Whiteout Survival Lighthouse Guide: Searchlight & Bounty Levels

The Lighthouse is one of Whiteout Survival’s most useful recurring progression features. It unlocks at Furnace Level 7 and generates Intel Missions that can reward Hero Shards, Hero XP, Manuals, troops, resources, Hero Gear-related items, Explosive Arrowheads, and event rewards. The most important Lighthouse “level” is actually the Searchlight. The Searchlight has a maximum level of 20 and is upgraded by completing Intel Missions rather than spending normal building resources. Higher Searchlight levels allow more Intel to be discovered and improve the quality of the missions you receive. Intel normally refreshes every eight hours at 00:00, 08:00, and 16:00 UTC. The game can hold Intel from up to two refresh periods, so leaving the Lighthouse full for too long can cost you future missions.

Whiteout Survival Lighthouse Overview

Lighthouse Detail	Current Information
Unlock requirement	Furnace Level 7
Main feature	Intel Missions
Progression system	Searchlight
Maximum Searchlight level	Level 20
How Searchlight levels increase	Complete the required number of Intel Missions
Regular refresh interval	Every 8 hours
Regular refresh times	00:00, 08:00, and 16:00 UTC
Intel accumulation	Up to two refresh periods
Main mission groups	Beast Hunting, Rescue Survivors, A Hero’s Journey, and Bounties
Event Intel	Special missions such as Firebeasts can appear during relevant events

Unlike the Furnace, military camps, or Research Center, you do not raise the Searchlight by paying Meat, Wood, Coal, Iron, or speedups. Its progression comes from actually using the Lighthouse.

Whiteout Survival Lighthouse Levels Explained

Searches for “Whiteout Survival Lighthouse levels” can be confusing because the game uses two related terms. The Lighthouse is the building; the Searchlight is the level-based progression system inside it. The current official Whiteout Survival Wiki confirms that the Searchlight reaches a maximum of Level 20. Every upgrade improves your Intel system by allowing more missions to be found during refreshes and increasing access to better-quality missions.

Searchlight Progress	What to Expect
Early levels	Build progress quickly by completing the Intel Missions available to you
Middle levels	More valuable Intel begins appearing as mission quantity and quality improve
Higher levels	Better-quality missions become increasingly important for hero and account progression
Level 20	Maximum Searchlight progression

How Many Missions Are Needed for Each Lighthouse Level?

The number required for your next Searchlight upgrade is displayed directly in the Lighthouse interface. The current official public Wiki confirms the Level 20 cap and the mission-completion upgrade method but does not publish a reliable level-by-level table of every mission requirement. For that reason, this guide does not invent a fixed “Level 1 to 20 missions required” chart. Check the progress indicator in your current game version for the exact number remaining before your next upgrade.

Should You Complete Low-Value Intel While Leveling the Searchlight?

Usually, yes. Before Level 20, even an Intel Mission with an unexciting immediate reward still contributes toward Searchlight progression. Skipping too many basic missions can slow your route to a stronger daily Intel pool. Once Searchlight Level 20 is reached, players with limited stamina can afford to be more selective about which combat missions deserve priority.

How Intel Missions Work

Opening the Lighthouse shows the currently available Intel Missions. Selecting one lets you preview its target and rewards before committing resources. Depending on the Intel type, you may need to:

• Hunt a beast.
• Rescue survivors.
• Send heroes through an investigation.
• Defeat a Bounty target.
• Fight a temporary event enemy such as a Firebeast.

Combat Intel can consume Chief Stamina, so the reward should be considered alongside whatever other stamina-based activities are currently running.

Whiteout Survival Intel Mission Types

Intel Type	Main Activity	Typical Value
Beast Hunting	Defeat a marked beast	Hero progression items and resources
Rescue Survivors	Send a squad to help stranded survivors	Troops and settlement resources
A Hero’s Journey	Complete a hero-focused investigation	Hero Shards, XP, Manuals, and other hero resources
Bounty	Defeat a stronger combat target	Higher-value combat and progression rewards
Event Intel	Complete a temporary event-specific objective	Event currency plus normal mission rewards

Beast Hunting

Beast Hunting Intel sends you against a target associated with the Lighthouse rather than simply picking an ordinary Wilderness beast yourself. Because stamina is limited, avoid repeatedly attempting a target your formation cannot defeat. Improving your heroes and returning later is better than wasting stamina on failed attempts.

Rescue Survivors

Rescue missions are straightforward Intel tasks that send a squad to assist survivors. They can provide troops and other useful early-game supplies. These missions are especially useful on a new account because free troops and resources reduce pressure on training queues and city production.

A Hero’s Journey

A Hero’s Journey is focused on hero-based combat and progression. These Intel Missions are particularly attractive when their reward preview contains Hero Shards, Hero XP, Manuals, or useful Hero Gear resources. Do not rely only on displayed hero Power when a difficult mission stops your progress. Front-row durability, back-row damage, class interaction, skill levels, and positioning can change the result.

Whiteout Survival Bounty Levels

Bounty Intel is one of the most searched parts of the Lighthouse because Bounties become more challenging as your progression advances. Early public game references use names such as Rookie Bounty and Advanced Bounty. More recent community references for developed accounts also report higher Bounty labels such as Expert, Master, and Grand Master. However, the current official Whiteout Survival Lighthouse page does not provide a universal table that maps every Bounty name to a specific Searchlight level, Furnace level, or State age.

Why Bounty Levels Can Be Confusing

Several different progress systems move forward at the same time:

• Searchlight level
• Furnace progression
• Hero strength
• State age and unlocked systems
• Later game updates

As a result, two screenshots from different State ages can show different Intel pools even when both players call them “Lighthouse Level 20.”

How to Beat Higher Bounty Levels

When a Bounty becomes difficult, improve the formation rather than attacking repeatedly with the same setup.

• Use your strongest properly developed combat heroes.
• Put durable Infantry heroes in the frontline when appropriate.
• Keep major damage dealers protected in the back row.
• Upgrade Hero XP levels, stars, and skills.
• Move your best Hero Gear onto the formation being used.
• Try different positioning when one enemy hero is causing the loss.

Recommended Power is a useful warning, but formation quality can still matter enough to beat an Intel target with a different hero arrangement.

Lighthouse Intel Refresh Times

Standard Intel refreshes every eight hours:

• 00:00 UTC
• 08:00 UTC
• 16:00 UTC

The Lighthouse can accumulate Intel from up to two refresh periods. That gives players some flexibility, but it is not unlimited storage. If your Intel remains full for too long, later refreshes cannot keep giving you the full number of new opportunities. Clearing missions consistently is therefore more valuable than logging in once and leaving the board untouched for a full day.

2026 Intel Expiry Reminder Update

The July 6, 2026 Whiteout Survival update made expiring Intel easier to manage. When a mission is close to expiration, the Lighthouse and World Map now display countdown reminders on the relevant Intel icons. This reduces the need to memorize every mission’s remaining time. Use the countdown to prioritize missions that are about to disappear.

Best Daily Lighthouse Routine

When	What to Do
First login	Clear old Intel that may block the next refresh
After a refresh	Preview rewards and start high-priority missions
Before another 8-hour refresh	Free enough Intel capacity for incoming missions
When stamina is limited	Prioritize valuable Bounties, hero rewards, and event Intel
During Flame and Fangs	Prioritize Firebeasts and keep the Lighthouse cycling
Before logging off	Check the new expiry countdown indicators

Whiteout Survival Lighthouse Rewards

The exact reward depends on the mission, its quality, and your progression. Useful Lighthouse rewards can include:

Reward Type	Why It Matters
Hero Shards	Hero star progression
Hero XP	Raises hero levels
Skill Manuals	Hero skill progression where applicable
Hero Gear resources	Improves hero and troop combat performance
Troops	Adds units without normal training time
Resources	Construction, research, and troop progression
Speedups	Reduces development timers
Explosive Arrowheads	Used to improve the Alliance Bear Trap
Event currency	Used during Lighthouse-related temporary events

Explosive Arrowheads

Lighthouse Intel is an official source of Explosive Arrowheads. These are used to upgrade the Alliance Bear Trap and increase the alliance’s Bear Hunt damage bonus. This makes the Lighthouse useful even after your early hero progression starts slowing down. Daily Intel can contribute indirectly to recurring alliance-event performance.

Agnes and Extra Intel Missions

The Expert system adds an important late-game improvement to Lighthouse farming. Agnes has a skill called Efficient Recon that directly increases the number of Intel Missions you receive each day.

Efficient Recon Level	Extra Intel Missions per Day
Level 1	2
Level 2	3
Level 3	4
Level 4	6
Level 5	8

At Level 5, Efficient Recon gives 8 additional Intel Missions per day. Because Lighthouse rewards are recurring, this is a strong long-term economy benefit rather than a one-time reward. Agnes also has a stamina-related skill, which further complements a playstyle built around completing more recurring activities.

Is Efficient Recon Worth Upgrading?

It is especially attractive for active players because the benefit repeats every day. More Intel means more opportunities for Hero Shards, XP, progression materials, and event participation. The value falls if you regularly leave existing Intel unfinished. Unlocking extra daily missions is only useful when you actually have the stamina and activity to complete them. For players comparing established cities, Lighthouse activity, Agnes development, hero progression, and other permanent systems are more informative than total Power alone when evaluating a wos account for sale as an optional progression path.

Flame and Fangs and the Lighthouse

Flame and Fangs is directly connected to Intel Missions. During the active earning period, completing qualifying Intel rewards Crystallite Cores, which can be exchanged in the event shop. The current official event guide lists:

• Normal Intel: 1 Crystallite Core
• Firebeast Intel: 10 Crystallite Cores

That makes Firebeast Intel far more important than an ordinary mission while the event is active.

Flame and Fangs Strategy

1. Do not let Firebeast Intel expire.
2. Keep enough free Intel capacity for later refreshes.
3. Check the Lighthouse around all three daily refresh windows when practical.
4. Keep Chief Stamina available instead of spending everything immediately before the event.
5. Spend Crystallite Cores before the event exchange closes.

Unused Crystallite Cores are converted into Meat after the event, so buying useful event-shop items before the deadline is normally better than allowing the currency to expire.

Which Intel Missions Should You Prioritize?

While Searchlight Is Below Level 20

Complete as many missions as your stamina and schedule allow. Every completion advances the Searchlight, and reaching Level 20 improves the long-term Intel pool.

After Searchlight Level 20

You can become more selective if stamina is constrained. A practical priority is:

1. Expiring event Intel
2. Rare Hero Shard or valuable hero-progression rewards
3. High-value Bounties you can defeat reliably
4. Other high-quality Intel
5. Basic missions when stamina and time remain

This is not a permanent ranking because your bottleneck changes. A new account may value free troops and Hero XP highly, while an older account may care more about shards, event materials, or other scarce progression items.

F2P Lighthouse Strategy

The Lighthouse is especially valuable for F2P players because its core progression does not require purchasing Searchlight levels.

• Reach Furnace Level 7 and start Intel immediately.
• Complete ordinary missions instead of waiting only for premium rewards.
• Work steadily toward Searchlight Level 20.
• Do not let stamina remain capped for long periods.
• Save enough stamina for valuable event Intel.
• Use the reward preview before deciding where to spend stamina.
• Take advantage of Agnes’s Efficient Recon after that Expert becomes relevant to your account.

The value comes from repetition. One Intel reward may look small, but three refresh windows per day add up to a large amount of free progression over weeks and months.

Common Lighthouse Mistakes

Looking for a Normal Building Level 1–20 Upgrade Table

The Searchlight—not a normal resource-funded building upgrade—is what progresses to Level 20. Complete Intel Missions to advance it.

Using an Unverified Bounty Level Chart

Bounty naming and progression have evolved. Do not assume an old Rookie, Advanced, Expert, Master, Grand Master, or “Ultimate” chart automatically matches your current State.

Leaving the Lighthouse Full

Intel can accumulate only so far. A full board can prevent you from getting full value from later refreshes.

Ignoring Low-Quality Intel Before Level 20

The reward may be modest, but the mission still contributes to Searchlight progression.

Spending All Stamina Before Flame and Fangs

Firebeast Intel is much more valuable for Crystallite Cores than ordinary Intel during the event. Keep a stamina reserve when the event is approaching.

Repeatedly Failing a Bounty

If the same formation keeps losing, stop spending resources on identical attempts. Improve or reposition your heroes first.

Ignoring Expiry Warnings

Since the July 2026 update, the game displays countdown reminders for Intel nearing expiration. Use them to clear the missions most at risk.

Upgrading Agnes’s Intel Skill but Not Completing the Extra Missions

Efficient Recon can add up to eight Intel Missions each day, but those extra opportunities have no value if your normal Lighthouse board already goes unfinished.

FAQs

What is the maximum Lighthouse level in Whiteout Survival?

The Searchlight inside the Lighthouse has a maximum level of 20. It is upgraded by completing Intel Missions, not through normal resource-based construction.

How do you increase Whiteout Survival Lighthouse levels?

Complete the number of Intel Missions shown on the Searchlight progress indicator. Higher Searchlight levels provide more missions during refreshes and improve mission quality.

What are the Whiteout Survival Bounty levels?

Bounty Intel has increasingly difficult versions as your account progresses. Early references use Rookie and Advanced Bounty, while developed accounts may see higher-tier labels. The current official public Lighthouse documentation does not provide a universal table matching every Bounty name to an exact Searchlight level, so use your in-game Bounty label and recommended Power as the current source of truth.

What is Ultimate Bounty in Whiteout Survival?

“Ultimate Bounty” appears in player searches, but a current official public unlock table for a universally named Ultimate Bounty tier is not available. If it appears in your Lighthouse, follow its in-game difficulty, reward preview, and recommended Power rather than relying on an old fixed unlock requirement.

How often do Intel Missions refresh?

Regular Intel refreshes every eight hours at 00:00, 08:00, and 16:00 UTC. The Lighthouse can accumulate missions from up to two refresh periods.

Can you get more Intel Missions per day?

Yes. Agnes’s Efficient Recon Expert skill grants 2 additional daily Intel Missions at Level 1 and scales to 8 additional missions per day at Level 5.

Conclusion

The key to the Whiteout Survival Lighthouse is consistent Intel completion. Raise the Searchlight to Level 20, clear missions often enough to avoid blocking refreshes, and prioritize valuable Bounties and event Intel once your Searchlight is maxed. For active late-game players, Agnes can expand the system further with up to eight additional Intel Missions per day, while the 2026 expiry reminders make missed Intel easier to avoid. For more current hero, event, combat, and progression advice, explore our Whiteout Survival guides.