Last War S5 Meta Guide: Missiles vs Aircraft vs Tanks – Which Is Best?

What’s up, Commanders!

Season 5 (Wild West / Golden Wasteland) has shaken up the meta in a big way . With new Exclusive Weapons dropping, Venom getting his UR promotion, and the introduction of game-changing mechanics like Bank Strongholds and the Caffeine Institute, the age-old question is back with a vengeance:

Missiles, Aircraft, or Tanks – which squad should you be running right now?

Here’s everything you need to know.

 

 

The Rock-Paper-Scissors Foundation

Before we dive into rankings, let’s get the basics straight. Last War runs on a counter system:

Your Squad	Strong Against	Weak Against
Tanks	Aircraft (-20% dmg taken)	Missiles
Missiles	Tanks (-20% dmg taken)	Aircraft
Aircraft	Missiles (-20% dmg taken)	Tanks

That 20% damage reduction is NO JOKE. It’s the difference between getting wiped in 5 seconds and standing tall while their backline crumbles .

Also – and I can’t stress this enough –run mono-type squads. Five heroes of the same type gives you a +20% boost to HP, Attack, and Defense for ALL of them . Mixing types drops that bonus to 15% or less. Unless you know EXACTLY what you’re doing (looking at you, Murphy-in-Aircraft enthusiasts), stick with full squads.

The Current S5 Meta Ranking

After countless hours of testing and watching top whales throw down, here’s where things stand:

Missiles – The S5 Kings

Why they’re #1 right now:

Season 5 was literally designed to make Missiles competitive . Here’s what happened:

• Venom’s UR Promotion– This former SSR got bumped to UR in S5, and his poison stacking (“Corrosive Shot” and “Corrosive Barrage”) is absolutely disgusting in drawn-out fights .
• Fiona’s Exclusive Weapon dropped during Week 1 of S5, giving Missile squads the burst they needed to delete Aircraft backlines .
• Adam + McGregor frontlineis arguably the most durable setup in the game right now. Adam’s counter-defense state + McGregor’s taunt creates a wall that physical damage dealers (hello, Aircraft) struggle to crack .

The S5 Missile Dream Squad:

• Front: Adam + McGregor
• Back: Tesla, Fiona, Swift (or UR Venom)

Tesla remains the undisputed king of Missile DPS – his energy damage shreds everything . Fiona cleans up crowds. Swift finishes what they start.

What top players are saying: Even VIP18s are running Missiles as their primary. Why? Because Tanks are so weak right now that even though Tanksshouldcounter Missiles, the power gap is so massive that Missiles often win anyway .

Aircraft – Still Elite, But Getting Countered

Aircraft dominated Seasons 3 and 4. Lucius’s Exclusive Weapon (released back in S4) made them virtually unkillable against energy damage . So what changed?

The problem: Everyone saw Aircraft coming. The meta shifted. Missiles got buffed specifically to shut down Aircraft, and now Aircraft’s biggest weakness – low physical defense – is being exploited hard .

The S5 Aircraft Squad (still strong, just not #1):

• Front: Lucius + Carlie
• Back: DVA, Morrison, Schuyler

Why it still works: DVA with Exclusive Weapon 40+ can one-shot Kim before she fires. Morrison brings consistent physical damage. Schuyler’s 4-second stun is game-changing RNG .

The Hybrid Tech (4+1): Some top players are swapping Carlie for Murphy. You lose the 20% mono bonus (dropping to 15%), but Murphy’s physical defense buff helps against those pesky Missiles. Is it worth it? Only if your Tank squad is garbage anyway .

Tanks – The Fallen Giants

Look, I love Tanks. Kim was my first love. But right now? Tanks are in a bad place.

The issues:

• Only two attackers (Kim and Stetmann) vs. three for Aircraft/Missiles
• Low energy damage reduction – and guess what Aircraft spam?
• Williams and Murphy are great, but they can’t carry hard enough anymore

The S5 Tank Squad (for the loyalists):

• Front:Williams + Murphy
• Back:Kimberly, Marshall, Stetmann

Can Tanks come back?Maybe. Season 6 is introducing an “Awakening Skill” system that might breathe new life into them. But right now? They’re the worst of the three by a significant margin .

 

Who Should Play What? (By Spending Level)

This is where strategy meets reality. Here’s my recommendation based on your commitment level:

Free-to-Play (F2P) – You Have One Choice: Tanks

Sorry, but it’s true. Tanks are the easiest to build because:

• Murphy and Kim are available early
• Williams shards can be farmed through events
• You can’t afford to chase the meta

Your goal: Max Kim. Get Williams’ Exclusive Weapon. Ride Tanks until you can transition… if ever.

Low-to-Mid Spenders ($20-100/month) – GO AIRCRAFT

This is the sweet spot. Here’s why:

• Everyone around you is playing Tanks (easy food)
• Aircraft counters Tanks hard
• You don’t need maxed-out mystics to be effective

The play: Buy the Aircraft heroes as they release. Dump all your shards into DVA and Morrison. Get Lucius’s Exclusive Weapon when you can. You’ll be punching up 2-3 million power against Tank players all day .

Whales & Mega Whales ($500+/month) – MISSILES ALL THE WAY

You have the resources to build the best. Here’s your logic:

• Other whales are playing Aircraft (because it was meta last season)
• Missiles counter Aircraft
• Your power is so high that even Tank players (who should counter you) can’t touch you because the power gap is too big

The investment: Adam, McGregor, Tesla, Fiona, Swift/Venom UR. Get Tesla to 5-star and Exclusive Weapon 30+ immediately . Run Swift in the front row once you have enough gear – it’s the mega whale special.

 

Season 5 Exclusive Considerations

Don’t forget – S5 introduced mechanics that can affect your squad choices :

• Bank Strongholds– You’ll be defending and attacking more. Durability matters.
• High Noon duels– Single-squad PvP. Your MAIN squad needs to be your best.
• Wasteland Trade Train– PvP encounters while escorting. Bring your counter squad.

Pro tip: The 500k Crystal Gold milestone gives you Venom’s UR Promotion Badge . If you’re running Missiles, make this a priority in Weeks 3-4.

 

What Should YOU Play?

Here’s my bottom-line recommendation for right now(post-S5):

Your Situation	Play This	Why
F2P / New server	Tanks	No choice – build what you can get
Low spender (HQ 25-30)	Aircraft	Counter the Tank majority
Whale (top 20 server)	Missiles	Counter the Aircraft whales
You hate losing to RNG stuns	Missiles	More consistent than Aircraft
You love watching DVA nuke backlines	Aircraft	Still viable, just not #1

Missiles are the S5 kings. Aircraft are still strong but getting countered. Tanks need help from the devs.

 

Final Thoughts

The meta in Last War shifts faster than a Schuyler stun lock. What’s #1 today might be garbage tomorrow when the next Exclusive Weapon drops. That said, Missiles have the clearest path to victory in the current post-S5 environment.

Build smart. Watch your counters. And for the love of all that is holy, don’t put your damage dealers in the front row.

Stay dangerous, Commanders.