![Whiteout Survival Lighthouse Guide [2026] — Intel Missions Explained](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Fguides%2Fwhiteout-survival-lighthouse.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Whiteout Survival Lighthouse Guide [2026] — Intel Missions Explained
Part of the Daily Optimization Series:
- Beginner Strategy Hub: Core principles (Start Here).
- Flame and Fangs Guide: Maximizing your Crystallite Core income.
- Stamina Management Guide: Balancing beasts and intel.
The Lighthouse is the hub for your city's Intel Missions. It provides a steady stream of combat, rescue, and exploration tasks that yield essential resources, hero shards, and—crucially—Fire Crystals in the late game.
Quick Answer
- Unlock: Furnace Level 7.
- Refresh Schedule: 3 times daily (00:00, 08:00, 16:00 server time).
- Searchlight: Upgrading the Searchlight (Levels 1–20) improves mission quality and frequency.
- Top Priority: During the Flame and Fangs event, every mission grants Crystallite Cores.
- Key Mechanic: Only Exploration Skills matter for Intel; it uses Chief Stamina, not troop marches.
How Intel Missions Work
Intel Missions are auto-resolved tasks found in the Lighthouse menu. Most missions result in an instant reward, though some require a brief "march" time that consumes stamina.
The Refresh Cycle
The board generates 8 standard missions every 8 hours.
- 00:00 Server Time
- 08:00 Server Time
- 16:00 Server Time
[!TIP] Don't let them expire. Missions typically vanish 12–16 hours after they appear. If you miss a refresh, you miss out on the Searchlight upgrade progress associated with those missions.
Upgrading the Searchlight
The Searchlight is the "level" of your Lighthouse. You advance it by completing a cumulative number of missions.
| Searchlight Tier | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Low (1–7) | Grey/Green missions; basic resources and speed-ups. |
| Mid (8–14) | Blue/Purple missions; better hero shards and gear fragments. |
| High (15–20) | Legendary missions; high-tier shards and consistent Fire Crystal drops. |
Mission Types & Selection
- Beast Hunting: Targeted combat for Meat and Wood.
- Rescue Survivors: Theme-based missions for Coal and Iron.
- A Hero's Journey: Best for Hero EXP and specific hero shards.
- Bounty Intel: High-power missions (Expert/Master/Grand Master).
- Strategy: If your power is >70% of the recommendation, attempt it. If <50%, skip to save stamina.
Flame and Fangs Optimization
This recurring 2-day event (Monday–Tuesday of SvS Prep) turns the Lighthouse into your primary source of Crystallite Cores.
- Standard Missions: 1 Core.
- Firebeast Missions: 10 Cores.
- Bounty Missions: 0 Cores. (Skip Bounty during Flame and Fangs to save stamina).
The Stacking Method
To maximize your score:
- Sunday 08:00: Complete missions but do not claim them.
- Monday 00:00: Claim the completed missions immediately to get a "head start" on Cores.
Post-Fire-Crystal Rewards
Once your Furnace reaches Level 30, the Lighthouse becomes one of the few reliable daily sources for:
- Fire Crystals
- Fire Crystal Shards
- Gems
Known Ambiguities
- Exact stamina costs per mission type are not officially documented.
- Hidden queue: Some players report a "overflow" queue of missions, but this remains unverified.
- Crystallite Core drop rates from Firebeasts can vary slightly by server age.
TL;DR
The Lighthouse is a marathon building. Unlock it at Furnace 7, clear your 3 daily refreshes, and save your stamina items for the Flame and Fangs window to secure Fire Crystals and high-tier speed-ups.