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

Maxwell is an SSR Aircraft hero in Last War Survival who specializes in dealing damage from the back row. His kit includes direct damage, extra damage against monsters, and personal stat bonuses.

Maxwell can be useful during the early and middle stages of progression, especially when clearing monsters or building a temporary Aircraft squad. However, players should manage their investment carefully because stronger UR Aircraft heroes can eventually replace him.

This Last War Survival Maxwell guide covers his skills, gear priority, formation options, strengths, weaknesses, and whether he is worth upgrading.

Maxwell Overview

Maxwell is an SSR attacker who belongs to the Aircraft hero type. He is primarily designed for the back row, where he can deal damage without taking direct attacks from enemy front-row heroes.

Detail	Maxwell Information
Hero	Maxwell
Rarity	SSR
Vehicle Type	Aircraft
Specialty	Attack
Recommended Position	Back Row
Main Strength	Damage against monsters
Best Stage	Early to mid-game
Best Content	Monster battles and secondary squads
Long-Term Priority	Low to medium
Wall of Honor Bonus	Aircraft Attack

Maxwell receives additional stats from the Aircraft Center. Upgrading this building improves the March Size, HP, Attack, and Defense of every Aircraft hero in your roster. Once Maxwell reaches five stars and the Aircraft Center reaches Level 20, his extra shards can also be used through the Wall of Honor system.

What Role Does Maxwell Play?

Maxwell works as a back-row damage dealer. He does not have the durability needed to remain on the front row, so he should normally be protected by two defensive heroes.

His monster damage passive makes him more valuable in PvE than in competitive PvP. This allows him to help with activities involving zombies, map enemies, campaign stages, and other monster-based targets.

Maxwell Skills

Maxwell’s skills focus on direct damage, monster damage, and personal stat improvements. Exact values may vary depending on skill level, star level, server progress, and future game updates.

Skill	Type	General Effect
Missile Strike	Auto Attack	Deals damage based on Maxwell’s Attack
Zombie Killer	Passive	Increases Maxwell’s damage against monsters
Destructive Firepower	Tactics	Attacks a front-row enemy with explosion damage
Special Tactics	Expertise	Increases Maxwell’s HP, Attack, and Defense

Missile Strike

Missile Strike is Maxwell’s normal attack skill. At its listed base value, it deals Physical Damage equal to 288% of his Attack and has a cooldown of approximately 1.55 seconds.

Its additional star effects increase the damage dealt by the skill.

Upgrade Stage	Additional Damage
First upgrade	20%
Second upgrade	45%
Third upgrade	70%
Fourth upgrade	100%
Fifth upgrade	150%

Missile Strike benefits directly from Attack stats. Improving Maxwell’s offensive gear will therefore increase the value of his regular attacks.

Zombie Killer

Zombie Killer is Maxwell’s most notable PvE skill. It increases his damage against monsters by 37% at its listed base value.

Each additional upgrade improves the effect further.

Upgrade	Additional Monster Damage
Base effect	37%
First upgrade	+3%
Second upgrade	+3%
Third upgrade	+3%
Fourth upgrade	+3%
Fifth upgrade	+3%

When fully improved, the listed effect can reach approximately 52% bonus damage against monsters.

This passive is the main reason to use Maxwell in monster-focused activities. It does not provide the same value against other players, which limits his overall PvP performance.

Destructive Firepower

Destructive Firepower is Maxwell’s Tactics skill. It prioritizes a front-row enemy and deals explosion damage based on Maxwell’s Attack.

This skill helps Maxwell pressure enemy defenders before the squad reaches the back row. It works best when combined with other damage dealers who also focus on breaking the enemy frontline.

Special Tactics

Special Tactics improves Maxwell’s personal combat stats.

Stat	Listed Bonus
HP	+10%
Attack	+10%
Defense	+10%

The Attack bonus increases his damage, while the HP and Defense bonuses provide some additional protection. However, Maxwell should still remain in the back row because he is not designed to tank direct damage.

Best Maxwell Skill Upgrade Priority

The best skill order depends on how you plan to use Maxwell.

General Skill Priority

Priority	Skill	Reason
1	Destructive Firepower	Provides his main burst damage
2	Missile Strike	Improves his regular damage output
3	Zombie Killer	Useful mainly against monsters
4	Special Tactics	Improves overall personal stats

Attack heroes generally benefit most from improving their Tactics skill first, followed by their main damage skill.

PvE and Monster Skill Priority

Players using Maxwell mainly against monsters can change the priority:

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

Zombie Killer provides specialized value that becomes more noticeable during repeated monster fights. It is less important when Maxwell is used primarily for Arena or player-versus-player battles.

Skill Investment Recommendation

Avoid automatically maximizing every Maxwell skill. Skill Medals become increasingly expensive, and Maxwell is usually replaced by stronger Aircraft attackers later.

Upgrade his most useful skills to practical milestones while saving premium resources for heroes who will remain in your main squad.

Best Gear for Maxwell

Maxwell benefits most from equipment that increases Attack and improves his damage skills.

Gear Slot	Priority	Main Purpose
Cannon or Turret	1	Increases Attack and direct damage
Data Chip	2	Improves offensive performance
Radar	3	Provides defensive protection
Armor	4	Increases survivability

Early-Game Gear

Equip Maxwell with the best available M3 gear, but avoid spending large amounts of Upgrade Ore on temporary equipment.

Low-rarity equipment is normally replaced quickly. Heavy investment in blue gear can delay upgrades for stronger equipment and higher-priority heroes.

Mid-Game Gear

The M4-A Destroyer Cannon is a useful offensive upgrade for Maxwell. It provides a stronger Attack increase than early equipment and improves the damage of his regular and Tactics skills.

The M4-A Jackal Data Chip is another useful option after the cannon. Together, these pieces provide a reasonable setup for players who actively use Maxwell.

Recommended Gear Upgrade Order

1. Upgrade Maxwell’s offensive weapon.
2. Improve his Data Chip.
3. Add defensive levels to his Radar.
4. Upgrade Armor only when extra survivability is needed.

Maxwell does not require a fully developed gear set if he is only being used as a temporary hero. Transfer your strongest equipment to a better long-term attacker once Maxwell leaves the main squad.

Best Position and Team Formation for Maxwell

Maxwell should normally be placed in the back row.

His damage is more useful when he survives long enough to activate Destructive Firepower several times. Placing him on the front row exposes him to unnecessary damage and can cause him to be defeated before contributing enough.

Recommended Formation Structure

Position	Recommended Role
Front Left	Defensive hero
Front Right	Defensive hero
Back Left	Maxwell or another attacker
Back Middle	Main damage dealer
Back Right	Support or secondary attacker

Good Teammates for Maxwell

Maxwell works best with heroes who protect him, increase squad damage, or help defeat enemy front-row units.

Hero	Potential Role with Maxwell
Cage	Accessible Aircraft frontline hero
Carlie	Durable Aircraft defender
Lucius	Strong Aircraft frontline protection
Sarah	Aircraft support and monster utility
DVA	Main Aircraft damage dealer
Schuyler	Damage and control support
Marshall	Attack support in mixed formations
Monica	Healing and utility
Murphy	Reliable frontline protection
Williams	Strong defensive frontline

Early-Game Maxwell Formation

Position	Hero Type
Front Row	Two available defenders
Back Row	Maxwell
Back Row	Main attacker
Back Row	Support hero

Early players should prioritize using their strongest available heroes rather than forcing a perfect vehicle-type squad.

Aircraft Transition Formation

Position	Hero
Front Row	Carlie
Front Row	Lucius
Back Row	DVA
Back Row	Maxwell
Back Row	Schuyler or Sarah

This formation allows Maxwell to benefit from Aircraft bonuses while stronger heroes protect him. As the roster improves, Maxwell can eventually be replaced by a stronger UR Aircraft attacker such as Morrison.

Best Uses for Maxwell

Maxwell is most useful in PvE activities where his Zombie Killer passive remains active.

Game Mode	Maxwell Performance
Map Monsters	Good
Zombie Battles	Good
Campaign	Moderate
Doomsday-style PvE	Moderate
Arena	Limited
PvP Attacks	Limited
Main Late-Game Squad	Low priority
Secondary Squad	Useful

Monster Battles

Monster battles are Maxwell’s best use. Zombie Killer gives him a direct damage advantage against qualifying enemies.

Use him when your stronger main-squad heroes are already assigned elsewhere or when you need another damage dealer for a secondary march.

Campaign Progression

Maxwell can help clear early and middle campaign stages, especially when the enemy frontline needs additional damage pressure.

His effectiveness will decrease as enemy difficulty rises and stronger UR heroes become available.

Secondary Squads

Maxwell is a practical choice for a second or third squad. He can provide usable damage without requiring the same investment as a primary UR attacker.

This is often his best long-term role after he leaves the main squad.

PvP Battles

Maxwell can participate in PvP, but his monster passive does not contribute against enemy commanders. This means part of his kit provides no value in these battles.

Use him in PvP only when he has significantly higher stars, levels, skills, or gear than your available alternatives.

Maxwell Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Strong bonus damage against monsters	Monster passive provides little PvP value
Accessible SSR Aircraft attacker	Eventually replaced by UR attackers
Works from the safer back row	Requires frontline protection
Useful in secondary squads	Limited long-term investment value
Benefits from Aircraft Center upgrades	Competes for SSR shards and Skill Medals
Simple role and positioning	Not a complete late-game damage solution

Maxwell’s Main Strength

Maxwell’s main advantage is his PvE specialization. Players who regularly fight monsters can use his passive to gain additional damage without requiring a full late-game Aircraft team.

Maxwell’s Main Weakness

His main weakness is limited scaling compared with stronger UR Aircraft heroes. Maxwell can perform well while your roster is developing, but he should not automatically receive resources that could improve DVA, Morrison, Schuyler, Carlie, or Lucius.

Is Maxwell Worth Upgrading?

Maxwell is worth upgrading when he is one of your strongest available Aircraft heroes or when you need additional monster damage.

However, he should usually be treated as a temporary or secondary hero rather than a permanent main-squad investment. Current hero assessments generally place Maxwell below the main UR Aircraft options, especially after seasonal heroes become available.

Upgrade Maxwell When:

• He is currently part of your main squad.
• You need more damage against monsters.
• You are building an early Aircraft formation.
• You have many Maxwell-specific shards.
• Your stronger Aircraft heroes are not yet unlocked.
• You need a reliable attacker for a secondary squad.

Limit Maxwell Investment When:

• You already have a developed UR Aircraft attacker.
• He is no longer used in your main squad.
• Your Skill Medals are limited.
• You need SSR universal shards for a more important hero.
• You are preparing to transition into a late-game formation.

Recommended Investment Level

Player Situation	Recommendation
New player using Maxwell in the main squad	Moderate investment
PvE-focused player	Upgrade Zombie Killer and main damage skill
Aircraft-focused player without UR attackers	Temporary investment
Player with several UR Aircraft heroes	Low investment
Late-game player	Secondary squad or Wall of Honor

Use Maxwell-specific shards whenever possible. Save universal shards until you are certain he will remain useful for a meaningful period.

Best Maxwell Tips

• Keep Maxwell in the back row.
• Pair him with two durable frontline heroes.
• Use him mainly against monsters.
• Upgrade Destructive Firepower for general combat.
• Prioritize Zombie Killer when focusing on PvE.
• Improve his weapon before defensive equipment.
• Avoid heavily upgrading temporary M3 gear.
• Use hero-specific shards before universal shards.
• Upgrade the Aircraft Center when Aircraft heroes form an important squad.
• Move Maxwell to a secondary squad after unlocking stronger UR attackers.

Mistakes to Avoid

Placing Maxwell on the Front Row

Maxwell is an attacker, not a defender. Front-row placement causes him to take heavy damage before he can use his skills effectively.

Overinvesting in Temporary Gear

Early M3 equipment is useful for filling empty slots, but it is not worth a large amount of Upgrade Ore. Save major upgrades for higher-rarity gear.

Using Universal Shards Too Early

SSR universal shards are limited and may be needed for other heroes. Use Maxwell-specific shards first and confirm that he remains part of your formation before spending universal items.

Expecting the Same Performance in PvP

Zombie Killer is designed for monster battles. Maxwell loses an important part of his value when fighting other players.

Ignoring Stronger Aircraft Replacements

Maxwell can be helpful during progression, but players should prepare to replace him as their Aircraft roster improves.

Upgrading Every Skill Equally

Not every skill provides the same return. Prioritize the skills that match the content where Maxwell is actually used.

FAQs

Is Maxwell good in Last War Survival?

Maxwell is a useful early-to-mid-game SSR Aircraft attacker. He performs best against monsters but has lower long-term priority than major UR Aircraft heroes.

What type of hero is Maxwell?

Maxwell is an SSR Aircraft hero with the Attack specialty. He should normally be positioned in the back row.

What is Maxwell’s best skill?

Zombie Killer is his most distinctive PvE skill because it increases his damage against monsters. Destructive Firepower is generally more important for overall combat damage.

What is the best skill upgrade order for Maxwell?

For general combat, upgrade Destructive Firepower first, followed by Missile Strike and Zombie Killer. For monster-focused content, prioritize Zombie Killer earlier.

What is the best gear for Maxwell?

Prioritize an Attack-focused cannon or turret, followed by a Data Chip. The M4-A Destroyer Cannon and M4-A Jackal Data Chip are practical mid-game options.

Should Maxwell be placed in the front or back row?

Maxwell should be placed in the back row. He needs defensive heroes in front of him so he can survive and continue dealing damage.

Is Maxwell good for PvP?

Maxwell can be used in early PvP formations, but his monster damage passive does not work against players. Stronger general-purpose or UR attackers are usually better for competitive battles.

Should I use universal shards on Maxwell?

Use universal shards cautiously. Maxwell-specific shards are preferable because universal shards may provide more long-term value when used on another important SSR hero.

Conclusion

Maxwell is a practical SSR Aircraft attacker for early and middle progression in Last War Survival. His Zombie Killer passive gives him a clear role against monsters, while Missile Strike and Destructive Firepower allow him to contribute reliable back-row damage.

Keep Maxwell protected, prioritize his most useful skills, and avoid overspending on temporary equipment. He is worth developing while he remains in your active formations, but players should gradually move him into a secondary squad as stronger UR Aircraft heroes become available.

For more hero builds, progression advice, and resource-saving strategies, check out our latest Last War Survival guides on Heaven Guardian.