How to play water correctly? In general. (I main Thor)

As i see it about.

Get classical first. Have more dock than opponent, spam arrow ships?

Sometimes things go stale. But then boom. Water mythic unit. How to couter that as Thor for example?

Sometimes i Just "pretend" to go water. I have only 4 ships, and in reality just prepare for heavy classical rush, while my opponents is building ships. But its only low elo :D