Best Heroes in State of Survival (2025 Guide)

If you’ve been grinding State of Survival for a while, you already know that heroes matter.

‍

Whether you're dominating in Reservoir Raid, climbing Explorer Trail, or just trying to survive in older states with maxed whales, your heroes are what make or break your progress.

‍

But here’s what most players get wrong: they dump fragments into flashy heroes that fall off fast, or spend diamonds chasing the wrong meta.

‍

And that mistake could cost you months of growth and thousands of fragments.

‍

So if you’re asking, “Who should I actually be investing in right now?”, this hero guide breaks down which heroes are worth your time, and how to build smarter depending on your playstyle.

‍

Let’s dive in…

‍

How Hero Roles Work in State of Survival

‍

Before we get into specific names, here’s a quick breakdown of how heroes are actually used in SoS (and why it matters):

‍

• PvP Heroes are used in real-time combat (Reservoir Raid, State Warfare, Capital Clash). Your rally or defense lives and dies by their stats.

• PvE Heroes help with Explorer Trail, Intel missions, Infected Horde, and Alliance Throwdown.

• Utility Heroes boost gathering speed, research time, construction, or help passively in events.

‍

Some heroes are dual-role (great for both PvP and Explorer Trail), while others are super niche. So don’t just build a hero because they look strong. Build for the mode you care most about.

‍

Best PvP Heroes in State of Survival (2025 Meta)

‍

PvP is where the real stat wars happen, and if you're doing anything competitive, these are the heroes you’ll want to focus on.

‍

Infantry Lineup

‍

• Buzz (Gen 12) is still one of the strongest infantry rally leads. Great stats and synergy.

• Cardini (Gen 13) pairs well with Buzz and gives consistent performance in both defense and attack.

‍

Rider Lineup

‍

• Lucky (Gen 12) is an extremely reliable rider hero. He is great for mobility and raid setups.

• Jeb (Gen 13) is a solid second pick if you’re skipping Lucky or building around Cardini.

‍

Hunter Lineup

‍

• Wacko (Gen 12) is a top-tier hunter damage dealer. He is still relevant in late-game.

• Tina (Gen 13) is a great follow-up to Wacko and a good alternative if you're starting fresh in 2025.

‍

‍

PvE Heroes That Still Get the Job Done

‍

You don’t need the newest heroes for PvE content. In fact, many players rely on mid-gen heroes that consistently perform well in Explorer Trail and Horde events.

‍

• Eva is one of the best for Explorer Trail, she is easy to rank up and pairs well with Wolfe.

• Wolfe—a beast in PvE, especially when you boost his gear. He holds up even in tougher trail stages.

• Nikola offers good utility and damage, and works great as a support hero.

• Trish is easy to level and useful in Explorer and Horde.

• Ash (Gen 14) is technically a PvP hero, but she does really well in Explorer Trail thanks to strong active/passive combos.

‍

If you’re stuck in Explorer or falling short in Intel chains, this crew will carry you further than most newer heroes.

‍

Utility Heroes Worth Using

‍

Utility heroes are often ignored, but they can be a huge help, especially when you’re prepping for events.

‍

• Chef boosts gathering speed, and is helpful for resource-focused events like Throwdown or building push weeks.

• Rusty reduces construction time so is perfect when you're trying to speed through HQ levels.

• Mike speeds up research, so if you want to climb fast, stack him with research gear and tech power.

‍

Don’t use frags on these guys, but make sure they’re awakened and slotted when needed. Every little bonus counts.

‍

How to Get More Fragments Without Burning Through Biocaps

‍

Trying to rank up your heroes faster without blowing all your diamonds? Here’s the deal: most players waste their biocaps on random pulls, and regret it later.

‍

If you want to stretch your resources and actually get ahead, here’s what to do:

‍

• Hold onto your frags until Hero Rank-Up Events or SoF Hero Days roll around

• Stack those hero search maps and use them during skin or milestone events

• Use resonating heroes as a temporary fix while you stockpile for the real meta picks

‍

And whatever you do, don’t buy fragment packs outside of events. It might feel like progress, but you’re leaving serious value on the table.

‍

Spend smart, not desperate.

‍

‍

Power Up Your Best Heroes & Save on Upgrades with Packsify

‍

Building a strong hero lineup in State of Survival isn’t just about choosing the right names, it’s about ranking them up, unlocking skills, and timing upgrades around the right events.

‍

No matter what game mode you're focused on (combat, exploration, or ranking up), having fully upgraded heroes gives you a major edge.

‍

But let’s be real: those frags, badges, and VIP boosts add up fast.

‍

With Packsify, you can save up to 35% on every in-game bundle.

‍