Whiteout Survival Hero Leveling
Your hero level cap is set by your Furnace level: it starts at level 20 for Furnace 4 to 9, reaches level 74 at Furnace 24, and tops out at level 80 once the Furnace reaches 25 or 26, depending on the guide. Reaching level 80 from level 1 costs 23,641,790 Hero XP in total. Stars cost shards, and skills cost manuals. Checked in November 2026.
Hero Level Cap per Furnace
A hero cannot pass the level that your Furnace allows. The cap grows with every Furnace level, so upgrading the Furnace is the first step to stronger heroes. The Furnace guide lists what each Furnace level needs.
| Furnace level | Hero level cap |
|---|---|
| Furnace 4-9 | 20 |
| Furnace 10 | 22 |
| Furnace 11 | 25 |
| Furnace 12 | 28 |
| Furnace 13 | 31 |
| Furnace 14 | 34 |
| Furnace 15 | 37 |
| Furnace 16 | 40 |
| Furnace 17 | 43 |
| Furnace 18 | 46 |
| Furnace 19 | 49 |
| Furnace 20 | 54 |
| Furnace 21 | 59 |
| Furnace 22 | 64 |
| Furnace 23 | 69 |
| Furnace 24 | 74 |
| Furnace 25 | 79-80 |
| Furnace 26 and above | 80 |
Hero level 80 is the maximum. Guides disagree on the last step: some say the final level needs Furnace 26, and others say Furnace 25. Both agree that a Furnace 26 or higher account has no limit left, so check the level window in the game if you are at Furnace 25.
Hero XP Chart: Levels 1 to 80
Each level has its own Hero XP price. The first column is the cost to reach the level from the one before, and the second column is the total from level 1. The last column shows the Furnace level that the level needs.
| Level | Hero XP to reach | Total Hero XP | Furnace needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 480 | 480 | 4 |
| 3 | 690 | 1,170 | 4 |
| 4 | 920 | 2,090 | 4 |
| 5 | 1,200 | 3,290 | 4 |
| 6 | 1,500 | 4,790 | 4 |
| 7 | 1,800 | 6,590 | 4 |
| 8 | 2,200 | 8,790 | 4 |
| 9 | 2,600 | 11,390 | 4 |
| 10 | 3,100 | 14,490 | 4 |
| 11 | 3,800 | 18,290 | 4 |
| 12 | 4,200 | 22,490 | 4 |
| 13 | 5,100 | 27,590 | 4 |
| 14 | 5,700 | 33,290 | 4 |
| 15 | 6,800 | 40,090 | 4 |
| 16 | 7,800 | 47,890 | 4 |
| 17 | 8,900 | 56,790 | 4 |
| 18 | 10,000 | 66,790 | 4 |
| 19 | 12,000 | 78,790 | 4 |
| 20 | 13,000 | 91,790 | 4 |
| 21 | 14,000 | 105,790 | 10 |
| 22 | 15,000 | 120,790 | 10 |
| 23 | 16,000 | 136,790 | 11 |
| 24 | 17,000 | 153,790 | 11 |
| 25 | 18,000 | 171,790 | 11 |
| 26 | 19,000 | 190,790 | 12 |
| 27 | 20,000 | 210,790 | 12 |
| 28 | 21,000 | 231,790 | 12 |
| 29 | 22,000 | 253,790 | 13 |
| 30 | 24,000 | 277,790 | 13 |
| 31 | 26,000 | 303,790 | 13 |
| 32 | 28,000 | 331,790 | 14 |
| 33 | 30,000 | 361,790 | 14 |
| 34 | 32,000 | 393,790 | 14 |
| 35 | 36,000 | 429,790 | 15 |
| 36 | 40,000 | 469,790 | 15 |
| 37 | 44,000 | 513,790 | 15 |
| 38 | 48,000 | 561,790 | 16 |
| 39 | 52,000 | 613,790 | 16 |
| 40 | 58,000 | 671,790 | 16 |
| 41 | 64,000 | 735,790 | 17 |
| 42 | 70,000 | 805,790 | 17 |
| 43 | 76,000 | 881,790 | 17 |
| 44 | 82,000 | 963,790 | 18 |
| 45 | 90,000 | 1,053,790 | 18 |
| 46 | 98,000 | 1,151,790 | 18 |
| 47 | 100,000 | 1,251,790 | 19 |
| 48 | 110,000 | 1,361,790 | 19 |
| 49 | 120,000 | 1,481,790 | 19 |
| 50 | 130,000 | 1,611,790 | 20 |
| 51 | 140,000 | 1,751,790 | 20 |
| 52 | 150,000 | 1,901,790 | 20 |
| 53 | 160,000 | 2,061,790 | 20 |
| 54 | 170,000 | 2,231,790 | 20 |
| 55 | 190,000 | 2,421,790 | 21 |
| 56 | 210,000 | 2,631,790 | 21 |
| 57 | 230,000 | 2,861,790 | 21 |
| 58 | 250,000 | 3,111,790 | 21 |
| 59 | 270,000 | 3,381,790 | 21 |
| 60 | 300,000 | 3,681,790 | 22 |
| 61 | 330,000 | 4,011,790 | 22 |
| 62 | 360,000 | 4,371,790 | 22 |
| 63 | 390,000 | 4,761,790 | 22 |
| 64 | 420,000 | 5,181,790 | 22 |
| 65 | 470,000 | 5,651,790 | 23 |
| 66 | 520,000 | 6,171,790 | 23 |
| 67 | 570,000 | 6,741,790 | 23 |
| 68 | 620,000 | 7,361,790 | 23 |
| 69 | 670,000 | 8,031,790 | 23 |
| 70 | 770,000 | 8,801,790 | 24 |
| 71 | 870,000 | 9,671,790 | 24 |
| 72 | 970,000 | 10,641,790 | 24 |
| 73 | 1,000,000 | 11,641,790 | 24 |
| 74 | 1,100,000 | 12,741,790 | 24 |
| 75 | 1,300,000 | 14,041,790 | 25 |
| 76 | 1,500,000 | 15,541,790 | 25 |
| 77 | 1,700,000 | 17,241,790 | 25 |
| 78 | 1,900,000 | 19,141,790 | 25 |
| 79 | 2,100,000 | 21,241,790 | 25 |
| 80 | 2,400,000 | 23,641,790 | 25-26 |
The cost climbs fast. Level 20 is 91,790 Hero XP in total and level 50 is 1,611,790. Going from 79 to 80 costs 2,400,000 Hero XP in one step. For one hero the total to level 80 is 23,641,790 Hero XP, which is the reason guides tell you to level only your main march.
Hero Stars and Shard Costs
Stars raise base stats and unlock higher skill levels. You pay in shards. The shards can be named ones for that hero or General Hero Shards of the matching rarity. The cost is the same for Rare, Epic and Mythic heroes.
| Star | Shards for this star | Total after recruitment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | 40 | 50 |
| 3 | 115 | 165 |
| 4 | 300 | 465 |
| 5 | 600 | 1,065 |
That makes 1,065 shards for five stars on top of the recruitment shards. Recruitment costs 10 shards for most heroes, and a few heroes ask for more, so read the shard line on the hero card. The heroes list shows where each hero's shards come from.
One guide advises aiming for star 4 on the heroes you use most, since four stars unlock the top level of every skill. Star 5 costs 600 shards by itself, which is more than stars 1 to 4 put together (465), so it pays only for a main hero that you will not replace soon.
The video shows the basic loop on a new account: the hero card with its Upgrade button, Exploration battles and the Hero XP that comes from their rewards.
Skill Books and Manuals
Every hero has two skill sets. Exploration skills work in Exploration and Arena battles where heroes fight with their escorts. Expedition skills count in activities where heroes lead troops. A Mythic hero has three skills in each set.
You level a skill with manuals of the matching rarity and set, for example the Mythic Expedition Skill Manual or the Mythic Exploration Manual. The cost per level is the same for every skill.
| Skill level | Manuals for this level | Total manuals |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 10 | 10 |
| 3 | 30 | 40 |
| 4 | 50 | 90 |
| 5 | 75 | 165 |
Maxing one skill to level 5 takes 165 manuals. Manuals come from Gems, Hero Recruitment, VIP Shop, VIP Rewards, Intel Missions, Event Rewards. Stars gate the levels, so you cannot level a skill until the hero has enough stars.
| Skill | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration 1 | 0 stars | 1 stars | 2 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
| Exploration 2 | 1 stars | 1 stars | 2 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
| Exploration 3 | 2 stars | 2 stars | 2 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
| Expedition 1 | 1 stars | 1 stars | 2 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
| Expedition 2 | 1 stars | 1 stars | 2 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
| Expedition 3 | 2 stars | 2 stars | 2 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
The table shows the stars a hero needs before each skill level. Skill level 5 on any skill needs 4 stars, so a hero stuck at 3 stars cannot use manuals past level 4.
Hero Gear and Exclusive Gear
Hero Gear is a separate track. A hero wears four pieces, Goggles, Gauntlets, a Belt and Boots, and you enhance them with Enhancement XP Components or with other Hero Gear. Mythic gear can go further with Mastery Forging, which needs Furnace 20 and uses Essence Stones. The Hero Gear guide covers this track in full, and the Mithril page covers the Legendary stage.
Mythic heroes also have personal Exclusive Gear, which opens at 1 star and adds two Exclusive Skills. You level it with Widgets that belong to that hero. The total from level 1 to level 10 is 275 Widgets.
| Exclusive Gear level | Widgets for this level | Total Widgets | Exclusive skill levels (Exploration / Expedition) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 / 0 |
| 2 | 10 | 15 | 1 / 1 |
| 3 | 15 | 30 | 2 / 1 |
| 4 | 20 | 50 | 2 / 2 |
| 5 | 25 | 75 | 3 / 2 |
| 6 | 30 | 105 | 3 / 3 |
| 7 | 35 | 140 | 4 / 3 |
| 8 | 40 | 180 | 4 / 4 |
| 9 | 45 | 225 | 5 / 4 |
| 10 | 50 | 275 | 5 / 5 |
Widgets arrive more slowly than shards, so build Exclusive Gear alongside stars and not after them.
Where to Get Hero XP and Shards
Hero XP comes from Exploration, events, shops, Beasts, Intel Missions, Gems. Shards come from Packs, Hall of Heroes, Lucky Wheel, Intel Missions, State of Power, Hero Recruitment, Exploration, Gina's Revenge, Hall of Chiefs, King of Icefield, shops. Skill manuals come from Gems, Hero Recruitment, VIP Shop, VIP Rewards, Intel Missions, Event Rewards.
- Hero XP first. Spend it on the heroes of your main march and nobody else.
- Shards. Pick one Mythic per class and put every shard into that hero. Mythic General Hero Shards turn into shards of any owned Mythic hero except Natalia and Jeronimo, and guides say they never expire.
- Manuals. Level the Expedition skills of main march heroes first, because those are the skills that work with troops.
Look for Hero XP in the rewards on the gift codes page. The VIP guide explains the VIP Shop, which also sells manuals.
What to Level First
Work in this order and you waste the least. Raise the Furnace so the cap moves up. Put Hero XP into the three heroes of your main march until they reach the cap. Take those heroes to 4 stars so every skill can reach level 5, then use manuals on their Expedition skills. Add Exclusive Gear Widgets as you collect them. Move to secondary heroes only after that.
If a new generation opens in your state, compare your developed hero with the new one before you move anything. The generations timeline shows when the next opening is due, and the tier list helps you choose the replacement. The calculator shows how many shards you still need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum hero level in Whiteout Survival?
The maximum hero level is 80. You need 23,641,790 Hero XP to take one hero from level 1 to level 80, and the last level alone costs 2,400,000. The cap that applies to you depends on your Furnace: level 74 at Furnace 24, then level 79 or 80 at Furnace 25 depending on the guide, and level 80 at Furnace 26.
What hero level can I reach at each Furnace level?
Furnace 4 to 9 caps heroes at level 20, Furnace 10 at 22 and Furnace 11 at 25. After that the cap grows by 3 per Furnace level up to Furnace 19, which allows level 49. Furnace 20 gives level 54, and each level from Furnace 21 to 24 adds 5, ending at level 74. The table on this page has every step.
How do I reset a hero level in Whiteout Survival?
Use the Drill Camp. Resetting a hero's level returns all the Hero XP you spent on that hero, so you can move it to a hero you plan to use more. This helps when a new generation arrives and you change your main march. A reset is for Hero XP only: shards spent on stars are not returned.
How many shards does a hero need for 5 stars?
After recruitment, raising a hero from 0 to 5 stars costs 1,065 shards: 10 for star 1, 40 for star 2, 115 for star 3, 300 for star 4 and 600 for star 5. The star costs are the same for Rare, Epic and Mythic heroes. Recruitment itself takes its own shards, which are listed on each hero card.
How do I get Hero XP fast?
Guides list these Hero XP sources: Exploration, events, shops, Beasts, Intel Missions, Gems. Spend Hero XP on the main march only, and park secondary heroes in Drill Camp slots, where they copy the level of your lowest Drill Instructor without eating your Hero XP. Gift codes can carry Hero XP too.
Is there a hero level calculator for Whiteout Survival?
The Whiteout Survival calculator on this site helps you plan the shards and resources you still need. For levels, the XP chart on this page lists the cost of every level from 2 to 80 and the running total, so you can subtract the Hero XP you already spent. A hero at level 50, for example, has used 1,611,790 Hero XP.
Read Next
See every hero on the heroes page, choose your lineup with the tier list, and read how generations open on the generations timeline.