[PvK]

I think "Strongest" is (or was, in an earlier version) based on the resource cost, but I'm not sure.

If you are not seeing a difference between strategy settings (esp. weakest and strongest attacking the same ship), or not seeing what you expect, it may be that a different strategy than you expect is actually being used. Ships that break formation use their ship design strategy, while ships in (or trying to be in) formation use their fleet's strategy. All ships with weapons use the fleet strategy on turn one, and all ships without weapons break formation and since they can't target, tend to behave like "don't get hurt".

Grandpa Kim mentioned some good ideas too.

PvK