Helios troops are the highest-tier troops in Whiteout Survival, also known as XI troops. They are extremely powerful, but unlocking them takes a huge amount of preparation, resources, FC Shards, and research time.
To start Helios research, you need both your Furnace and War Academy at FC5. After that, each troop type has its own research path before you can unlock Helios Infantry, Helios Lancer, or Helios Marksman.
This guide explains the Helios research requirements, total costs, unlock paths, and beginner-friendly tips so you can plan your upgrades without wasting resources.
What Are Helios Troops in Whiteout Survival? 🔥
Helios troops are the final and strongest troop tier currently available in Whiteout Survival.
They are unlocked through the War Academy after reaching the required Fire Crystal building levels and completing the correct research tree.
There are three Helios troop types:
| Helios Troop Type | Unit Role |
|---|---|
| Helios Infantry | Frontline defensive troop |
| Helios Lancer | Midline offensive troop |
| Helios Marksman | Backline damage troop |
Unlocking Helios is not a quick upgrade. It is a long-term goal for advanced players, especially because each troop type requires many research levels before the final unlock.
General Helios Research Requirements 🏛️
Before you can start working toward Helios troops, you must meet the main building requirements.
| Requirement | Needed Level |
|---|---|
| Furnace | FC5 |
| War Academy | FC5 |
This means Helios research is mainly for players who have already progressed deep into the Fire Crystal stage of the game.
If your Furnace or War Academy is still below FC5, your first priority should be upgrading those buildings before worrying about Helios troop research.
Total Cost to Unlock One Helios Troop Type 📊
Each Helios troop type requires a very large amount of resources and research time.
Here is the total requirement for one troop type:
| Requirement | Total Needed |
|---|---|
| Research Time | 271 days |
| FC Shards | 13,421 |
| Meat | 246,180,000 |
| Wood | 246,180,000 |
| Coal | 49,116,000 |
| Iron | 12,196,000 |
| Steel | 3,974,000 |
These totals are before speedups or other research-time reductions.
Because of this, most players should not try to unlock all Helios troop types at the same time. It is usually better to focus on one troop path first.
Helios Infantry Research Requirements 🛡️
Helios Infantry is the Infantry path for XI troops. This path focuses on Infantry-related stats such as Health, Lethality, Attack, Defense, troop deployment capacity, and rally capacity.
Infantry Helios Research Path ⚔️
To unlock Helios Infantry, you need the following research:
| Research | Required Level |
|---|---|
| Flame Squad | Level 5 |
| Flame Shield | Level 8 |
| Flame Strike | Level 8 |
| Flame Tomahawk | Level 12 |
| Flame Protection | Level 12 |
| Flame Legion | Level 12 |
Final Helios Infantry Unlock Requirement 🔓
After completing the required Infantry research path, the final Helios Infantry research requires:
| Final Research | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Helios Infantry 1 | War Academy FC5, Flame Tomahawk Lv. 12, Flame Protection Lv. 12, Flame Legion Lv. 12 |
Final unlock cost:
| Resource | Amount |
|---|---|
| Meat | 85,000,000 |
| Wood | 85,000,000 |
| Coal | 17,000,000 |
| Iron | 4,200,000 |
| Steel | 1,000,000 |
| FC Shards | 2,236 |
| Research Time | 91d 08:15:00 |
| Power Gain | 8,000,000 |
| Unlock | XI Helios Infantry |
Best tip: Infantry is often a strong first choice if you want better frontline durability. Since Infantry takes most incoming damage in many battles, improving this troop type can help your march survive longer.
Helios Lancer Research Requirements 🐎
Helios Lancer is the Lancer path for XI troops. This path focuses on Lancer-related stats and follows a similar structure to the Infantry path, but with different research names.
Lancer Helios Research Path ⚔️
To unlock Helios Lancer, you need the following research:
| Research | Required Level |
|---|---|
| Flame Squad | Level 5 |
| Blazing Armor | Level 8 |
| Blazing Charge | Level 8 |
| Blazing Lance | Level 12 |
| Blazing Guardian | Level 12 |
| Flame Legion | Level 12 |
Final Helios Lancer Unlock Requirement 🔓
After completing the required Lancer research path, the final Helios Lancer research requires:
| Final Research | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Helios Lancer 1 | War Academy FC5, Crystal Arrow Lv. 12, Crystal Protection Lv. 12, Flame Legion Lv. 12 |
Final unlock cost:
| Resource | Amount |
|---|---|
| Meat | 85,000,000 |
| Wood | 85,000,000 |
| Coal | 17,000,000 |
| Iron | 4,200,000 |
| Steel | 1,000,000 |
| FC Shards | 2,236 |
| Research Time | 91d 08:15:00 |
| Power Gain | 8,000,000 |
| Unlock | XI Helios Lancer |
Best tip: Lancer is a good priority if your strongest heroes and march setup are built around Lancer damage. Before committing, check which troop type gives the biggest improvement to your main march.
Helios Marksman Research Requirements 🏹
Helios Marksman is the Marksman path for XI troops. This path focuses on Marksman-related combat stats and leads to XI Helios Marksmen.
Marksman Helios Research Path 🎯
To unlock Helios Marksman, you need the following research:
| Research | Required Level |
|---|---|
| Flame Squad | Level 5 |
| Crystal Armor | Level 8 |
| Crystal Vision | Level 8 |
| Crystal Arrow | Level 12 |
| Crystal Protection | Level 12 |
| Flame Legion | Level 12 |
Final Helios Marksman Unlock Requirement 🔓
After completing the required Marksman research path, the final Helios Marksman research requires:
| Final Research | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Helios Marksman 1 | War Academy FC5, Crystal Arrow Lv. 12, Crystal Protection Lv. 12, Flame Legion Lv. 12 |
Final unlock cost:
| Resource | Amount |
|---|---|
| Meat | 85,000,000 |
| Wood | 85,000,000 |
| Coal | 17,000,000 |
| Iron | 4,200,000 |
| Steel | 1,000,000 |
| FC Shards | 2,236 |
| Research Time | 91d 08:15:00 |
| Power Gain | 8,000,000 |
| Unlock | XI Helios Marksmen |
Best tip: Marksman can be valuable for damage-focused players, but you should only prioritize it first if your heroes, gear, and battle setup benefit most from stronger Marksman troops.
Helios Research Cost Comparison 💰
The total cost for each Helios troop type is the same based on the available research data.
| Troop Type | Research Time | FC Shards | Meat | Wood | Coal | Iron | Steel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helios Infantry | 271 days | 13,421 | 246.18M | 246.18M | 49.116M | 12.196M | 3.974M |
| Helios Lancer | 271 days | 13,421 | 246.18M | 246.18M | 49.116M | 12.196M | 3.974M |
| Helios Marksman | 271 days | 13,421 | 246.18M | 246.18M | 49.116M | 12.196M | 3.974M |
This makes your choice less about cost and more about strategy.
The best first Helios troop depends on your strongest march, hero lineup, and what your alliance needs most.
Which Helios Troop Should You Unlock First? 🧭
There is no single best answer for every player. The right first Helios troop depends on your account.
Choose Infantry First If You Want More Survivability 🛡️
Infantry is usually important because it protects the rest of your march. If your Infantry is weak, your backline may not survive long enough to deal damage.
Choose Infantry first if:
- You want better frontline durability.
- Your main march struggles to survive.
- Your alliance needs stronger tanks for fights.
- You want a safer all-around first choice.
Choose Lancer First If Your Main Damage Comes From Lancers ⚔️
Lancer can be a good first choice if your best heroes and upgrades support Lancer performance.
Choose Lancer first if:
- Your strongest hero setup favors Lancers.
- You already invested heavily into Lancer stats.
- You want to improve your main march’s offensive pressure.
Choose Marksman First If Your Backline Is Your Main Strength 🏹
Marksman troops can be useful if your account is built around backline damage.
Choose Marksman first if:
- Your strongest heroes support Marksman performance.
- You want to improve damage output.
- Your Infantry and Lancer are already strong enough for your current fights.
Best Tips Before Starting Helios Research 🧠
Helios research is expensive, so planning matters. A bad research order can waste time and delay your strongest troop upgrade.
Save FC Shards Early 🔥
FC Shards are one of the biggest bottlenecks for Helios research. Since one troop type needs 13,421 FC Shards, you should avoid spending them carelessly if Helios is your next major goal.
Do Not Split Resources Too Much ⚠️
Trying to push Infantry, Lancer, and Marksman together can slow your progress. Focus on one Helios troop path first so you can unlock a real power spike sooner.
Use Research Speedups Wisely ⏱️
One Helios troop type requires 271 days of research time before reductions. Save research speedups for the longest upgrades, especially the final Helios unlock research.
Match Helios Priority With Your Main March 🎯
Do not choose your first Helios troop randomly. Look at your strongest heroes, chief gear, charms, hero gear, and alliance role before deciding.
Prepare Resources Before the Final Unlock 📦
The final unlock alone requires 85M Meat, 85M Wood, 17M Coal, 4.2M Iron, 1M Steel, and 2,236 FC Shards. Make sure you are ready before starting the last step.
Common Mistakes to Avoid 🚫
Starting Without Enough FC Shards 💎
Many players underestimate how many FC Shards they need. If you do not plan ahead, your Helios progress can stall for a long time.
Unlocking the Wrong Troop First ❌
The first Helios troop should support your strongest march. Unlocking a troop type you barely use gives less practical value.
Ignoring Research Time ⏳
The resource cost is not the only problem. Research time is also very long, so speedups and research buffs are important.
Trying to Rush All Three Troop Types 🧊
Unlocking all three Helios troop types is a massive project. Most players should complete one path first before moving to the next.
FAQs
1. What are Helios troops in Whiteout Survival?
Helios troops are XI troops and the strongest troop tier in Whiteout Survival. They are unlocked through War Academy research after meeting the required FC5 building requirements.
2. What do I need to start Helios research?
You need your Furnace at FC5 and your War Academy at FC5 before you can work toward Helios troops.
3. How many FC Shards are needed for one Helios troop type?
One Helios troop type requires a total of 13,421 FC Shards.
4. How long does it take to unlock one Helios troop type?
One Helios troop type requires 271 days of total research time before speedups, buffs, or reductions.
5. Which Helios troop should I unlock first?
Most players should choose based on their strongest march. Infantry is often a safe first choice for survivability, while Lancer or Marksman can be better if your account is already built around those troop types.
6. Should I unlock all Helios troops at the same time?
It is usually better to focus on one Helios troop type first. Splitting resources across all three paths can delay your first real Helios unlock.
Conclusion
Helios research is one of the biggest long-term goals in Whiteout Survival. To unlock Helios Infantry, Lancer, or Marksman, you need Furnace FC5, War Academy FC5, a long research path, and a huge amount of resources.
Each troop type requires 271 days of research time, 13,421 FC Shards, and hundreds of millions of resources. Because the cost is so high, the best strategy is to focus on one troop type first and choose the path that gives the most value to your main march.
Plan your FC Shards, save research speedups, and avoid spreading your resources too thin. With the right preparation, Helios troops can become one of the biggest power upgrades for your account.
For more beginner-friendly research guides, troop upgrade tips, and event strategies, check out our other Whiteout Survival guides on Heaven Guardian
