Identity V New Year Lanterns Route Guide (Feb 2026)

Event Overview (Season 35)

Duration: January 23 - February 13, 2026 (22 days) Sub-event: January 27 - February 4, 2026 Map Hours: 06:00 AM - 03:00 AM server time Daily Reset: 06:00 AM sharp

Complete all 8 daily tasks in 15-20 minutes (optimized route) or 10-12 minutes (express route). China Town features NPCs: Horsekeeper, Jade Phial, Master Apothecary, Antique Appraiser, Fortune's Favor, Folk Writer, Master of Yi.

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Daily Tasks & Rewards

• Use 3 Handheld Fireworks: 10 Clues
• Photo 3 locations (Lunar New Year Stage, Festive Mural, Red Umbrella Alley): 5 Intimacy Points
• Find 3 Red Packet Messengers: 5 Intimacy Points
• Make 1 Lunar New Year wish: 10 Fragments
• Draw 1 Divination Slip: 10 Friendship Letters
• Enter Affinity Challenge 1 time: 10 Fragments
• Use Lunar New Year Cannon 1 time: 5 Spyglasses
• Pick up 3 Gold Ingots: 5 Costume Remnants

Free Daily Fireworks: 5 Firecrackers + 5 Premium Fireworks = 280 Clues + 140 Fragments (highest currency gain)

Additional fireworks: 3 Lucky Ingots each (28 Clues per Firecracker, 28 Fragments per Premium)

Event Currencies

Lucky Ingots: Primary currency from Material Crates (3 daily), ground pickups, tasks. Tri-Glazed Painting furniture costs 50 ingots.

Inspirations: Red Packet filling (19:00-22:00 peak hours)

• 200 Inspirations: 10 players
• 500 Inspirations: 25 players
• 1000 Inspirations: 50 players
• 2000 Inspirations: 100 players

Bamboo Tubes: 3 daily collections for Lunar New Year Lantern progression (unlocks Blessings: Small, Medium, Great)

Fastest Daily Route (Complete Walkthrough)

Minutes 0-5: Critical Collections

1. Collect 3 Material Crates (Lucky Ingots)
2. Gather 3 Bamboo Tubes
3. Pick up 3 Gold Ingots (5 Costume Remnants)

Minutes 5-10: Fireworks & Photos

1. Use 5 Firecrackers + 5 Premium Fireworks (280 Clues + 140 Fragments)
2. Photo Lunar New Year Stage (central plaza)
3. Photo Festive Mural (eastern district)
4. Photo Red Umbrella Alley (southern section)

Minutes 10-15: Messengers & Wish

1. Find 3 Red Packet Messengers (near Lunar New Year Stage, instrument zones)
2. Make 1 Lunar New Year wish (western area, 10 Fragments)

Minutes 15-20: Divination & Cannon

1. Draw 1 Divination Slip (Fortune's Favor NPC, 10 Friendship Letters)
2. Use Lunar New Year Cannon (northern zone, 5 Spyglasses)

Minutes 20-25: Affinity Challenge

Enter Affinity Challenge (5 lives, 7 questions, 10 Fragments). Experienced players finish in 2-3 minutes.

Minutes 25-30: Final Sweep

Optional NPC interactions, Red Packet Shower prep (every 10 minutes), Inspiration contributions during 19:00-22:00 peak.

Geographic Clustering (40% Time Reduction)

1. Central Plaza: Material Crates, Bamboo Tubes, Lunar New Year Stage photo, fireworks
2. Eastern District: Festive Mural photo, Red Packet Messengers (1-2), Gold Ingots
3. Southern Section: Red Umbrella Alley photo, Antique Restorer, remaining Gold Ingots
4. Northern Zone: Cannon, divination slip, Affinity Challenge
5. Western Area: Wish station, final Red Packet Messenger

Movement Optimizations

• Swinging seats: 2-player capacity, movement speed boost on dismount
• Roman Candles: Infinite use while moving
• Sancai Bombs: 10 initial + 40 collectible, path clearing
• Prospector/Forward: Best Survivors for speed (magnetic propulsion/sprint)

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Map Layout Guide

Central Plaza: Lunar New Year Stage, main spawn, Material Crates, fireworks area

Eastern District: Festive Mural, Jade Phial NPC, instruments (Pipa, Flute, Sheng), 1-2 Red Packet Messengers, dense Gold Ingots

Southern Section: Red Umbrella Alley, Antique Restorer NPC, potion vendor (Rain, Alice, Stellar, Rainbow, Tracer, Chaos - 3 Lucky Ingots each)

Northern Zone: Cannon, Fortune's Favor NPC, divination station, Affinity Challenge entrance

Western Area: Wish station, Master of Yi NPC, Folk Writer

Navigation Landmarks

• Red Umbrella Canopy (southern entrance)
• Elevated Stage Platform (central)
• Large Mural Wall (eastern)
• Cannon Emplacement (northern)
• Wishing Tree (western)

High-Density Zones: Eastern district + central plaza contain 60% of daily tasks. Focus here for 10-minute express runs.

First 30 Minutes Priority Plan

Why Timing Matters

• Red Packet Shower events (every 10 minutes) peak participation at 06:00, 06:10, 06:20
• Affinity Challenge matchmaking fastest during first 30 minutes
• Material Crates/Bamboo Tubes first-come, first-served
• Peak hours (19:00-22:00) maximize Inspiration value

Express Route (10-12 Minutes, 70% Rewards)

1. 3 Material Crates (2 min)
2. 5 Firecrackers + 5 Premium Fireworks (2 min)
3. 3 Gold Ingots (1 min)
4. 3 Bamboo Tubes (2 min)
5. 1 Lunar New Year wish (1 min)
6. Affinity Challenge (2 min)

Yields: 280 Clues, 150 Fragments, Lucky Ingots, Costume Remnants

Reward Priority Tier List

S-Tier (Highest Priority):

• Free Fireworks (280 Clues + 140 Fragments, best currency-per-minute)
• Material Crates (Lucky Ingots for Tri-Glazed Painting)
• Affinity Challenge (10 Fragments, matchmaking advantages)

A-Tier:

• Gold Ingots (5 Costume Remnants, quick collection)
• Bamboo Tubes (Lantern progression, Blessings)
• Lunar New Year Wish (10 Fragments, fast)

B-Tier:

• Photography (5 Intimacy Points, moderate time)
• Red Packet Messengers (5 Intimacy Points, variable search)
• Divination Slip (10 Friendship Letters)

C-Tier:

• Cannon (5 Spyglasses, minimal value)
• Optional Potions (situational)

Currency Spending Strategy

Priority 1: Tri-Glazed Painting furniture (50 Lucky Ingots) - limited exclusive Priority 2: Festive Red Packet graffiti Priority 3: Potions (3 ingots each) - only after furniture secured

Average daily Lucky Ingots: 8-12 from free sources Days to 50 ingots: 5-7 with consistent participation

Potions (3 Lucky Ingots each):

• Rain: Reduces visibility
• Alice: Size manipulation
• Stellar: Enhanced movement
• Rainbow: Visual distraction
• Tracer: Tracking (Hunter)
• Chaos: Randomized effects

Common Mistakes

Route Errors:

• ❌ Quest log order → ✅ Geographic clustering (35-40% time saved)
• ❌ Delayed fireworks → ✅ Deploy within first 10 minutes
• ❌ Random Red Packet search → ✅ Check Lunar New Year Stage, instruments first

Checkpoint Errors:

• ❌ Early cannon visit → ✅ Northern zone last (15-25 min segment)
• ❌ Off-peak Affinity Challenge → ✅ First 30 min or 19:00-22:00
• ❌ Ignoring Material Crate respawns → ✅ Respawns every 4-6 hours (2-3 collections/day possible)

Currency Errors:

• ❌ Potions before furniture → ✅ 50 Lucky Ingots for Tri-Glazed Painting first
• ❌ Off-peak Inspirations → ✅ Contribute during 19:00-22:00 only
• ❌ Skipping Bamboo Tubes → ✅ 3 daily for Blessings progression

Advanced Optimization

Pre-Reset Prep

• Log in 2-3 min before 06:00 AM (position at entrance, skip loading delay)
• Clear inventory space (avoid overflow menus, saves 30-45 sec)
• Review previous Red Packet Messenger spawns (60-70% recurrence at central plaza)
• Pre-plan Affinity Challenge answers (sub-2-min completion)

Multi-Day Planning

• 22-day event = 5-7 days to 50 Lucky Ingots
• Sub-event (Jan 27-Feb 4): Prioritize time-sensitive tasks
• Bamboo Tubes: 3/day limit, consistent collection required for Great Blessing
• Missing 3-4 days prevents top Blessings tier

Time-Saving Strategies

Split-Session: Morning (06:00-06:15) for crates/fireworks/tubes + Evening (19:00-22:00) for remaining tasks + Red Packets

Weekend Bulk: Log every 4-6 hours for 3-4 Material Crate collections/day (compensates missed weekdays)

Character Selection: Prospector (magnetic propulsion) or Forward (sprint) for 10-15% speed boost

Participation Requirements

Casual: 15-20 min full completion Express: 10-12 min (70% rewards) Minimum: 5-7 min (fireworks + crates + tubes)

Map Hours: 21-hour window (06:00 AM - 03:00 AM) accommodates all time zones

Missing Days Impact

• No catch-up mechanics (tasks don't roll over)
• Can miss 5-7 days and still get Tri-Glazed Painting
• Missing 4-5 days risks losing Great Blessing tier
• Sub-event days (Jan 27-Feb 4) permanently missable

Late Starter Catch-Up

1. Maximize Material Crate respawns (log every 4-6 hours)
2. Prioritize sub-event if active
3. Never skip Bamboo Tubes (cumulative progression)
4. Leverage 19:00-22:00 Red Packets (join partial fills)
5. Consider Echo purchases via BitTopup for exclusives

FAQ

What time does the event reset? 06:00 AM server time daily. Map open 06:00 AM - 03:00 AM (21 hours).

How long for all checkpoints? 15-20 min (optimized), 25-30 min (casual), 10-12 min (express route, 70% rewards).

Fastest route? Central Plaza → Eastern District → Southern Section → Northern Zone → Western Area. Geographic clustering saves 35-40% movement time.

First action after reset? Collect 3 Material Crates + 3 Bamboo Tubes, then use 5 Firecrackers + 5 Premium Fireworks (280 Clues + 140 Fragments). Complete within 10 minutes.

Exchange shop priority? Tri-Glazed Painting furniture (50 Lucky Ingots) first. Then Festive Red Packet graffiti. Potions (3 ingots) only after furniture secured.

Days needed for all rewards? 5-7 days for Tri-Glazed Painting (8-12 ingots/day average). 15-18 days for complete collection including Blessings. 22-day event provides 4-7 day buffer.

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