Optimal Timing of Using a Repair

[Grim DeGrim]

While in a huge Trafalgar today, I noted a captain (scl) say that he popped his repairs at the right time...

Is there an optimal time?

[Flip]

If you wait too long you will often sink despite repairs going if you are too low and the enemy continues to focus you (keeping you at 0 or low % armor). More pertinent to large battles.

 

If you pop them too early you don't get maximal value as you will repair past full, but you will keep your armor intact making smaller guns not penetrate at range. 

 

In Trafalgar however the sheer weight of fire if the enemy has any cohesion and calls you as a target (happens to first rates a lot) will often mean you want to pop them early before you get to the point of 0 at which point the repairs can't cope with the DPS of a well focused fleet.

[Prater]

It comes with experience.  try different things out and see what works for you.  watch the more experienced players to see when they pop theirs.  popping at the right time also includes position and the status of enemies around you and what you are trying to do.  Different tactics require repairs to be popped at different times.  also, how you use your repairs on the victory or ST is different than the other ships.

[Chromey]

smaller ships can wait till their armor is 3/4 gone before using a repair.  Bigger ships seem to take more water at half way so use then if your in combat.