At A Glance
- Learn which heroes deserve your valuable upgrade resources.
- Find the best upgrade priorities for both F2P and paying players.
- Avoid common mistakes that can slow your long-term progression.
One of the biggest challenges in Last War: Survival Game is deciding which heroes deserve your limited resources. Hero EXP, skill books, shards, gear, and promotion materials become increasingly difficult to obtain as you progress, meaning every investment matters.
Many new players make the mistake of upgrading every hero they unlock, only to find themselves unable to compete in later stages. Instead, successful players focus on building one powerful team around a handful of high-value heroes.
This guide ranks the best heroes to upgrade first based on their long-term usefulness, versatility, and overall performance in PvE, PvP, Alliance events, and seasonal content. The recommendations are based on current community discussions, Reddit strategies, YouTube testing, and experienced player guides.
Why Hero Investment Matters
Unlike many mobile strategy games, upgrading heroes in Last War requires a significant amount of resources.
You’ll regularly spend:
- Hero EXP
- Skill Books
- Hero Shards
- Equipment materials
- Promotion resources
Because these items are limited, investing in the wrong heroes can delay your account progression for weeks.
The goal is to build one elite squad before worrying about secondary teams.
Best Hero to Upgrade First: Kimberly
Kimberly remains one of the strongest heroes in Last War thanks to her exceptional burst damage.
She performs well in almost every activity, including:
- Campaign missions
- Arena battles
- Alliance Duel
- Rally events
- Seasonal content
Her ability to eliminate priority targets quickly makes her valuable from the early game through to the endgame.
If you unlock Kimberly early, she should usually become your highest-priority damage dealer.
Best Tank to Upgrade: Murphy
Every strong team needs a reliable frontline.
Murphy continues to be one of the best defensive heroes available because he protects your damage dealers while surviving long battles.
Murphy excels in:
- PvE progression
- Zombie stages
- Arena defense
- Alliance rallies
Many players underestimate tanks early in the game, but Murphy often determines whether your damage dealers survive long enough to win battles.
Best Hero for Long Battles: Tesla
Tesla specializes in sustained damage.
Rather than relying entirely on burst attacks, Tesla becomes stronger throughout extended fights.
He’s particularly effective during:
- Boss encounters
- Alliance rallies
- Expedition battles
- High-level campaign stages
Tesla pairs exceptionally well with Murphy, creating a balanced frontline and damage combination.
Best Area Damage Hero: DVA
DVA offers outstanding area-of-effect damage that allows players to clear groups of enemies efficiently.
She’s useful in:
- Campaign farming
- Zombie events
- Expedition
- Seasonal activities
Because of her versatility, DVA remains one of the safest heroes to invest in.
Best Support Hero: Marshall
Support heroes don’t always receive the attention they deserve.
Marshall significantly improves your team’s damage output through powerful buffs that benefit every member of your squad.
He’s especially valuable during:
- Alliance rallies
- Boss fights
- PvP battles
- Difficult campaign stages
Even though his personal damage may not be the highest, his overall contribution to team performance is enormous.
Best Heroes for Free-to-Play Players
Free-to-play players need to spend resources even more carefully.
If possible, prioritize:
- Murphy
- Kimberly
- DVA
- Marshall
- Tesla
This group provides an excellent balance between survivability, damage, and long-term value.
Avoid investing heavily in heroes you’ll eventually replace.
Best Heroes for Paying Players
Players who purchase hero bundles or participate heavily in premium events often unlock stronger heroes more quickly.
Even so, the same investment principles apply.
Focus on:
- High-tier damage dealers
- One elite tank
- One strong support hero
Building one exceptional team is almost always better than building several average teams.
Which Heroes Should You Avoid Upgrading?
Not every hero deserves long-term investment.
Many early-game heroes perform well initially but struggle later against stronger opponents.
If a hero is only useful for your first few HQ levels, avoid using rare resources such as:
- Universal Hero Shards
- Premium Skill Books
- High-level equipment
Save those items for heroes you’ll continue using well into the late game.
Upgrade Priority Order
Once you’ve selected your main team, upgrade them in the following order:
1. Hero Level
Increasing hero levels provides immediate improvements to combat effectiveness.
Always keep your primary squad near your maximum available level.
2. Skills
Skill upgrades often increase damage and survivability more than simple level increases.
Prioritize the core abilities used most frequently in combat.
3. Equipment
Strong equipment dramatically boosts hero performance.
Focus your best gear on your primary team before equipping secondary heroes.
4. Star Rank
Promotions improve hero stats considerably but require valuable shards.
Use these carefully.
5. Exclusive Equipment
Once unlocked, exclusive gear provides another major increase in combat effectiveness.
These upgrades become increasingly important in late-game content.
Common Upgrade Mistakes
Avoid these common errors.
Upgrading Every Hero
Trying to level every character spreads resources too thin.
Instead, focus on five heroes.
Ignoring Tanks
Players often prioritize damage dealers while neglecting frontline heroes.
Without a strong tank, even the best attackers won’t survive difficult battles.
Wasting Universal Hero Shards
Universal Hero Shards are among the rarest resources in the game.
Don’t spend them immediately after unlocking a new hero.
Wait until you’re certain they’re part of your long-term team.
Spreading Equipment Around
A fully equipped primary squad performs much better than three partially equipped teams.
Prioritize quality over quantity.
How Often Should You Change Your Team?
The Last War meta changes occasionally through seasonal updates and newly released heroes.
However, replacing your entire team every update is rarely necessary.
Instead:
- Upgrade proven heroes first.
- Evaluate new heroes before investing.
- Watch how experienced players adapt.
- Save resources until you’re confident.
This cautious approach helps avoid wasting valuable upgrade materials.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right heroes to upgrade first in Last War: Survival Game can dramatically improve your progress. Heroes like Kimberly, Murphy, Tesla, DVA, and Marshall continue to offer excellent value across almost every game mode, making them safe long-term investments for both free-to-play and paying players.
Rather than upgrading every hero you unlock, focus your resources on one balanced team, prioritize skill and equipment upgrades, and spend rare materials carefully. By making smart investment decisions early, you’ll build a stronger account capable of handling everything from campaign missions to high-level Alliance events and competitive PvP.