Exeter
Elite/Heavy Cruiser/YorkD tier
Introduction
Exeter is an Elite Heavy Cruiser character in Azur Lane. Exeter's class is York.
On our Azur Lane tier list Exeter is D tier, 442nd of the 706 characters ranked, from where 3 current tier lists put Exeter.
Other Heavy Cruiser characters in Azur Lane: Admiral Graf Spee, Admiral Hipper, Algérie, Aoba, Asama, Ashigara and 87 more.
Is Exeter good?
A balanced heavy cruiser with no big holes, which makes her an easy default for the heavy cruiser slot. Before retrofit she has a chance-based firepower buff and a skill that lowers damage taken by the whole fleet, but neither procs reliably or lasts long. Retrofit is where she comes together: extra damage against medium armor for guns and torpedoes, flat evasion and torpedo gains, a slow on targets she keeps hitting with her main guns, and AA near the top for heavy cruisers.
She's Royal Navy, so 
Queen Elizabeth's fleet buff applies too.
Pairs well with: Queen Elizabeth.
Strengths
- Well-rounded stats
- Bonus damage against medium armor after retrofit
- Top AA among heavy cruisers after retrofit
- Slows targets hit repeatedly by her guns
Weaknesses
- Pre-retrofit skills are unreliable
- Low torpedo stat despite good torpedo efficiency
Stats
- HP3,791
- SPD25
- Effect ACC129
At max level. Each bar is measured against the highest value in the Azur Lane roster.
Skills
5Full Firepower
Skill 1Every 20s, 30% (60%) chance to increase own Firepower by 20% (40%) for 10s.
(Augment Module) Full Firepower - Exeter
Skill 2Once when the battle starts, and with a 30% (60%) chance every 20s after that: increases this ship's FP by 20% (40%) for 10s and fires a Lv.1 (Lv.10) special barrage (DMG is based on the skill's level). If this barrage hits the same enemy 4 times: inflicts Armor Break to that enemy for 6s; when this debuff expires, resets the hit counter to 0. (Replaces Full Firepower)
Defense Order
Skill 3Every 20s: 25% chance to reduce damage taken by all ships in the fleet by 5% (15%) for 8s. Does not stack with the same skill.
(Retrofit) Giant Hunter
Skill 4At the start of battle: increases this ship's EVA by 5% (15%), TRP by 5% (15%), and damage dealt to Medium-Armored enemies by 15% (25%). After hitting an enemy CA with 4 Main Gun attacks, slows that ship by 15% (30%) for 5s (this effect cannot be stacked again until the slowing effect has worn off).
All Out Assault
Skill 5Every 9 (6) times the main gun is fired, triggers All Out Assault - York Class I (II).
