Kimberly, also known as Rocket Shadow, is a UR Tank damage dealer in Last War: Survival who specializes in Energy Damage and multi-hit rocket attacks. For players searching for the best Last War Kimberly skill priority, a strong default order is Barrage Strike first, Energy Boost second, and Energy Assault third. Super Sensing belongs to the separate Expertise progression system.
Kimberly remains relevant far beyond the early game because her progression continues through the Rocket Shadow Exclusive Weapon in Season 1 and Hero Awakening in Season 6. She is still a back-row attacker despite belonging to the Tank vehicle type, so her damage is best protected by frontline heroes such as Murphy and Williams.
★Quick Take: Prioritize Barrage Strike, keep Kimberly in the back row, and build her Gun before spreading premium gear materials across several heroes. Rocket Shadow level 10 is a strong early weapon milestone, while level 20 becomes essential if you plan to unlock Kimberly’s Season 6 Awakening.
Kimberly Hero Overview
Kimberly is classified as a Tank hero because of her vehicle type, not because she is designed to absorb frontline damage. Her specialty is Damage Dealer, and her standard attacks use Energy Damage.
| Hero Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Alias | Rocket Shadow |
| Rarity | Ultra Rare (UR) |
| Vehicle Type | Tank |
| Specialty | Damage Dealer |
| Damage Type | Energy Damage |
| Attack | 23.9K |
| HP | 393.7K |
| Defense | 2.9K |
| March Size | 350 |
These are reference values rather than fixed stats for every account. Hero level, stars, skills, gear, Tank Center upgrades, research, Drone progression, decorations, survivors, Exclusive Weapon levels, Awakening, troop development, and other bonuses all change Kimberly’s actual combat statistics.
Is Kimberly Good in Last War?
Yes. Kimberly is one of the most useful early Tank damage dealers and has unusually strong long-term progression because she receives both an Exclusive Weapon and an Awakening path.
Her strongest reasons to invest are:
- Multi-target burst: Barrage Strike fires several rockets at random enemies.
- Strong Energy scaling: Energy Boost improves her overall Energy Damage.
- Early availability: She appears as an early paid hero and later enters the regular Tavern pool.
- Tank synergy: A full Tank formation supports her same-type bonus and Rocket Shadow’s Energy Amplification cap.
- Exclusive Weapon: Rocket Shadow adds Critical Hit-based Energy Amplification and additional rockets.
- Season 6 Awakening: Priceless Resolve gives Kimberly another major late-game damage upgrade.
Her main limitation is that none of this makes her a true frontline defender. Kimberly needs Murphy, Williams, or another durable frontline to create enough battle time for repeated Barrage Strike cycles.
How to Unlock Kimberly
Kimberly is one of the earliest UR damage dealers offered on a new warzone. She can initially appear through an early paid unlock.
Current progression timelines also place Kimberly in the normal Tavern unlock group around server day 61, alongside DVA, Carlie, Tesla, and Swift. Warzone schedules and recruitment pools can differ, so always verify that Kimberly is actually listed in your Tavern before spending Legendary Recruitment Tickets.
After Kimberly is unlocked, Universal Legendary Hero Shards can also support her star progression.
See the Last War Tavern guide for more information about recruitment pools and server progression.
Kimberly Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Strong multi-target Energy Damage | Should be protected in the back row |
| Excellent early Tank carry | Competes heavily for Skill Medals and offensive gear |
| Strong full-Tank synergy | Tank formations are naturally vulnerable to Aircraft |
| Powerful Season 1 Exclusive Weapon | Rocket Shadow requires 5-star Kimberly |
| Season 6 Hero Awakening | Awakening requires Rocket Shadow level 20 |
| Useful in both PvP and many PvE fights | Random rocket targeting reduces precise focus fire |
Kimberly Skills Explained
Energy Assault
Energy Assault is Kimberly’s Auto Attack. It fires a rocket at one random enemy for Energy Damage equal to 472.12% of Kimberly’s Attack at the listed reference level.
| Skill Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Auto Attack |
| Target | One random enemy |
| Damage | 472.12% of Attack |
| Cooldown | 1.55 seconds |
| Damage Type | Energy Damage |
Its listed star effects progressively increase additional damage from +30% through higher breakpoints, reaching +270% at the final listed effect.
Energy Assault is especially important after Rocket Shadow is activated because Critical Hits from Kimberly can generate Energy Amplification stacks. For that reason, players with a developed Exclusive Weapon may choose to keep Energy Assault closer to Energy Boost instead of leaving it far behind.
Energy Boost
Energy Boost is Kimberly’s Passive skill. Its listed base effect increases her Energy Damage by 30% during battle.
Each listed star effect adds another three percentage points, allowing the displayed bonus to reach 45% after all five star effects are applied.
| Progression | Listed Energy Damage Bonus |
|---|---|
| Base | 30% |
| 1 listed star effect | 33% |
| 2 listed star effects | 36% |
| 3 listed star effects | 39% |
| 4 listed star effects | 42% |
| 5 listed star effects | 45% |
Energy Boost is valuable because it improves Kimberly’s complete Energy Damage profile instead of affecting only one attack. That makes it a high-priority skill even though it does not create another rocket or attack animation.
Barrage Strike
Barrage Strike is the core of Kimberly’s standard damage kit. Its listed base version fires eight rockets at random enemies, with each rocket dealing Energy Damage equal to 286.88% of Kimberly’s Attack.
| Skill Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Tactics |
| Base Rockets | 8 |
| Damage per Rocket | 286.88% of Attack |
| Targeting | Random enemies |
| Cooldown | 10 seconds |
| Damage Type | Energy Damage |
Barrage Strike’s star effects include two separate +4 Rocket upgrades. With both unlocked, Kimberly fires 16 rockets before her Exclusive Weapon adds any extra attacks.
Random targeting creates different results depending on the number of surviving enemies. Against five heroes, the rockets can spread across the formation. Once one or more enemies are defeated, later casts have fewer targets and can concentrate more hits on the remaining heroes.
Super Sensing
Super Sensing is Kimberly’s Expertise effect. It provides:
- HP +20%
- Attack +20%
- Defense +20%
- Skill cooldown rate +10%
Unlike Kimberly’s three standard skills, Super Sensing uses Expertise progression and should not be treated as a fourth normal Skill Medal priority.
When Kimberly later Awakens, Priceless Resolve replaces Super Sensing while inheriting its effects.
Best Last War Kimberly Skill Priority
For most players using Kimberly as the main Tank damage dealer, use this priority:
| Priority | Skill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrage Strike | Her signature multi-hit Tactics attack and most important burst-damage skill. |
| 2 | Energy Boost | Improves Kimberly’s overall Energy Damage rather than one individual attack. |
| 3 | Energy Assault | Provides sustained Auto Attack damage and becomes more valuable after Rocket Shadow adds Energy Amplification. |
| Separate | Super Sensing | Expertise progression rather than a normal Skill Medal skill. |
✓Recommendation: Barrage Strike is the safest first priority. Energy Boost and Energy Assault are closer decisions after that. Once Rocket Shadow is active, Energy Assault gains extra strategic value because Kimberly’s Critical Hits generate Energy Amplification, so avoid leaving the Auto Attack severely underleveled.
Do not force all three skills to remain at identical levels. Higher skill levels become increasingly expensive, and a cheaper Energy Boost or Energy Assault upgrade may provide more value than saving for one additional Barrage Strike level.
For squad-wide planning, see the Last War hero skill upgrade guide and Skill Medal guide.
Best Position for Kimberly
Kimberly should normally be placed in the back row.
The word Tank refers to her vehicle type. Her actual hero specialty is Damage Dealer, so using Kimberly as a frontline substitute for Murphy or Williams wastes much of her offensive potential.
Back-row placement gives Kimberly more time to:
- Cycle Barrage Strike multiple times.
- Use Energy Assault repeatedly.
- Generate Energy Amplification after activating Rocket Shadow.
- Benefit from Marshall’s support.
- Reach Priceless Resolve once Awakening is available.
In standard Tank formations, put your two most durable defensive heroes in front and keep Kimberly behind them.
Best Kimberly Tank Team
A common developed Tank lineup uses:
| Row | Hero | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Front | Murphy | Frontline defense and Physical Damage protection |
| Front | Williams | Frontline durability and squad protection |
| Back | Kimberly | Main multi-target Energy Damage dealer |
| Back | Stetmann | Secondary Tank damage dealer |
| Back | Marshall | Support and offensive amplification |
A five-Tank formation also receives the full same-type formation bonus. Current references list a five-hero mono-type squad as providing +20% Attack, Defense, and HP.
Running five Tanks has an additional benefit once Rocket Shadow is active: Energy Amplification’s stack cap equals the number of Tank heroes in the squad. Five Tanks therefore allow Kimberly to reach five stacks.
Early and F2P-Friendly Tank Team
Before Williams and Stetmann are fully developed, a more accessible formation can use:
| Row | Hero |
|---|---|
| Front | Murphy |
| Front | Violet |
| Back | Kimberly |
| Back | Mason |
| Back | Marshall |
Kimberly should remain the primary damage investment in this transitional team. Avoid spreading scarce Legendary Gear, Skill Medals, and Universal Legendary Hero Shards across several temporary damage dealers.
Use the Tank Center guide to improve the wider Tank formation.
Kimberly Matchups: Tank vs. Aircraft vs. Missile
Last War uses a vehicle-type counter system:
- Tank counters Missile.
- Missile counters Aircraft.
- Aircraft counters Tank.
That means Kimberly’s Tank formation generally has the favorable vehicle matchup against Missile squads but is naturally disadvantaged against Aircraft.
The counter is not the only factor. Hero stars, skills, Exclusive Weapons, Awakening, troop tier, Morale, gear, Tank Center upgrades, Drone progression, research, and March Size can still overcome differences in formation type.
For more on the underlying combat stats, see the Last War troop stats guide.
Best Gear for Kimberly
Kimberly is a back-row attacker, so offensive gear deserves priority.
- Gun: Primary damage upgrade because Kimberly’s attacks scale from Attack.
- Data Chip: Supports Critical Rate and Critical Damage, which become even more valuable after Rocket Shadow.
- Radar: Prioritize earlier when Energy Damage or skill pressure is killing Kimberly before another Tactics cycle.
- Armor: Improves durability against Physical Damage.
Current gear progression references recommend Kimberly’s Gun as the first major Mythic investment for a Tank squad, followed by her Data Chip. This suits her Exclusive Weapon because Critical Hits help generate Energy Amplification stacks.
Do not ignore survival completely. If Kimberly repeatedly dies just before her second Barrage Strike or Awakening Skill, upgrading Radar or Armor can add more real battle value than another small offensive increase.
Review the Last War gear upgrade guide before using large amounts of Upgrade Ore, Dielectric Ceramic, or Blueprints.
For advanced promotions, see the Legendary Gear Blueprint guide and Mythic Gear Blueprint guide.
Kimberly Exclusive Weapon: Rocket Shadow
Kimberly receives Rocket Shadow during Season 1 Crimson Plague. Current Season 1 documentation places its original release on Day 4 of Week 1.
Rocket Shadow Activation Requirements
- Kimberly must be 5 stars.
- Activation requires 50 Kimberly-specific Exclusive Weapon Shards.
The initial activation requires Kimberly’s named shards. Universal Exclusive Weapon Shards can be used for upgrades after Rocket Shadow has been activated.
!Important: If you plan to Awaken Kimberly in Season 6, Rocket Shadow must reach level 20. Do not arrive at Season 6 with the weapon stalled below that requirement if Kimberly remains your main Tank carry.
Level 1: Energy Assault II
After Rocket Shadow is activated, Kimberly’s Auto Attack gains the Energy Amplification mechanic.
On a Critical Hit, Kimberly gains one Energy Amplification stack. The maximum number of stacks equals the number of Tank heroes in the formation.
- Each stack: +3% Energy Damage
- Five-Tank maximum: 5 stacks
- Maximum listed bonus: +15% Energy Damage
This creates a direct relationship between Critical Hits, Tank team composition, and Kimberly’s later weapon effects.
Level 10: Barrage Strike II
At weapon level 10, Barrage Strike II fires 16 rockets at random enemies. Each rocket deals Energy Damage equal to 302.06% of Kimberly’s Attack.
Kimberly also launches one additional rocket for each active Energy Amplification stack.
| Energy Amplification | Total Rockets |
|---|---|
| 0 stacks | 16 |
| 1 stack | 17 |
| 2 stacks | 18 |
| 3 stacks | 19 |
| 4 stacks | 20 |
| 5 stacks | 21 |
This makes level 10 one of Rocket Shadow’s most noticeable offensive milestones.
Level 20: Tank Specialist
At level 20, Tank Specialist increases the following statistics for every Tank hero in Kimberly’s formation:
- Attack +7.5%
- Defense +7.5%
- HP +7.5%
This milestone benefits the complete formation instead of only Kimberly. It is also the minimum Exclusive Weapon level required to access her Hero Awakening once the warzone reaches Season 6.
Level 30: Lethal Fireworks
At level 30, Lethal Fireworks activates when Kimberly has at least four Energy Amplification stacks.
Each rocket from her Tactics attack then deals additional Energy Damage equal to 5% of that attack to three enemy units near the impact area.
This gives Rocket Shadow another multi-target damage layer but requires much deeper weapon investment than level 10 or level 20.
What Rocket Shadow Level Should You Target?
| Milestone | Recommended Use |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Activate Energy Amplification and begin using the weapon mechanic. |
| Level 10 | Strong practical damage target because Barrage Strike gains extra rockets. |
| Level 20 | Major Tank-team milestone and mandatory for Kimberly’s Season 6 Awakening. |
| Level 30 | Late-game investment that unlocks Lethal Fireworks splash damage. |
For most players, level 10 provides an excellent first stopping point. Tank-focused accounts should prepare for level 20 before Season 6. Level 30 is valuable, but it should be compared against bringing other important main-squad Exclusive Weapons to useful milestones.
Kimberly Hero Awakening in Season 6
Kimberly is the first hero to receive Hero Awakening in Season 6 Lost Rainforest.
The Awakening system becomes available for her during Week 1 once the required conditions are met.
Kimberly Awakening Requirements
- Kimberly must be 5 stars.
- Rocket Shadow must be level 20 or higher.
- Unlocking requires 50 Kimberly-specific Awakening Shards.
After the initial unlock, both named and Universal Awakening Shards can support further Awakening progression.
Awakening Shard availability has changed since the first Season 6 rollout. The original season documentation included a Week 1 Awakening Battle Pass, while newer 2026 guides report free progression primarily through the Hero Awakening Trial and Global Expedition. Check your live Season 6 interface rather than assuming an older Battle Pass is still available on your warzone.
Priceless Resolve
Priceless Resolve replaces Super Sensing while inheriting the effects of the original Expertise skill.
At its listed base level, Kimberly fires 10 barrages. Each barrage deals Energy Damage equal to 140.04% of Attack to one random enemy.
For every Energy Amplification stack Kimberly has, Priceless Resolve launches three additional barrages, up to a base maximum of 25.
| Energy Amplification Stacks | Barrages |
|---|---|
| 0 | 10 |
| 1 | 13 |
| 2 | 16 |
| 3 | 19 |
| 4 | 22 |
| 5 | 25 |
At 25 barrages, the documented combined base damage is approximately 3,501.09% of Kimberly’s Attack before other bonuses and the enemy’s mitigation are applied.
Awakening Skills have another important rule: they can be used only once per battle, and current Season 6 documentation states that their activation is not prevented by Stun.
Kimberly Awakening Star Bonuses
| Awakening Star | Priceless Resolve Bonus |
|---|---|
| 1 Star | Kimberly enters the Resolve state at the start of battle. |
| 2 Stars | Priceless Resolve deals 20% additional damage. |
| 3 Stars | Using the Awakening Skill immediately grants 2 Energy Amplification stacks. |
| 4 Stars | Priceless Resolve deals 40% additional damage. |
| 5 Stars | Launches 1 additional barrage for every Energy Amplification stack. |
Awakening also adds HP, Attack, Defense, and Damage Reduction. Current reference data lists Damage Reduction beginning at 2.5% on activation and increasing to 5% at five Awakening stars.
How to Get Kimberly Awakening Shards
Current documented free sources include:
- Hero Awakening Trial: Stages unlock progressively during Season 6.
- Global Expedition: Additional Awakening Shards become available as the season progresses.
Availability can continue changing after Season 6, so use the Awakening interface’s current source list before spending or planning around a specific event.
Is Kimberly Awakening Worth It?
Yes, if Kimberly is still one of the main damage dealers in your Tank formation.
The unlock gives her:
- Priceless Resolve as a new once-per-battle damage skill.
- Additional HP, Attack, and Defense.
- Damage Reduction.
- More value from Energy Amplification.
- A progression path beyond normal five-star and weapon development.
The important preparation step is Rocket Shadow level 20. Tank players who know they want to Awaken Kimberly should plan weapon shards before Season 6 instead of trying to close a large weapon-level gap after the Awakening system arrives.
Kimberly Wall of Honor Bonus
After Kimberly reaches 5 stars and the Tank Center reaches level 20, she can be developed through the Wall of Honor.
Current Wall of Honor references list Kimberly’s bonus as:
Tank Hero Attack +0.50% every 50 Honor levels.
The bonus applies to eligible Tank heroes rather than only Kimberly, making surplus Kimberly shards useful even after her standard five-star progression is complete.
Use the Last War Wall of Honor guide before committing large quantities of surplus shards.
Kimberly for F2P and Low-Spend Players
Kimberly is a strong long-term target for F2P and low-spend Tank accounts because she eventually becomes available through the Tavern and remains useful through Season 1 and Season 6 progression.
The challenge is resource concentration. A F2P account usually cannot maximize every Tank hero, Exclusive Weapon, and gear set simultaneously.
A practical order is:
- Build one functional five-Tank main squad.
- Make Kimberly the primary offensive gear target.
- Prioritize Barrage Strike and her other core skills.
- Reach 5 stars when practical.
- Activate Rocket Shadow once named shards become available.
- Move toward weapon level 10, then prepare level 20 before Season 6.
- Keep Murphy and Williams strong enough that Kimberly survives long enough to use her damage.
Do not sacrifice the entire frontline simply to push one additional Kimberly upgrade. The best damage dealer still needs time to attack.
Kimberly in PvP vs. PvE
PvP
Kimberly’s multi-hit attacks can pressure several enemy heroes at once, and Rocket Shadow makes her stronger as Critical Hits build Energy Amplification. Her Season 6 Awakening adds another major burst window.
Her main PvP problem is the vehicle counter: Aircraft formations naturally counter Tanks. Against developed Aircraft squads, better hero investment does not automatically erase that matchup disadvantage.
PvE
Kimberly is also useful in PvE content where sustained and multi-target Energy Damage matter. Barrage Strike is particularly effective in fights with several enemies because every cast distributes multiple attacks around the opposing formation.
For single-target or specialized event bosses, compare battle reports rather than assuming the same build always produces the highest score. Some modes reward different heroes or formation adjustments.
Common Kimberly Mistakes
- Putting Kimberly on the frontline: Tank is her vehicle type, not her defensive role.
- Ignoring Barrage Strike: It is her defining standard damage skill and should receive heavy investment.
- Leaving Energy Boost underdeveloped: Its Energy Damage bonus affects Kimberly’s broader damage profile.
- Neglecting Energy Assault after Rocket Shadow: Critical Hits from Kimberly help build Energy Amplification.
- Building defensive gear first: Kimberly’s Gun and Data Chip normally provide more value for a primary damage dealer.
- Ignoring the Tank count: Energy Amplification’s stack cap equals the number of Tank heroes in the formation.
- Stopping Rocket Shadow below level 20 before Awakening: Season 6 Awakening requires weapon level 20 or higher.
- Trying to activate Rocket Shadow with Universal Weapon Shards: The first activation requires 50 Kimberly-specific weapon shards.
- Assuming old Awakening purchase routes are permanent: Awakening Shard availability has already changed since the first Season 6 rollout.
- Neglecting Murphy and Williams: A weak frontline reduces the time Kimberly has to cycle Barrage Strike and Energy Amplification.
- Rushing weapon level 30 too early: Level 20 upgrades across the main squad can sometimes provide better total formation value.
Is Kimberly Still Worth Building in the Late Game?
Kimberly remains worth developing for accounts that continue investing in Tanks. Her long progression path is the main reason: early Hero levels and stars lead into Rocket Shadow, Wall of Honor, and eventually Priceless Resolve.
She is an especially strong investment when:
- Tank is your primary or heavily researched formation.
- Kimberly already owns your strongest offensive gear.
- Rocket Shadow is developed or close to its next important milestone.
- You plan to use her Season 6 Awakening.
- Your Murphy and Williams frontline is strong enough to protect her.
She deserves less immediate investment if your account has already moved its premium research, gear, Exclusive Weapon materials, and formation resources into Aircraft or Missile. Switching formations is expensive, so account-wide investment matters more than judging Kimberly in isolation.
Players who prefer to start with already-developed late-game systems can alternatively compare a developed Last War account. Check Kimberly’s stars, Rocket Shadow level, Awakening progress, Mythic gear, Tank research, supporting heroes, and current season rather than judging a listing only by total Power.
FAQs
What is the best Last War Kimberly skill priority?
Prioritize Barrage Strike first, Energy Boost second, and Energy Assault third for a general Kimberly damage build. After Rocket Shadow is active, Energy Assault becomes more valuable because Kimberly’s Critical Hits generate Energy Amplification stacks.
How many rockets does Kimberly’s Barrage Strike fire?
The base skill fires eight rockets. Two star effects add four rockets each, allowing the standard skill to reach 16. Rocket Shadow level 10 can then add one extra rocket for each Energy Amplification stack.
What is the best gear for Kimberly?
Prioritize Gun first and Data Chip second. Radar and Armor follow for survival, although defensive gear can move higher if Kimberly is dying before completing enough Tactics cycles.
When does Kimberly get Rocket Shadow?
Rocket Shadow is introduced on Day 4 of Season 1 Week 1. Kimberly must be 5 stars, and the initial activation requires 50 Kimberly-specific Exclusive Weapon Shards.
What does Energy Amplification do?
After Rocket Shadow is active, Kimberly gains one Energy Amplification stack when she lands a Critical Hit. Each stack increases Energy Damage by 3%, and the maximum stack count equals the number of Tank heroes in her formation.
What does Kimberly need to Awaken in Season 6?
Kimberly must be 5 stars, Rocket Shadow must be level 20 or higher, and you need 50 Kimberly-specific Awakening Shards. Priceless Resolve then replaces Super Sensing while inheriting its effects.
Conclusion
Kimberly remains one of the most important damage investments for a Tank-focused account. Prioritize Barrage Strike, keep her protected in the back row, and give her Gun and Data Chip enough investment to make full use of her high Energy Damage scaling.
Rocket Shadow adds the Energy Amplification mechanic in Season 1, while weapon level 20 prepares Kimberly for Priceless Resolve in Season 6. For more Tank builds, seasonal progression updates, and hero guides, visit the Heaven Guardian Last War guides.
