Battleship on Arcadia
Battleship is a classic deduction + probability game. You hide your fleet, then search the enemy grid with the fewest shots possible.
High-level play is two clear phases: - Hunt mode: scan efficiently to find a ship. - Target mode: once you hit, finish the ship quickly and safely.
How to Play Battleship (Quick Start)
- Place your ships on your hidden grid.
- Take turns calling coordinates to fire.
- A call is either hit or miss.
- Sink ships by hitting all their squares.
- First player to sink the entire fleet wins.
Core Rules & Fleet Basics
- Ships occupy consecutive squares (horizontal or vertical).
- Ships cannot overlap.
- A hit marks a ship square; a miss marks empty water.
- A ship is sunk when all its squares are hit.
- Win by sinking every enemy ship.
Winning Strategy Summary
- Hunt with parity (efficient coverage).
- Target immediately after a hit.
- Finish ships fast to deny the opponent time.
- Place defensively: avoid obvious layouts.
- Stay calm: Battleship rewards consistent process over “gut feel.”
Tips
Strong play usually comes from tempo, risk control, and converting small advantages.
- Play lines that keep your options open.
- Protect key assets and avoid overextending.
- Force your opponent into predictable responses.
Hunt Mode: Search Efficiently
The goal of hunt mode is to find the first hit with minimal wasted shots.
Best practice: - Use a checkerboard/parity pattern when fleets include ships of length 2+. - Avoid random clusters of shots — scanning patterns reduce variance. - Prefer coverage that keeps your next shots flexible.
Target Mode: Convert Hits Into Sinks
After a hit, switch instantly to target mode: - Probe adjacent squares to determine orientation. - Once oriented, fire in a straight line to finish. - If you hit twice in a row, continue that direction; if you miss, return and try the opposite direction.
Best Ship Placement (Defense)
Good placement reduces predictability and prevents “chain sinks.”
Tips: - Mix edges, center, and midlines. - Avoid repeated patterns (all corners, all edges, all center). - Vary orientation; don’t place everything horizontally. - Keep spacing unpredictable so a lucky hit doesn’t reveal your whole formation.
FAQ
What is the best hunt pattern in Battleship?
A checkerboard/parity pattern is the most efficient for finding ships of length 2 or more. It minimizes wasted shots while covering the grid systematically.
What should I do immediately after a hit?
Switch to target mode: probe adjacent squares to find orientation, then continue in-line until the ship is sunk.
What is “parity” in Battleship?
Parity means searching squares in a pattern where a ship of length 2+ must cross at least one searched square (like a checkerboard). It improves efficiency vs random shots.
Is ship placement actually important?
Yes. Strong placement avoids predictable clusters, mixes edges/center, and reduces the chance of giving away multiple ships through one lucky discovery.
Can I play Battleship single-player on Arcadia?
Yes. Battleship supports single-player vs AI and also PvP on Arcadia.
How long does a Battleship match take?
Most matches finish in about 10–25 minutes, depending on accuracy and how quickly hits convert into sinks.
Ready to play Battleship?
Create a multiplayer room with friends, or warm up in the free single-player demo.
