Progression in World of Warships is built around four currencies — Ship XP, Free XP, Commander XP, and Credits — all earned in battle and spent in port. Understanding how they interact, what they cost at each tier, and how to multiply them is the difference between a frustrating credit-negative grind and efficient progression. This guide covers everything from your first ship to the Research Bureau.
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The four currencies
Ship XP — earned on a specific ship, used to unlock modules and the next ship in that tech tree line. Once a ship is fully researched all Ship XP converts to Elite Ship XP, which can be converted to Free XP at a cost of Doubloons.
Free XP — universal XP usable on any ship, any nation, any tech tree. You earn it automatically — 10% of every battle’s Ship XP goes to Free XP. Use it to skip modules, skip ships, or push through unpopular grind tiers. Don’t convert Elite Ship XP to Free XP unless you have Doubloons to spare; earn it passively through normal play instead.
Commander XP — earned by your captain in battle, used to unlock Commander skill points (cap of 21 points per captain). Maxed Commanders generate Elite Commander XP, usable to retrain or accelerate other Commanders.
Credits — the primary in-game currency. Used to buy ships, purchase and mount modules, buy upgrades, pay battle service costs, and repair ships. Credits are the most common bottleneck for players grinding Tier VIII and above.
Service costs: the credit problem
Every battle costs credits just to play — service fee, consumable replenishment, and ammunition. At higher tiers these costs become significant:
| Tier | Tech tree service cost | Premium ship service cost |
|---|---|---|
| VI | 23,000 credits | 20,700 credits |
| VII | 42,000 credits | 33,600 credits |
| VIII | 75,000 credits | 52,500 credits |
| IX | 115,000 credits | 60,000 credits |
| X | 150,000 credits | 90,000 credits |
A Tier X battle costs roughly 175,000 credits after service, ammo, and consumables — regardless of how you performed. A bad match in a tech tree Tier X ship is a net credit loss. A bad match in a premium ship usually still breaks even or profits.
The solution for credit sustainability: Premium ships earn at lower service costs, and Warships Premium Account or Wargaming Premium Account adds a 50% credit bonus to all matches. At Tier IX–X, running premium ships for credit income alongside tech tree ships for XP grinding is the standard approach.
Earning XP faster
Your base XP from a match is multiplied by several stacking bonuses:
- First Win of the Day: +50% XP on the first victory with each ship
- Warships Premium Account: +65% XP (Wargaming Premium is +50%)
- Permanent ship booster (Tier V+ ships): +20% to XP type
- Expendable XP boosters: +50% (Level 1), +100% (Level 2), +200% (Level 3), +1500% (Level 4)
- Clan Naval Base bonuses: +5% Ship XP, +15% Commander XP, +50% Free XP, −15% service costs
The First Win bonus applies independently to each ship. Playing 3–4 different ships per session and grabbing each First Win before grinding one ship is more XP-efficient than spamming one ship all day.
How to research ships and modules
Every ship in the tech tree has a set of modules to research before the next ship unlocks. In port, click your ship, go to the Equipment tab, and you’ll see all researchable modules with their Ship XP cost.
Research modules first, then unlock the next ship. You can skip modules and ships using Free XP — click the research button and choose to use Free XP to complete it instantly.
What to research first: Always prioritise the Hull upgrade (if available) first — it upgrades HP, AA, and sometimes other systems. Gun upgrades come next. Fire Control System upgrades extend range and are usually last priority unless the stock range is inadequate.
Ship upgrades (equipment slots)
Upgrades are permanent equipment mounted into slots on your ship. They provide stat bonuses and unlock at Access Level 9 (after 15 battles).
Demounting upgrades costs 25 Doubloons per upgrade. Always consider whether you’ll keep a ship before spending on expensive upgrades, or whether basic universal upgrades are sufficient.
Good first upgrades for almost any ship:
- Main Armaments Modification 1 — reduces chance of main guns being incapacitated; cheap and universally useful
- Aiming Systems Modification 1 — improves dispersion; strong on any gun-focused ship
- Concealment System Modification 1 — reduces detectability by 10%; one of the most impactful single upgrades in the game; available from Tier VIII
- Damage Control System Modification 1 — reduces flooding and fire duration slightly
Higher-tier ships have access to more powerful slot upgrades. Check community guides for your specific ship — some ships have niche “legendary” (Unique) upgrades at Tier X that change how the ship plays fundamentally.
Upgrade types:
- Base upgrades — bought for Credits from the in-game shop
- Special upgrades — bought for Coal from the Armory; enhance consumable effectiveness
- Unique (Legendary) upgrades — Tier X only; role specialisation; acquired via Research Points
How to sell ships
In port, right-click the ship and select Sell. You receive half the ship’s base purchase price in Credits.
Before selling, choose one of three options:
- Sell with Modules — sells all mounted modules with the ship; you receive credits for modules too
- Demount Upgrades — unmount upgrades (costs 25 Doubloons each) and add them to inventory, then sell the ship at base price
- Send Commander to Reserve — sends the Captain to reserve (free, no XP refunded). Dismiss options refund Commander XP converted to Doubloons at a non-favourable rate — usually not worth it
You cannot sell Tier I ships. You cannot undo a ship sale.
Coal and Steel: the special currency economy
Coal comes primarily from Daily Containers (400–800 per container) and completing missions. It’s spent in the Armory on premium ships (60,000–228,000 coal), special upgrades, and other items. Coal accumulates passively — if you open daily containers consistently, you can reach a full coal ship in 3–6 months.
Steel is rare. It comes from high League Ranked results and Clan Battles performance. Steel premium ships cost 20,000–30,000 Steel each — expect 6–18 months of consistent competitive play per ship. Don’t spend Steel impulsively; ships added to the Armory are generally available for extended periods.
Oil is a clan currency earned from Clan Battles and some containers. It’s used to build Naval Base upgrades that provide XP and credit bonuses for all clan members.
The Research Bureau: endgame progression
The Research Bureau is endgame content. It requires 5 Tier X ships for full access. Once unlocked it lets you reset tech tree lines — sell back all ships in a line and replay the grind from Tier I — earning Research Points for doing so.
Research Points buy unique Tier X ships and the Unique Upgrades for Tier X ships. They’re the only source of these items.
How Research Points work
- Reset a full destroyer/battleship line: ~10,200 Research Points
- Reset a carrier line: ~8,000 Research Points
- To earn Research Points you must win battles with ships you regain after the reset — ships you previously skipped or didn’t play don’t count
Seasonal 2× bonus: The first line reset each 90-day season earns doubled Research Points. Plan resets around season starts.
Resetting efficiently
- Use Free XP to skip early tiers — Tier I–V ships have low XP costs and you can skip them entirely with a modest Free XP investment
- Skip to Tier VI first — Tier VI ships are cheap to buy and service; grinding from VI to X is faster than starting from I
- Reset branching lines together — some lines share Tier II–VII ships (Soviet destroyers: Delny/Grozovoi share lower tiers; American cruisers share lower tiers). Resetting both simultaneously means a single win in a shared ship counts for both lines, halving the reset time
What’s in the Research Bureau
- Unique Ships: Tier IX and X ships available only here (Ohio, Slava, Colbert, Siegfried, Vampire II, and others at varying point costs)
- Unique Upgrades: Legendary equipment for specific Tier X ships that meaningfully changes their playstyle
Progression by stage
Tiers I–V (learning the game): Focus on understanding your ship class. Service costs are negligible — you’ll always profit. Use this time to learn positioning and ammo selection rather than chasing XP efficiency.
Tiers VI–VII (finding your footing): Service costs start mattering. Play for First Wins each day. Avoid premium consumables unless your credit balance allows.
Tier VIII (the grind wall): The costliest grind point. Service costs are high, matchmaking pits you against Tier X regularly. Keep a credit reserve above 3–4 million. If credits run dry, earn more on lower-tier or premium ships before continuing.
Tier IX–X (endgame): Acquire a premium ship for credit income if possible. Use premium account during intensive grinding sessions. After reaching five Tier X ships, engage with the Research Bureau when ready.
How do I research new ships in World of Warships?
Earn Ship XP on your current ship, unlock all required modules from the Equipment tab in port, then unlock the next ship in the tech tree. Click the ship icon in the tech tree to see the XP requirement. Purchase the unlocked ship with Credits.
What is the fastest way to earn XP in World of Warships?
Combine First Win bonuses (rotate 3–4 ships per session), use premium account if available, and apply expendable XP boosters during sessions when you’re performing well. Joining an active clan also adds passive XP bonuses from the Naval Base at no cost.
How do I avoid running out of credits?
Avoid spamming Tier IX–X tech tree ships exclusively. Alternate with premium ships (lower service costs) or lower-tier ships for credit farming sessions. A Tier VI–VII tech tree ship is often credit-neutral or slightly positive — useful for building a buffer. Premium account helps significantly at Tier X.
What is the Research Bureau in World of Warships?
The Research Bureau is unlocked after owning 5 Tier X ships. It lets you reset tech tree lines — selling back all ships in a line to replay the grind — earning Research Points used to purchase exclusive ships and Unique Upgrades unavailable anywhere else.