Last War Survival Maxwell Guide: Skills, Gear, and Best Use

Maxwell is an SSR Aircraft Attack hero in Last War Survival. He belongs in the back row and is most useful during early-to-mid progression, where his Physical Damage and Zombie Killer passive give him a practical role against monsters.

His main limitation is long-term value. Maxwell competes with UR Aircraft attackers such as DVA, Morrison, and Schuyler, so he is usually better treated as a temporary main-squad hero or a longer-term secondary-squad option rather than a hero who should consume unlimited Skill Medals, universal shards, and premium gear.

This Last War Maxwell guide covers his skills, skill priority, best gear, Aircraft teams, PvE and PvP value, resource investment, Wall of Honor use, and the point at which you should replace him.

Maxwell Overview

Maxwell also benefits from the Aircraft Center, which improves Aircraft hero March Size, HP, Attack, and Defense. The building becomes more valuable as Aircraft heroes make up a larger part of your main or secondary formations.

After Maxwell reaches five stars and the Aircraft Center reaches Level 20, additional Maxwell shards can contribute through the Wall of Honor system instead of becoming dead inventory. This gives his extra shards some permanent account value even after he leaves your active squad.

What Is Maxwell’s Role?

Maxwell is a back-row attacker. His job is to stay protected while dealing damage rather than absorbing the opening attacks aimed at your frontline.

His Zombie Killer passive also gives him a clear PvE specialization. Against qualifying monsters, more of his kit is active than it is during PvP, making monster-focused battles one of the best reasons to continue using a developed Maxwell.

Maxwell Skills

Maxwell has an Auto Attack, a monster-damage passive, a Tactics skill, and a self-stat Expertise skill. The values below reflect currently documented skill text, but the live in-game tooltip should take priority if a future update changes a percentage or star effect.

Missile Strike

Missile Strike is Maxwell’s regular Auto Attack. Its documented base effect deals Physical Damage equal to 288% of Maxwell’s Attack with a 1.55-second cooldown.

Because Missile Strike scales with Attack, Maxwell gets immediate value from offensive gear. This is one reason his Cannon or Turret should generally receive more attention than defensive equipment while he is serving as a damage dealer.

Zombie Killer

Zombie Killer is the skill that gives Maxwell his clearest niche. Its documented base effect increases Maxwell’s damage to monsters by 37%.

With all five documented increases applied, the effect reaches 52%. This is valuable when the enemy qualifies as a monster, but it does not give Maxwell the same benefit when he fights another player’s squad.

That distinction is important when deciding how much to invest. A player who uses Maxwell primarily for world PvE can justify more attention to Zombie Killer than a player building around Arena or war PvP.

Destructive Firepower

Destructive Firepower is Maxwell’s Tactics skill. Current hero references describe it as prioritizing one front-row enemy and dealing explosion damage based on Maxwell’s Attack. Its purpose is therefore to help wear down the enemy frontline while Maxwell remains protected in the back.

Star progression can improve the skill’s damage and add stun utility, making Destructive Firepower Maxwell’s most important general-combat skill when he is being used outside purely monster-focused content.

Special Tactics

Special Tactics provides Maxwell with permanent personal stat bonuses while the skill is active in his build.

The Attack increase helps his damage, while HP and Defense make him less fragile if damage reaches the back row. These defensive bonuses do not turn Maxwell into a frontline hero, however.

Best Maxwell Skill Upgrade Priority

There are two sensible skill orders depending on whether Maxwell is being built for general combat or specifically for monster PvE.

General Combat Priority

Monster PvE Priority

1. Zombie Killer
2. Destructive Firepower
3. Missile Strike
4. Special Tactics

If Maxwell spends most of his time fighting monsters, prioritizing Zombie Killer earlier makes sense because its entire purpose matches that content. For a mixed PvE/PvP role, Destructive Firepower is the safer first investment.

How Far Should You Upgrade Maxwell’s Skills?

Avoid automatically taking every Maxwell skill as far as possible simply because he is currently in your first squad. Skill Medals are also needed by heroes with much better late-game staying power.

For F2P and low-spending players, improve the skills that solve an immediate progression problem and then reassess whenever a stronger Aircraft hero enters your roster. Heavy spenders with developed UR Aircraft teams have even less reason to build Maxwell as a primary long-term attacker.

Best Gear for Maxwell

Maxwell is an Attack hero, so his offensive gear should receive priority while he remains an active damage dealer.

Early-Game Gear

M3 gear is useful for filling Maxwell’s slots, but it is temporary. Equip the pieces you have for their base stats while keeping major Upgrade Ore spending under control.

The M3 Turret is the most useful of these pieces for Maxwell’s role because he benefits directly from Attack. Radar and Armor can help if he is dying too quickly, but fixing a weak frontline is usually more important than trying to make Maxwell tankier.

Mid-Game Gear

The M4-A Destroyer Cannon is an appropriate first Epic gear upgrade for Maxwell while he is one of your active attackers. Cannons are offense-oriented gear, so this upgrade directly supports his main role.

The M4-A Jackal Data Chip is a sensible second Epic piece. It complements the Cannon and is a better place for resources than heavily enhancing blue equipment that is about to be replaced.

Recommended Maxwell Gear Order

1. Prioritize the Cannon or Turret while Maxwell is an active attacker.
2. Develop the Data Chip second.
3. Add Radar investment if back-row survival is becoming a problem.
4. Use Armor for additional durability after the core offensive pieces are covered.

Do not treat Maxwell’s gear as permanently attached to him. Strong gear can be transferred to a more important damage dealer when Maxwell moves out of the main squad.

Best Position for Maxwell

Maxwell should normally be placed in one of the three back-row positions. The two frontline positions should be occupied by heroes capable of taking sustained damage.

Which exact back-row slot Maxwell occupies matters less than keeping him behind a functioning frontline. If a particular enemy skill is consistently reaching one side of your back row, use battle reports and formation testing rather than assuming the same Maxwell position is optimal for every opponent.

Best Teams and Teammates for Maxwell

Maxwell fits most naturally into an Aircraft lineup, particularly before a player has completed the usual UR Aircraft backline. Same-type lineup bonuses also reward developing toward a complete Aircraft squad: three heroes of one type provide a stat bonus, four increase it further, and five matching heroes provide the maximum +20% HP, Attack, and Defense lineup bonus.

That does not mean a weak five-Aircraft team automatically beats your strongest mixed squad. Early on, stars, skills, levels, gear, and frontline quality can outweigh type matching. Transition toward the Aircraft bonus as your actual heroes become strong enough to support it.

Good Maxwell Teammates

Budget Aircraft Formation

This is a transition structure rather than a mandatory five-hero recipe. Early accounts should not remove a significantly stronger hero just to force vehicle-type matching before the replacement is adequately developed.

Aircraft Transition Formation

Maxwell can occupy a temporary back-row slot while this team develops. The important part is recognizing that the completed high-investment Aircraft lineup has stronger UR choices available, so Maxwell should be the replaceable piece rather than the hero around whom future resources are planned.

Where Maxwell Is Most Useful

Monster PvE

This is Maxwell’s clearest specialty. When Zombie Killer applies, he gets an additional source of damage that he does not have against another commander.

A developed Maxwell can therefore remain useful for PvE even after another hero becomes the better choice for your main PvP squad.

Secondary Squads

Moving Maxwell into a second or third formation is often a better outcome than continuing to force him into your first squad. His existing stars and skills still provide value without competing directly with your highest-priority UR attacker for the main damage slot.

PvP

Maxwell can still fight other players, especially if he has significantly more stars, skill levels, or gear than your alternatives. However, Zombie Killer does not contribute its monster-specific bonus in that matchup, so part of Maxwell’s PvE advantage disappears.

As your Aircraft roster matures, PvP is usually where stronger UR attackers make the replacement decision easiest.

Maxwell Strengths and Weaknesses

Is Maxwell Worth Upgrading?

Maxwell is worth upgrading when the resources produce immediate progress: he is already in your active squad, you lack stronger Aircraft attackers, or you specifically want additional monster damage.

He is not a strong candidate for unlimited investment. Once DVA, Morrison, Schuyler, or another long-term Aircraft option can take his spot at competitive development, continuing to pour universal resources into Maxwell becomes increasingly difficult to justify.

F2P and Low-Spender Advice

F2P players benefit most from treating Maxwell as a bridge. Develop him enough to clear the content blocking your progress, use hero-specific shards first, and preserve universal resources for heroes with stronger long-term roles.

Players who prefer to skip part of the early roster-building process can also compare a Last War account for sale as an optional progression path, but Maxwell investment should still be judged by the heroes and resources already available on that individual account.

Higher-Spending Players

If you can build the UR Aircraft core quickly, Maxwell’s main-squad window becomes shorter. In that situation, minimal temporary investment, secondary-squad use, and eventual Wall of Honor progression are more efficient than trying to keep him competitive with UR attackers.

When to Upgrade Maxwell

• He is one of your best-developed current attackers.
• You regularly use him against monsters.
• You are still assembling an Aircraft formation.
• You have Maxwell-specific shards available.
• Your intended UR replacement is not yet developed enough.
• You need a capable attacker for another squad.

When to Stop Investing

• A stronger UR Aircraft attacker is ready to replace him.
• Maxwell is no longer used in important battles.
• You are short on Skill Medals.
• Upgrading him would require valuable universal shards.
• His gear is more useful on a permanent main-squad attacker.
• Your main goal has shifted toward competitive PvP.

Maxwell and the Wall of Honor

Maxwell does not become useless just because he leaves your active squad. Once he reaches five stars and your Aircraft Center reaches Level 20, excess Maxwell shards can be invested through his Wall of Honor entry.

His entry contributes Aircraft Attack, so long-time players can continue converting duplicate Maxwell shards into account-wide Aircraft progression without keeping him in the main formation.

This also changes how you should think about hero-specific shards. Using Maxwell shards to finish his natural progression is less wasteful than spending scarce universal shards simply to rush the same result.

Common Maxwell Mistakes

Putting Maxwell in the Front Row

Maxwell is an Attack hero. A frontline position exposes him before he has enough time to contribute consistently. Put defensive heroes in front of him instead.

Upgrading Temporary M3 Gear Too Heavily

M3 gear fills empty slots, but Upgrade Ore becomes much more valuable as better gear appears. Equip temporary pieces without assuming every one needs significant enhancement.

Spending Universal Shards Just Because Maxwell Is Currently Strong

The strongest hero on a young account is not necessarily the best long-term investment. Check which UR hero you intend to use before converting scarce universal resources into an SSR hero.

Evaluating Maxwell Only by Monster Results

Zombie Killer can make Maxwell look particularly effective in monster PvE. Do not assume the same performance will automatically carry into PvP where that monster-specific bonus does not apply.

Ignoring the Aircraft Formation Transition

Maxwell is useful because he helps bridge a roster gap. Once the gap is closed by better-developed Aircraft heroes, keeping him in the first squad only because he received earlier resources can hold the formation back.

Upgrading Every Skill Equally

Match skill spending to Maxwell’s actual job. Zombie Killer deserves more attention for dedicated monster use, while Destructive Firepower is the better general-combat priority.

FAQs

Is Maxwell good in Last War Survival?

Maxwell is a useful SSR Aircraft attacker for early-to-mid progression and monster PvE. His long-term priority is lower once a player has developed UR Aircraft attackers.

What is the best Maxwell skill priority?

For general combat, prioritize Destructive Firepower, followed by Missile Strike, Zombie Killer, and Special Tactics. If Maxwell is being built primarily for monsters, move Zombie Killer to the first priority.

What is the best gear for Maxwell?

Prioritize his offensive weapon first and Data Chip second. M3 equipment is temporary, while the M4-A Destroyer Cannon and M4-A Jackal Data Chip are stronger Epic options when Maxwell remains an active attacker.

Should Maxwell be in the front or back row?

Keep Maxwell in the back row. He is an Attack hero and performs better when defensive heroes absorb damage in front of him.

Does Zombie Killer help Maxwell in PvP?

Zombie Killer specifically boosts Maxwell’s damage against monsters, so it does not provide the same benefit when fighting another player’s heroes. This is one reason his comparative value is higher in PvE.

Should I use universal shards on Maxwell?

Usually only with caution. Maxwell-specific shards are the safer investment. Universal shards should be saved when another SSR hero offers greater long-term value or when Maxwell is already close to being replaced.

Conclusion

Maxwell is best viewed as a useful SSR Aircraft bridge rather than a permanent late-game carry. His monster-damage passive makes him valuable in PvE, while his back-row damage lets him support an Aircraft formation until stronger UR options are ready.

Keep him protected, prioritize damage-focused skills and gear, use hero-specific shards before universal resources, and move him into secondary-squad or Wall of Honor duty when your Aircraft roster improves. For more builds and progression strategies, browse our latest Last War Survival guides on Heaven Guardian.