Guide · Last War: Survival
Last War: Survival hero tier list
Tier lists get argued about endlessly because most of them rank heroes in the abstract. What actually decides your power is which one hero you commit shards and exclusive gear to. This guide ranks heroes by role and investment priority within each squad — it is not a build order, and the squads below are listed in no particular sequence.
Which squad should you build first?
The game funnels new players into a tank squad first, so a lot of guides repeat that as if it were the only correct path. It is not. Aircraft-first and missile-first accounts are both common and both competitive — what matters is which lead hero you can actually finish.
- ▸There is no single correct first squad. Tank-first is the default the game nudges beginners toward because it is the safest, not because it is the strongest ceiling.
- ▸Build around your pulls. If your deepest shard stock and highest rarity sit in aircraft, leading with aircraft is usually better than forcing a tank you cannot finish.
- ▸Check what your alliance needs. Rally captains and defenders get different value out of the same hero.
- ▸Whatever you pick, finish it. Switching lead squads halfway is the most expensive mistake in the game.
Squad decision flow
Four questions about your roster, spending and alliance role — the plan at the end is written for your answers.
Step 1 of 5
Which squad type has your highest-rarity hero right now?
How the tiers are defined
Build first
Worth exclusive gear, shard priority and skill maxing. These carry both arena and rally damage for a long stretch of the game.
Strong support
Excellent second and third slots in a squad. Level them, but hold exclusive gear until your S-tier lead is done.
Situational
Useful for a specific squad type, event or early game gap. Fine to run, not worth heavy shard spending.
Bench / fodder
Use for squad filler and campaign only. Do not spend universal shards or exclusive gear here.
Tank squad
Frontline soak for rallies, arena and zombie modes. This is the squad the game itself pushes early, so most accounts already have a partial tank line.
- SYour highest-rarity tank with a damage-reduction or shield skill — one tank, fully invested, beats three half-built tanks.
- AA second tank with control or taunt utility for arena defence.
- BEvent-shop tanks used as squad filler until a better lead is unlocked.
Missile squad
Sustained rally and arena damage. Scales well with buff heroes behind it.
- SYour main missile carry — a very common exclusive-gear target once you have one clearly ahead of the rest.
- AMissile heroes with attack-buff or crit-buff skills that scale the carry.
- CDuplicate low-rarity missile heroes: keep as fodder, not as investment.
Aircraft squad
Burst damage, cleanup and several season modes. A legitimate first investment if your best pulls landed here — plenty of strong accounts lead with aircraft.
- SAn aircraft lead you have real shard depth on. Rarity and shard supply matter more than the squad type.
- AAircraft support heroes that buff the lead's burst window.
- BExtra aircraft heroes — level to unlock squad bonuses, then stop.
Build-order FAQ
Should I always build tank first?▼
No. Tank-first is the default the tutorial pushes because it is safe and forgiving, but it is not the only competitive path. Aircraft-first and missile-first accounts are both common at high levels. Pick the squad where your best hero and shard stock already live.
Is aircraft-first viable for beginners?▼
Yes, if you have a strong aircraft lead and enough shards to finish it. The risk is not the squad type — it is splitting investment across multiple squads. Many top accounts lead with aircraft for burst damage and season modes.
When should I switch my main squad?▼
Switching is expensive because shards and exclusive gear do not transfer. Only switch if your new lead is clearly higher rarity and you have enough shards to catch up. If the new lead is not at least one full rarity tier above, finish your current lead instead.
How many squads should I build at once?▼
Focus on one lead squad until its main hero is maxed. Build secondary heroes only to unlock squad bonuses and for situational modes. Do not spend exclusive gear or universal shards on a second squad until your first is finished.
What if I already invested in the 'wrong' squad?▼
A partially built squad is still useful for campaign, events, and alliance support. Finish the hero you already started before pivoting, unless the new hero is significantly higher rarity and you can rebuild quickly enough to stay relevant in your alliance.
Check it against your own account
A tier list can only tell you what is strong in general. Your roster, HQ level, research and gear stock decide what is strong for you. Upload your hero and HQ screenshots and WarPath will rank your actual heroes, tell you which one to push next, and explain why.
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Hero balance changes with game updates. Treat this as a priority framework rather than a fixed ranking, and verify current skill values in-game before committing resources. WarPath is an independent, unofficial tool and is not affiliated with the makers of Last War: Survival.