EventsBlack Friday · Update 15.9 · 2026
World of Warships Black Friday 2026: All B Ships, Free Rewards & Best Picks
Four new B ships, returning favorites, free Black Friday containers and special Doubloon missions. Here is what is confirmed before the event, which ships suit your playstyle and what to check before spending.
Key takeaways
Four new B ships, free daily Black Friday containers and Squadron missions. The 2026 prices are not yet confirmed: claim free rewards first and check conditions before buying.
Black Friday 2026 is bringing four new ships to World of Warships: Incheon B, Victoria B, Hornet B and Flandre B. Returning favorites such as Jean Bart B, Alaska B and Massachusetts B are also coming back, alongside free Black Friday containers, special missions and the Black Friday Squadron.
But which ships are actually worth getting? What can you earn without spending Doubloons? And how do the Squadron rewards work?
Here is everything confirmed for Black Friday 2026, plus our recommendations before spending your resources.
Updated: October 23, 2026. Prices and some offers will be added when the event goes live.
1. Black Friday 2026: Dates and overview
Black Friday returns during Update 15.9, with event dates varying by server region.
| Event | North America | Europe |
|---|---|---|
| Black Friday begins | October 28, 2026 | October 29, 2026 |
| Black Friday ends | December 2, 2026 | December 3, 2026 |
| Squadron missions end | January 2, 2027 | January 3, 2027 |
The most important additions are four new Black Friday ships, returning B variants, free daily bundles, a Black Friday Token progression system and special combat missions for eligible ship pairs.
There is also a new cosmetic feature: the Enemy Destruction Counter, available on this year's four new B ships.
2. All four new Black Friday 2026 ships
| Ship | Nation | Tier | Class | Main attraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incheon B | Pan-Asia | X | Cruiser | Rapid-fire 203 mm guns and smoke |
| Victoria B | Spain | IX | Battleship | Accurate guns and alternative burst fire |
| Hornet B | USA | VIII | Aircraft carrier | B-25 Mitchell tactical bombers |
| Flandre B | France | VIII | Battleship | High HP pool, mobility and secondary firepower |
These are Black Friday variants of existing ships. No separate combat-performance changes have been announced for their B versions.
That means your decision should depend on the original ship's gameplay, the final asking price and any additional rewards available through the event.
Incheon B: The high-DPM cruiser
Incheon B is arguably the most intriguing addition for experienced cruiser players.
Its standard counterpart combines eight 203 mm guns with a fast 5.5-second base reload, excellent dispersion, improved AP characteristics, Smoke Generator and deepwater torpedoes.
Incheon can punish broadside targets while maintaining consistent HE pressure against angled opponents.
The weaknesses are equally important: limited gun range, dependence on allied spotting and the absence of Hydroacoustic Search or Surveillance Radar.
Best for: Experienced cruiser captains who enjoy positioning, ammunition switching and sustained damage.
Think twice if: You want a straightforward long-range cruiser or something capable of independently contesting capture points.
For a full analysis, see our Incheon B Black Friday 2026 guide.
Victoria B: A battleship built around decisive salvos
Victoria B offers a distinctive alternative to conventional battleships.
The Spanish Tier IX battleship carries nine 381 mm guns, with strong accuracy, good firing range and access to a Burst Fire alternative firing mode.
Its combination of standard salvos, burst fire and Main Battery Reload Booster creates opportunities to punish enemies at critical moments.
However, Victoria has a comparatively modest HP pool for its tier, and badly timed exposure can be costly.
Best for: Battleship players who prioritize accuracy, positioning and exploiting enemy mistakes.
Think twice if: You prefer heavily armored brawlers that can absorb prolonged punishment.
Hornet B: The specialist aircraft carrier
Hornet B introduces a Black Friday version of the American Tier VIII carrier.
The ship's defining feature is its B-25 Mitchell tactical bomber squadron, inspired by the aircraft associated with the historical Doolittle Raid.
Hornet also uses conventional torpedo bombers and AP dive bombers. Its tactical bombers create powerful attack opportunities, but aircraft management and timing are essential.
Best for: Carrier specialists who enjoy planning attacks around a distinctive tactical squadron.
Think twice if: You rarely play aircraft carriers or are looking for your first easy-to-learn Premium ship.
Flandre B: French battleship durability and mobility
Flandre B is the most conventional of the four new additions.
The Tier VIII French battleship offers nine 380 mm guns, a large HP pool and good speed. It also carries a substantial secondary battery.
The catch is that strong secondary damage potential on paper does not automatically translate into reliable performance. Gun accuracy, engagement distance and survivability still matter.
Flandre can be appealing to captains who like mobile battleships and actively managing positioning.
Best for: Players looking for a relatively familiar battleship experience with French-style mobility.
Think twice if: You expect exceptional main-battery accuracy or an effortless secondary brawler.
3. Returning Black Friday ships in 2026
The event also brings back several popular B variants from previous years.
Confirmed returning highlights include:
- Jean Bart B: A favorite among battleship players, known for its forward-facing main battery and Main Battery Reload Booster.
- Alaska B: A powerful American large cruiser combining heavy guns, useful consumables and considerable tactical flexibility.
- Massachusetts B: An American Tier VIII battleship famous for its secondary-focused gameplay and strong close-range capabilities.
- Asashio B: A specialist Japanese destroyer with deepwater torpedoes that threaten battleships and aircraft carriers.
These four ships are also scheduled to receive dedicated real-money bundles containing the ship and a Port slot.
Additional B ships may appear in containers or other offers.
Important: Being a returning ship does not automatically make it a bargain. Wait for the actual offer and compare it with the alternatives.
4. Free Black Friday rewards: What can you claim?
Not everything in Black Friday 2026 requires spending money.
Free daily bundles
Wargaming has confirmed the return of refreshed daily free bundles containing Black Friday containers.
Once the event starts, check the relevant Black Friday section and claim available free bundles regularly.
Do not assume that claiming a container guarantees a ship. Container contents and drop probabilities should always be checked before spending resources on additional ones.
Black Friday Tokens
The main Black Friday progression bar is also returning, with progress linked to Black Friday Tokens.
This is separate from Black Friday Squadron missions.
The final token acquisition rules, reward thresholds and individual offers should be checked when the event goes live.
Upcoming Update 15.10 Event Pass
A second opportunity has already been announced for Update 15.10.
The first Event Pass progression line is planned to include six Black Friday containers, along with new European cruisers.
The second, paid progression line is planned to offer additional containers and ships.
This is upcoming content, not a reward currently available in Update 15.9. Its final details may change before release.
Free rewards checklist
- Check for free daily Black Friday bundles.
- Review available Black Friday Token rewards.
- Inspect any relevant combat missions.
- Follow the announcements for the Update 15.10 Event Pass.
- Check container drop probabilities before buying additional containers.
5. Black Friday Squadron: How to earn Doubloons
The Black Friday Squadron returns with combat missions that award Doubloons and other resources.
The basic idea is simple: own both the regular and Black Friday versions of an eligible ship.
However, there is a crucial restriction.
To qualify for a ship's mission, you generally need to:
- Own the standard version, obtained before or during the event.
- Obtain the corresponding B version during Black Friday 2026.
A B ship obtained in a previous year does not qualify for the 2026 missions.
The announced exception is Marlborough B, which can count even if acquired before the Black Friday event begins.
Example: Victoria and Victoria B
Suppose you already own Victoria and obtain Victoria B during Black Friday 2026.
You meet the announced ship ownership requirements for the corresponding Squadron mission.
However, if you obtained Victoria B in a previous Black Friday event, that older purchase does not satisfy this year's B-ship acquisition condition.
The exact mission requirements and Doubloon rewards should be checked in the live event interface.
When do the missions end?
Black Friday Squadron continues into early January 2027, after the main Black Friday sales event ends in December.
You therefore have a longer period to finish eligible missions, but you should not assume that the B ships themselves will remain available for purchase throughout that extended mission window.
6. Enemy Destruction Counter: A new Black Friday feature
The four new Black Friday ships include an experimental Enemy Destruction Counter built into their Black Friday camouflage.
It tracks enemy ships destroyed with the relevant ship.
The counter works in Random, Ranked and Co-op Battles, with separate totals for each mode.
It updates during battle and is synchronized with the completed battle result afterward. The maximum supported count is 99,999.
If you prefer the traditional Black Friday appearance, you can disable the counter through the camouflage customization settings.
This feature is cosmetic and is not a reason to expect improved combat performance.
7. Best Black Friday 2026 ships: Our picks
The best purchase depends on your preferred class and the final price.
| Player profile | Ship to consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Experienced cruiser captain | Incheon B | Rapid reload, smoke and strong ammunition options |
| Precision battleship player | Victoria B | Accurate gunnery and burst-fire flexibility |
| Aircraft carrier specialist | Hornet B | Unique tactical bomber gameplay |
| Conventional battleship player | Flandre B | HP pool, speed and familiar battleship role |
| Collector seeking classic returning ships | Jean Bart B / Alaska B / Massachusetts B | Established, popular gameplay identities |
Our provisional verdict
Incheon B and Victoria B are the most distinctive new additions. They offer specialized gameplay with a relatively high skill ceiling.
Flandre B is easier to understand as a conventional battleship choice, while Hornet B is primarily attractive to committed carrier players.
For returning favorites, Jean Bart B, Alaska B and Massachusetts B deserve serious consideration, depending on availability and price.
There is no honest way to identify the best-value purchase before Wargaming publishes the actual offers.
A great ship at the wrong price is still a bad deal.
8. Should you buy a ship or open containers?
Before spending Doubloons, compare three options.
Direct purchase: The most straightforward choice if the ship you want is available at a known price.
Bundles: Potentially useful if you genuinely want most of the contents, but less attractive when the extras are items you would never have bought separately.
Containers: Random rewards. Their value depends on the published probabilities, possible duplicates and the amount you are prepared to spend without receiving a specific ship.
If you only want one particular ship, a guaranteed purchase is easier to evaluate than an uncertain container outcome.
Use the WoWS Guides ship comparator to examine your preferred candidates before buying.
9. Black Friday 2026 FAQ
When does Black Friday 2026 start in World of Warships?
The event begins October 28 on the North American server and October 29 on the European server, according to the official regional schedules.
Which new B ships are coming in 2026?
Incheon B, Victoria B, Hornet B and Flandre B.
Are Black Friday B ships stronger than regular ships?
No separate combat-performance changes have been announced for these versions. They are Black Friday variants of existing ships, with special cosmetic features.
Can I get free Black Friday containers?
Yes. Wargaming has confirmed daily free bundles containing Black Friday containers. Another set of containers is planned for the Update 15.10 Event Pass.
Do old Black Friday ships count toward Squadron missions?
Generally no. For the 2026 missions, the corresponding B version must be obtained during the 2026 event. Marlborough B is the announced exception.
Is Incheon B worth buying?
It may appeal strongly to experienced cruiser players. However, its actual purchase value cannot be judged until the final price is available.
Are Black Friday containers guaranteed to drop Premium ships?
No. Do not assume a guaranteed ship reward unless the specific container's published rules explicitly say so.
10. New or returning to World of Warships?
Black Friday discounts and recruitment rewards are two separate systems.
If you are creating a new account or returning after a long absence, you may also qualify for Recruiting Station rewards. Check your eligibility before playing, since some offers have battle-count or inactivity requirements.
Check your recruitment rewards
You can also find currently available offers on our World of Warships bonus codes page.
Final verdict
Black Friday 2026 looks promising for collectors and players searching for Premium ships with distinctive playstyles.
The four newcomers offer different experiences, while returning favorites give players another opportunity to obtain well-known ships.
Our recommendation is straightforward: claim the free rewards first, compare the ships carefully and wait for confirmed prices before making a purchase decision.
This guide will be updated when the full Black Friday offers, container contents and mission rewards are available.
Official references
Related guides