Last War: Survival Best Heroes Tier List (2026)

In Last War: Survival, resources are scarce. Hero EXP, Skill Medals, and Legendary Shards are the bottlenecks that prevent you from dominating your server. Investing in the wrong hero early on can set your account back by weeks, leaving you vulnerable in the Alliance Duel League.

The meta in 2026 has shifted significantly. While early-game players still rely on the "Tank Meta" (Murphy/Kimberly), the endgame has evolved into a complex rock-paper-scissors battle involving Aircraft and Missile squads. Knowing which UR (Legendary) heroes are "future-proof" is the key to long-term success.

This tier list ranks every viable hero in Last War: Survival based on their performance in PVP (Arena/Server Wars), PVE (Zombie Bosses), and overall versatility. Whether you are a F2P grinder relying on Tavern pulls or a premium player looking to maximize your investment, this guide will tell you exactly who to prioritize.

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The Tier List Methodology

Before we look at the rankings, it is crucial to understand how heroes are evaluated:

Role Efficiency: Does the Tank actually tank? Does the Attacker deal enough burst damage to clear the backline?
Synergy: Does the hero buff their teammates? (e.g., Marshall's Crit buff).
Scalability: Is this hero still good at HQ Level 30 with T10 troops?

The Tiers:

Tier 0 (OP): The absolute best. Priority for all Universal Shards. Game-changing.
Tier 1 (Meta): Strong core heroes. Necessary for a complete 1st Squad.
Tier 2 (Niche): Good for 2nd/3rd Squads or specific counters.
Tier 3 (Avoid): Outdated or SSR heroes that scale poorly.

Overall Best Heroes (UR Ranking)

Tier	Heroes	Brief Verdict
Tier 0	Kimberly, Stetmann, Williams, D.Va	Kimberly is the DPS queen. Stetmann is the best AoE. Williams is the unkillable wall. D.Va is the Aircraft carry.
Tier 1	Murphy, Marshall, Schuyler, Swift	Murphy is the best F2P tank. Marshall is the premier buffer. Schuyler/Swift are essential for Aircraft/Missile squads.
Tier 2	Tesla, Carlie, Morrison	Strong but often replaced by T0 heroes in the primary squad. Essential for type-counter teams.
Tier 3	Mason (SSR), Violet, Scarlett	Great for beginners, but stats fall off compared to UR heroes in the late game.

Deep Dive: The "Big Three" Carries

If you only invest in three heroes, make it these three. They form the core of the "Energy (Tank)" meta that dominates 90% of the game.

1. Kimberly (Tank / Attacker)

Verdict: Must Have

Kimberly is the face of the game for a reason. Her skill fires a barrage of missiles that deal energy damage. Unlike other heroes who hit single targets, Kimberly's skill clears entire lanes.

Why she is Top Tier: Her exclusive weapon (Unlocked at 5-stars) drastically increases her firing rate. She is the highest DPS hero in the game until very late Aircraft setups.

Investment: Buy her $0.99 pack immediately. Use all Universal Shards on her until she is 5 stars.

2. Stetmann (Tank / Attacker)

Verdict: AoE King

Stetmann is often released a few weeks after server launch. He deploys sentry turrets that link together.

Why he is Top Tier: His damage spreads. If Kimberly is a sniper rifle, Stetmann is a flamethrower. He also provides a passive defense reduction to enemies, making Kimberly hit harder. The Kimberly + Stetmann duo is the bread and butter of PVP.

3. Williams (Tank / Defender)

Verdict: The Iron Wall

Murphy is great, but Williams is better. While Murphy reduces physical damage, Williams has a skill that allows him to ignore a portion of incoming damage entirely and convert it into health.

Why he is Top Tier: In high-level PVP, burst damage is insane. Williams is the only tank capable of surviving a full volley from an enemy Kimberly. He buys time for your backline to fire.

The F2P God Squad: How to Compete for Free

Not everyone can spend thousands on "Whale" heroes. If you are Free-to-Play, you need to be smarter. Your goal is to maximize the heroes the game gives you for free or low cost.

The F2P Lineup:

Front Row (Defense): Murphy + Violet
Back Row (Offense): Mason + Marshall + (Kimberly/Stetmann)

Murphy: You can get his shards from the Tavern recruitment chest. He is extremely tanky and reduces damage taken by your backline. Prioritize his "Ironclad" skill.

Violet: A solid SSR tank. While not a UR, she is easy to 5-star using Elite Recruitment tickets. A 5-star Violet is better than a 2-star Williams.

Mason: The best SSR attacker. In Season 2, you can actually upgrade Mason from SSR to UR rarity using a special item. This makes him the only "Free UR" attacker in the game.

Tip: Check out our Beginner Progression Guide to learn how to farm recruitment tickets efficiently to unlock these heroes.

The Meta Shift: Aircraft & Missile Squads

As servers age (Season 2 and beyond), players start unlocking Aircraft and Missile heroes. This introduces the Rock-Paper-Scissors mechanic.

The Aircraft Squad (Counter-Meta)

Core Heroes: D.Va, Carlie, Morrison, Schuyler, Lucius.

Why build it? 80% of players run Tank squads (Kimberly/Stetmann). Aircraft units deal 20% extra damage to Tanks and take 20% less damage from them.

The Star: D.Va. She is an absolute monster who dives the backline. Building a strong Aircraft squad is the best way for a lower-power player to defeat a higher-power Tank player.

The Missile Squad (The Whale Toy)

Core Heroes: Tesla, Swift, McGregor.

Why build it? To counter the Aircraft players.

Verdict: Generally, Missile heroes are considered the weakest of the three types in the current meta. Only build this if you are a heavy spender (Whale) who needs a 3rd squad for the Grand Arena.

Squad Buffs: The 5-Same Bonus

When building a team, you must consider the "Same Type" buff.

5 Heroes of the same type (e.g., 5 Tanks): +20% Attack and +20% HP.

4 of same type: +15% Stats.

3 of same type: +10% Stats.

Strategy: Always aim for the 5-Same Buff in your main squad. The 20% raw stat boost is mathematically stronger than mixing in a slightly better hero from a different faction.

Exception: In the very early game, a 5-star SSR might be better than a 1-star UR, regardless of the buff.

Investment Strategy: Where to Spend?

Hero shards are expensive. If you are going to spend money via ManaBuy, you need to buy the right packs.

Kimberly Shards: Buy every daily/weekly pack available for her until she is maxed.
Stetmann Pass: When his battle pass releases, buy it. It guarantees him.
Universal UR Shards: Never use these on Tavern heroes (Murphy/Marshall) because you can get them for free with luck. Save Universal Shards for "Event Only" heroes like Stetmann and Williams.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I reset a hero if I made a mistake?

A: Currently, Last War does not have a full hero reset feature (like AFK Arena). Once you spend EXP and Shards, they are locked. This is why following a tier list is crucial—you cannot get those resources back easily.

Q: Is Mason worth upgrading to UR?

A: Yes, absolutely. Once the Season 1 event allows it, upgrading Mason consumes his SSR shards but turns him into a UR hero. Since SSR shards are easy to get, he becomes the easiest UR to get to 5 stars. He is a fantastic placeholder until you max Stetmann.

Q: Should I put Marshall in the front or back?

A: Back row. Marshall is a Support. His damage is low, but his buff (increases team firing rate and crit) is vital. If he dies early in the front row, your Kimberly loses her buff. Keep him safe behind Williams/Murphy.

Q: How do I beat the Zombie Bosses (Doom Walkers)?

A: PvE requires damage, not survival. Swap out one tank (Murphy) for another attacker (Mason/Tesla). You don't need two tanks for bosses; you need to kill them before the timer runs out.

Q: Are the new Season 2 heroes better than Season 1?

A: Generally, yes. Power creep exists. However, Kimberly remains T0 even in Season 2 due to her unique mechanics. Do not abandon your Kimberly for the "new shiny toy" unless you have the budget to max the new hero immediately.

Conclusion

Building the perfect squad in Last War: Survival takes time and patience. Do not get distracted by the dozens of SSR heroes in your roster. Focus your resources on the "Core Four" (Kimberly, Stetmann, Williams, Marshall) and one flexible tank (Murphy).

Remember, a team of five Level 100 heroes will always lose to a team of five Level 120 heroes due to the level suppression mechanic. Focus on depth, not breadth.

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