The purpose of a water bath is to prevent cracking in your cheesecake. The answer is mixed. I’ll be honest, I don’t always water bath my cheesecakes. Especially if you are planning to top the cheesecake. I also use a 9-inch springform pan which is quite difficult to find a larger oven-proof container that I can add water to. I’ve added water to a baking sheet but then have to open the oven halfway through to add more water to the baking sheet. My answer is going to be a solid “no” unless you aren’t topping your prized cheesecake!