Last Z Gear Guide: How to Use and Upgrade Equipment Efficiently

In Last Z: Survival Shooter, gear isn’t just a nice bonus, it’s one of the core systems that fuels your squad’s power, survivability, and performance in key events.

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Whether you’re pushing for better Arena ranks, defending in Alliance Duel, or trying to stay alive during kill events, your heroes are only as strong as the equipment they wear. And while the upgrade system is fairly straightforward, maximizing gear efficiency takes real planning.

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This guide will walk you through how gear works in Last Z, what to prioritize for attackers vs defenders, and how to enhance your equipment without wasting resources, especially if you’re a low- to mid-spender looking to stretch your growth.

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Let’s dive in.

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How the Hero Gear System Works in Last Z

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Last Z doesn’t overwhelm you with complex gear sets or passive triggers, but that doesn’t mean the system is simple. In fact, gear plays a huge role in your overall power, and upgrading the right pieces can give you a serious edge in combat.

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Each hero can equip four gear slots:

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• Gun – Focused on hero attack and damage dealt

• Helmet – Adds both hero attack and defense

• Armor – Focuses on defense and troop HP

• Boots – Balanced stats, boosting both hero attack and defense

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There’s also a fifth exclusive gear piece that you’ll only find in paid bundles. These usually appear in monthly sale events and cost around $5 when they first drop.

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As of now, they aren’t available through free events but that may change in future updates. While optional, this slot can offer a noticeable stat bump, especially in PvP.

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Gear comes in different rarities (green, blue, purple, orange). While early gear helps you get started, the goal is to build up full sets of orange gear on your main five heroes, especially those in your PvP or event lineup.

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Unlike some games, Last Z doesn’t punish you for replacing gear. You can enhance, promote, or swap gear without losing everything, which makes the system more forgiving for new and mid-game players.

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But the key to growing faster is knowing what to upgrade, when to enhance it, and who to equip first. That’s where strategy beats brute force.

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Attacker vs. Defender: Gear Priorities That Actually Matter

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Not all gear is created equal, and your upgrade path should reflect what kind of role your hero plays in battle. Whether you’re launching rallies, defending your base, or stacking damage for events, choosing which gear to level first makes a big difference.

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If You’re Focused on Attacking…

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Attackers need to hit hard and fast. That means you want to prioritize gear that boosts hero attack and damage dealt, especially for your DPS-focused heroes.

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Upgrade order for attackers in Last Z:

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1. Gun. This is your best slot for raw damage. It boosts both basic and percentage-based hero attack, plus adds bonus damage. Always upgrade this first on your top damage dealers.

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2. Helmet. While it adds some defense, the main draw here is bonus attack. It’s the next-best slot for improving offensive output.

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3. Boots. Slightly more defense-focused, but still contributes to hero attack and troop HP. A solid third priority.

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4. Armor. Mostly built for defense and troop HP. Useful long-term, but not a key priority if you’re trying to burst down enemies.

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If You’re Focused on Defense…

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If you’re the type who holds towers in Capital Battles, defends your base during kill events, or sets rally traps, your focus should shift toward durability and survivability.

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Upgrade order for defenders:

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1. Armor adds massive hero defense and troop HP, making it your go-to for holding ground.

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2. Boots comes with a mix of defense and attack, plus extra troop HP when promoted.

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3. Helmet. Some defense, some attack. Useful, but not a game-changer for defense.

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4. Gun. Minimal defensive value, so it can be your last priority here.

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How to Unlock Star Upgrades and Plan Your Gear Milestones

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Once you’ve leveled a piece of orange gear to level 20, you’ll unlock its star upgrade system — one of the most powerful ways to boost hero performance in Last Z Survival Shooter.

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Star upgrades add major bonus stats like hero attack, damage dealt, troop HP, and more. But they also come with a cost: you'll need Power Cores, which are harder to farm than basic materials.

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When Do Star Upgrades Unlock?

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To promote gear (i.e. give it star levels), your equipment must meet two conditions:

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• It must be orange-quality (not purple or lower)

• It must be enhanced to level 20

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Once both are met, the Promote option becomes available, and you can begin upgrading stars, from 0.1 all the way up.

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Each star adds flat stats and percentage bonuses, making them ideal for both attackers and defenders who need that extra edge in PvP, Arena, or kill events.

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Upgrade Milestone Strategy: Don’t Rush Just One Piece

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Here’s where most players go wrong: they dump all their Power Cores into one gear slot, thinking a 3-star gun will make a huge difference. And while it will help a bit, it’s far more efficient to spread out your upgrades.

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Smarter strategy:

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• Upgrade multiple gear pieces to 1-star before pushing any single item further

• This gives your squad balanced gains across all four slots (hero attack, defense, troop HP, etc.)

• You’ll avoid the “glass cannon” problem, high damage but zero survivability

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This strategy not only gives better returns, but it also keeps your power level consistent across events, where a well-rounded formation outperforms a lopsided one.

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How to Equip the Right Heroes (Without Wasting Resources)

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Equipping gear isn’t just about stats, it’s about making sure the right gear lands on the right hero. If you're casually auto-equipping or splitting gear across too many lineups, you’re likely leaving power on the table.

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Here’s how to do it smarter:

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1. Focus on Your Main Five

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Whether you’re a spender or F2P, your best bet is to fully equip one main team: five heroes who do the heavy lifting in your formation. Prioritize gear for these five and avoid spreading upgrades across secondary squads.

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2. Prioritize Orange-Grade Heroes First

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If you’ve pulled S-grade (orange) heroes, these should get your best equipment. Why? Because they scale better, especially when paired with exclusive equipment later on. If your fifth hero isn’t orange yet, it’s fine to equip a purple hero temporarily, just avoid upgrading that gear too far.

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3. Match Equipment to Role

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• DPS Heroes, like Oliveira or Bella: prioritize gear that boosts hero attack and damage dealt (guns and helmets).

• Tank/Frontline Heroes, like defenders: focus on defense and troop HP (armor and boots).

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This role-based matching helps your squad perform as intended. For example, putting high-defense armor on a backline damage-dealer doesn’t help much, but boosting your tank’s HP can turn the tide in close fights.

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4. If a Hero Has Exclusive Gear, Equip Them First

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Some heroes have exclusive equipment that unlocks powerful third-skill boosts. These are often game-changing, especially in Arena or Alliance Duel. Prioritize equipping and upgrading these heroes first, even if you haven’t maxed their stars yet.

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How to Upgrade Gear Smarter Without Wasting Resources

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In Last Z: Survival Shooter, upgrading gear is one of the best ways to boost your power, but it’s also easy to overspend or use up rare materials too quickly. The most efficient players aren’t just stronger because they play more… they upgrade with intention.

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They plan their gear enhancements around events. They spread out star upgrades instead of over-investing in one item. And they’re smart about when and how they stock up on upgrade materials like enhancement alloys or power cores.

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Some players rely on alliance events and seasonal shops. Others look for safe, alternative methods to get the same upgrade packs at better value.

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Want to progress faster without overspending?

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