"Fix the bots." We've seen it, we've heard you—and in Update 9.1, we're taking the next major step.
Improving bot behavior in a long-standing live game like World of Warships Blitz isn't a simple change. It requires deep technical improvements to how ships move, react, and interact in real time. This update represents the second phase of that ongoing effort, following earlier improvements such as making bots use consumables more effectively.
Over multiple updates, we've been progressively refining these systems behind the scenes, working toward a clear goal: making bots behave more like real players and creating a smoother, more believable battle experience.
In Update 9.1, that work comes together in a full movement and behavior rework. Bots now navigate in a much more natural and consistent way, with smoother steering and more realistic reactions during combat. One of the most noticeable changes is the removal of unnatural "spot-turning"—bot ships can no longer rotate instantly in place but must instead follow proper turning physics, just like players do.
We've also improved how bots handle recovery. When colliding with terrain or other ships, they can now make appropriate maneuvers and return to the fight. This system is still being refined, and you may occasionally notice imperfect interactions with islands as we continue improving collision handling. That said, we didn't want to delay these core improvements any further. Delivering better overall battle behavior ASAP was the priority, and we'll keep iterating on the remaining items.
This represents a major step forward for battle quality. Encounters will feel smoother, fairer, and more engaging—and most importantly, closer to the experience you've been asking for.
Performance Optimization
We've made further improvements to overall performance to ensure a smoother and more stable experience across the game.
Battles now run more smoothly, especially during intense moments with lots of action on screen. Visual effects have been optimized to reduce slowdowns and improve overall responsiveness.
We've also improved the Tech Tree experience, making it faster and easier to browse ships and view discounts without lag or stuttering.
These changes help create a more fluid experience from Port to battle, making everything feel faster, cleaner, and more consistent.
Exchange Rate Discount
We've introduced the ability to run special exchange rate discounts for converting Ship XP into Free XP.
During these events, you'll get significantly more Free XP for the same amount of Gold. For example, instead of the standard conversion rate, discounted periods can offer much higher returns, letting you convert more efficiently and progress faster.
These discounted exchange rates will only be available during limited-time events and will not be active permanently. Keep an eye out for them to make the most of your XP when the opportunity appears.
Onboarding Improvements
We've made improvements to the early game experience to help new players get into the action more quickly and smoothly.
From a more streamlined first-time flow to clearer progression and guidance, these changes are designed to make getting started easier without getting in the way.
While most of these updates are focused on new players, they're part of our ongoing effort to make the game more accessible and welcoming for everyone joining the seas.
Themes – The Creative Inspirations Behind Each Month's Content
May:
May arrives with Bevrijdingsdag, celebrating Dutch Liberation Day and the spirit of freedom.
Vrijheid, a Tier VIII Dutch cruiser, features in this month's Blitz Pass. Her fast and precise Airstrikes apply consistent pressure, and her overall power leans on sustained damage through fires rather than burst output. She rewards players who can apply steady pressure and control engagements over time.
June:
June introduces Shadow of the Black Tide, a darker theme focused on stealth, disruption, and striking from the unseen.
Kuroshio, a Tier VIII Japanese destroyer, is the star of the month's Blitz Pass. With improved speed, stronger torpedo output, and enhanced concealment, she excels at setting up deadly ambushes. In return, she trades durability and gun power, making positioning and timing key to her success.
Shoutout to CM Maddy for putting this theme together!
Collection Book Pages
Bevrijdingsdag
On May 5, the tide turned—not with thunder, but with a breath.
A nation exhaled. Chains gave way to open skies, and waters once shadowed by war shimmered with light again.
Featured Items
- Title: Banner of the Provinces
Obtainable from the Daily Login Rewards of May 2026. - Frame: Bevrijding
Obtainable from the Blitz Pass of May 2026. - Portrait: Johan van der Meer
Obtainable from the Blitz Pass of May 2026. - Camouflage: Royal Netherlands Navy
Obtainable from the Blitz Pass of May 2026.
Milestone Rewards
- 2 items collected – Premium time: 7 days
- 3 items collected – Epic title: Champion of the Lowlands
- 4 items collected – Exclusive frame: Bevrijdingsdag
The Bevrijdingsdag Collection Book page opens on May 1, 2026, and will remain permanently available once unlocked.
Shadow of the Black Tide
When summer nights fall silent, the Black Tide awakens.
Inspired by the Imperial Japanese Navy's mastery of night operations, this chapter honors stealth, precision, and patience beneath a watchful moon.
Featured Items
- Title: Sovereign of the Night
Obtainable from the Daily Login Rewards of June 2026. - Frame: Veil of the Moon
Obtainable from the Blitz Pass of June 2026. - Portrait: Tsukikage
Obtainable from the Blitz Pass of June 2026. - Camouflage: Black Lacquer
Obtainable from the Blitz Pass of June 2026.
Milestone Rewards
- 2 items collected – Premium time: 7 days
- 3 items collected – Epic title: Phantom in Bloom
- 4 items collected – Exclusive frame: Shadow of the Black Tide
The Shadow of the Black Tide Collection Book page opens on June 1, 2026, and will remain permanently available once unlocked.
New Unique Camouflages
- Parklands (Acadia, Zion, Yosemite, Yellowstone)
- Black Lacquer (Kuroshio)
- Royal Netherlands Navy (Vrijheid)
- Iron Cross (Max Immelmann)
- Chinese Treasure (Taihang)
- Legion (Alberico da Barbiano)
- Chloé Sparks (Gearing)
Daily Login Rewards
May
- Soviet Tier VII Premium destroyer Tashkent '39
- Tashkent '39's historical camouflage
- Epic Commander Yevgeny Preobrazhensky
- Mikhail Kutuzov portrait and more
June
- Japanese Tier VII Premium cruiser Tokachi
- Tokachi's historical camouflage
- Epic Commander Mitsuo Fuchida
- Miyamoto Musashi portrait and more
New Warships
Alternative Techline – U.S. Battleships (Tier V–X)
Historical Inspiration: A Doctrine of Desperation
This alternative history line is rooted in the real-world Japanese Operation Ten-Go (1945). Historically, super-battleship Yamato was ordered on a one-way suicide mission to beach herself on the shores of Okinawa, intending her to act as an unsinkable shore battery until her destruction.
In this timeline, that "Beaching Doctrine" was adopted years earlier. Across the Pacific, crippled Japanese vessels were intentionally run aground on key islands to serve as fixed artillery strongpoints. As U.S. forces captured these "stationary fortresses," naval engineers saw an opportunity. Rather than scrapping the scarred hulls, the U.S. Navy salvaged them, refitting these high-speed Japanese designs with standardized American 356 to 457 mm artillery, radar, and secondary batteries.
New Gameplay Mechanic: Tactical Response
These ships feature a unique Tactical Response skill that mirrors their journey from damaged hulks to reborn powerhouses. The skill automatically changes its bonus based on your current combat status:
- Sustain (above 50% HP): Focuses on longevity. Boosts HP restoration and damage-control efficiency to keep the ship in the fight.
- Overdrive (below 50% HP): Triggers a "last-stand" offensive stance. Significantly improves main battery reload speed and shell grouping, allowing you to punch back harder when the ship is at its most vulnerable.
Congaree – U.S. Tier V battleship:
The former Kongō. Grounded off Guadalcanal and abandoned after her original guns were destroyed, she was salvaged and refitted with American 356 mm batteries. Congaree introduces the line's high-speed profile, allowing for aggressive flanking maneuvers backed by flexible American durability.
Denali – U.S. Tier VI battleship:
The former Fusō. Recovered after being used as a fixed battery off Samar, her hull was entirely rebuilt to house 12 American-manufactured 356 mm guns. Denali focuses on broadside weight, providing massive firepower that scales dangerously once her unique skill kicks in.
Acadia – U.S. Tier VII battleship:
The former Hyūga. Salvaged from the Lingayen Gulf after her crew demolished her original turrets, she was recommissioned with 12 heavy 406 mm (16-inch) guns. Acadia represents a massive leap in combat power, rewarding players who leverage her mobile hull to deliver heavy American salvos.
Zion – U.S. Tier VIII battleship:
The former Kii. Captured on Tinian and refitted with twelve 406 mm guns and twenty 127 mm secondaries. Zion is a rugged brawler, using her reinforced Japanese hull and American defensive systems to push into high-tier engagements with confidence.
Yosemite – U.S. Tier IX battleship:
The former Musashi. After her engines failed in the Sibuyan Sea, she was grounded and later recovered. Rebuilt with nine 457 mm (18-inch) guns, she gives skilled players a flexible toolset to influence key moments in a fight.
Yellowstone – U.S. Tier X battleship:
The former Yamato. Sabotaged during a reimagined Operation Ten-Go, she was rebuilt with nine 457 mm guns and a state-of-the-art AA suite. Yellowstone combines durability, firepower, and adaptability, making her a powerful force that can shift roles depending on the battle situation.
Premium Warships
Kuroshio – Japanese Tier VIII destroyer:
A stealth-focused destroyer with improved speed, strong torpedo output, and enhanced concealment. She excels at ambush gameplay, trading durability and gun power for deadly strikes and repositioning.
Vrijheid – Dutch Tier VIII cruiser:
Equipped with fast and precise airstrikes, Vrijheid applies consistent pressure over time. Rather than relying on burst damage, she shines through sustained damage and fire-setting potential.
Max Immelmann – German Tier X aircraft carrier:
High-powered carrier focused on AP bombers, designed to deal heavy damage to larger ships. She offers strong offensive capability with a distinct focus on targeting high-value enemies.
Alberico da Barbiano – Italian Tier X destroyer:
A highly dynamic destroyer featuring numerous small-caliber guns with alternative firing modes, enabling powerful sustained barrages. Combined with Fuel Smoke and speed boosts, she offers a unique and flexible playstyle.
Taihang – Pan-Asian Tier X battleship:
A well-rounded battleship with strong armor and diverse offensive tools. While not specialized in a single area, she offers consistent performance across a wide range of combat situations.
Hawkeye 2059 – U.S. Tier X battleship:
An upgraded take on the Iowa concept, featuring faster reload times and improved overall performance, allowing for more consistent pressure in battle.
Special & Variant Ships
- HS-01 Nightfall – Pan-Asian Tier X cruiser
- HS-02 Zenith – British Tier X cruiser
- HS-03 Overdrive – U.S. Tier X cruiser
These ships introduce a unique Rapid Link specialty reducing all skill cooldowns and offering a faster-paced, ability-driven playstyle with a unique look.
- Black Castilla – Spanish Tier X cruiser:
A variant of Castilla with enhanced survivability and an adjusted skill set, offering a fresh take on a familiar ship.
Additional Information
- Team Chat Notifications
A red dot will now appear when new messages arrive in Team Chat, making it easier to stay on top of conversations with your teammates. - Daily Login Reward Ad Adjustment
The number of extra rewards obtainable through ads has been adjusted. Some rewards can no longer be multiplied, in line with updated monthly reward structures. - Google Play Games Integration
You can now connect your account to Google Play Games Services to track achievements and unlock milestones as you progress through the game.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue with incorrect French flag textures appearing on German Alternative History ships.
- Fixed a bug where accepting a team invitation after watching an ad could open an empty invitation window.
- Fixed an issue where titles were incorrectly resetting. Now, only League titles are reset at the start of each new season.
Ship Balancing
German Cruiser Techline
After closely monitoring performance during Early Access, we found that the new German cruiser line was not meeting our expectations in terms of combat effectiveness and survivability. To address this ahead of full release, we are applying a series of buffs across the line, including a 5–15% increase to overall shell performance (affecting main guns, secondaries, and auto-secondaries—including velocity, penetration, and accuracy), as well as a significant 20–40% increase to ship armor. These changes are aimed at strengthening their intended close-to-mid-range playstyle and improving their overall performance in battle.
Châteaurenault
- Increased Small Caliber AA Damage: 68 → 131
- Increased Large Caliber AA Damage: 133 → 187
- Adjusted concealment: 7.14 → 6.78 km
- Increased Torpedo Damage: 3,400 → 4,000
- Increased Torpedo Range: 9 → 9.6 km
Edson
- Increased Main Battery HE Shell Penetration and Main Battery SAP Shell Penetration (~5%)
- Increased HE shell damage: 300 → 320
- Increased SAP shell damage: 420 → 440
- Increased Main Battery Chance of Setting Fire: 4 → 6%
Brennus
- Added Rapid Reload III ×3
- Increased Main Battery Traverse Speed: 7.6 → 10 deg/s
- Adjusted Main Battery Reload Time: 10.5 → 12 s
Rhode Island
- Upgraded from Air Defense Alert I to Air Defense Alert II
- Increased Main Battery Shell Velocity (~5%)
- Increased ship HP (~5%)
Mecklenburg
- Added Scout Plane II ×2
- Added Air Defense Alert II ×3
- Adjusted concealment: 12.42 → 12.06 km
Legendary Equipment Balance Changes
Henri IV
- Concealment bonus: +12 → +5%
Großer Kurfürst
- Main Battery Firing Range: −7 → −3%
New Legendary Equipment
Delny – Slot II
- Ship HP +20%
Alexander Nevsky – Slot I
- Max turning speed +20%
- Turning acceleration speed +15%
- Main Battery Firing Range -5%
What's Next?
Our team has been hard at work shaping the direction for the rest of the year, with one clear priority in mind—you, the players.
We're currently deep in development on a new ship upgrade system, planned for release in Update 9.2. This system is designed to bring more depth and flexibility to how you build and improve your ships.
At the same time, we're working on upgrading the missions available in the game, making them more engaging and rewarding to complete.
Looking ahead, our focus remains firmly on a player-first approach. Every upcoming update is built with the goal of delivering meaningful improvements and exciting content, ensuring there’s always something new to look forward to!