Hero skills are one of the most important uses of Skill Medals in Last War Survival. However, upgrading every skill equally can slow your main squad because some abilities provide considerably more value than others. This guide explains the general skill priority for Attackers, Defenders, and Supporters, along with important exceptions for heroes such as Monica, Marshall, and Sarah.
How Hero Skills Work
Most heroes use three main skills displayed in fixed positions on the hero screen:
- Top left: Basic or auto-attack skill.
- Top right: Tactic skill.
- Bottom left: Passive skill.
The exact effect depends on the hero. A Tactic skill may deal damage, strengthen allies, weaken enemies, heal the squad, or improve defensive statistics. Passive skills can also provide offensive, defensive, or activity-specific effects.
This is why the skill position alone should not determine every upgrade. The role-based priorities in this guide are useful starting points, but you should still read each skill description before spending a large number of Skill Medals.
Current community documentation lists a maximum skill level of 40 for UR heroes and 30 for SSR and SR heroes. Skill Medal costs increase as skills advance, making careful prioritization more important at higher levels.
For more information about obtaining and managing this resource, review the Last War Skill Medal guide.
Quick Hero Skill Priority Table
| Hero Role | First Priority | Second Priority | Third Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defender | Top Right: Tactic | Bottom Left: Passive | Top Left: Basic Attack |
| Attacker | Top Right: Tactic | Top Left: Basic Attack | Bottom Left: Passive |
| Supporter | Depends on the hero | Depends on the hero | Usually Basic Attack |
Important Note: This is a general framework rather than a universal rule. Exclusive Weapons, hero promotions, balance updates, squad composition, and the activity being played can affect the best order.
Defender Skill Upgrade Priority
Defenders normally occupy the front row and absorb most incoming attacks. Their skill development should improve survivability, reduce damage taken, or protect the rest of the formation.
The general Defender priority is:
- Top Right: Tactic skill
- Bottom Left: Passive skill
- Top Left: Basic attack
1. Upgrade the Tactic Skill First
A Defender’s Tactic skill often provides the strongest defensive effect in the hero’s kit. It may increase Defense, reduce incoming damage, provide a shield, or weaken enemy attacks.
For example, Williams is primarily valued for his ability to strengthen the durability of a Tank formation. Improving his defensive Tactic skill generally provides more squad value than increasing his basic attack damage.
Review the Last War Williams guide for more information about his role and skills.
2. Upgrade the Passive Skill Second
The bottom-left passive often reinforces the Defender’s durability through Health, Defense, damage reduction, or another survival-related effect.
This skill is normally the second priority because it helps the hero remain alive long enough to protect the back row. However, check the description because some Defender passives may provide more value than their Tactic skill in a particular mode.
3. Upgrade the Basic Attack Last
A Defender’s basic attack still contributes damage, but it is rarely the main reason the hero is included in a squad. Skill Medals normally provide greater value when invested in survival and team protection first.
The basic attack should not remain permanently neglected. Raise it after the important defensive abilities have reached suitable levels.
Attacker Skill Upgrade Priority
Attackers are responsible for dealing most of the squad’s damage. Their priority should normally be the skills that produce direct damage, area damage, burst damage, or strong offensive scaling.
The general Attacker priority is:
- Top Right: Tactic skill
- Top Left: Basic attack
- Bottom Left: Passive skill
1. Upgrade the Tactic Skill First
The Tactic skill is usually the Attacker’s most powerful ability. It may hit several targets, deal concentrated damage to one enemy, or apply an effect that substantially increases total damage.
Heroes such as Kimberly and DVA rely heavily on offensive Tactic skills. Upgrading these abilities first usually provides a noticeable improvement in both PvP and PvE performance.
Read the Kimberly hero guide or the DVA hero guide before committing Skill Medals to either hero.
2. Upgrade the Basic Attack Second
Attackers perform basic attacks throughout the battle, so improving the top-left skill can add consistent damage between Tactic activations.
This is generally more valuable than a lower-impact passive, especially for heroes whose basic attacks have strong multipliers or additional effects.
3. Upgrade the Passive Skill Last
The passive is commonly the third priority for Attackers, but it should not automatically be ignored. Some heroes have passives that substantially increase Critical Rate, damage, Energy recovery, or another important offensive statistic.
Always compare the actual effect before assuming the passive provides less value. A strong damage multiplier may justify upgrading it earlier.
Supporter Skill Upgrade Priority
Supporters cannot be handled with one universal order. Their value comes from different combinations of buffs, healing, monster bonuses, debuffs, and squad-wide effects.
The best order depends on what the hero contributes to the formation.
| Support Hero | Recommended Priority | Main Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Monica | Bottom Left > Top Right > Top Left | Her passive is particularly useful for monster-related PvE activity |
| Marshall | Top Right > Bottom Left > Top Left | His Tactic skill provides an important squad Attack buff |
| Sarah | Top Right > Bottom Left > Top Left | Her primary support effect is normally more valuable than basic attack damage |
Monica Skill Priority
Monica’s general priority is:
- Bottom Left: Passive
- Top Right: Tactic
- Top Left: Basic attack
Her passive is commonly prioritized because it supports her monster-related PvE role. This can make Monica useful for players completing world-map objectives and other eligible PvE content.
However, players who no longer use Monica regularly should avoid placing large amounts of Skill Medals into her instead of a main UR hero.
Marshall Skill Priority
Marshall’s recommended priority is:
- Top Right: Tactic
- Bottom Left: Passive
- Top Left: Basic attack
Marshall’s Tactic skill increases the Attack of squad members, making it the main reason he is used as a Tank supporter. Improving this buff can provide more total squad value than increasing Marshall’s individual damage.
His passive should normally follow because it supports his wider role. The basic attack remains the lowest priority because Marshall is not intended to function as the formation’s main damage dealer.
Review the Last War Marshall guide for his complete skill and squad information.
Sarah Skill Priority
Sarah’s general priority is:
- Top Right: Tactic
- Bottom Left: Passive
- Top Left: Basic attack
Her support abilities provide more value than her individual basic attack. Raise the Tactic skill first, followed by the passive that strengthens her contribution to the formation.
As with other SSR heroes, consider how long Sarah will remain in your main squad before committing a large amount of Skill Medals.
Should Skills Be Upgraded Equally?
Skills should not normally be kept at exactly the same level. However, allowing one skill to become 10 or 20 levels higher than every other skill is not always efficient either.
A practical approach is to use upgrade milestones:
- Raise the highest-priority skill first.
- Bring the second-priority skill to a useful supporting level.
- Upgrade the third skill when its Medal cost is low compared with the next primary upgrade.
- Return to the first skill and continue toward the next milestone.
For example, an early hero might use skill levels such as 15, 10, and 5. Later, the same hero could move toward 20, 15, and 10. This is only an example, not a required ratio.
The ideal gap depends on:
- The hero’s rarity.
- The cost of the next skill level.
- The value of each skill.
- How frequently the hero is used.
- Whether the hero belongs to your first, second, or third squad.
Main Squad vs. Secondary Squad Skills
Your main squad should receive most of your Skill Medals. Dividing resources evenly among three formations can leave every squad underdeveloped.
A practical investment order is:
- Main squad’s primary damage dealer.
- Main squad’s frontline Defender.
- Main squad’s most important Supporter or second damage dealer.
- Remaining main squad heroes.
- Second squad after the first formation reaches stable skill levels.
- Third squad only when required by late-game activities.
There is no universal requirement for secondary squad skills to remain exactly 10 levels behind. A more useful rule is to keep investing in the first squad until another Skill Medal upgrade provides only a small improvement for a very high cost.
At that point, lower-cost improvements for a second squad may provide more total account value.
Which Hero Should Receive Skill Medals First?
In most formations, the primary damage dealer should receive the first major investment. Increasing the squad’s strongest damage skill can improve performance across campaign stages, bosses, rallies, Alliance Duel, and PvP.
A typical priority is:
| Priority | Hero Role | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Attacker | Provides the largest increase to total squad damage |
| 2 | Main Defender | Helps the formation survive long enough to deal damage |
| 3 | Important Supporter | Improves squad-wide buffs, healing, or utility |
| 4 | Second Attacker | Adds additional damage after the core heroes are stable |
| 5 | Second Defender or lower-impact hero | Completes the main formation after higher-value upgrades |
The exact order can change when your frontline is being defeated too quickly. In that situation, improving the main Defender may provide more value than adding further damage.
How to Decide Between Two Skills
When two skills appear equally useful, compare the following:
- Frequency: How often does the skill activate during a battle?
- Coverage: Does it affect one hero, one target, or the entire squad?
- Scaling: How much does the effect improve at the next level?
- Game mode: Is the skill useful in PvP, PvE, bosses, rallies, or only one activity?
- Squad role: Does it support the reason the hero is included in the formation?
- Medal cost: Would several lower-level upgrades provide more value than one expensive level?
A squad-wide Attack buff can provide more total value than a small increase to one Supporter’s basic attack. Similarly, a Defender’s damage-reduction skill may be more important than a minor offensive upgrade.
Common Hero Skill Upgrade Mistakes
- Upgrading every hero equally: This prevents your main squad from reaching meaningful skill levels.
- Following one order for every hero: Supporters and specialized heroes often require different priorities.
- Ignoring skill descriptions: A strong passive may be more valuable than the general role-based order suggests.
- Investing heavily in temporary heroes: Skill Medals may provide more value on heroes that will remain in your main formation.
- Neglecting the frontline: Additional damage has limited value if your Defenders are defeated too quickly.
- Leaving secondary skills at level 1: Low-cost supporting upgrades can still provide useful value.
- Developing a second squad too early: Complete the core progression of your first formation before dividing resources.
- Using Skill Medals without checking events: Hero development may provide event points or milestone rewards.
Skill Upgrades and Gear Progression
Hero skills should be developed alongside levels, stars, gear, research, and squad composition. Maxing a Tactic skill will not produce its full value if the hero has weak equipment or is placed in an unsuitable formation.
For Attackers, prioritize offensive gear that supports their main damage type. For Defenders, improve equipment that strengthens Health and Defense. Supporters require gear based on whether they need survivability, Energy, or another role-specific attribute.
Use the Last War gear upgrade and promotion guide to coordinate Skill Medal and equipment investments.
When Should You Stop Upgrading a Hero?
Consider pausing a hero’s skill development when:
- The hero will soon be replaced in your main squad.
- The next skill level costs more than several valuable upgrades elsewhere.
- The hero is only used occasionally.
- Your main damage dealer or Defender remains underdeveloped.
- The next upgrade provides only a small improvement to a low-priority ability.
Pausing does not mean the hero should never receive another upgrade. It means your limited Skill Medals currently provide more value somewhere else.
Hero Skills and Account Progression
Building one squad with advanced skills can require a large number of Skill Medals, especially when several UR heroes approach level 40. Developing multiple competitive squads requires even more time, events, stores, and daily activity.
Players who prefer to begin with developed hero skills can explore a Last War Survival account for sale through Heaven Guardian. Available accounts may include high-level UR heroes, developed Tactic and passive skills, stronger gear, multiple formations, and accumulated Skill Medals.
Each purchase includes lifetime warranty coverage and premium support for a safer purchase experience. Review each listing carefully to confirm the hero roster, skill levels, stars, gear, and squad composition included.
FAQs
Q: What is the best skill priority for Defenders?
A: The general order is top-right Tactic, bottom-left passive, then top-left basic attack. Read the individual hero’s skills before following this order strictly.
Q: What is the best skill priority for Attackers?
A: The general order is top-right Tactic, top-left basic attack, then bottom-left passive.
Q: Should every Supporter use the same skill order?
A: No. Support priorities depend on the individual hero’s buffs, healing, passive effects, and intended game mode.
Q: What is Monica’s skill priority?
A: Monica generally follows bottom left, top right, then top left, particularly when she is used for monster-related PvE activity.
Q: What is Marshall’s skill priority?
A: Marshall generally follows top right, bottom left, then top left because his Tactic skill provides an important squad Attack buff.
Q: What is Sarah’s skill priority?
A: Sarah generally follows top right, bottom left, then top left.
Q: Should I upgrade all three skills equally?
A: No. Invest more heavily in the most valuable skill, but use lower-cost upgrades to prevent the other useful abilities from falling too far behind.
Q: What is the maximum hero skill level?
A: Current community documentation lists level 40 for UR heroes and level 30 for SSR and SR heroes. Confirm the limit in the current game interface.
Q: Should I upgrade my main or secondary squad first?
A: Prioritize the main squad. Begin investing seriously in the second squad after your first formation reaches stable and useful skill levels.
Q: Which hero should receive Skill Medals first?
A: The main damage dealer is usually the first priority, followed by the frontline Defender and the most important Supporter.
Q: Should a Defender’s basic attack remain at level 1?
A: No. It is usually the lowest priority, but inexpensive basic-attack upgrades can still provide value after the important defensive skills are developed.
Conclusion
Hero skill priority in Last War Survival depends on role and individual skill effects. Defenders generally prioritize Tactic, passive, and then basic attack. Attackers usually prioritize Tactic, basic attack, and then passive. Supporters require hero-specific planning.
Invest in your main squad first, focus on the skills that define each hero’s role, and avoid spreading Skill Medals evenly across every formation. Review each skill description before upgrading because a specialized passive or squad-wide buff may be more valuable than the general priority suggests.
Learn more about Last War on the official website.
