Last Z: Survival Shooter Weapon Upgrade Guide 2026 | Level Up Fast

In Last Z: Survival Shooter, having an S-Tier weapon like the Plasma Minigun is only half the battle. A Level 1 Legendary weapon is significantly weaker than a Level 40 Epic weapon. The true power of your arsenal comes from Upgrading, Evolving, and Modding.

However, many survivors hit a "resource wall" around Chapter 15. You run out of Gold. You run out of Weapon Manuals. You have three copies of a gun but don't know if you should merge them now or wait. Mismanaging your upgrade materials can leave you stuck on a boss stage for weeks, unable to pierce its armor.

This guide is your blueprint for breaking through that wall. We will cover the most efficient ways to farm upgrade materials, the mathematics behind the Evolution system, and how to use ManaBuy to fast-track your progression without breaking the bank.

The Three Pillars of Power

Before we discuss farming, you need to understand what you are upgrading. Your weapon's total Combat Power (CP) is calculated from three sources:

• Level (Gold + Manuals): Increases base Damage. This is the linear progression. Capped by your Account Level.
• Star Level (Evolution/Merging): Increases stat multipliers and unlocks passive skills (e.g., "+20% Headshot DMG"). This requires duplicate weapons.
• Parts (Mods): Attachable gear like Scopes, Muzzles, and Magazines. These can be upgraded separately and moved between weapons.

Golden Rule: Never leave a weapon at Level 1 if you are using it. Even a small investment of Gold yields massive returns in early chapters. You can always reset it later.

Strategy 1: Efficient Resource Farming

Where do you get the millions of Gold needed for Level 60+ weapons?

1. The "Gold Rush" Daily Dungeon

Twice a day, the "Gold Rush" event opens. You face a horde of non-threatening zombies that drop gold coins.

Tip: Equip your weapon with the highest Fire Rate (like an SMG or Minigun) and the "Jackpot" passive skill if available. The more hits you land, the more gold drops. Do not bring a Sniper Rifle here; it is too slow.

2. Endless Mode (AFK Farming)

Endless Mode is the best source of Weapon Manuals (XP Scrolls).

Strategy: You don't need to play actively. Reach a wave you can comfortably clear (e.g., Wave 50), set your character up in a corner with a turret or defensive perimeter, and let the game auto-fire.

Reward: Even if you die, you keep the XP Manuals. Doing this overnight (if your battery allows) is how top players stay ahead.

3. Dismantling (Recycling)

Do not hoard Grey (Common) or Green (Uncommon) weapons. Go to your Inventory > Dismantle.

Dismantling gives you Weapon Parts (Screws, Gears) needed to upgrade your Mods. It also returns a portion of Gold.

Strategy 2: The Evolution (Merge) System

This is where players make the biggest mistakes. Merging weapons is permanent.

The Evolution Formula:

• Grey to Green: Requires 3x Identical Grey Weapons.
• Green to Blue (Rare): Requires 3x Identical Green Weapons.
• Blue to Purple (Epic): Requires 1x Blue Main + 2x Any Blue Weapons of the same type (e.g., 3 Assault Rifles).
• Purple to Gold (Legendary): Requires 1x Purple Main + 1x Purple Identical Copy + Purple Fodder.

Warning: Never use an S-Tier weapon (like the Plasma Minigun) as "fodder" to upgrade a lower-tier weapon. Always lock your S-Tier guns immediately so you don't accidentally merge them away.

Strategy 3: Parts & Modules Optimization

Weapon Parts are transferable. If you upgrade a "Level 10 Scope," you can unequip it from your AK-47 and put it on your Sniper Rifle, and it stays Level 10.

Priority List for Parts:

Magazine: More ammo = less reloading = higher DPS. In a zombie game, reloading is death.

Muzzle: Increases flat Damage.

Scope: Increases Crit Rate. Critical hits are vital for Bosses.

Stock: Increases Stability/Accuracy. Less important as zombies run straight at you.

The "Reset" Mechanic: No Resources Wasted

Last Z: Survival Shooter has a player-friendly feature called "Rebirth" or "Reset."

If you find a better gun (e.g., you finally pulled an S-Tier weapon), you can take your old Level 50 A-Tier gun, pay a small Gem fee (usually 50 Gems), and reset it to Level 1.

Result: You get back 100% of the Gold and Manuals you spent.

Strategy: Dump all your resources into your current best gun. Do not "save" gold for the future. Use it now to progress, then Reset and transfer later.

ManaBuy Top-Up Strategy for Upgrades

Sometimes, grinding isn't enough. You need specific "Evolution Crystals" or just raw Gems to buy Blueprints.

Best Value Purchases:

1. Weapon Growth Fund: This is the single best item in the game. It gives you Gems every 5 Account Levels. By Level 50, you have enough Gems to open 50+ Supply Crates.

2. Monthly Blueprint Pass: Gives random weapon blueprints daily.

The ManaBuy Advantage:

Instead of paying full price on the App Store, visit ManaBuy's Last Z Top-Up Center.

We often have deals on Gem Bundles. You can use these cheaper Gems to buy the "VIP Chests" in-game, which contain guaranteed Legendary Universal Shards. This is the fastest way to upgrade an S-Tier weapon from 1-Star to 3-Stars.

If you are also managing resources in other survival games, check out our guide on Last War: Survival Progression to see how efficient spending translates across genres.

Advanced Tips for Late Game (Chapter 20+)

1. Elemental Matching

Later chapters introduce elemental shields.

Fire Weapons: Burn Regenerating Zombies.

Acid/Corrosion: Melt Armored Zombies.

Shock: Stun Fast Zombies.

Do not rely on one gun. Keep an elemental variant of each type leveled up (using the Reset mechanic to swap resources when needed).

2. The "Dual Wield" Stat Stick

Even if you never use your Secondary Weapon (Pistol/Melee), its stats contribute to your total HP and ATK. Equip a Legendary pistol in your secondary slot and upgrade its Star Level just for the passive stat boost.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Should I upgrade the Baseball Bat?

A: Only for the first 3 chapters. Melee weapons put you in hit range of zombies. Once you get a gun, dismantle the bat for resources.

Q: I am stuck on a level. Should I grind previous levels?

A: Yes. Grind the highest level you can clear with 3 Stars. 3-Star victories give better loot drops than struggling through a level you barely survive.

Q: What does "Weapon Proficiency" do?

A: Using a weapon kills grants Proficiency. Higher proficiency unlocks small stat bonuses (e.g., +1% ATK) that apply even when you aren't using that weapon. It pays to use different guns occasionally to farm these global buffs.

Q: Is it worth buying Gold with Gems?

A: Never. Gold is farmable. Gems are premium. Save Gems for Weapon Crates or Energy refills.

Q: Where do I get S-Tier Modules?

A: Guild Boss raids and High-Level Endless Mode (Wave 100+). Join a strong Guild immediately.

Conclusion

Upgrading weapons in Last Z: Survival Shooter is a marathon of resource management. By utilizing the Reset function, farming the Gold Rush daily, and locking your S-Tier duplicates for Evolution, you can ensure your DPS always stays ahead of the zombie HP curve.

Don't let a lack of resources turn you into zombie chow. Plan your upgrades, use ManaBuy for efficient Gem stocking, and reclaim the world one bullet at a time.

For more survival game strategies, check out our Whiteout Survival Guide.