
Choosing which heroes to develop is one of the biggest resource decisions in Last Z: Survival Shooter. Levels matter, but faction synergy, troop type, skills, stars, equipment, formation position, and your server’s seasonal progression can matter just as much.
This Last Z heroes guide explains how those systems fit together so you can decide which heroes deserve EXP, fragments, skill materials, and gear. It also covers faction counters, formation building, F2P priorities, and how to avoid investing heavily in heroes you may soon replace.
There is no permanent “best five” for every account. Your strongest formation depends on which heroes you can actually develop, which season your server has reached, and what factions you regularly face.
How the Last Z Hero System Works
A Last Z hero should not be judged by rarity alone. Before investing, look at the hero’s faction, combat role, troop synergy, skills, stars, and formation position.
| Hero Factor | What to Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rarity | S, A, B or corresponding in-game color/category | Higher-rarity combat heroes generally have better long-term potential. |
| Faction | Blood Rose, Wings of Dawn, or Guard of Order | Affects formation synergy and faction matchups. |
| Role | Attack, defense, or utility-oriented kit | Helps determine front-row or back-row placement. |
| Troop Synergy | Assaulters, Shooters, or Riders | Many faction and hero skills favor a corresponding troop type. |
| Skills | Damage, defense, troop buffs, capacity, or utility | Two heroes of similar rarity can provide very different formation value. |
| Stars | Current star level and important skill breakpoints | Star progression strengthens heroes and can unlock or improve important abilities. |
| Season | Which heroes and progression systems your server currently has | Not every server has access to the same heroes or late-game advancement systems. |
Community resources commonly describe the basic rarity structure as S-level/orange, A-level/purple, and B-level/blue. However, always follow the terminology shown in your current game client if your localization or version displays it differently.
Last Z Factions and Troop Synergy

The three major Last Z factions are Blood Rose, Wings of Dawn, and Guard of Order. Faction choice matters because it connects hero synergy, troop specialization, and PvP counters.
| Faction | Common Troop Match | Faction Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Rose | Assaulters | Guard of Order |
| Wings of Dawn | Shooters | Blood Rose |
| Guard of Order | Riders | Wings of Dawn |
That troop relationship is important because hero skills frequently strengthen the troops associated with their faction. Before committing heavily to one hero, check whether your troop development and research are moving in the same direction.
For example, investing heavily in a Wings of Dawn carry while putting most of your long-term troop resources into another troop type can create an inefficient account. It does not make the hero unusable, but you may not be taking full advantage of the kit.
Last Z Faction Counter System

The counter relationship forms a simple triangle:
- Wings of Dawn has the matchup advantage against Blood Rose.
- Blood Rose has the matchup advantage against Guard of Order.
- Guard of Order has the matchup advantage against Wings of Dawn.
This is why total formation power should never be the only thing you check before PvP. A faction advantage, better hero placement, stronger troop matching, or better-developed key skills can influence the result even when the displayed power numbers look similar.
Which Last Z Heroes Should You Upgrade?
A permanent ranking is difficult because hero access changes with server progression and seasons. Instead, start by finding the heroes that can form the strongest long-term core for your own faction.
The heroes below are useful examples to research when they are available on your server. They are not presented as a fixed tier list.
| Hero | Faction | How to Evaluate the Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Queenie | Wings of Dawn | A later-season damage option worth considering for established Shooter-focused formations. |
| Yu Chan | Blood Rose | A later-season damage option for players already committed to Blood Rose and Assaulters. |
| Amber | Guard of Order | A later-season Guard of Order option that becomes relevant when Riders fit your account plan. |
| Licia | Blood Rose | Useful when her skills and faction partners fit an established Blood Rose formation. |
| Liliana | Wings of Dawn | An offensive Wings of Dawn option to compare with the heroes you already have developed. |
| Bella | Blood Rose | Especially worth evaluating as part of a Blood Rose lineup rather than only by individual damage. |
| Alma | Wings of Dawn | Can contribute important formation value when your Wings of Dawn roster needs both durability and synergy. |
| Evelyn | Guard of Order | Worth reviewing on developed Guard of Order accounts, particularly when later-season upgrades are available. |
Before upgrading any of them, compare five things:
- Is the hero part of your main faction?
- Can you realistically increase their stars?
- Does the hero replace someone in your main formation?
- Do the hero’s important skills support your troop and formation plan?
- Will building the hero force you to abandon a more developed character?
A newly unlocked hero with very low development is not automatically better than an older hero with high stars, upgraded skills, suitable equipment, and the correct faction synergy.
How Last Z Hero Skills Affect Investment Value
Skills are one of the best ways to understand what a hero actually contributes. Do not upgrade every skill simply because the upgrade button is available.
Hero skills can provide effects such as:
- Direct or burst damage.
- Normal attack improvements.
- Hero attack or defense.
- Troop-specific bonuses.
- Troop capacity or formation benefits.
- Faction bonuses.
- Construction, research, training, gathering, or other utility effects.
Also read the activation wording carefully. Some hero passives apply only while that hero is deployed, while other effects can provide broader account or troop benefits. Two skills that look similar at first glance can therefore have very different strategic value.
How to Prioritize Hero Skills
There is no universal skill order for every hero. Instead, use this decision process:
- Identify the hero’s job. A damage dealer and a front-row defender should not receive identical skill priorities.
- Read the activation condition. Check whether a buff requires the hero to be deployed.
- Prioritize the skill supporting the hero’s primary role. Damage skills matter more for a carry, while durability skills matter more for a defender.
- Value troop and faction buffs when they match your main formation.
- Avoid rare materials on temporary heroes. Save them when a replacement is approaching.
Hero Stars, Fragments, and Important Breakpoints
Star advancement improves hero strength and skill performance, making fragments one of your most important hero resources.
For standard hero progression, four stars is commonly an important breakpoint because the fourth skill becomes available around this stage. That can make developing several core formation heroes to an important skill breakpoint more efficient than immediately pushing only one hero as far as possible.
However, do not apply that rule blindly. Examine the individual hero’s skill screen and determine whether the newly available ability materially improves your formation.
Universal Fragment Strategy
Universal or flexible hero materials are valuable because they preserve your choices. Before using them, ask whether the hero is likely to remain in your main formation.
For most players, the safest priority is:
- Main faction carry or highest-impact core hero.
- Essential front-row defender.
- Important faction or troop buffer.
- Other long-term members of the main five.
- Second formation heroes only after the primary squad is stable.
Best Last Z Formation Principles
A powerful hero can perform poorly when placed incorrectly. A basic Last Z formation has different demands for its front and back rows.
| Position | Recommended Hero Profile | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Front Row | Defense or durability-focused heroes | They need to absorb pressure and keep the formation alive. |
| Back Row | DPS, attack, or protected support heroes | Keeping damage dealers alive gives them more time to contribute. |
A common starting structure is two durable heroes in front and three damage or support heroes behind them. You can adjust this once you understand the individual skills in your roster.
Five Same-Faction Heroes vs a 3+2 Formation
Both approaches can make sense.
| Formation Style | Advantages | Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|
| Five Same Faction | Straightforward faction synergy and easier specialization. | More exposed to a faction counter. |
| 3+2 Formation | More flexible and can combine strong heroes from two factions. | Requires more careful planning of skills, troops, and faction bonuses. |
| Mixed Strongest Heroes | Useful while your early roster is incomplete. | Usually becomes less efficient as faction-specific heroes and upgrades develop. |
Beginners should not force a perfect formation before they have the roster to support it. Use your strongest sensible lineup first, then transition toward better faction and troop synergy as your account develops.
Hero Gear and Equipment Priorities
Equipment should support the hero’s actual role instead of simply increasing whichever power number looks largest.
- Main DPS: prioritize your strongest appropriate offensive equipment.
- Front-row defenders: prioritize enough durability to survive incoming damage.
- Secondary heroes: use leftover equipment until the main formation is properly developed.
Do not give premium offensive equipment to a hero you plan to replace while your main damage dealer is still under-equipped. At the same time, concentrating everything on damage can backfire if your frontline collapses before your back row can act effectively.
Best Hero Upgrade Priority for Beginners
The safest beginner strategy is to improve the parts of your account that contribute directly to your primary formation.
| Priority | Upgrade Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main formation | Most directly affects the team you actually use. |
| 2 | Main damage dealer | Helps clear combat content efficiently. |
| 3 | Primary front-row heroes | Prevents your back row from being exposed too early. |
| 4 | Important skill/star breakpoints | Can unlock more value than small upgrades spread across many heroes. |
| 5 | Faction and troop synergy | Aligns hero development with the rest of your account. |
| 6 | Secondary formations | Develop after the primary lineup is stable. |
Last Z Hero Strategy for F2P and Spenders
F2P Players
F2P players benefit most from resource concentration. You may need longer to acquire or star up later-season heroes, so abandoning an established formation every time a new character appears can be expensive.
- Build one main faction first.
- Keep universal fragments for heroes with clear long-term value.
- Do not abandon a highly developed hero for an undeveloped replacement without comparing the real gain.
- Time recruitment and hero upgrades around useful event scoring when practical.
- Develop a second PvP counter faction only when your main formation is stable.
Low Spenders
Low spenders should follow the same fundamentals as F2P players. A small budget does not make it efficient to build every paid or seasonal hero.
If you consider a Battle Pass, hero-related offer, or other paid progression option, first check whether its contents solve an actual bottleneck in your main formation. Players who choose to purchase can similarly compare the in-game offer with their current hero plan before using a Last Z top up option.
Mid-Spenders and Competitive Players
Players with more resources can justify a broader roster, but the order still matters. Finish a competitive primary formation before trying to maintain three equally expensive factions.
Once your first lineup is developed, additional investment can go toward:
- A faction that counters common opponents on your server.
- A second frontline option for different matchups.
- Later-season hero advancement.
- Alternative troop specialization.
- Secondary formations required by competitive modes.
Hero Recruitment and Resource Timing
Recruitment tickets and fragments are not only hero resources; they can also become event resources. If you are not blocked by your current roster, saving them for a useful hero-related scoring window can provide additional value.
However, do not delay meaningful account progress purely to chase event efficiency. If a new hero immediately fixes a weak formation or helps you clear an important progression barrier, using resources earlier can be reasonable.
After recruiting a hero, resist the urge to level them automatically. Compare them with your existing main five first.
Common Last Z Hero Mistakes
- Upgrading every hero you unlock. This spreads EXP, fragments, skills, and equipment too thin.
- Choosing purely by rarity. A hero still needs the right faction, skills, stars, and formation role.
- Ignoring troop matching. Hero and faction skills often become more valuable when your troop development supports them.
- Putting every strong attacker in the same lineup. Your formation still needs enough front-row durability.
- Following an old tier list as permanent truth. Seasons and later hero upgrades can change priorities.
- Switching factions too often. Repeatedly restarting your core development wastes scarce resources.
- Ignoring activation conditions on skills. A deployed-only buff is different from a broader passive effect.
- Copying high-spender formations without matching their stars and equipment. The same lineup can behave very differently at lower investment.
- Building secondary heroes before the main five are stable. A complete first team generally provides more immediate value.
FAQ
Who are the best heroes in Last Z?
There is no permanent best hero for every account. Heroes such as Queenie, Yu Chan, Amber, Licia, Liliana, Bella, Alma, and Evelyn are examples of important characters worth evaluating, but their value depends on your faction, season, star progress, troop development, and available teammates.
Later seasonal systems can also improve older heroes, so avoid treating an older tier list as permanent.
What is the best faction for Last Z heroes?
No faction is universally best. Wings of Dawn has an advantage against Blood Rose, Blood Rose has an advantage against Guard of Order, and Guard of Order has an advantage against Wings of Dawn.
Your best faction is usually the one where you already have the strongest combination of heroes, stars, skills, troop development, and long-term upgrade access.
Should I upgrade every S-level hero I unlock?
No. Higher-rarity heroes are normally valuable, but upgrading every S-level hero can still waste fragments, EXP, skill materials, and equipment.
Prioritize heroes that will actually join your primary formation or provide a valuable long-term utility effect.
Should I use five heroes from one faction or a 3+2 formation?
Both can work. A five-hero faction lineup provides straightforward faction specialization, while a 3+2 setup offers more flexibility when your roster is incomplete or when you want different PvP options.
Choose according to your actual stars, skills, troop development, and opponent rather than following one formation rule in every battle.
Is four stars an important hero upgrade point in Last Z?
For standard hero progression, four stars is commonly an important breakpoint because it is associated with unlocking the fourth skill. That can make reaching the breakpoint across important main-formation heroes valuable.
Always check the current hero screen first because newer seasonal progression systems may add additional advancement beyond the earlier star structure.
What should F2P players prioritize when upgrading Last Z heroes?
F2P players should prioritize one strong main formation, core S-level heroes they can realistically develop, important star and skill breakpoints, and faction-compatible troop progression.
Saving universal materials is especially useful when you know stronger seasonal options are approaching.
When should I use hero recruitment tickets?
Use them when recruitment meaningfully improves your formation or when you can combine the spending with a useful hero-related event. If your current roster is sufficient and an event window is approaching, saving can provide better overall value.
Why does another Last Z player have hero upgrades that I cannot see?
Your servers may be at different stages of seasonal progression. New seasons can introduce additional hero systems, upgrade materials, or advancement paths that are not yet available on younger servers.
Follow the systems currently visible in your own game client instead of copying a late-season account’s upgrade plan.
Conclusion
A useful Last Z heroes guide should help you make better investment decisions rather than simply give every hero a fixed rank. Faction, troop synergy, formation position, stars, skills, and season progression all affect how valuable a hero is to your account.
For most players, the safest strategy is to finish one strong main formation first. Concentrate valuable resources on heroes you expect to keep, protect your damage dealers with a reliable frontline, and make sure your troop development supports the faction you are building.
As your account develops, start preparing counter formations and later-season heroes without abandoning already valuable investments unnecessarily. Recheck your priorities whenever new seasonal progression or balance changes reach your server.
For more formation, hero, faction, and progression advice, explore our latest Last Z guides.
