Murakumo
Murakumo is the fifth ship of the Fubuki-class destroyers in Kantai Collection and serves as one of the initial starter ships available to players. She is portrayed as a proud and independent lone wolf who maintains a sharp, high-handed attitude toward the commander. Despite her prideful exterior, she gradually demonstrates attentiveness and reliability as her connection with the naval base deepens.
Overview
Murakumo is the fifth ship of the Fubuki-class destroyers in Kantai Collection and serves as one of the initial starter ships available to players. She is portrayed as a proud and independent lone wolf who maintains a sharp, high-handed attitude toward the commander. Despite her prideful exterior, she gradually demonstrates attentiveness and reliability as her connection with the naval base deepens.
Appearance
Murakumo features waist-length moist silver hair with straight-cut bangs and red strings bound around her sidelocks, accompanied by deep orange eyes. She wears a navy and white one-piece sailor dress over a short-sleeved black inner shirt, complemented by a long red necktie, black pantyhose, and black loafers. Mechanical floating units shaped like animal ears hover beside her head. Her waist equipment consists of a bridge-shaped module with twin arms holding double gun mounts, while a triple torpedo tube launcher is fitted to her left wrist. She carries a long mast-like weapon in her right hand, has forward-facing fins on her ankles, and displays fluorescent lights that shift from yellow-green to red upon receiving heavy damage.
Personality
Boasting a high-spirited and haughty personality, Murakumo adopts a refined yet condescending speech pattern. While she assumes a fiercely aggressive demeanor toward combat, she reveals a vulnerable side by tearing up when suffering critical damage or undergoing dock repairs. She frequently struggles to express affection directly, reacting with defensive combat actions when flustered. However, she displays an enthusiastic fondness for delicious food and holiday treats, often showing genuine warmth, culinary preferences, and a caring attitude beneath her aloof facade.
Abilities
In battle, Murakumo utilizes two twin gun mounts attached via mechanical arms extending from her waist module alongside a triple torpedo tube launcher affixed to her left wrist. For physical engagements, she wields a long mast-shaped weapon held in her right hand. Lacking visible main propulsion engines, she maneuvers across the ocean surface using specialized fins mounted at her ankles. When startled or improperly approached in port, she is capable of launching oxygen torpedoes as a reflexive retaliation.
Background
Based on the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer of the same name, Murakumo historically served in the 12th and 11th Destroyer Divisions. In Kantai Collection, she is introduced as one of the starter destroyers selectable at the start of the game. Over time, she received her Kai Ni second upgrade, unlocking enhanced combat capabilities, updated voice interactions reflecting deeper trust, and a refined appearance.
Relationships
As a Fubuki-class vessel, Murakumo is sister to Fubuki and her fellow class members. She maintains strong historical ties with her division mates Shirayuki, Hatsuyuki, Usugumo, and Shirakumo; she exhibits particular familiarity and emotional attachment toward Shirayuki and Hatsuyuki due to their shared naval operations. Furthermore, her background connects her to the heavy cruiser Furutaka and the destroyer Natsugumo through combined operations and rescue missions in the Solomon Islands theater.
Trivia
Unlike most of her Fubuki-class sisters drawn by another artist, Murakumo's visual design was crafted by Ayaki, reflecting her distinct historical formation path within the 12th Destroyer Division. In the naval base counter bar feature, she stands out among destroyers by enjoying wine during late-night hours. Additionally, her shared name has inspired fan parodies crossing over with various mech and fighting game characters of the same name.
