The first Public Test round for Update 15.11 began on November 12. Until November 17, we can try the upcoming version and complete test missions for additional rewards. The smaller Base XP targets are straightforward to plan around; the Dockyard task requires considerably more progress.
The ongoing horror event also has an additional encounter: Grave Threat pits us against Nemesis 🎖️ and his ship Oblivion ⚓. New information covers access and rewards, while the exact boss mechanics still leave questions open.
The bonus code HISTORYHITWOWS also worked on our EU account. The rewards and direct redemption link are listed below.
Public Test 15.11: The two EU windows
Wargaming announced the test on November 11. Two rounds are scheduled for EU; all times below are in CET.
| Test phase | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | November 12, 2026, 16:00 | November 17, 2026, 08:30 |
| Round 2 | November 19, 2026, 16:00 | November 24, 2026, 08:30 |
These dates concern the Public Test server. They do not specify when Update 15.11 will launch on the regular EU server.
What is available to try
The announced test version includes Christmas celebrations with Snowflakes, Santa containers, two Event Passes and a free Tier IX ship to choose from. It also features the Dockyard for Ōta ⚓, the Pearl Harbor adventure and the new Raider’s Bay map.
Horror From the Abyss continues as well: The four existing Operations are set to return with altered conditions, and the fight against Nemesis is also included in the test announcement. All content and values remain subject to change during development.
Test missions: Tasks and listed rewards
The WoWS Gamer Blog lists the following missions among others in its article dated November 11. These specific mission details come from that community overview; they could not be fully cross-checked against the official original text.
| Task on the test server | Listed reward |
|---|---|
| Earn 250 Base XP in one Random or Co-op Battle | 100 Community Tokens |
| Earn a total of 1,000 Base XP in Random or Co-op Battles | 200 Community Tokens |
| Earn 8,000 Base XP in Random Battles or Horror From the Abyss | 1 Tactical Special container |
| Complete 20 Dockyard shipbuilding phases, including at least 5 through combat missions | 1,000 Community Tokens |
| Earn 500 ribbons in the horror mode or deal 50,000 damage in Brawls | 500 Community Tokens |
| Receive 5 million potential damage in eligible battles | 450 Community Tokens |
The Dockyard task therefore has two requirements: 20 completed phases overall, with at least five earned through combat missions. The 500-ribbon and 50,000-damage conditions, by contrast, are listed as alternatives. Check the individual mission before starting to see which battle types qualify for the potential-damage task.
Distinguishing total rewards from test resources
The community overview lists possible maximum totals across both rounds combined, including:
- 8,500 Community Tokens
- 25,100 Coal
- 450 Doubloons
These totals are community-reported figures for the announced test version, not independently confirmed payouts. They are not promised for a single round or simply for logging in.
The overview distinguishes between rewards for the regular account and resources provided solely for trying things on the test server. A large test-account balance therefore cannot be counted as a gift for the live Port. For each mission, check where its reward will be credited.
According to the same overview, new test participants receive additional one-time login rewards. The current material does not provide a complete breakdown of those amounts.
Our take
Anyone already interested in trying the upcoming Dockyard or the horror variants can work on the relevant missions at the same time. The two smaller Base XP targets are the easiest to fit into a short visit. For 20 Dockyard phases or 5 million potential damage, we would first consider the time required. The maximum combined reward total is not a useful benchmark for every individual test session.
Grave Threat: The secret encounter with Nemesis
Wargaming’s “A Grave Threat Rises from the Depths of the Abyss” announcement of November 10 describes an additional encounter alongside the four regular horror Operations. The specific information about access, the achievement and stars comes from the detailed account of Wargaming’s information on DevStrike.
How the encounter appears
According to that account, Grave Threat can be triggered during normal horror-mode play. Each victory in the regular horror Operations increases the chance of encountering Nemesis.
No fixed percentage or guaranteed number of required victories is given. Players aiming for the encounter can keep winning regular Operations, but the available information does not establish a guaranteed trigger after five or ten victories.
What is known about the battle and rewards
The community account describes special mission objectives, reinforcements that build up during the battle and mechanics involving sunken allied ships. The exact triggers and sequence are not sufficiently established to turn them into reliable step-by-step boss instructions.
A successful completion is said to award the “Monster of the Abyss” achievement. According to the reproduced Wargaming information, this Operation offers no additional exclusive items. However, players are expected to earn more stars there on average, potentially accelerating normal event progress.
We covered the basics of the modular event ship in our horror-mechanics overview. For Grave Threat, the potential extra star progress is particularly interesting for now. The details established so far do not yet support a specific boss strategy.
Briefly noted: Z-57 and Armada: Orzeł
The EU resource event for Z-57 ⚓ has reached its announced start of November 12 at 03:00 CET. Madness Crusade is also listed as the second horror Operation from that date in the official weekly schedule. No further rule changes have been established for either topic. Z-57’s resource costs and limits are covered in our Update 15.10 overview.
“Armada: Orzeł” was released on November 11, covering the Polish Tier X submarine Orzeł ⚓. It focuses on the ship’s history and playstyle, including rotating torpedo launchers for surface combat, high surface speed and the absence of Hydrophone. The available information establishes no new balance values or acquisition conditions.
Bonus code HISTORYHITWOWS: Redeemed on our EU account
HISTORYHITWOWS was successfully redeemed on our EU account. It comes with the following rewards:
| Reward | Amount or duration |
|---|---|
| Bismarck '41 ⚓ rental ship | 3 days |
| Wargaming Premium Account | 7 days |
| Supercontainers | 3 |
| Schattenschleicher | 1 |
The Bismarck is a time-limited rental. The premium time is Wargaming Premium Account time.
UCIECZKAZTALLINA: Rejected on our EU account
Our attempt with UCIECZKAZTALLINA returned a different result: The code was rejected as unsuitable for the account’s region. Community reports associate it with a Polish promotion for a combat mission involving historical commander Jan Grudziński 🎖️. Exact regional eligibility and final mission conditions remain unclear, so we cannot recommend it as a generally usable EU code.
Conclusion
The Public Test offers specific tasks and two windows to plan around. Anyone aiming for rewards should check mission requirements and which account receives them; the large combined totals remain community-reported figures for now.
Grave Threat adds another encounter to the horror event and may speed up star progress. Access and rewards can already be outlined, but a reliable boss guide needs more detail. The available material also does not establish a new official balance round; access to the Development Blog was limited.
There is also a confirmed addition for the Port: HISTORYHITWOWS worked when redeemed on our EU account, with a rental ship, Wargaming Premium Account time and containers.