Last Z factions affect much more than the names attached to your heroes. Blood Rose, Wings of Dawn, and Guard of Order connect your hero roster with troop specialization, formation synergy, faction counters, and long-term upgrade decisions.
The important question is therefore not simply, “Which faction is strongest?” A faction that fits your developed heroes and troop research can be more useful than a theoretically stronger counter faction that you have barely upgraded.
This Last Z faction guide explains which troops belong with each faction, how the faction counter triangle works, how to build Blood Rose and Wings of Dawn formations, when Guard of Order makes sense, and how F2P and competitive players should approach faction investment.
Blood Rose normally aligns with Assaulters, Wings of Dawn with Shooters, and Guard of Order with Riders. Wings of Dawn has the favorable faction matchup against Blood Rose, Blood Rose against Guard of Order, and Guard of Order against Wings of Dawn. Treat that advantage as one part of the battle rather than an automatic win.
Last Z Factions Overview
Last Z uses three main hero factions. Each has its own hero roster and natural troop alignment.
| Faction | Matching Troop Type | Favorable Matchup | Unfavorable Matchup | Best Starting Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Rose | Assaulters | Guard of Order | Wings of Dawn | Accounts already developed around Blood Rose and Assaulters |
| Wings of Dawn | Shooters | Blood Rose | Guard of Order | Accounts with strong Wings of Dawn heroes or Blood Rose-heavy opponents |
| Guard of Order | Riders | Wings of Dawn | Blood Rose | Accounts invested in Riders or needing an answer to Wings of Dawn |
This table is a starting point rather than a faction tier list. Your strongest practical faction depends on hero stars, skills, troop research, equipment, seasonal availability, and the formations you regularly fight.
How the Last Z Faction Counter System Works
The Last Z faction counter system forms a three-way relationship:
- Wings of Dawn counters Blood Rose.
- Blood Rose counters Guard of Order.
- Guard of Order counters Wings of Dawn.
The easiest way to remember it is:
Wings of Dawn → Blood Rose → Guard of Order → Wings of Dawn
Faction counters are particularly useful when comparing otherwise competitive PvP formations. However, they should never be treated as a guaranteed result. A heavily developed formation can overcome a theoretical disadvantage through better hero progression, troop strength, research, equipment, formation bonuses, and other account-wide combat upgrades.
How to Use Faction Counters in PvP
Before attacking, compare more than total formation power. Check the opponent’s main faction, troop specialization, hero development, and visible formation structure whenever that information is available.
For example, a Wings of Dawn player has a favorable faction relationship against Blood Rose. That makes the matchup worth considering, but switching to an unfinished Wings of Dawn squad purely for the counter can still leave you weaker than using your fully developed main formation.
The practical rule is simple: use faction advantage when your counter formation is developed enough to make use of it.
Last Z Troops and Factions: Which Troops Go With Which Faction?
One of the most important GSC questions for this article is which troops go with which Last Z faction. The standard faction-to-troop alignment is:
| Last Z Faction | Troop Type | Typical Development Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Rose | Assaulters | Assaulter-related combat research, troop development, and hero effects |
| Wings of Dawn | Shooters | Shooter-related combat research, troop development, and hero effects |
| Guard of Order | Riders | Rider-related combat research, troop development, and hero effects |
This connection matters because many combat heroes provide effects that become more useful when the formation uses the troop type their faction is designed around. Before investing heavily in troop-specific research, check the skills of the heroes actually deployed in your main formation.
A common progression mistake is developing one faction while concentrating expensive troop research on another faction’s troop type. That can make changing formations later considerably more resource-intensive.
Faction planning tip: once your main formation becomes established, try to keep your hero development, troop research, faction-specific bonuses, and equipment priorities moving in the same direction. Do not change your entire account strategy because you unlocked one new hero.
Blood Rose Faction Guide
Blood Rose is associated with Assaulters and has the favorable faction matchup against Guard of Order. Wings of Dawn is its unfavorable matchup.
Blood Rose makes the most sense when your account already owns and has developed strong Blood Rose heroes and your troop progression supports Assaulters. Starting over with another faction simply because the server meta shifts can be much more expensive than continuing to strengthen a mature Blood Rose formation.
Blood Rose Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Natural Assaulter alignment | Unfavorable faction matchup against Wings of Dawn |
| Favorable matchup against Guard of Order | Popular factions can attract more counter formations |
| Strong choice when your existing Blood Rose heroes are already developed | Changing away after heavy Assaulter investment can carry a high opportunity cost |
| Several useful heroes across different progression stages | A full-faction lineup is inefficient if several required heroes are severely underdeveloped |
Best Blood Rose Formation in Last Z
The best Blood Rose formation in Last Z is not one permanent five-hero list. Hero access changes by season and server progression, while stars, skills, and equipment can make an older hero stronger than a newly unlocked replacement.
For a developed Blood Rose account, the most reliable structure is:
- Use durable Blood Rose heroes in positions that receive the most pressure.
- Keep your strongest Blood Rose damage heroes protected where their skills can contribute for longer.
- Prioritize heroes whose Assaulter or faction-wide effects benefit the whole formation.
- Use five Blood Rose heroes when your roster is developed enough to justify the full faction setup.
- Keep a stronger mixed option available if forcing the fifth Blood Rose hero would require using a severely underdeveloped unit.
For accounts that have reached the relevant seasonal heroes, Yu Chan is a strong Blood Rose damage anchor. Bella provides a more durability-oriented option, while Licia can become an important part of a developed Blood Rose core. Other options such as Selena and Oliveira should be evaluated according to their stars, skills, equipment, and the season available on your server.
Blood Rose formation rule: do not replace a highly developed hero merely because a newer Blood Rose hero has appeared. Compare actual formation performance and battle reports before moving rare fragments or premium equipment.
Wings of Dawn Faction Guide
Wings of Dawn aligns with Shooter troops. Its favorable matchup is Blood Rose, while Guard of Order provides the opposing faction counter.
That favorable relationship with Blood Rose can make Wings of Dawn particularly attractive on servers where Blood Rose formations are common. However, server populations and progression stages differ, so popularity on one server should not be treated as a universal meta rule.
Wings of Dawn Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Natural Shooter alignment | Unfavorable matchup against Guard of Order |
| Favorable faction relationship against Blood Rose | Switching from another established troop specialization can be expensive |
| Useful choice when your server has many Blood Rose formations | A counter advantage cannot compensate for severely weaker heroes and research |
| Strong seasonal hero options as servers progress | Hero availability may differ between servers and seasons |
Best Wings of Dawn Formation
The best Wings of Dawn formation should combine Shooter-oriented synergy with enough durability to keep its important damage heroes active.
Instead of copying one fixed lineup, build around this hierarchy:
- Choose your most developed Wings of Dawn core.
- Protect your strongest damage dealers rather than placing them where they absorb unnecessary pressure.
- Use heroes whose Shooter or faction effects improve the formation as a whole.
- Compare the full five-faction setup with a 3+2 alternative if part of your Wings of Dawn roster is still weak.
- Reassess the lineup as new seasonal heroes become available on your server.
Queenie is a major damage option for Wings of Dawn accounts that have reached her season and can develop her properly. Liliana, Alma, Nyx, Scarlett, and Laura are other Wings of Dawn heroes worth comparing according to your progression.
If two of your older Wings of Dawn heroes have substantially more stars, skills, and gear than a newly released option, replacing them immediately may lower practical performance even when the new hero is considered stronger at equal investment.
Guard of Order Faction Guide
Guard of Order aligns with Rider troops and has a favorable matchup against Wings of Dawn. Blood Rose is its unfavorable faction matchup.
Guard of Order becomes especially interesting when your own roster already supports Riders or when Wings of Dawn becomes common among the opponents you regularly face. However, choosing it purely as a counter without sufficient hero development can leave the formation unfinished.
Guard of Order Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Natural Rider alignment | Unfavorable matchup against Blood Rose |
| Favorable matchup against Wings of Dawn | May require substantial investment if Riders are not already developed |
| Useful counter path when Wings of Dawn becomes common | Hero accessibility can depend on server and seasonal progression |
| Can provide an alternative to Blood Rose- and Wings of Dawn-heavy metas | Counter value falls if most relevant opponents are Blood Rose |
How to Build a Guard of Order Formation
Start with your strongest developed Guard of Order heroes rather than chasing an ideal lineup that your server has not reached or your account cannot yet upgrade.
Amber can become a major Guard of Order investment for accounts with access to her seasonal progression. Other heroes to evaluate include Evelyn, Mia, Chinatsu, and Harleyna.
As with the other factions, the strongest theoretical roster at equal development is not automatically your strongest real roster. Compare stars, skills, Rider research, equipment, and hero-specific formation effects before replacing established heroes.
Full Same-Faction Formation vs 3+2 Formation
One of the most confusing parts of Last Z formation advice is the debate between a full same-faction team and a 3+2 formation.
Both approaches can make sense, but they solve different problems.
| Formation Type | Main Advantage | Main Trade-Off | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 same faction | Maximizes access to full-faction deployment and hero synergy when the roster supports it | Can force you to use an underdeveloped fifth hero | Developed faction-specialist accounts |
| 3+2 formation | Allows stronger off-faction heroes or situational matchup tools | May give up part of the benefit available to a complete faction formation | Developing rosters and flexible PvP setups |
| Mixed strongest heroes | Uses the best-developed heroes currently available | Usually has less coherent faction and troop specialization | Early accounts before a faction core is established |
Current community formation advice does not support one answer for every account. Full faction formations can become extremely valuable once all five heroes are developed and their faction-related effects work together. Meanwhile, 3+2 formations can solve real roster problems when your fourth or fifth same-faction hero is far behind your stronger alternatives.
When Five Heroes From One Faction Makes Sense
Move toward a full faction formation when:
- Your five faction heroes are all developed enough for your current content.
- Your troop research matches the faction.
- Your important faction and hero deployment effects benefit from keeping the team together.
- You are no longer sacrificing a much stronger hero simply to complete the faction.
- The formation performs well in your actual PvP and PvE battle reports.
When a 3+2 Formation Makes More Sense
A 3+2 setup can be more practical when two off-faction heroes are substantially better developed, provide an important role you currently lack, or help you create a more useful matchup while your main faction roster is incomplete.
Do not judge the decision from the formation screen alone. Test both versions against comparable opponents and inspect the resulting combat reports.
What Is the Best Faction in Last Z?
There is no permanent best faction in Last Z for every player.
A better question is: Which faction gives my account the best return on its next several upgrades?
| Your Situation | Faction Approach |
|---|---|
| Your strongest developed heroes are Blood Rose | Continue Blood Rose unless you have a clear reason and resources to switch |
| Your strongest developed heroes are Wings of Dawn | Build around Wings of Dawn and Shooters |
| Your strongest developed heroes are Guard of Order | Build around Guard of Order and Riders |
| Most relevant opponents use Blood Rose | Consider developing Wings of Dawn if your roster can support it |
| Most relevant opponents use Wings of Dawn | Guard of Order becomes a useful counter option |
| Most relevant opponents use Guard of Order | Blood Rose has the favorable faction matchup |
| Your account is still very new | Use your strongest heroes while gradually forming one coherent faction core |
The important point is that faction strength is relative. Server progression, seasonal hero releases, balance changes, and the investments already made on your account can all change which choice is most efficient.
Best Last Z Faction Strategy for F2P Players
F2P players usually benefit more from resource concentration than constant faction switching.
Fragments, skill materials, equipment, and troop research become increasingly expensive. Trying to keep Blood Rose, Wings of Dawn, and Guard of Order equally developed can leave you with three incomplete formations instead of one dependable main team.
A practical F2P progression path is:
- Use your strongest available heroes during the early game.
- Identify which faction has the most sustainable hero progression for your account.
- Develop that faction’s matching troop type.
- Concentrate your best hero resources on your main formation.
- Avoid heavily investing in temporary heroes you expect to replace soon.
- Build a second faction or dedicated counter team only after your first formation is stable.
A high-star older hero can remain more useful than a low-star seasonal hero. F2P players should therefore judge upgrades by practical improvement rather than release date or tier-list position.
Faction Strategy for Low Spenders and Competitive Players
Low spenders and competitive players have more flexibility to develop secondary heroes and counter formations, but opportunity cost still matters.
Before committing to another faction, calculate what the switch actually requires: hero fragments, skill development, equipment, matching troop research, faction-specific progression, and the time needed before the new lineup becomes stronger than the one it replaces.
If you spend on Diamonds, seasonal offers, or progression resources, compare the contents currently shown in-game with the bottleneck on your account before using a Last Z top up option. Pack contents and availability can change, so the purchase should support a progression plan you already decided on rather than determine which faction you build.
Competitive players can eventually benefit from having multiple functional factions because it gives them more options against the counter triangle. However, building three mediocre teams usually provides less value than completing the combat systems behind one strong main formation first.
How to Decide Whether to Switch Factions
Switching factions should be an account decision, not a reaction to one new hero or one difficult PvP opponent.
Ask these questions before changing direction:
- How many developed heroes do I already have in my current faction?
- How many viable heroes can I immediately field in the new faction?
- Does my troop research already support the new faction’s troop type?
- Would I need to replace several pieces of developed equipment or other progression?
- Can I obtain enough fragments to make the new core competitive?
- Is the faction change solving a long-term problem or only one temporary matchup?
- How common is the counter faction among opponents I actually fight?
Warning: unlocking a powerful seasonal hero is not the same as having a finished seasonal formation. Consider the resources needed to develop the hero and the four teammates around them before changing your main faction.
Common Last Z Faction Mistakes
- Ignoring troop matching. Blood Rose, Wings of Dawn, and Guard of Order naturally develop around different troop types.
- Chasing the latest faction recommendation. Your server and roster may not match another player’s situation.
- Treating faction counters as guaranteed wins. Development can outweigh a theoretical matchup advantage.
- Changing factions too often. Rebuilding heroes and troop specialization repeatedly is expensive.
- Forcing a five-faction formation too early. One severely underdeveloped hero can make a mixed lineup more practical during progression.
- Ignoring the full formation. Your damage heroes, durability, troop buffs, skills, gear, and faction effects need to work together.
- Copying high-spender formations as F2P. Different fragment and equipment access can completely change the efficient upgrade path.
- Using old season assumptions as permanent rules. New heroes and balance changes can alter formation priorities.
FAQ
What are the factions in Last Z?
The three main Last Z factions are Blood Rose, Wings of Dawn, and Guard of Order. Each has its own hero pool, natural troop alignment, and faction matchup.
Blood Rose commonly aligns with Assaulters, Wings of Dawn with Shooters, and Guard of Order with Riders.
What is the Last Z faction counter order?
Wings of Dawn counters Blood Rose, Blood Rose counters Guard of Order, and Guard of Order counters Wings of Dawn.
This creates a three-way counter triangle. However, the counter does not guarantee victory because hero development, troops, research, equipment, and formation bonuses still affect the result.
Which troops go with which faction in Last Z?
Blood Rose goes with Assaulters, Wings of Dawn with Shooters, and Guard of Order with Riders.
Check individual hero skills before making expensive research decisions because different heroes may provide additional troop-specific or formation-wide effects.
What is the best Blood Rose formation in Last Z?
The best Blood Rose formation is normally a developed Blood Rose core using Assaulters, with durable heroes protecting the formation and your strongest damage heroes in safer positions. Yu Chan, Bella, and Licia are important heroes to evaluate on accounts that have reached and developed them.
Do not force a specific five-hero lineup if some heroes are unavailable on your server or significantly weaker than your current alternatives.
What is the best Wings of Dawn formation in Last Z?
A strong Wings of Dawn formation builds around Shooter synergy and your most developed Wings of Dawn heroes. Queenie can become an important damage anchor when available, with heroes such as Liliana, Alma, Nyx, Scarlett, and Laura providing additional roster options depending on progression.
Because hero availability changes by season, compare the lineup against your actual roster rather than copying a late-season team your server cannot yet build.
Should F2P players use one faction or a 3+2 formation?
F2P players should generally establish one main faction first because concentrated hero and troop investment is easier to sustain. A 3+2 formation can still be useful while your roster is developing or when two off-faction heroes are significantly stronger.
As your main faction becomes more complete, test whether a full same-faction lineup provides better results.
Does a faction counter guarantee a win in Last Z?
No. A faction counter gives you a favorable matchup, but it does not automatically overcome major differences in hero progression, troop strength, research, equipment, formation bonuses, or other combat upgrades.
Use the counter system to improve target selection, then evaluate the complete formation before attacking.
What is the best faction for beginners in Last Z?
The best beginner faction is usually the one you can develop most efficiently with the heroes and fragments available on your account. Beginners should avoid switching factions every time they unlock a new hero.
Build a stable main formation first, match its troop research, and expand into counter formations once your core progression is secure.
Conclusion
Understanding Last Z factions becomes much easier once you separate three ideas: faction identity, troop matching, and the PvP counter triangle. Blood Rose aligns with Assaulters, Wings of Dawn with Shooters, and Guard of Order with Riders, while each faction has one favorable and one unfavorable faction matchup.
For most players, the strongest strategy is not constantly chasing whichever faction is currently discussed as the meta. Build around the heroes you can actually develop, keep troop research aligned with that formation, and use the counter system to improve your matchups rather than letting it dictate every upgrade.
Full same-faction formations become increasingly attractive as your roster develops, while 3+2 or mixed teams can remain practical when your account lacks five equally developed faction heroes. Recheck your formation as seasons, hero access, and server trends change.
For more faction builds, hero strategies, and progression advice, explore our latest Last Z guides.