Cage is an SSR Aircraft defender in Last War: Survival built for the front row. His standout skills are Defense Boost, which raises the Defense of both frontline heroes, and Z-Armor, which reduces the damage Cage takes from monsters.
He is most valuable during early and mid-game progression, especially for players assembling an Aircraft squad before Carlie and Lucius are fully developed. Cage can remain useful later in secondary squads and through the Wall of Honor, but he is not usually a hero worth consuming large amounts of universal shards or premium gear resources on once stronger UR defenders are ready.
Cage Overview
| Detail | Cage Information |
|---|---|
| Rarity | SSR |
| Hero Type | Aircraft |
| Role | Defender |
| Recommended Position | Front Row |
| Damage Type | Energy Damage |
| Main Strength | Front-row Defense support and monster durability |
| Best Use | Early Aircraft squads, monster PvE, secondary squads |
| Long-Term Priority | Low once UR Aircraft defenders are established |
Cage’s purpose is survival rather than damage. His normal attack contributes some Energy Damage, but the reason to field him is to protect the front row long enough for Aircraft attackers to do their job.
This makes him a natural temporary protector for damage dealers such as DVA, Schuyler, Morrison, and Maxwell. If Cage is dying quickly, improving his survivability usually matters more than trying to increase his personal damage.
Last War Cage Skills
| Skill | Type | Main Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Bullet | Auto Attack | Deals Energy Damage based on Cage’s Attack |
| Z-Armor | Passive | Reduces damage Cage takes from monsters |
| Defense Boost | Tactics | Temporarily increases the Defense of front-row heroes |
| Special Tactics | Expertise | Raises Cage’s HP, Attack, and Defense |
Energy Bullet
Energy Bullet is Cage’s auto attack. Its listed base effect deals Energy Damage equal to 183.75% of his Attack with a one-second cooldown.
| Star Improvement | Additional Damage |
|---|---|
| First | 20% |
| Second | 45% |
| Third | 70% |
| Fourth | 100% |
| Fifth | 150% |
The numbers improve substantially with hero progression, but this remains Cage’s lowest-priority Skill Medal investment. Increasing his attack does not solve the main reason he fails in difficult content: insufficient frontline durability.
Z-Armor
Z-Armor is Cage’s specialized PvE passive. Its listed base effect reduces the damage Cage receives from monsters by 37%.
Each listed star improvement adds another 2 percentage points, allowing the effect to reach 47% after all five improvements.
| Stage | Monster Damage Reduction |
|---|---|
| Base | 37% |
| After 1 improvement | 39% |
| After 2 improvements | 41% |
| After 3 improvements | 43% |
| After 4 improvements | 45% |
| After 5 improvements | 47% |
This is what makes Cage particularly useful against map monsters and similar PvE enemies. The limitation is equally important: the monster-specific reduction does not give Cage the same advantage against another commander’s squad in normal PvP.
Defense Boost
Defense Boost is Cage’s most important all-purpose skill. Its listed base effect increases front-row Defense by 40% for six seconds, is non-stackable, and has a nine-second cooldown.
| Star Improvement | Effect |
|---|---|
| First | Duration increases to 7 seconds |
| Second | Defense effect gains another 5% |
| Third | Duration increases to 8 seconds |
| Fourth | Defense effect gains another 5% |
| Fifth | Duration increases to 9 seconds |
With the listed improvements, Defense Boost can reach a 50% Defense increase and nine-second duration. Because it supports both front-row positions and is not restricted to monsters, this is usually Cage’s best skill to prioritize for mixed PvE and PvP use.
Special Tactics
Special Tactics is Cage’s Expertise effect. It provides the following personal stat bonuses:
| Stat | Bonus |
|---|---|
| HP | +10% |
| Attack | +10% |
| Defense | +10% |
The HP and Defense components fit Cage’s frontline role particularly well. Importantly, Special Tactics is an Expertise effect rather than another normal Skill Medal priority, so do not treat it as a fourth skill competing with Defense Boost, Z-Armor, and Energy Bullet for medals.
Best Cage Skill Upgrade Priority
General Combat
| Priority | Skill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defense Boost | Improves both front-row heroes and works outside monster-only content |
| 2 | Z-Armor | Strong survivability whenever Cage is used against monsters |
| 3 | Energy Bullet | Adds personal damage but does not strengthen his main role |
Monster-Focused PvE
- Z-Armor
- Defense Boost
- Energy Bullet
Z-Armor can move ahead of Defense Boost when Cage’s main job is tanking monster damage. For a mixed-use main squad, however, Defense Boost has broader value.
Best Gear for Cage
Cage should be geared like a frontline defender. HP, Defense, and damage mitigation matter more than maximizing Attack because surviving longer lets him keep the enemy away from your Aircraft damage dealers.
A practical priority is Armor first, Radar second, followed by your remaining slots. Avoid taking your strongest defensive equipment away from Carlie, Lucius, or another defender who is already more important to your main squad.
Early-Game Cage Gear
Rare M3 gear is sufficient as a temporary setup. Because it is quickly replaced, heavy investment is unnecessary.
|
M3 Armor |
Highest early defensive priority |
|
M3 Data Chip |
Useful temporary HP-oriented slot |
|
M3 Turret |
Fill the slot but keep offensive investment secondary |
|
M3 Radar |
Useful defensive bridge until better gear is available |
Upgrade Ore becomes increasingly important as you move into Epic and Legendary equipment. Do not pour it into temporary Rare pieces simply because Cage happens to be in your current formation.
Epic Gear for Cage
|
M4-A Porcupine Armor |
Primary defensive piece for Cage |
|
M4-A Seahawk Radar |
Second defensive priority |
|
M4-A Jackal Data Chip |
Useful after the main defensive slots are covered |
|
M4-A Destroyer Cannon |
Lowest priority when Cage is being used primarily as a defender |
For a Cage who is still protecting an important squad, improve Armor and Radar before chasing offensive upgrades. If he is already close to being replaced, stop upgrading his personal setup and save resources for the incoming UR defender.
Should Cage Get Legendary Gear?
He can use Legendary gear, but ownership and upgrade priority are different questions. Gear can be moved between heroes, so letting Cage temporarily wear strong defensive equipment is reasonable. Spending scarce late-game upgrade materials specifically because Cage is wearing it is harder to justify if Carlie or Lucius will soon replace him.
Best Position and Teams for Cage
Cage belongs on the front row. Defense Boost benefits the frontline, while his monster reduction only matters if he is actually taking attacks.
Aircraft Transition Team
| Position | Recommended Hero |
|---|---|
| Front Row | Cage |
| Front Row | Carlie |
| Back Row | DVA |
| Back Row | Schuyler |
| Back Row | Morrison, Maxwell, or Sarah depending on development |
This is the most natural stage for Cage: you already have useful Aircraft attackers but do not yet have two better UR Aircraft defenders.
Once Lucius becomes sufficiently developed, a Carlie-Lucius frontline is normally the stronger long-term direction. Cage can then move to a secondary squad.
Budget Aircraft Team
| Position | Hero |
|---|---|
| Front Row | Cage |
| Front Row | Best available defender |
| Back Row | DVA or strongest Aircraft attacker |
| Back Row | Maxwell |
| Back Row | Sarah or another developed attacker/support hero |
Do not force a weak five-Aircraft lineup simply to match hero type. During early progression, a stronger mixed squad can outperform an underdeveloped same-type team.
Mixed Early-Game Frontline Partners
If your Aircraft roster is incomplete, Cage can work beside whichever defender is currently strongest. Existing options may include Murphy, Williams, Violet, Scarlett, or McGregor, depending on what you have actually developed.
Hero stars, skill levels, gear, and overall account progression matter. Vehicle matching is useful, but it should not make you bench a substantially stronger hero too early.
Best Uses for Cage
| Content | Cage Value | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Map Monsters | High | Z-Armor directly reduces monster damage |
| Other Monster PvE | High | Strong personal survivability plus frontline support |
| Campaign Progression | Moderate | Can stabilize an underdeveloped frontline |
| Early PvP | Moderate | Defense Boost remains useful, but Z-Armor loses its monster-specific benefit |
| Main Late-Game Aircraft Squad | Low | UR Aircraft defenders offer stronger long-term kits |
| Secondary Squad | Good | Useful after leaving the main Aircraft formation |
Monster Battles
Monster fights are Cage’s clearest niche. Z-Armor reduces the incoming damage he personally takes, while Defense Boost helps both front-row heroes remain active longer.
If your back row has enough damage but the frontline dies before the battle finishes, Cage can be a useful solution without requiring the roster commitment of a premium UR defender.
PvP
Cage is usable in early PvP because Defense Boost still supports the frontline. However, Z-Armor is specifically tied to monster damage, so a significant part of his defensive identity provides no equivalent benefit against normal player squads.
This is one of the main reasons his value falls as an account becomes more PvP-focused.
Secondary Squads
Cage has a useful second life after leaving your main team. Give him older defensive gear and use him to anchor another march rather than continuing to spend premium resources trying to keep him competitive with UR defenders.
Is Cage Worth Upgrading?
Yes, if you currently need him. Cage is worth enough investment to perform his frontline job, but most players should avoid treating him as a permanent priority.
| Player Situation | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| New player using Cage in main squad | Moderate investment is reasonable |
| Monster-focused player | Prioritize Z-Armor and defensive gear |
| Building an early Aircraft squad | Use Cage as a frontline bridge |
| Have Carlie but not developed Lucius | Keep Cage temporarily beside Carlie |
| Have developed Carlie and Lucius | Move Cage to a secondary squad |
| Late-game account | Limit new Cage-specific investment |
Should You Take Cage to Five Stars?
Five stars unlocks Cage’s Wall of Honor progression once the corresponding Aircraft Center requirement is met. Current references list the Aircraft Center requirement at level 20 and Cage’s Wall of Honor contribution as +0.25% Health for every 50 Honor levels.
That gives excess Cage shards a purpose after five stars, but it does not automatically make a forced five-star push efficient. The better reasons to finish him are:
- You already receive plenty of Cage-specific shards.
- He is still an active frontline hero.
- Your more important SSR shard priorities are already covered.
- You specifically want his longer-term Wall of Honor contribution.
If Carlie and Lucius are already taking over your Aircraft frontline, saving universal resources is usually more efficient.
Cage for F2P Players
Cage is most attractive to F2P players when he solves an immediate roster problem without demanding long-term spending. He can hold the Aircraft frontline while you gradually acquire and develop better UR heroes.
The efficient F2P approach is to use naturally obtained Cage shards, concentrate Skill Medals on his important defensive skills, and avoid over-upgrading equipment that only exists for him. When he is replaced, move useful gear to another defender and keep Cage productive in a secondary squad.
Players who prefer to skip some early roster-building can optionally compare a Last War account for sale, but Cage is straightforward to use as a normal progression hero if you are developing your own account.
Common Cage Mistakes
Putting Cage on the Back Row
Cage is a defender whose kit supports frontline survival. Moving him behind the heroes he is supposed to protect wastes his role.
Upgrading Energy Bullet First
Extra auto-attack damage is less valuable than keeping Cage alive. Defense Boost and Z-Armor better address why you use him.
Assuming Z-Armor Is a General Damage Reduction Skill
Z-Armor specifically reduces damage from monsters. Do not judge Cage’s PvP durability by his monster performance.
Overinvesting in Temporary Gear
Rare and Epic equipment can help Cage do his job, but his long-term replacement path should influence how much Upgrade Ore and other resources you commit.
Forcing a Five-Aircraft Team Too Soon
An underdeveloped same-type hero can make the whole formation weaker. Use your strongest available lineup while gradually transitioning toward a proper Aircraft squad.
Keeping Cage in the Main Team After Better Defenders Are Ready
Cage is not useless after replacement. He is simply more efficient in a secondary squad once Carlie and Lucius can handle your primary Aircraft frontline.
FAQs
Is Cage good in Last War: Survival?
Yes, primarily as an early-to-mid-game SSR Aircraft defender. He is especially useful against monsters and while you are still building a stronger Aircraft frontline.
What is the best Cage skill priority?
For general use, prioritize Defense Boost, then Z-Armor, then Energy Bullet. For monster-focused PvE, prioritize Z-Armor first. Special Tactics is an Expertise effect rather than another normal Skill Medal priority.
What is the best gear for Cage?
Prioritize defensive gear, especially Armor and Radar. Cage benefits more from surviving on the front row than from maximizing offensive equipment.
Is Cage good for PvP?
He can work in early PvP because Defense Boost strengthens the frontline, but his Z-Armor passive is monster-specific. That makes Cage less efficient in PvP than in PvE.
Who replaces Cage in an Aircraft squad?
Carlie and Lucius are the main UR Aircraft defenders to build toward. Once both are sufficiently developed, Cage normally moves to a secondary squad.
Should I use universal shards on Cage?
Use them cautiously. Cage-specific shards are preferable because Cage is commonly replaced in the main Aircraft squad later. Universal resources are better saved when another hero offers stronger long-term value.
Conclusion
Cage is a useful SSR Aircraft defender when you need immediate frontline stability. Build around Defense Boost for general combat, emphasize Z-Armor against monsters, place him in the front row, and prioritize Armor and Radar over offensive gear.
His biggest value is giving an Aircraft roster time to develop. Once Carlie and Lucius are established, move Cage to a secondary squad rather than continuing to force main-squad investment. For more hero builds, team advice, and progression strategies, explore our latest Last War Survival guides.
