U.S.A. · Tier VIII Aircraft Carrier
Yorktown
Tactical / Support Aircraft Carrier (strike uptime, aiming, torpedo quality, fighter support)
Aircraft Carrier Commander Skills — verified — 24 skills
Recommended role
Tactical / Support Aircraft Carrier (strike uptime, aiming, torpedo quality, fighter support)
Yorktown · Tier 8 Aircraft Carrier · Balanced playstyle
- 1
Air Supremacy
1 ptEssential5 out of 5Faster aircraft restoration means more strikes per match. On a Tier VIII carrier with limited reserves this is the best single point you can spend.
In game: -5% aircraft restoration time. · Unlocked from 1 total points.
- 2
Improved Engine Boost
1 ptRecommended4 out of 5A cheap first-point companion to Air Supremacy: longer boost gets you in and out of AA faster.
In game: +5% aircraft Engine Boost duration. · Unlocked from 2 total points.
- 3
Improved Engines
2 ptsEssential5 out of 5+2.5% squadron speed shortens every trip to the target, which is the simplest way to raise your damage output.
In game: +2.5% squadron speed. · Unlocked from 4 total points.
- 4
Torpedo Bomber
2 ptsRecommended4 out of 5Shorter arming distance lets your torpedo bombers drop closer, which makes hits far easier against turning targets.
In game: -10% aerial torpedo arming distance. · Unlocked from 6 total points.
- 5
Sight Stabilization
3 ptsEssential5 out of 5Faster aiming means tighter drops with less time inside AA — the biggest quality-of-life skill for a beginner.
In game: +7.5% aiming speed for attack squadrons. · Unlocked from 9 total points.
- 6
Aircraft Armor
3 ptsEssential5 out of 5-10% continuous AA damage keeps planes alive on the run-in; Yorktown's squadrons are its whole toolkit.
In game: -10% continuous AA damage received by your aircraft. · Unlocked from 12 total points.
- 7
Survivability Expert
3 ptsEssential5 out of 5+25 aircraft HP per tier is a large flat buff to every plane you launch, and it stacks with Aircraft Armor.
In game: +25 aircraft HP per ship tier. · Unlocked from 15 total points.
- 8
Proximity Fuze
4 ptsRecommended4 out of 5Cutting 10 points of enemy torpedo protection is a big damage gain against the battleships and cruisers you actually torpedo.
In game: Reduces the target's torpedo protection by 10 percentage points. · Unlocked from 19 total points.
- 9
Patrol Group Leader
2 ptsRecommended4 out of 5The final 2 points: an extra Patrol Fighter charge is the cheapest way to support allies, and Yorktown's fighters are above average.
In game: +1 charge of the Patrol Fighter / Interceptor consumable. · Unlocked from 21 total points.
Class-based recommendation
Slot 1
Air Groups Modification 1
Helps aircraft return to the carrier sooner.
Slot 2
Aircraft Engines Modification 1
Extends engine boost for safer approaches and exits.
Slot 3
Attack Aircraft Modification 1
Gives attack aircraft more time on the attack run.
Slot 4
Torpedo Bombers Modification 2
Improves torpedo-bomber survivability during attack runs.
Slot 5
Flight Control Modification 1
Supports aircraft restoration and a healthier reserve.
Build complete — every recommended skill is already unlocked at 21 points.
- This is a no-reset path: every skill taken at an earlier milestone is still in the final 21-point build, so you never pay to redistribute points.
- Yorktown lives or dies by squadron uptime, so the cheap restoration and speed skills come first and pay off from point one.
- Sight Stabilization, Aircraft Armor and Survivability Expert are the middle block: they let planes reach the target and drop accurately instead of dying on the approach.
- Proximity Fuze is the only 4-point pick because Yorktown's torpedo bombers are the attack type that benefits most from it.
- The last 2 points go to Patrol Group Leader, which turns Yorktown's above-average fighters into a support tool for the whole team.
- Stay behind your team. Yorktown has below-average hull HP and below-average AA, so being caught alone is fatal.
- Use tactical squadrons and rockets against destroyers and soft targets; rockets have above-average damage and penetration for the tier.
- Drop Patrol Fighters over allied ships that are being attacked rather than over yourself.
- Keep the Smoke Curtain Generator for breaking contact when a ship pushes toward your carrier.
- Do not fly straight through AA clusters — approach from the flank and use Engine Boost to leave immediately after dropping.
Ship class / skill tree
Aircraft Carrier Commander Skills
Verified — 24 skills, 6 per row
Commander skill points
1 – 21
Progression milestones at 1/2/4/6/9/12/15/19/21
Final 21-point build
Air Supremacy 1 · Improved Engine Boost 1 · Improved Engines 2 · Torpedo Bomber 2 · Sight Stabilization 3 · Aircraft Armor 3 · Survivability Expert 3 · Proximity Fuze 4 · Patrol Group Leader 2
Unverified — Total 21 — curated prototype, not an official recommendation
Only values confirmed from the supplied sources are listed. Unverified numbers such as reload, detection, hit points, radar range/duration and torpedo range are deliberately omitted.
Skill data: Skill names, point costs and effects taken from the current World of Warships Wiki commander skill list (last edited 11 Aug 2026), using the current skill names rather than legacy aliases.
Build: Skill mechanics: current World of Warships Wiki commander skill list (last edited 11 Aug 2026) and the current Yorktown page (last edited 2 Aug 2026). Progression: curated beginner-safe no-reset prototype — not an official Wargaming recommendation.
Full skill table for Yorktown
Aircraft Carrier Commander Skills — 24 skills, 6 per row
Laid out like the in-game tree for this class. Each row is one point cost.
- Last GaspSituational3 out of 5
- Improved Engine BoostRecommended4 out of 5
- Engine TechieSituational3 out of 5
- Air SupremacyEssential5 out of 5
- Direction Center for FightersSituational3 out of 5
- Search and DestroySituational3 out of 5
- Torpedo BomberRecommended4 out of 5
- Swift Flying FishSituational3 out of 5
- Improved EnginesEssential5 out of 5
- Combat Maneuver SpecialistSituational3 out of 5
- Secondary Armament ExpertSituational3 out of 5
- Patrol Group LeaderRecommended4 out of 5
- Sight StabilizationEssential5 out of 5
- Enhanced Armor-Piercing AmmunitionSituational3 out of 5
- PyrotechnicianSituational3 out of 5
- Aircraft ArmorEssential5 out of 5
- Survivability ExpertEssential5 out of 5
- InterceptorSituational3 out of 5
- Bomber Flight ControlSituational3 out of 5
- Proximity FuzeRecommended4 out of 5
- Defensive Fire ExpertSituational3 out of 5
- Enhanced Aircraft ArmorSituational3 out of 5
- Hidden MenaceSituational3 out of 5
- Enhanced ReactionsSituational3 out of 5
Showing 24 of 24 aircraft carrier commander skills , rated for Yorktown.
Air Supremacy
1 ptEssential5 out of 5-5% aircraft restoration time.
Faster aircraft restoration means more strikes per match. On a Tier VIII carrier with limited reserves this is the best single point you can spend.
Improved Engines
2 ptsEssential5 out of 5+2.5% squadron speed.
+2.5% squadron speed shortens every trip to the target, which is the simplest way to raise your damage output.
Sight Stabilization
3 ptsEssential5 out of 5+7.5% aiming speed for attack squadrons.
Faster aiming means tighter drops with less time inside AA — the biggest quality-of-life skill for a beginner.
Aircraft Armor
3 ptsEssential5 out of 5-10% continuous AA damage received by your aircraft.
-10% continuous AA damage keeps planes alive on the run-in; Yorktown's squadrons are its whole toolkit.
Survivability Expert
3 ptsEssential5 out of 5+25 aircraft HP per ship tier.
Has no effect on the carrier's own hull HP.
+25 aircraft HP per tier is a large flat buff to every plane you launch, and it stacks with Aircraft Armor.
Improved Engine Boost
1 ptRecommended4 out of 5+5% aircraft Engine Boost duration.
A cheap first-point companion to Air Supremacy: longer boost gets you in and out of AA faster.
Torpedo Bomber
2 ptsRecommended4 out of 5-10% aerial torpedo arming distance.
Shorter arming distance lets your torpedo bombers drop closer, which makes hits far easier against turning targets.
Patrol Group Leader
2 ptsRecommended4 out of 5+1 charge of the Patrol Fighter / Interceptor consumable.
The final 2 points: an extra Patrol Fighter charge is the cheapest way to support allies, and Yorktown's fighters are above average.
Proximity Fuze
4 ptsRecommended4 out of 5Reduces the target's torpedo protection by 10 percentage points.
No effect against ships without torpedo protection, such as destroyers.
Cutting 10 points of enemy torpedo protection is a big damage gain against the battleships and cruisers you actually torpedo.
Last Gasp
1 ptSituational3 out of 5Fully restores the squadron's Engine Boost for the last attack flight.
Restoring boost for the final attack run rewards precise flying; useful once you are comfortable with the class.
Engine Techie
1 ptSituational3 out of 5-20% Engine Cooling cooldown.
Only matters if you spam Engine Boost aggressively enough to overheat regularly.
Direction Center for Fighters
1 ptSituational3 out of 5+1 aircraft in the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) Fighter group.
Does not apply to the Patrol Fighter consumable.
An extra CAP fighter helps defend yourself, but it does nothing for the Patrol Fighter consumable you drop for allies.
Search and Destroy
1 ptSituational3 out of 5+10% patrol radius of Patrol Fighters and Interceptors.
A wider patrol radius is nice for area cover; take it if you play a dedicated fighter-support role.
Swift Flying Fish
2 ptsSituational3 out of 5+5% aerial torpedo speed.
Listed on some older pages under the legacy name “Swift Fish”.
Faster aerial torpedoes are helpful, but Torpedo Bomber's shorter arming distance does more for the same 2 points.
Combat Maneuver Specialist
2 ptsSituational3 out of 5+1 charge and +10% action time for the squadron's In-flight Repair consumable.
Current name for the in-flight repair skill; older pages still show it as “Repair Specialist”.
An extra in-flight repair charge is real survivability, but the 3-point aircraft survival skills give more per point.
Secondary Armament Expert
2 ptsSituational3 out of 5-10% secondary battery reload; +10% continuous AA and flak damage; +10% depth-charge damage.
Yorktown has below-average AA and should not be within secondary range, so this rarely pays off.
Enhanced Armor-Piercing Ammunition
3 ptsSituational3 out of 5+3% damage of AP bombs and AP rockets.
Does not increase penetration.
Only 3% more damage, and only for AP bombs and rockets; take it in a dedicated AP loadout.
Pyrotechnician
3 ptsSituational3 out of 5+1% fire chance for HE rockets; +5% fire chance for HE bombs.
Fire-focused: worth it if you commit to HE rockets and bombs rather than a balanced strike set.
Interceptor
3 ptsSituational3 out of 5Patrol Fighters are replaced by Interceptors: +10% patrol radius, invulnerable to enemy fighters, but they cannot attack fighters and cannot spot ships.
Trades away ship spotting for a safer patrol; a specialist choice rather than a default.
Bomber Flight Control
4 ptsSituational3 out of 5+5% cruising speed of bombers.
Does not apply to torpedo bombers.
Excludes torpedo bombers, so it does nothing for the attack type this build invests in.
Defensive Fire Expert
4 ptsSituational3 out of 5Greatly increases the carrier's own short-range continuous AA damage.
Current name for the skill previously called “Close Quarters Expert”. The exact current multiplier was not independently confirmed, so no number is stated here.
Improves your own short-range AA, but the correct play on a below-average-AA carrier is to stay behind allies instead.
Enhanced Aircraft Armor
4 ptsSituational3 out of 5-25% flak damage received by your aircraft.
-25% flak damage matters most against high-tier AA divisions; at Tier VIII, continuous AA is usually the bigger threat.
Hidden Menace
4 ptsSituational3 out of 5-15% carrier detectability and -20% Damage Control Party cooldown, at the cost of -50% safe flight altitude and -50% returning squadron speed.
The lower safe altitude and slower return trip mean squadrons spend longer exposed while climbing out and returning to the carrier.
Lower detectability is tempting, but halved return speed and safe altitude cost you real strike uptime — not a beginner-safe trade.
Enhanced Reactions
4 ptsSituational3 out of 5Patrol Fighters / Interceptors: -80% time before attack, +25% action time, +50% arrival time.
Makes dropped fighters react almost instantly — strong for a dedicated support build, expensive for a general one.