Two Premium destroyers at Tier VIII, the same stated Token price, and yet two quite different ideas: Datong ⚓ focuses on eight guns and an alternative artillery mode. Philips van Almonde ⚓, by contrast, combines smoke, Hydro, a reload booster and an Airstrike.
We already introduced the “Uncharted Seas” event, called “Unbekannte Meere” in German, in our Update 15.9 overview. Here we take a closer look at the differences and the purchase options now being quoted. The basis is the community profiles captured during research on October 13, 2026, at 11:25 CEST. Their parameters are provisional; this does not yet provide practical experience with the regular offers.
Event start and prices: what is confirmed and what remains open
The Armory event begins on the EU server on October 15, 2026, at 04:00 CEST. Wargaming's update announcement confirms the acquisition routes through Seafarer Tokens and Admiral bundles.
The WoWS Gamer Blog profiles captured during the research and dated October 12 list these conditions:
| Ship | Seafarer Tokens | Admiral bundle |
|---|---|---|
| Datong, Tier VIII, Pan-Asia | 150 | 22,600 Doubloons |
| Philips van Almonde, Tier VIII, Netherlands | 150 | 22,700 Doubloons |
These are community figures, not final prices independently confirmed in the live shop. The accessible official update article confirms the acquisition routes, but does not state the same specific bundle prices. An Admiral bundle's price alone also does not provide a complete cost calculation for the Token route.
The profile dates deserve context too: the articles already existed in July 2026. Without a full changelog, the displayed October date does not establish which individual figure was newly added.
Datong: eight guns and two artillery modes
Datong carries eight 100 mm guns in two quadruple turrets. In normal mode, the profile lists a 3.6-second reload and 12.8-kilometer range. The HE shells deal up to 1,450 damage, but have only 17 millimeters of penetration.
The alternative firing mode increases HE penetration by 77 percent. In exchange, the reload extends to around 4.45 seconds. On paper, switching offers a clear trade-off between a faster rate of fire and greater penetration.
Our assessment: the alternative mode could be particularly useful against targets that normal HE cannot penetrate reliably. The standard mode's higher rate of fire is better suited to starting fires. Which mode is more useful therefore also depends on the target being fired at.
The guns are joined by ten torpedo tubes in two quintuple launchers. The torpedoes reach eight kilometers, deal up to 15,100 damage and reload in 128 seconds. With 17,200 hit points, 36.5 knots and a Smoke Generator, the overall concept remains primarily gun-focused. The limited range imposes tighter constraints on a conventional torpedo playstyle.
Philips van Almonde: more tools for fighting over key areas
Philips van Almonde brings five 120 mm guns, a five-second reload and 11.7 kilometers of gun range. The more striking part of its concept, however, is its consumables, which the profile lists in separate slots:
- Smoke Generator
- Hydroacoustic Search with five-kilometer ship detection
- Main Battery Reload Booster with a 50 percent reduction in reload time
- Engine Boost
There is also a Dutch HE Airstrike with an eight-kilometer range and 70-second reload. The torpedoes, however, reach only six kilometers. Its 14,200 hit points also leave little margin for a badly prepared exchange of fire.
Our assessment: smoke and Hydro can help fight over key areas, while the reload booster and Airstrike provide additional attack options. That makes the destroyer versatile, but also demands deliberate use of its tools. A full belt of consumables is no substitute for a reserve of hit points, after all.
Which concept suits you better, and how much can be earned through play?
Anyone who mainly wants to use the main battery and switch between two HE modes is likely to look more closely at Datong first. Anyone wanting to combine spotting, smoke and short bursts of damage will find the more versatile toolkit on Philips van Almonde. These profiles do not yet establish a ranking by actual battle strength.
Costs also need careful attention. Wargaming confirms Doubloon bundles with Seafarer Tokens and a limited number of Tokens earnable through combat missions. Those Tokens can be used for part of the sequential bundles. This does not establish that either or both ships can be earned entirely for free.
A reliable resource calculation still needs the actual number of free Tokens available and the full live offers. Anyone who wants to play without spending additional Doubloons should check those conditions at the October 15 launch before committing to a particular ship.
Conclusion
Despite the same quoted Token price, Datong and Philips van Almonde appeal to different preferences: one is a gunboat with two HE modes, the other a versatile destroyer with Hydro, a booster and an Airstrike. The community profiles help narrow down the choice, but replace neither confirmed live prices nor practical battle experience.
Our recommendation for the event's start: work through the offers and earnable Tokens first, then choose the playstyle that suits you. The Doubloons can stay in Port a little longer.