Hero Gear Ascension · Popular Question

How to Use Mithril in Whiteout Survival

Learn how to use Mithril, unlock red Legendary Hero Gear, compare all five empowerment costs, and find the best weekly sources.

Last verified
2026-08-24
Lv.100gear enhancement gate
150Mithril to max one red piece
35Mythic pieces per maxed piece
3+3weekly shop purchase caps
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01
TL;DR

Quick answer

Mithril does exactly one thing: it upgrades red (Legendary) hero gear. Once a Mythic hero gear piece reaches enhancement level 100 and Mastery Forging level 10, you spend 2 spare Mythic pieces to ascend it to red. From there, at levels 19, 39, 59, 79, and 99, each empowerment costs Mithril plus more Mythic pieces, all the way to level 100.

One fully maxed piece costs 150 Mithril and 35 Mythic pieces in total. Your steadiest sources are the Arena Shop and Labyrinth Shop (3 per week each), followed by calendar events, the Frostdragon Tyrant, Journey of Light, and paid packs.

02
MITHRIL

What Mithril is and where it goes

Official description: a mysterious metal that imbues Hero gear with extraordinary power. It is one of the most expensive items in the game, and the official Wiki recommends prioritizing it over other items when spending shop currency.

  • Mithril is the dedicated material for Hero Gear Ascension: after a Mythic (gold) hero gear piece ascends into red Legendary gear, every 20-level empowerment step runs on Mithril.
  • It is not used on buildings, Chief Gear, research, hero star upgrades, or Exclusive Gear — those systems each use their own materials, so do not spend Mithril in the wrong place.
  • Mithril is bound to your account and cannot be traded or gifted to other players.
03
GATES

Unlock requirements: three steps to red

Before your first Mithril is spent, the gear piece has to clear three steps and enter the red Legendary progression.

01

Enhance the Mythic piece to level 100

Take the target Mythic hero gear piece to enhancement level 100. This is a long-term Enhancement XP investment.

02

Raise Mastery Forging to level 10

The same piece needs Mastery Forging level 10. Forging materials and Enhancement XP are two separate cost lines.

03

Ascend with 2 spare Mythic pieces

With both gates cleared, spend 2 spare Mythic pieces of the matching troop class to complete the ascension. The piece turns red and can now be empowered with Mithril every 20 levels.

Note: the ascension itself costs no Mithril. The first Mithril is spent when the red piece sits at level 19 with Mastery Forging 11, breaking through to level 20.

04
COSTS

The five empowerment costs (19 → 100)

Red gear consumes Mithril plus Mythic pieces at levels 19, 39, 59, 79, and 99, pushing the piece to level 100. Each step also demands a higher Mastery Forging level.

Gear levelMastery ForgingMithrilMythic piecesBoost
19 → 20 Lv. 11 10 3 Expedition: attack or defense +20%
39 → 40 Lv. 12 20 5 Exploration: hero health or lethality +7.5%
59 → 60 Lv. 13 30 5 Attack or defense +30%
79 → 80 Lv. 14 40 10 Exploration: hero attack or defense +15%
99 → 100 Lv. 15 50 10 Expedition: attack or defense +50%
Total (ascension → max) 10→15 150 2+33 = 35

Summed from official Wiki data: one maxed piece costs 150 Mithril and 35 Mythic pieces (2 for the ascension + 33 for empowerments), plus Enhancement XP and forging materials along the way. The Wiki does not label the level-60 boost as expedition or exploration.

05
STEPS

Where to use it: step by step

There is no separate Mithril menu — everything happens inside the hero gear screen.

01

Open the Heroes panel

Open the hero menu and pick the hero wearing the target Mythic piece.

02

Open the gear enhancement screen

Tap the piece to open its enhancement / ascension screen and check the current enhancement and Mastery Forging levels.

03

Verify gates and materials

Confirm the levels are met and that you hold enough Mithril and spare Mythic pieces.

04

Preview and confirm

Preview the stat gain from this empowerment, double-check, and confirm.

When selecting the Mythic pieces to sacrifice, make sure you have not picked a piece your hero is currently wearing — review the selection before confirming.

06
PRIORITY

Troop and slot priorities

Each hero has six gear slots, but red gear is far too expensive to upgrade blindly. The official Wiki recommends these targets.

Infantry

Gauntlets, belt

Prioritize defense and health — Infantry carries your defense and gains the most from red gear

Marksmen

Goggles, boots

Prioritize lethality

Lancers

Goggles, boots

Prioritize lethality

Recommended order: Infantry first, then Marksmen, then Lancers. The general rule is to upgrade the gear each hero is designed for.

07
SOURCES

How to get Mithril

Mithril sources are limited. Prioritize the two weekly shops, then check rotating events. The official Wiki’s advice: prioritize Mithril over other items when spending shop currency.

Arena Shop

3 Mithril per week — one of the steadiest free sources.

Labyrinth Shop

Another 3 per week, for 6 total across both shops.

Calendar events

The Wiki recommends prioritizing Mithril from events on your calendar.

Frostdragon Tyrant

Playable reward; third-party guides record roughly 2–3 per run.

Journey of Light & seasonal event shops

Officially listed event sources that rotate with the season.

Other limited events

King of Icefield and the State of Power (SvS) preparation phase can also offer Mithril; some sources require kingdom progress, so check the current event panel.

Packs

Pack prices vary by region; check your local in-game price. Packs reset weekly.

F2P tip: clear both weekly shop caps without fail, and consider banking Arena Coins into Mythic gear chests to stockpile future ascension material.

08
TIMING

When to spend it

Save Mithril for these windows — one spend, two payoffs.

Officer Project: the highest single-item points

During Officer Project, spending 1 Mithril scores 216,000 points — the largest single score in the event. Mithril is scarce, so spend it only against a concrete tier gap or ranking push.

State of Power: gear materials day

Day 4 of State of Power focuses on hero gear materials and Mithril spending. Holding Mithril for that day converts the same spend into event points plus power.

Only spend at milestones

Mithril only produces gains at levels 19, 39, 59, 79, and 99. There is no reason to spend early — stockpile until a full empowerment is affordable.

Stockpile materials first

Ascension and empowerments need spare Mythic pieces alongside Mithril. Bank Mythic gear, forging materials, and Enhancement XP before starting, so the red piece never stalls halfway.

09
PITFALLS

Common mistakes

Red gear is the most expensive progression line in the game — every trap below is costly.

  • Assuming level 100 alone unlocks Mithril — you still need Mastery Forging 10 and the ascension.
  • Forgetting that every empowerment needs spare Mythic pieces, not just Mithril.
  • Ignoring the Mastery Forging gate while stacking Mithril.
  • Ascending gear for a transitional hero the next generation will replace.
  • Starting several red pieces at once and stalling all of them halfway.
  • Buying Mithril before checking Mythic pieces, forging materials, and Enhancement XP.
  • Accidentally selecting a worn Mythic piece as ascension material.
  • Assuming every event pays the same — check the current event panel for actual amounts.
10
FAQ

FAQ

Can Mithril be used anywhere besides hero gear?

No. It is exclusively for empowering red (Legendary) hero gear. Buildings, Chief Gear, research, hero star upgrades, and Exclusive Gear do not use Mithril.

Does the red ascension cost Mithril?

No. The ascension costs 2 spare Mythic pieces of the matching troop class. The first Mithril is spent empowering the red piece from level 19 to 20.

How much Mithril does one maxed piece need?

150 Mithril (10+20+30+40+50) plus 35 Mythic pieces (2 for ascension + 33 for empowerments), along with Enhancement XP and forging materials.

Can I trade or gift Mithril to allies?

No. Mithril is bound to your account and cannot be traded or gifted.

How do F2P players farm Mithril?

Buy 3 per week in each of the Arena and Labyrinth shops, prioritize Mithril calendar events, and pick it up from limited sources like the Frostdragon Tyrant, Journey of Light, and seasonal event shops.

CHECKLIST

Before you spend

  • Target Mythic piece is at enhancement level 100.
  • Mastery Forging is at level 10 (and 11–15 for later gates).
  • You hold 2 spare Mythic pieces for the ascension.
  • Mithril and Mythic piece counts match the cost table.
  • The selected sacrifice pieces are truly spare, not worn.
  • Mithril for event points is saved for Officer Project or State of Power windows.

Sources

Figures are compiled from the official Wiki (whiteoutsurvival.wiki) and cross-checked with community guides, as of August 2026. Costs, shop caps, and event rewards may change with updates — always defer to the current in-game screens.