Part of the Game Mechanics Series:

Beginner Strategy Hub: Core principles (Start Here).

Lighthouse & Hero Development: Deep dive into Intel rewards.

Quick Answer (Read This First)

TL;DR: Both Beasts and Intel Missions are essential, but the optimal allocation changes as your account matures.

Lighthouse Intel Missions are ALWAYS priority because they provide rare hero shards, manuals, and XP that cannot be easily farmed elsewhere.
Beasts are stamina-intensive but context-dependent. They are critical during beast-focused events (Gina's Revenge, Mercenary Prestige) but secondary during downtime.
The Inflection Point: Once you unlock Epic/Mythic Intel Missions (Furnace 18+), Intel becomes substantially more valuable per stamina point.
Force Multiplier: Always use Gina (or stamina-reduction heroes) to stretch your stamina budget by ~25%.
Daily Stamina is Limited: Allocation decisions compound. Prioritize your bottleneck (usually shards/manuals), not just what's easy to click.

System Overview

What Stamina Is

Chief Stamina is a regenerating resource pool used for hunts, rallies, and Intel Missions. It is scarcer than most resources because every progression path requires it.

Why Both Systems Demand Stamina

Beasts (Solo/Rallies): Provide resources, Hardened Alloys, Hero XP, and Event Points.
Intel Missions: Provide Hero Shards, Exploration Manuals, Speed-ups, and rare materials (Fire Crystals).

How Importance Changes Over Time

Early Phase (Furnace 1–18): Stamina feels abundant. Beasts are the main sink.
Transition Phase (Furnace 18–30): Intel Missions unlock. You must now choose between farming beasts or getting hero shards.
Stabilisation Phase (Furnace 30+): Mythic Intel Missions grant powerful rewards. Experienced players prioritize Intel and only farm beasts for events.

Core Mechanics Explained

Lighthouse Intel Missions

Mechanics: Periodic refresh (e.g., every 8 hours). Must complete missions before reset or they are lost.
Tiers:
- Common: Basic rewards. Low priority later on.
- Epic: Good manuals/shards.
- Mythic: Highest Priority. Awards legendary shards and rare materials.
Key Mechanic: Incomplete missions do NOT carry over.

Beasts: Solo Hunts & Rallies

Solo Hunts: Costs stamina for resources/XP. Good for resource topping-up.
Rallies (Polar Terrors): Better rewards (gems, keys).
Auto-Join: Enable this immediately. It allows you to join alliance rallies for free rewards without spending your own stamina (while offline).

Stamina Regeneration

Cap: Stamina stops regenerating when full.
Rule: Never let stamina sit at the cap. Spend it to keep regeneration active.

Priority Order (6 Phases)

Phase 1: Early Account (Furnace 1–17)

Focus: Ignore beasts mostly. Gather resources.
Action: Prepare for Lighthouse unlock.

Phase 2: Lighthouse Unlocked (Furnace 18–25)

Focus: Establish Daily Intel Loop.
Action: Complete ALL Intel missions daily. Stop treating beasts as primary.

Phase 3: First Beast Event (Furnace 25–30)

Focus: Dual allocation.
Action: Reduce Intel to essential (Epic/Mythic) to save stamina for event beasts.

Phase 4: Mythic Intel Missions Unlock (Furnace 30+)

Focus: Intel is Superior.
Action: Mythic Intel is non-negotiable. It provides the rarest items in the game.

Phase 5 & 6: Late Game & Optimisation

Focus: Stamina Budgeting.
Action: Allocate based on current bottleneck (e.g., need Fire Crystals? Intel. Need Gems? Event).

Best Strategy (Optimised Allocation)

Daily Loop (Non-Event Days)

Tier 1 (Must-Do): Complete ALL Mythic Intel Missions. Then Epic.
Tier 2 (Should-Do): Auto-join alliance rallies (0 stamina).
Tier 3 (Optional): Hunt beasts / Common Intel if stamina remains.

Typical Budget (300 Stamina):

150 Stamina -> Mythic Intel
80 Stamina -> Epic Intel
70 Stamina -> Buffer / Rallies

Event Allocation Framework

High Priority (Gina's Revenge, Mercenary): 50% stam to event, 40% Intel.
Medium Priority: 30% stam to event.
Low Priority: Overflow stamina only.

Stamina Reduction: The "Gina" Factor

Gina (Gen 4 Marksman): Reduces stamina cost by 20% + boosts speed.
Impact: Using Gina acts as a 25% budget increase. Always use her for hunts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Ignoring Intel for Beasts

Trap: Beasts give instant resources. Intel feels slow.
Result: You have wood/meat but no hero shards. Your heroes fall behind.
Fix: Prioritize Intel. Resources can be gathered; shards cannot.

Mistake 2: Spreading Stamina Too Thin

Trap: Trying to do everything (Intel, Rallies, Beasts, Events).
Result: You fail to reach milestones in all categories.
Fix: Pick ONE primary goal per day (e.g., "Today is Intel + Gina Event").

Mistake 3: Neglecting Auto-Join

Trap: Forgetting to turn on Auto-Join.
Result: Missing hundreds of free reward chests weekly.
Fix: Keep it enabled permanently.

Mistake 4: Hoarding at Cap

Trap: Saving stamina at 100% capacity.
Result: Wasting natural regeneration.
Fix: Spend until <80% to keep regening.

Advanced Tips

Tip 1: Event Hoarding

2-3 days before a major event (like Gina's Revenge), stop doing Common/Epic Intel. Let stamina build up to near-cap, or use items to overflow slightly, to have a massive starting pool for the event.

Tip 2: Bottleneck Targeting

Need Shards? -> Mythic Intel.
Need Manuals? -> Epic/Mythic Intel.
Need Gems? -> Polar Terror Rallies & SVS Events.

Tip 3: Rally Leading

Lead rallies to help allies (they get free rewards). It costs you stamina but builds alliance strength.

FAQ

Q1: Should I ever skip Intel Missions? A: Only Common/Epic ones during high-priority beast events. Never skip Mythic.

Q2: How much stamina for events vs Intel? A: Normal days: 70% Intel. Major Events: 40% Intel, 50% Event.

Q3: Does Gina reduce Intel cost? A: No. Only beast hunts and rallies. Costs for Intel are fixed.

Q4: Is buying stamina with gems worth it? A: Generally NO. Save gems for Wheel/VIP. Only buy if pushing for a top leaderboard spot.

Key Takeaways

Intel > Beasts: Intel rewards (Shards/Manuals) are rarer and harder to get.
Auto-Join: Free rewards. Never turn it off.
Use Gina: 20% stamina discount is huge over time.
Don't Cap: Keep stamina regenerating.
Plan: Check the calendar. Hoard stamina before big events.

Related Handbook Guides:

Stamina Efficiency: Spending on Beasts vs. Intel Missions