Heartopia Whalefall Canyon Guide: Main Story, XP & Cleanliness

Call of Whales has ended, but Whalefall Canyon has not disappeared. Heartopia has turned the underwater region into a permanent progression area, with a new three-part Main Story, Exploration Level XP, Certificates of Exploration, and gradually increasing Cleanliness caps.

The most important change for returning and new players is that Whalefall Canyon now has two separate access gates to understand. New players entering after the Fashionwave need to meet the updated portal requirement, while the new permanent Main Story has its own Home Level requirement. These should not be treated as the same level system.

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This guide focuses only on permanent Whalefall Canyon progression. It does not repeat the limited Call of Whales Fashionwave quests, seasonal Store, whale collection, or event rewards.

Is Whalefall Canyon Permanent After Call of Whales?

Yes.

Heartopia's Call of Whales Fashionwave ended on August 22, 2026 at 5:59 Server Time, but the official ending notice confirms that several major underwater systems remain available afterward.

The most important takeaway is:

Whalefall Canyon is permanent, but Call of Whales was not.

The underwater region, progression systems, cleanup activity, and Seamount survive the Fashionwave. Seasonal animals, Fashionwave currency, and other event-specific content do not.

How to Unlock Whalefall Canyon After Call of Whales

The portal requirement changed after the Fashionwave ended.

During Call of Whales, players could unlock Whalefall Canyon by reaching D.G. Member Level 7 and completing the beginner Main Story quest The Answer Lies Within.

After the Fashionwave ended, Heartopia's official social notice says the requirement for players who have not already unlocked the portal became:

D.G. Member Level 21 or above

plus

Complete The Answer Lies Within

Players who had already unlocked Whalefall Canyon before the Fashionwave ended are not affected by the new Level 21 requirement.

This means an older guide telling every player:

Reach Level 7 to unlock Whalefall Canyon

is now incomplete for new accounts.

The Level 7 requirement belonged to the Fashionwave access period.

For post-Fashionwave players, check:

D.G. Level 21 + The Answer Lies Within

first.

Heartopia Official X Account

D.G. Member Level and Home Level Are Not the Same Requirement

This is one of the easiest parts of the new Whalefall system to misunderstand.

Heartopia currently uses two different level gates.

D.G. Member Level

controls access to the Whalefall Canyon portal for new post-Fashionwave players.

Current requirement:

D.G. Member Level 21

Home Level

controls whether you can accept the new Whalefall Canyon Main Story quests.

Heartopia's August 19 update specifically says that D.G. Members who have reached the required Home Level can accept the Main Story from the Whalefall Canyon main screen.

However, the official announcement does not give one universal Home Level number.

Do not assume that:

D.G. Level 21 = required Home Level.

They are different progression systems.

If the Main Story is not available even though you can already enter Whalefall Canyon, check the requirement displayed by the current quest interface.

Where to Start the Whalefall Canyon Main Story

Once you have access to Whalefall Canyon and meet the required Home Level, open the Whalefall Canyon main screen.

Heartopia says the new permanent Main Story can be accepted directly from that interface.

The correct flow is:

Enter Whalefall Canyon

→

Open the Whalefall Canyon main screen

→

Check the Main Story requirement

→

Confirm your Home Level

→

Accept the available Main Story quest

Do not rely on an old Fashionwave guide that tells you to begin by visiting a seasonal NPC or Event page.

The new Main Story is part of permanent Whalefall Canyon progression.

For the published article, this section would benefit from a current-client screenshot showing the Main Story entry.

Suggested image alt:

Heartopia Whalefall Canyon Main Story quest location

How Many Whalefall Canyon Main Story Quests Are There?

Heartopia officially describes the new Main Story as a three-part quest chain.

That wording is important.

It does not necessarily mean:

exactly three individual quests.

A "part" can contain multiple objectives or smaller steps.

The safest current description is:

The permanent Whalefall Canyon Main Story is divided into three major parts.

As the live quest chain becomes fully documented, this guide should add:

• exact quest names;

• Home Level requirement for each part;

• NPCs and locations;

• objectives;

• Exploration XP rewards;

• Certificates of Exploration;

• Cleanliness-cap changes;

• major unlocks.

Do not invent those values before verifying them in the current client.

What Do the New Main Story Quests Reward?

Heartopia officially confirms two major progression rewards:

Exploration Level XP

and

Certificates of Exploration

Completing the Main Story also unlocks additional Whalefall Canyon content.

The new story therefore does more than provide dialogue.

It directly interacts with your permanent underwater progression.

A useful way to understand the structure is:

The key point is that these systems are connected, but they are not interchangeable.

Exploration XP and Certificates of Exploration Are Different

Do not treat Certificates of Exploration as another name for Exploration XP.

Heartopia lists them separately as Main Story rewards.

That means you should think about Whalefall progression as having more than one requirement.

Exploration XP moves your general exploration progress forward.

Certificates are a separate progression item that can matter when advancing the Exploration system.

Community players have also reported reaching a point where filling the Exploration progress bar was not enough by itself and additional Certificates were still needed before progressing further. Exact requirements can vary by Exploration Level, so do not use one old number as a universal rule.

The practical advice is simple:

If your Exploration XP looks full but your level is not advancing, check your Certificate requirement before grinding more XP.

Why Is My Whalefall Exploration Level Not Increasing?

Use this troubleshooting order before spending another hour farming underwater resources.

This leads to one of the most important rules in the entire guide:

Identify the gate before you grind.

If Certificates are the problem, farming more ordinary XP may not solve it.

If Home Level is blocking the Main Story, repeatedly cleaning pollution inside Whalefall Canyon will not directly remove that Home Level requirement.

And if an area has reached its current Cleanliness cap, the next Main Story step may matter more than additional cleanup.

How to Get Exploration XP in Whalefall Canyon

The new Main Story is now an officially confirmed source of Exploration Level XP.

Whalefall Canyon also remains a permanent exploration area, and Ocean Cleanup continues after the Fashionwave.

Players commonly build Whalefall progress by continuing to explore the underwater region and participate in its permanent activities.

However, avoid using an old guide that promises a fixed amount of XP from every plant, pollution node, or route unless that value has been checked against the current build.

The best progression order after the August Main Story update is:

Main Story first

→

Check current Exploration requirements

→

Identify whether you lack XP or Certificates

→

Farm only the resource you actually need

This is more efficient than blindly circling Whalefall Canyon collecting everything.

The Best Whalefall Progression Order

A good permanent-progression routine now looks like this:

Step 1: Check for Main Story

Whenever a new Whalefall Main Story part becomes available, do that before committing to a long grind.

The story can award both Exploration XP and Certificates and can raise Cleanliness caps.

Step 2: Check your Exploration screen

Determine whether your next gate is:

Exploration XP

or

Certificates of Exploration.

Step 3: Check Cleanliness caps

See whether a region has room for more cleanup progress.

Step 4: Use Ocean Cleanup and exploration deliberately

Only grind once you know what you are trying to improve.

Step 5: Recheck the Expedition Catalog

After a progression increase, see what new Whalefall content has become available.

This creates a much cleaner progression model:

Story → Diagnose → Targeted Grind → Unlock

instead of:

Grind everything and hope something levels up.

What Is Cleanliness in Whalefall Canyon?

Cleanliness represents the environmental recovery of Whalefall Canyon areas.

Ocean Cleanup remains a permanent Hobby even after Call of Whales, so cleaning pollution is still part of the long-term underwater gameplay loop.

Cleanliness should not be confused with Exploration XP.

They describe different things.

Exploration XP

tracks exploration progression.

Cleanliness

tracks environmental cleanup progress in a Whalefall area.

An activity may contribute to the broader Whalefall progression experience, but that does not make the two meters identical.

What Is the Whalefall Canyon Cleanliness Cap?

The Cleanliness cap is the maximum Cleanliness an area can currently reach.

Heartopia's August 19 update states that progressing the new Main Story will gradually increase the Cleanliness cap for different Whalefall Canyon areas.

This is very different from the Main Story automatically increasing your actual Cleanliness.

A simple example:

Imagine an area is currently:

80 / 80

After a Main Story step, its cap might behave conceptually like:

80 / 100

The story did not automatically give you another 20 Cleanliness.

It simply increased the maximum available progress.

You would still need to perform the relevant cleanup activity to move toward the new cap.

Those numbers are only an example to explain the system, not actual in-game values.

The useful rule is:

Cap increase ≠ automatic Cleanliness increase.

Why Main Story Progress Should Come Before Heavy Cleaning

Suppose you have already reached the current Cleanliness cap in an area.

Continuing to search for more ways to raise that area's Cleanliness may not be the best use of your time if the next Main Story step is what increases the cap.

That creates a new progression relationship:

Main Story

→

Higher Cleanliness Cap

→

More room for Ocean Cleanup progress

So before spending a long session trying to push an area beyond its current limit, check whether there is another Main Story part available.

This is one of the biggest reasons the August update changes how players should approach Whalefall Canyon.

The underwater region is no longer just:

Enter → clean everything → repeat.

Story progress now directly controls part of the environmental progression ceiling.

Can You Skip the New Whalefall Canyon Main Story?

Some returning players can.

Heartopia officially states that D.G. Members who already completed all quests in the Call of Whales Fashionwave can choose to skip the new Main Story quests.

More importantly, eligible players who skip can:

claim all Main Story quest rewards directly.

So the official Skip feature does not require qualified players to sacrifice the Main Story's normal quest rewards.

Should You Skip the Whalefall Canyon Main Story?

That depends on what you want.

If your priority is only progression, skipping can save time.

Eligible players can immediately collect the quest rewards and continue with Exploration progression.

If you care about Heartopia's story and Whalefall Canyon lore, however, there is no need to rush to Skip just because the option exists.

The Main Story is now the permanent narrative bridge between the Fashionwave-era area and Whalefall Canyon's ongoing progression.

The current official announcement does not clearly state whether skipped story scenes can later be replayed.

If seeing every dialogue sequence matters to you, check the live interface before using Skip.

Does Skipping the Main Story Lose Rewards?

For players who meet the official Skip requirement, no Main Story quest rewards should be lost through the Skip itself.

Heartopia says eligible players can skip the Main Story and claim all quest rewards directly.

That is one of the few parts of the skip system that is explicitly confirmed.

What is not confirmed in the August 19 notice is whether skipping affects:

• later story replay;

• dialogue viewing;

• screenshots;

• any optional narrative interactions.

Do not assume those features are preserved unless the current game interface confirms them.

What Happened to the Whalefall Canyon Portal Requirement?

This is especially relevant to players using older guides.

During Call of Whales:

D.G. Level 7 + The Answer Lies Within

was sufficient to unlock the portal.

After the Fashionwave:

D.G. Level 21 + The Answer Lies Within

became the requirement for players who had not already unlocked it.

Existing unlocks were grandfathered in.

This produces two player experiences:

Returning Call of Whales player

Portal already unlocked → continue using Whalefall Canyon.

New post-Fashionwave player

Reach D.G. Level 21 → complete The Answer Lies Within → unlock portal.

That is why some players can enter at a lower current D.G. Level while a newer player may see a Level 21 gate.

Whalefall Portal Unlock Is Not the Same as Whalefall Progression

Unlocking the portal only gives you access to the underwater area.

It does not mean every Whalefall feature is immediately unlocked.

Once inside, permanent progression can still depend on:

• Main Story;

• Home Level;

• Exploration Level;

• Certificates of Exploration;

• Cleanliness caps;

• Expedition Catalog progression.

Think of the portal as the front door.

The actual Whalefall progression system begins after you walk through it.

Is the Whalefall Canyon Expedition Catalog Permanent?

Yes.

Heartopia's ending notice specifically says the Whalefall Canyon Expedition Catalog is permanent, and players can continue progressing it after Call of Whales ends.

This is important because it removes unnecessary Fashionwave FOMO.

You did not need to complete every permanent Whalefall Exploration level before August 22.

Call of Whales had a deadline.

The permanent Expedition Catalog does not share that Fashionwave deadline.

This also explains why current Whalefall progression can feel slow.

It is designed to continue beyond one limited event season.

Is Ocean Cleanup Still Available?

Yes.

Ocean Cleanup was explicitly announced as a permanent Hobby and remains available after the Fashionwave.

Heartopia also says Ocean Cleanup events continue to operate after Call of Whales.

That makes Ocean Cleanup part of long-term Whalefall Canyon progression rather than an activity you were supposed to finish before August 22.

If you enjoy the underwater region, there is no need to rush it as if the entire system is disappearing.

Is Seamount Still Available?

Yes.

Players who unlocked the underwater home Seamount can continue entering, decorating, and arranging it after the Fashionwave.

This is another example of the distinction between:

Call of Whales seasonal rewards

and

Whalefall permanent systems.

Seamount belongs to the latter.

What Call of Whales Content Is Gone?

Not everything from the underwater season became permanent.

Heartopia's ending notice confirms that Dolphins were seasonal animals and left Whalefall Canyon after Call of Whales. Existing Bond Levels are preserved, but the animals themselves were tied to the Fashionwave period.

The Ocean Treasure Chest also stopped giving interaction gifts after the Fashionwave.

The Fashionwave Store closed, and unused Fashionwave Tokens were scheduled to convert into Gold.

The Call of Whales Concert also ended with the Fashionwave.

So remember:

Permanent map does not mean every seasonal feature inside the map became permanent.

Why Whalefall Canyon Progress May Feel Slow

Whalefall Canyon is now a permanent progression system.

That makes its pacing fundamentally different from a two- or six-week event pass.

Community players in late August have reported reaching higher Exploration requirements that take substantial additional XP and Certificates, while continuing to use Ocean Cleanup and underwater gathering over time.

That does not mean you are necessarily progressing incorrectly.

It may simply mean the system is designed to be advanced gradually.

The wrong question is:

How do I finish all of Whalefall Canyon immediately?

A more useful question is:

Which progression gate is currently stopping me?

Stop Grinding When You Hit the Wrong Gate

Before every long farming session, identify your current blocker.

Portal locked

→ Reach D.G. Member Level 21 and complete The Answer Lies Within.

Main Story unavailable

→ Check the required Home Level.

Exploration XP incomplete

→ Earn more Exploration XP.

XP appears ready but progression is blocked

→ Check Certificates of Exploration and the current level-up requirements.

Cleanliness already at its current cap

→ Check whether another Main Story part raises that cap.

New Whalefall content remains locked

→ Review Main Story and Expedition Catalog progression.

This is the core progression rule:

Identify the gate before you grind.

The Better Whalefall Progression Model

The entire permanent system can be simplified into four stages.

1. Access

Unlock the Whalefall Canyon portal.

For new post-Fashionwave players:

D.G. Level 21 + The Answer Lies Within.

2. Story

Complete or officially Skip the available three-part Main Story.

3. Gate

Check what is currently blocking you:

Home Level
Exploration XP
Certificates
Cleanliness Cap

4. Targeted Progression

Only grind the resource or system that actually solves that gate.

This creates:

Access → Story → Gate → Grind → Unlock

That is more efficient than treating every underwater activity as equally urgent.

Whalefall Canyon Progress Checklist

Use this checklist when you are unsure what to do next.

• Confirm the Whalefall Canyon portal is unlocked.

• If you are a new player, check D.G. Level 21.

• Confirm The Answer Lies Within is complete.

• Open the Whalefall Canyon main screen.

• Check whether a new Main Story part is available.

• Check the required Home Level.

• Complete or Skip the available Main Story if eligible.

• Claim Exploration XP and Certificates.

• Check your current Exploration Level requirements.

• Check your Certificates of Exploration.

• Review each area's current Cleanliness cap.

• Use Ocean Cleanup where additional Cleanliness progress is available.

• Recheck the Whalefall Canyon Expedition Catalog.

• Review newly unlocked permanent content.

If you follow this order, it becomes much easier to identify whether you actually need to grind.

Current Whalefall Canyon Information That Still Needs Verification

Several exact values are not published in Heartopia's August 19 announcement.

For accuracy, a complete live guide should verify these from the current client rather than copy them from older posts:

• exact Home Level for Main Story Part 1;

• whether Parts 2 and 3 require higher Home Levels;

• exact Main Story quest names;

• number of objectives in each part;

• Exploration XP reward per quest;

• Certificate reward per quest;

• which Cleanliness caps increase after each part;

• exact Cleanliness-cap values;

• Certificate requirements at each Exploration Level;

• current maximum Exploration Level;

• whether skipped story scenes can be replayed.

The official update confirms the systems.

It does not provide all of the numbers.

Read Heartopia's Official August 19 Update

FAQ

Is Whalefall Canyon permanent in Heartopia?

Yes. Heartopia confirms that Whalefall Canyon remains a permanent underwater map after Call of Whales. Ocean Cleanup, Seamount, and the Expedition Catalog also continue after the Fashionwave.

How do I unlock Whalefall Canyon after Call of Whales?

For players who did not already unlock it during the Fashionwave, the post-event requirement is D.G. Member Level 21 or higher plus completion of The Answer Lies Within. Previously unlocked players are unaffected.

Why can't I unlock Whalefall Canyon at Level 7 anymore?

Level 7 was the Fashionwave-period access requirement. After Call of Whales ended, the portal requirement for new unlocks changed to Level 21 plus The Answer Lies Within.

How do I start the new Whalefall Canyon Main Story?

Reach the required Home Level, then open the Whalefall Canyon main screen and accept the available Main Story quest.

What Home Level do I need for the Whalefall Canyon Main Story?

The official August 19 update confirms a required Home Level but does not publish one universal number in the announcement. Check the current Main Story requirement shown in your game.

How many parts are in the Whalefall Canyon Main Story?

The Main Story chain is officially divided into three parts. That does not necessarily mean there are only three individual objectives or quests.

What rewards do the new Whalefall Main Story quests give?

Heartopia confirms rewards including Exploration Level XP and Certificates of Exploration, along with access to additional Whalefall Canyon content.

Can I skip the Whalefall Canyon Main Story?

Players who completed all Call of Whales Fashionwave quests can choose to skip the new Main Story.

Do I lose Main Story rewards if I skip?

Eligible players can skip and claim all Main Story quest rewards directly, according to the official update.

What is the Cleanliness cap?

The Cleanliness cap is the maximum Cleanliness currently available in a Whalefall area. Progressing the Main Story gradually raises these caps.

Does completing the Main Story automatically clean Whalefall Canyon?

No. The official update says Main Story progress increases the Cleanliness cap. That means it increases the available maximum rather than automatically filling all Cleanliness progress.

Why is my Exploration XP full but my level is not increasing?

Check your current Certificates of Exploration requirement and any additional progression requirement shown on the Whalefall interface. XP and Certificates are separate progression resources.

Is Ocean Cleanup still available?

Yes. Ocean Cleanup remains a permanent Hobby, and Heartopia says Ocean Cleanup events continue after Call of Whales.

Is the Whalefall Canyon Expedition Catalog permanent?

Yes. You can continue progressing the Expedition Catalog after the Fashionwave ends.

Is Seamount permanent?

Yes. Players who unlocked Seamount can continue entering and decorating their underwater home after Call of Whales.

Are dolphins still available in Whalefall Canyon?

No. Dolphins were seasonal Call of Whales animals and left Whalefall Canyon after the Fashionwave ended. Previously earned Bond Levels are not reset.

Final Thoughts

Whalefall Canyon is no longer something you need to rush before a Fashionwave deadline.

The permanent progression loop is now much clearer:

Access → Main Story → Exploration XP & Certificates → Cleanliness Cap → Targeted Progression

For new players, start by checking D.G. Level 21 + The Answer Lies Within.

Once inside, do the available Main Story before blindly grinding. If progression stops, determine whether the real blocker is Home Level, Exploration XP, Certificates of Exploration, or the Cleanliness cap.

The fastest way to progress Whalefall Canyon is not to farm everything at once.

It is to identify the current gate and solve that gate first.

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