Black Friday 2026 is approaching, and four detailed ship profiles show just how different the new black variants will be. Wargaming also takes a closer look at the Spanish cruiser Aragón and her two firing modes. Over the next few hours, the deadlines for Blue Archive and King of the Sea XIX deserve some attention, too. Meanwhile, an outstanding question about the Trafalgar mission rewards has been answered.
As of 25 October 2026, for the PC version, with a focus on EU. The technical details for the Black Friday ships come from preliminary community profiles. Aragón is also still in development. These details establish neither final balance values nor confirmed sale prices.
Black Friday: Four B ships, four ways to play
The black variants had already been announced. What is new in this overview is the set of detailed profiles listed by WoWS Gamer Blog in its October archive on 24 October. These are variants of existing ships, rather than four new tech tree branches.
| Ship | Nation and tier | Focus of the preliminary profile |
|---|---|---|
| Incheon B | Pan-Asia, Tier X cruiser | Fast-firing 203 mm guns, deepwater torpedoes and smoke |
| Victoria B | Spain, Tier IX battleship | Two rapid salvos in the alternative firing mode |
| Hornet B | USA, Tier VIII aircraft carrier | Tactical B-25 bombers alongside torpedo and dive bombers |
| Flandre B | France, Tier VIII battleship | High speed, a large HP pool and numerous secondary guns |
Incheon B: 203 mm guns at a brisk pace
Incheon B ⚓ carries eight 203 mm guns in four twin turrets. The profile lists a 16.1 km range and a 5.5-second reload. That lets this heavy cruiser keep the salvos coming, although her guns require a position from which that range can be put to use.
Her two quadruple launchers fire deepwater torpedoes with a 13.5 km range, a speed of 69 knots and up to 17,900 damage per hit. There is a clear limit to their choice of targets: they can hit cruisers, battleships and aircraft carriers, but not destroyers.
The described package includes smoke, repair options, a Torpedo Reload Booster and Auxiliary and Torpedo Weaponry Coordination, a consumable that improves several weapon parameters.
Our take: Fast-firing heavy guns, long-range torpedoes and smoke suggest an offensive cruiser. The challenge will probably be to build pressure without letting that relatively limited gun range tempt you too far forward.
Victoria B: Two salvos, then a longer pause
Victoria B ⚓ brings nine 381 mm guns. In the regular mode, the test profile lists a 23.9 km range and a 30-second reload.
The alternative firing mode allows two salvos two seconds apart. In return, maximum shell damage falls by 25 percent, followed by a 53-second cooldown. A Main Battery Reload Booster is also part of the described package.
Our take: An enemy shows broadside for only a moment? That is exactly the sort of opportunity that makes the alternative mode interesting. Anyone using it must also plan for the pause that follows. Several options for short bursts of firepower also mean more decisions about timing.
A note on the date: The profile was listed in the overview on 24 October, but its URL uses a September path. It is unclear whether new values were added or older information was given a new date. We therefore do not treat these figures as a confirmed balance change made on 24 October.
Hornet B: B-25 bombers as a special tool
Hornet B ⚓ combines several types of attack. The tactical squadron of six B-25 Mitchell bombers is a particular highlight. According to the profile, their HE bombs have a maximum damage of 8,000 each.
She also has TBD Devastator torpedo bombers and SBD-5 dive bombers. The torpedoes travel at 35 knots and can deal up to 4,667 damage per hit. The AP bombs carried by the regular dive bombers have a listed maximum damage of 3,600.
Our take: The different squadrons offer different answers to potential targets. Timing the tactical bombers will probably be especially important. The slow torpedoes, meanwhile, demand a careful assessment of the enemy's course and movement. The listed damage figures are maximum weapon values, not guaranteed results from a hit.
Flandre B: Quick on the move, patient at the guns
Flandre B ⚓ relies on nine 380 mm guns in three triple turrets. The preliminary figures give a 20 km range and a 33-second reload.
She also has 75,400 HP and a 33.5-knot top speed. Her extensive secondary battery consists of 100 mm and 152 mm guns, with a listed range of 7.6 km.
Our take: This profile should appeal to players looking for a mobile battleship with a large HP pool. The main battery calls for a little more patience: with a 33-second reload, it pays to set up a good firing opportunity carefully.
Start time, counter and availability
According to the official Update 15.9 announcement, Black Friday begins on Thursday, 29 October 2026, at 02:00 CET. The announced time of 03:00 CEST, or UTC+2, corresponds to 02:00 in Germany after the switch to winter time.
An experimental ships sunk counter has also been announced for the four ships. It tracks enemies sunk separately in Random, Ranked and Co-op Battles and can be hidden in the customization options. The Black Friday Squadron also returns; the additional missions require the appropriate regular and black variants.
Confirmed sale prices and full acquisition terms are not yet available in the supplied information. Internal base doubloon values in a ship profile are not a price tag for the eventual sale.
Aragón: Two firing modes for different opportunities
The official developer presentation from 22 October explains the concept behind Aragón ⚓. The Spanish Tier IX cruiser is based on a design from the period after the Civil War. Among other features, it envisaged twin 305 mm turrets from former Spanish battleships; in the game, Aragón carries six 305 mm guns.
The key decision is the choice between two firing modes:
| Mode | Intended role | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | Sustained damage from longer range, especially with HE against battleships; AP against suitable targets | Unexceptional accuracy, with battlecruiser-style dispersion |
| Alternative | Significantly better accuracy and AP penetration to exploit exposed broadsides | Longer reload; angled opponents can still cause ricochets |
The stronger AP mode is therefore no answer to every armor angle. Even enhanced AP ammunition can ricochet off an opponent who angles in time.
Other limitations include few main guns for the tier, poor concealment and no Hydroacoustic Search. Her torpedoes are intended as supplementary armament. According to the official description, this is not a particularly favorable combination for close-range brawling.
Our take: Aragón will probably depend heavily on recognizing firing angles and opportunities. From a flanking position, the alternative mode could be useful, while the regular mode provides sustained damage. Taking on several angled opponents head-on makes much less use of the concept's strengths.
Aragón remains in development. The presentation confirms neither a regular sales launch nor final ship parameters.
Blue Archive: Register by Monday
“Blue Archive: Battle & Earn Exclusive Treasure!” offers two separate reward opportunities. The event was announced on 8 October; its registration deadline is now drawing close.
- One day of Warships Premium Account: Register using the participation button in the official announcement, then play a battle during the specified event period. Under the announced conditions, this premium day is guaranteed.
- A giveaway of 30 Supercontainers in total: Complete the associated Blue Archive mission in the game. This grants a chance to win, rather than a guaranteed Supercontainer.
Registration closes on Monday, 26 October 2026, at 16:59 CET, equivalent to 15:59 UTC. This time explicitly marks the end of registration. The supplied material does not separately confirm the exact cutoff for playing the battle; the event's conditions apply.
King of the Sea XIX: Final EU regional day and Twitch Drops
The official EU tournament overview lists 9–25 October 2026 as the regional tournament period. That makes today, Sunday, the final scheduled EU regional day before the qualified teams move on to the international stage.
The regional Twitch Drop window closes on Monday, 26 October, at 00:59 CET. 180 minutes of viewing time on participating channels with Drops enabled initially unlock a two-part mission chain.
Its planned rewards include two permanent camouflages, a spectator flag and a choice between one King of the Sea container and 500 King Tokens. Viewing time therefore provides access to the missions; the further rewards must then be earned under their respective conditions.
We are not naming the final EU qualifiers yet. The complete results could not be assessed reliably from the supplied research.
Trafalgar: A choice between two container types
The official “Weekend Highlights | 15.9 #3” update from 24 October answers the outstanding question from our previous overview: the Trafalgar rewards offer two “Heart of Oak” containers or one “French Squadron” container. These are alternatives to choose between, rather than two rewards guaranteed together.
The other listed rewards remain in place: one “Common Bonuses” container, one “More Coal” container and the “Cartographic” permanent camouflage. The special mission using Warspite ⚓, Nelson ⚓ or Collingwood ⚓ also offers “Union Jack”.
The new wording helps when planning rewards: a slash has become a clear choice between the two container packages.
Conclusion
The four Black Friday variants cater to very different preferences: fast-firing cruiser guns, carefully timed double salvos, tactical bombers or a mobile battleship. Aragón adds another cruiser to the ships on the horizon, with firing modes deliberately designed for different opportunities. The figures remain preliminary, and the sales terms are still open.
For the immediate future, the times matter: KOTS Drops until 26 October at 00:59 CET, and Blue Archive registration until 26 October at 16:59 CET. For Trafalgar, we now also know which containers are available to choose from. This weekend, a glance at the clock could be just as useful as a look through the binoculars.
Sources
- WoWS Gamer Blog: Incheon B – Tier X Pan-Asian Premium Cruiser
- WoWS Gamer Blog: Victoria B – Tier IX Spanish Premium Battleship
- WoWS Gamer Blog: Hornet B – Tier VIII American Premium Aircraft Carrier
- WoWS Gamer Blog: Flandre B – French Tier VIII Premium Battleship
- Wargaming: Update 15.9 – Pacific Front
- Wargaming: Developer Diaries – Aragón
- Wargaming: Blue Archive – Battle & Earn Exclusive Treasure!
- WoWS Tournaments: King of the Sea XIX – EU
- Wargaming: Weekend Highlights | 15.9 #3 on the Steam news channel