Bon Voyage: French Alternate Destroyers Are Arriving!

Captains, a new line of French alternate destroyers is on the way! It comprises five ships: Tier IV L'Adroit, Tier V Duchaffault, Tier VI Le Hardi, Tier VII L'Aventurier, and Tier VIII Orage. The unique feature of this new line is powerful torpedoes that gain speed the farther they travel from the launch point, making them highly effective at long range. Moreover, these torpedoes can set enemies on fire, and the chances of this happening also increase with distance.

From November 3 to December 1, you can obtain Tier IV–VII ships from special Early Access crates, while Tier VIII Orage will become available in the Tech Tree a bit later with the Christmas update. All Early Access ships come with a personal mission, available until January 19, that rewards doubloons. Keep reading for all the details on the ships and how to get them!

Also check out this video explaining the main features of the new line and how to take advantage of them in battle:

How to Get the New Ships

The Tier IV–VII French alternate destroyers can be obtained from French Alt. Destroyer crates or French Alt. Destroyer Big Crates, with the latter being more likely to drop one of the ships. Here's where you can find these crates:

• Phantom of Sherwood campaign: 3x French Alt. Destroyer crates and 1x French Alt. Destroyer Big Crate without the Admiralty Backing, and an additional 4x French Alt. Destroyer crates and 2x French Alt. Destroyer Big Crates with the Admiralty Backing.
• Store: 3x French Alt. Destroyer crates for Global XP and additional crates for doubloons.

Both crate types can also drop French Tier VI Premium destroyer Le Terrible.

Tier IV L'Adroit

This is the first ship of the new line, and like all the others, she's equipped with unique accelerating incendiary torpedoes that gain speed and are more likely to cause fire the farther they travel. Unlike the following ships in her line, she doesn't focus as strongly on torpedoes and can also rely on her decent-caliber main guns, making her a perfect hybrid between an artillery and torpedo destroyer. Her speed is rather moderate, but her excellent concealment, solid HP pool, and access to Smoke Generator and Engine Boost consumables will help her survive in battle.

Tier V Duchaffault

Duchaffault shares many features with her predecessor, L'Adroit, but also introduces some notable changes. While she's also equipped with accelerating incendiary torpedoes with increased damage, her gun caliber is smaller compared to L'Adroit. Her maximum speed is significantly higher, though, and her concealment is among the best at Tier V. Her torpedoes also inflict more damage on average, and when it comes to gameplay, she's a torpedo-focused destroyer equipped with Smoke Generator and Engine Boost.

Tier VI Le Hardi

Similar to other ships in the line, Le Hardi is equipped with special accelerating incendiary torpedoes, but she can launch more of them, giving her the potential for impressive damage output. However, the torpedo launcher arrangement prevents full broadsides: the forward launcher is centrally mounted while the two rear ones are mounted on opposite sides of the destroyer, requiring more tactical gameplay. Her 130 mm guns are larger than those of Duchaffault, and while they still output average damage, they have a very good firing range. She also features an impressive health pool, high maximum speed, and excellent concealment.

Tier VII L'Aventurier

L'Aventurier boasts all the same features as her sister ships: accelerating torpedoes that can also set enemies on fire, with both their speed and fire-setting chances improving the farther they travel from the launch point. She can unleash an even higher number of torpedoes, meaning massive damage potential. While her main guns aren't anything to write home about, their range is good. Her large health pool provides solid survivability, while her excellent concealment and Smoke Generator allow for effective ambushes.

Tier VIII Orage

Orage is the final ship in the line and features similar accelerating and fire-starting torpedoes with high combined fire and flooding damage per minute but with increased range. Her air defenses are considerably stronger than those of her lower-tier counterparts. Her maximum speed and health pool aren't particularly impressive, but she still boasts excellent concealment and very good maneuverability, so she can steer effectively to launch torpedoes from both of her sides. Orage is the only ship in the line that won't be available through Early Access; she'll arrive in the Tech Tree very soon, with the upcoming Christmas update.

Join the battle at the helms of our new French destroyers and turn the tide!