Bayern was a better battleship for its era than Bismarck

Which was the better battleship for its time, Bayern or Bismarck?

Bayern was better for her era, while Bismarck's reputation depends heavily on the dramatic hit that destroyed Hood.

The comparison is relative to each ship's own period rather than a contest between their absolute capabilities. Bayern was the stronger battleship for the strategic and technical world in which she appeared. Bismarck looked imposing, but a completed British Lion class would have exposed the limits of that reputation. Without the exceptional hit on Hood, Bismarck might instead be remembered as an inefficient ship sunk on her first operation. Dramatic combat outcomes can dominate later assessments of design quality.