.
			Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).
			Optional blue colored shell tracers.
	Alexander Ovechkin Wikipedia		Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).	"Russian Ovechkin", representing the career of the hockey great in Russia. Awarded for completing a combat mission during the Great Eight event in late 2018.
			Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).
			Optional red colored shell tracers.
	Alexander Ovechkin Wikipedia		Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).	"Hockey Ovechkin", in a game uniform. Obtained from the Premium Shop during the Great Eight event in late 2018.
			Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).
			Optional colored shell tracers.
			May command either a USN or a VMF ship.
	Tsar Alexander Wikipedia		Grease the Gears (enhanced skill) improves main battery turret rotation speed: +20% for destroyers and cruisers (normally +15%) +25% for battleships (normally +20%).	"Tsar Ovechkin", the hockey great in Hallowe'en costume. Obtained during the Great Eight event in late 2018.
			Survivability Expert (enhanced skill): per ship tier: +500 ship HP for cruisers (normally +450) +400 ship HP for destroyers (normally +350) +30 aircraft HP for aircraft carriers (normally +25).
			Optional colored shell tracers.
			May command either a USN or a VMF ship.
	Luigi Sansonetti Historic Commander The History of Luigi Sansonetti Wikipedia		The Concealed Reserves talent activates upon achieving 100 main gun hits and extends the action time of all consumables +10%. (Once per battle.)	Reward for completion of the "Resolute and Rapid" collection.
			The Far Reach talent activates on the destruction of an enemy ship and extends the main gun range +8%. (Once per battle.)
			The Rapid Fire talent activates upon earning the "Confederate" achievement and reduces the reload time of his main battery guns -15%.
			Swift Fish (enhanced skill) increases the speed of his torpedoes +7% (normally +5%).
			Gun Feeder (enhanced skill for battleships/cruisers/destroyers) reduces reload time when switching shell types -60% (normally -40%).
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Signal flare
	Jerzy Ṡwirski Historic Commander The History of Jerzy Ṡwirski Wikipedia		Torpedo Armament Expert: reduces the torpedo tube reload time -5% for every eight "Torpedo hits" ribbons scored. The talent can be activated multiple times.	Reward for completion of the Strong-Willed campaign and from random bundles in the Armory. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			AA Gun Expert: increases the continuous damage of AA defenses +10% for scoring 20 "Aircraft shot down" ribbons. (Once per battle.)
			Adrenaline Rush (enhanced skill) changes the reload time of all types of armament -0.25% and the continuous AA damage +0.25% for each 1% of HP lost (normally -0.2%/+0.2%).
			Personalizations Colored Shell Tracers, Broad Pennant, Signal flare
	Klaas Janssen		Focus Fire Training (enhanced skill for cruisers/battleships): Air Strike armament reload time: -10% (Unchanged) Flak burst per salvo: +1 (Unchanged) In the priority AA sector: +35% continuous damage. (instead of +25%)	Reward for completion of a special combat mission chain in patch 0.10.7. Available in the Armory for  Coal.
			Demolition Expert (enhanced skill for destroyers/cruisers/battleships): Chance of HE shell causing fire to target: +1.5% (instead of +1%)
	Michiel de Ruyter Historic Commander Wikipedia		Focus Fire Training (enhanced skill for cruisers/battleships): Air Strike armament reload time: -10% (Unchanged) Flak burst per salvo: +1 (Unchanged) In the priority AA sector: +35% continuous damage. (instead of +25%)	Available in the Armory for  Doubloons.
			Demolition Expert (enhanced skill for destroyers/cruisers/battleships): Chance of HE shell causing fire to target: +1.5% (instead of +1%)

More Info

• Guide: All About Commanders 3 Mar 2020
  
• The Story of Admiral Halsey 2 June 2018
  
• Unique Commanders: Heroes of the Sea - Yamamoto video 7 Aug 2017