"Level 5: Goélette, Brigantin, or Chalutier?"
Level 5 in Dovion comes fast — a few chunks of ore mined, a pirate or two sunk, and suddenly your first evolution is blinking. Three hulls are on offer: the Goélette, the Brigantin, and the Chalutier. This choice isn't cosmetic — it sets your path (Skirmish, War, or Control) and the tone of your whole match, right up to your level-15 line choice.
What this choice actually changes
At level 5, you're not picking your final line yet — that's level 15's job, when you commit to one of the 9 lines in the tree. Level 5 is more a question of temperament. Each path answers a different philosophy:
- Skirmish: speed above everything.
- War: sturdiness above everything.
- Control and Economy: cargo hold above everything.
No need to panic if you're torn: a Dovion match restarts in seconds, and trying all three is the best school there is.
The Goélette: strike and run
The Goélette is the fast hull of the trio. You dive in, you strike, and you're gone before the enemy finishes turning its bow. It's the path for restless players who'd rather dodge than tank a hit.
A nice bonus: the small hulls on the Skirmish path can harness sirens into a sled — a spectacle we cover in detail in our article on the siren sled. If you picture yourself later as a rammer or an elusive ghost, this is probably your gateway.
The flip side: when you do get hit, it shows. The Goélette doesn't forgive positioning mistakes.
The Brigantin: tank and answer
The Brigantin is the sturdy hull, the one on the War path. Where the Goélette dodges, the Brigantin holds the line. It's the most comfortable choice for learning combat: you survive your mistakes, you have time to understand what's happening, and you trade blow for blow.
For a first run on Dovion, it's usually the wisest recommendation — we talk about it at greater length in which ship to pick as a beginner. Its downside? Fast opponents can circle around you, and you'll need to learn not to chase everything that moves.
The Chalutier: gold first
The Chalutier plays a different tune: its huge cargo hold lets it stockpile far more gold before it needs to cash in. Mine, fish, fill up, sell, repeat — while everyone else is busy fighting each other, you're getting rich.
This is the Control and Economy path, the one for future Flottille merchants or Profondeurs fishermen. But remember the game's golden rule: gold in your hold only counts once it's sold. A full Chalutier that sinks is a fortune returned to the sea. This style demands caution and a good sense of timing.
Our advice based on your profile
To sum up, pick based on what feels right, controller or mouse in hand:
- Complete beginner? Take the Brigantin: its sturdiness gives you room to make mistakes.
- Coming from a fast-paced game and love speed? The Goélette is calling your name.
- Prefer building your empire at your own pace? The Chalutier, hands down.
And keep the bigger picture in mind: level 15 opens up the 9 lines and their active abilities. Your level-5 pick is a direction, not a life sentence.
Also worth reading
- Fast little hull or slow fortress: which to choose?
The best way to decide is still to try all three in the same evening. Play Dovion for free — your Chaloupe is already waiting.