For small spenders and casual players in Whiteout Survival, managing resources wisely is the key to long-term progress. Because resources are limited, you must prioritize upgrades that provide the greatest overall value. This WOS beginner's guide will walk you through the most important priorities for beginners and low-spending players.
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1. Furnace Priority (Your Most Important Upgrade)
In general, the Furnace should always be your top priority, followed by Research and Hero development. Systems like Chief Gear, Gems, and Hero Gear can improve gameplay, but they should not be the primary focus early on. The Furnace determines the overall progression of your city and unlocks many important systems. Its development can be divided into two stages:
Pre–Fire Crystal Era
Before entering the Fire Crystal era, your main objective is to reach Furnace Level 30 as quickly as possible.
For small spenders, this means:
Prioritize Speedups whenever possible
Choose Speedups in event exchanges and bundles
Focus on upgrading buildings quickly to push Furnace levels
The goal is to reach Furnace Level 30 before Day 70, when the Fire Crystal era begins.
Post–Fire Crystal Era
Once the Fire Crystal era begins, your priority shifts.
At this stage:
Fire Crystals become the highest priority resource
Especially for paying players, Fire Crystals should be prioritized over most other resources
Continue pushing Furnace upgrades whenever possible
Recommended purchases include:
Fire Crystal Weekly Card
Wish Shop bundles
Intel Weekly Card
These provide consistent resources that help maintain steady Furnace progression.
2. Research Priority (Development First, Then Combat)
Research plays a crucial role in strengthening your account.
Whether you are focusing on leading rallies (frontline) or supporting troops, you should always complete Development research before focusing on Combat research.
One research node you should prioritize maxing early is:
Gear Improvement
This upgrade reduces the number of speedups needed for various actions, saving you a significant amount of resources over time.
Combat Research Order
Once Development research is complete, focus on Combat research in this order:
Formation Expansion
All Troop Attribute Bonuses
Single Troop Type Bonuses
Maxing Formation Expansion first is extremely important since it increases the number of troops you can deploy.
3. Chief Gear and Gems (Not a Priority for Small Spenders)
For small spenders, Chief Gear and Gems mainly improve gameplay comfort, but they are not essential priorities for account growth.
Chief Gear Upgrade Strategy
Upgrade gear evenly across sets.
Recommended troop priority:
Infantry > Marksman > Lancer
Upgrade gear in sets of three pieces to activate the bonus attribute circle in the interface.
Example upgrade combinations:
Infantry – Infantry – Marksman
Marksman – Lancer – Lancer
Some players prioritize Marksmans first to increase Bear Hunt scores, which is acceptable for PvE scoring. However, it may place you at a slight disadvantage in PvP battles.
Gem Upgrade Strategy
A simple rule for gems is the 5-2-3 rule:
Level 5 Infantry gems
Level 3 Marksman gems
Level 2 Lancer gems
While upgrading, keep the levels within 1–2 levels of each other, gradually raising them over time.
4. Hero Gear Upgrade Priority
Hero Gear upgrades are slightly more complicated, but the basic priority order is:
Infantry Hero HP
Marksman Hero Lethality
Lancer Hero Lethality
Marksman Hero HP
Infantry Hero Lethality
Lancer Hero HP
Some beginners make the mistake of investing almost all resources into three stats:
Infantry HP
Marksman Lethality
Lancer Lethality
This extreme approach is not recommended.
Why?
Marksmans may lack survivability and die quickly.
Future upgrade costs become significantly higher.
It becomes harder for small spenders to keep progressing.
Balanced upgrades are usually the better long-term strategy.
5. Hero Development and Selection
For small spenders, Wheel heroes should always be your first choice.
Because hero acquisition options are limited, you should avoid skipping Wheel events whenever possible.
Recommended strategy:
Try to reach at least 4-Star on Wheel heroes
Before Generation 5, avoid spending Orange Hero Fragments randomly
Save resources and invest them carefully
You should also prioritize heroes that perform well in Bear Hunt, such as:
Generation 2 Infantry hero
Generation 2 Marksman hero
Generation 5 Infantry hero
Generation 5 Marksman hero
Generation 7 Marksman hero
These heroes provide strong performance in PvE damage events.
During most events, it is also recommended to exchange resources for Fire Crystals whenever possible, as they are essential for late-game progression.
With careful planning and smart resource management, even low-spending players can build a strong and competitive account.
