> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://champlify-labs-llc.gitbook.io/ssow/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://champlify-labs-llc.gitbook.io/ssow/whale-shadows/how-to-obtain.md). # How to Obtain Shadows Whale Shadows are automatically created for your Secret Society of Whales NFTs on supported chains, but they need to be manually synced to reflect the current ownership of your OG Whale on Ethereum. By default, a synced shadow goes to the wallet that holds the OG Whale on Ethereum. The exception is when the OG holder has configured a **delegation** on [delegate.xyz](https://delegate.xyz) to another wallet — in that case, the shadow goes to the delegated wallet instead. ## Current State: Manual Syncing At present, Shadows must be manually synced to ensure they accurately reflect the ownership of your OG Whale. This means if you transfer your OG Whale to a different wallet, the corresponding Shadows on other chains will not automatically update—they require manual intervention to sync with the new ownership state. > **LayerZero Fees:** Cross-chain operations typically cost around 20-25 cents USD in LayerZero fees, paid to the Decentralized Verifier Network (DVN) for their verification work. ## How Delegations Affect Shadows Shadows are **governed by special delegations** created through [delegate.xyz](https://delegate.xyz). This creates powerful flexibility for using your Shadows across chains while keeping your OG Whale secure. ### Key Delegation Concepts: * **No Delegation**: Your Shadow goes to the same wallet that holds your OG Whale on Ethereum * **With Delegation**: If the OG holder has delegated to another wallet on [delegate.xyz](https://delegate.xyz), the Shadow goes to that delegated wallet on the target chain * **Chain-Specific Delegations**: You can delegate to different wallets for different chains (e.g., ApeChain rights to your hot wallet, Abstract rights to your gaming wallet) * **Global Delegations**: A single delegation that applies across all supported chains ### Important Notes: * **Normal delegations have no effect on Shadow ownership** - only special "shadow delegations" matter * Previous delegations may be honored, depending on how and when the delegation was configured. If you don't see your shadow in your wallet after syncing, check your delegations. * **Adding or changing delegations requires a sync** just like transferring your OG Whale * **Sync status on the website**: The **Sync Whales in Connected Wallet** list compares shadow ownership to your connected wallet only. It does not look up delegate.xyz delegations, so status may be wrong if your shadow is synced to a delegated wallet instead * **Delegation Priority**: Token-specific > Contract-specific > Wallet-specific delegations, with newest winning ties * **Hot Wallet Benefits**: Shadow delegations enable using your Shadows in a hot wallet while keeping your OG Whale secure in cold storage > **Example**: You can keep your OG whale in a hardware wallet while delegating ApeChain rights to your MetaMask, allowing you to use your Shadow for DeFi activities on ApeChain without exposing your valuable OG Whale. ## Future: Automated Syncing In the future, automation may be implemented on some or all supported chains to automatically sync Shadows on a regular cadence. This would eliminate the need for manual syncing and ensure your Shadows are always up-to-date with your OG Whale ownership. However, this functionality is not yet available. ## Wallet Security When Syncing > **🔒 Important Security Benefit: Any Wallet Can Sync** > > **You don't need to connect your cold wallet to sync your Shadows!** > > When syncing through block explorers or using the **Sync Whales by ID** section on the website, you can use **any wallet** to perform the sync transaction. Your Shadows will still end up in the correct wallet based on your OG Whale ownership and delegations, regardless of which wallet you use to perform the sync. > > **This means:** > > * Keep your valuable OG Whales secure in cold storage > * Use a hot wallet or any convenient wallet to pay LayerZero fees and perform syncs > * Your Shadows will appear in the wallet holding the OG Whale on Ethereum, or in the delegated wallet if a delegation is configured on delegate.xyz > * No need to expose your cold wallet to websites or sign transactions with it ## How to Sync Your Shadows There are two primary methods to sync your Whale Shadows: ### 1. Whale Shadows Website The easiest way to sync your Shadows is through the dedicated website at [**shadows.secretsocietyofwhales.com**](https://shadows.secretsocietyofwhales.com). This website provides a streamlined experience for managing and syncing your Shadows across all supported chains. The website provides: * A streamlined interface for managing and syncing your Shadows * Step-by-step instructions for **Sync Whales in Connected Wallet** and **Sync Whales by ID** * Real-time status updates for your Shadow synchronization * Built-in documentation and help guides * **Sync Whales in Connected Wallet** — see shadow status for all whales in the wallet you connect and sync all un-synced whales for a specific chain (status assumes shadows belong to the connected wallet; may be incorrect if you use delegate.xyz delegations) * **Sync Whales by ID** — sync specific whales by token ID; any wallet can perform the sync Simply visit [shadows.secretsocietyofwhales.com](https://shadows.secretsocietyofwhales.com) and follow the on-site instructions to sync your Shadows across all supported chains. ### 2. Direct Contract Interaction For more technical users, you can interact directly with the Beacon or Shadow contracts using your preferred chain's block explorer. This method requires knowledge of smart contract interaction but provides full control over the syncing process. **Security Benefit:** Like the website's **Sync Whales by ID** section, any wallet can be used to interact with the contracts and pay the LayerZero fees. Your Shadows will still appear in the correct wallet — the OG holder's wallet by default, or the delegated wallet if a delegation is configured on delegate.xyz. For detailed instructions, see [Via Block Explorer](/ssow/whale-shadows/how-to-obtain/block-explorer.md). Both methods achieve the same result: ensuring your Shadows accurately reflect the current ownership of your OG Whale on Ethereum.