Research is one of the most important long-term progression systems in Last War: Survival.

The goal is simple: maximize Research Speed, keep all Tech Centers active, prioritize high-value research, and use speed-ups, professional skills, resources, and VS timing efficiently.

The biggest mistake is treating every research the same.

A short research and a multi-day research should be handled very differently.

1. Research Speed Setup

Research Speed Survivors

Before starting important research:

1. Put your best Research Speed Survivors on the Tech Center you are about to use.
2. Activate your available Research Speed bonuses.
3. Use your professional research buffs.
4. Start the research.
5. Move the Survivors to the next Tech Center if needed.

Research Speed Survivors only need to be assigned when the research is started for their Research Speed bonuses to apply.

Research Speed Survivors save time for free.

Speed-Ups are resources you have to spend.

Always maximize free Research Speed before spending speed-ups.

Why This Matters

Your Research Speed setup affects every long research you start.

The longer the research, the more valuable your Research Speed bonuses become.

Never start important long research before checking your Research Speed Survivors.

2. Secretary of Science

If available, use Secretary of Science before important long research.

It provides a Research Speed bonus, not a direct reduction of the remaining timer.

Recommended Setup

Research Speed Survivors → Secretary of Science → Cooperative Research → Other Research Speed buffs → Start Research

This is especially valuable for Tactical Weapon, Mastery, Special Forces, and other expensive research.

Important

The title needs to be active before the research starts.

Do not start the research first and expect the bonus to improve an already-started research.

3. Cooperative Research

Cooperative Research increases Research Speed for you and a selected ally for 60 minutes.

At higher profession progression, Cooperative Research II becomes available and provides additional Research Speed after Cooperative Research has been fully upgraded.

How to Use Cooperative Research

Use it immediately before important research.

1. Equip your Research Speed Survivors.
2. Get Secretary of Science if available.
3. Activate Cooperative Research.
4. Start the research.
5. Use speed-ups only if necessary.

The basic Cooperative Research buff does not stack with another copy of the same buff.

Coordinate with your alliance instead of wasting multiple copies on the same target.

Cooperative Research = Research Speed

4. Win-Win Cooperation

Win-Win Cooperation does not increase Research Speed.

It reduces the targeted War Leader's Construction and Tech Research cost by 5% for 24 hours.

Use it before expensive research when you are about to spend significant resources or Valor Badges.

Ideal Sequence

Win-Win Cooperation → Research Speed Setup → Cooperative Research → Start Research

This gives you:

• Lower research cost
• Higher Research Speed

> Win-Win = Cost Reduction > > Cooperative Research = Research Speed

Win-Win can only be used on a player with the War Leader profession.

5. Tech Centers

You can eventually have 3 Tech Centers.

• Tech Center 1 — Initial Tech Center.
• Tech Center 2 — Unlocks through progression after clearing Zombies from District 102.
• Tech Center 3 — Unlocked through the Age of Oil research path. Age of Oil requires Tech Center Lv. 30 and the required Special Forces progression.

The third Tech Center does not require you to own the second one.

How to Use 3 Tech Centers

Tech Center 1

Highest-value long research

Tech Center 2

Second important long/medium research

Tech Center 3

Flexible research, VS preparation, or another long-term project

The main objective is simple:

Keep all 3 Tech Centers researching whenever possible.

6. Research Speed Survivor Rotation

You do not need to permanently leave your best Research Speed Survivors on one Tech Center.

Use them to start each research:

1. Put your best Research Speed Survivors on Tech Center 1.
2. Start the research.
3. Move the Survivors to Tech Center 2.
4. Start the next research.
5. Move them to Tech Center 3.
6. Start the third research.
7. After all researches have started, move the Survivors wherever they are most useful.

This lets you apply your strongest Research Speed bonuses to multiple research queues.

Start → Rotate Survivors → Start → Rotate → Start

This is one of the most important habits for players with multiple Tech Centers.

7. The Perfect Long Research Routine

For expensive research, use:

WIN-WIN → RESEARCH SPEED SURVIVORS → SECRETARY OF SCIENCE → COOPERATIVE RESEARCH → START RESEARCH → MOVE SURVIVORS → SPEED-UPS IF NEEDED

Never spend speed-ups first and optimize Research Speed afterward.

Why?

You want to reduce the research time as much as possible before spending your speed-ups.

Your speed-ups should be used on the already-optimized research timer.

8. Speed-Up Management

Speed-ups should not be used automatically.

Their value depends on the research and what you are trying to accomplish.

Short Research

Let it finish naturally whenever possible.

There is usually little reason to spend valuable speed-ups on a very short timer.

Medium Research

Use speed-ups when:

• You need the Tech Center available.
• You are preparing for VS.
• You need an important milestone.
• Another important research is waiting.

Long Research

Maximize all Research Speed bonuses before using speed-ups.

Save speed-ups for:

• Long research
• VS Tech Day
• Important milestones
• Research blocking your next progression

Optimize first. Speed-up second.

9. Research During VS

Plan research around Alliance Duel / VS Tech Day whenever possible.

• Start long research before Tech Day.
• Time completion for Tech Day.
• Save research speed-ups for Tech Day.
• Use short research to fill gaps.
• Do not delay critical progression for a small number of VS points.

The goal is:

Account Progression + VS Rewards

not sacrificing one completely for the other.

10. Understanding Research Types

Research can be viewed in several broad categories, and each serves a different purpose.

Development Research

Development research improves the efficiency and progression of your account.

These technologies are especially valuable early because their benefits can improve future progression.

Combat Research

Combat research improves the effectiveness of your troops and main squad.

As your account develops, combat research becomes increasingly important.

Offensive Stats

Attack-focused research increases offensive performance.

These upgrades are generally valuable when improving your main squad's combat power.

Defensive Stats

Defense-focused research improves survivability and reduces incoming damage.

Defense becomes increasingly important as your account moves into stronger combat content.

Health Stats

Health increases the durability of your troops and heroes.

Health should be evaluated together with Attack and Defense rather than treated as an isolated stat.

March and Troop Research

March-related research can improve march capacity and other march-related benefits.

Troop-specific research should be prioritized according to the troop type and main squad you are actually investing in.

The Important Rule

Do not automatically research something simply because it gives Power.

Always consider:

Combat Value + Unlock Value + Long-Term Value + Cost

11. General Research Priority

Your exact priority depends on account stage, main squad, server age, and resources.

Phase 1 — Foundation

Prioritize:

1. Development
2. Research Speed
3. Construction Speed
4. Economy essentials
5. Alliance Duel progression

Research Speed is especially valuable early because every future research benefits from it.

Phase 2 — Main Combat

Prioritize:

1. Hero research for your main squad
2. Main squad upgrades
3. Special Forces
4. Units
5. Important combat research

Do not spread resources evenly across every squad.

Your main squad should receive the majority of your investment.

Phase 3 — Mastery

A common late-game priority:

Main Squad Mastery → Siege to Seize → Defense Fortifications → Secondary Mastery → Tactical Weapon

Prioritize important combat/stat nodes instead of blindly completing every tree.

12. How to Choose Your Next Research

When several research options are available, do not simply choose the one with the highest Power gain.

Ask:

1. Does it improve my main squad?
2. Does it unlock an important technology?
3. Does it provide a permanent efficiency benefit?
4. Does it contribute to an important progression milestone?
5. Is the cost justified by the value of the upgrade?

A useful decision rule is:

Choose the research that provides the best long-term value, not necessarily the most Power.

Research Priority vs. Research Efficiency

These are two different decisions.

Research Priority

What should I research next?

This depends on:

• Account stage
• Main squad
• Research tree
• Unlocks
• Combat value
• Available resources

Research Efficiency

How should I start that research?

This depends on:

• Research Speed Survivors
• Secretary of Science
• Cooperative Research
• Win-Win Cooperation
• Other Research Speed bonuses
• Speed-ups
• VS timing

Keeping these two decisions separate makes research planning much easier.

13. Research Value vs. Power

Research Power is useful, but it should not be your only measure of value.

A research can provide a large amount of Power while having limited practical impact on your main squad.

Another research may provide less visible Power but unlock an important technology or significantly improve combat performance.

Therefore:

Power is not the same as value.

When comparing two researches, consider:

Combat Impact → Unlocks → Long-Term Benefits → Cost → Power Gain

Do not sacrifice a high-value upgrade simply because another technology gives more immediate Power.

14. Research Prerequisites & Unlocks

Some research is valuable because of what it unlocks rather than because of the immediate stats it provides.

A lower-value technology may be required to reach a much stronger technology or an important progression milestone.

Think of research as a path:

Required Research → Unlock → Important Technology → Major Milestone

For this reason, do not judge every research only by its individual stats.

Sometimes the best research is the one that unlocks the next important research.

15. When to Change Your Research Priority

Your research priority should change as your account develops.

Early Game

Focus more heavily on:

• Development
• Research Speed
• Construction Speed
• Core progression
• Essential economy

Mid Game

Shift more resources toward:

• Main squad
• Combat research
• Special Forces
• Important unlocks
• Main progression systems

Late Game

Your focus increasingly shifts toward:

• Mastery
• High-value combat research
• Tactical Weapon
• Important milestones
• Main squad optimization

The exact transition depends on your account.

Do not follow a fixed research order forever.

A research priority that is excellent for a developing account may be inefficient for an advanced account.

16. Tactical Weapon Research

Tactical Weapon is extremely powerful but also extremely expensive.

It provides bonuses including:

• Hero HP
• Hero ATK
• Hero DEF
• Drone HP
• Drone ATK
• Drone DEF
• Drone conversion bonuses
• Drone Skill Star progression
• Drone Level Cap increases
• Later Drone/Chip-related bonuses

Because of its cost, Tactical Weapon should not automatically replace cheaper high-value research.

Before Tactical Weapon

Prioritize:

Main Squad Hero Research → Important Siege to Seize nodes → Important Defense Fortification nodes → Main Squad Mastery → Required Mastery progression → Tactical Weapon

Tactical Weapon Priority

When working inside Tactical Weapon:

1. Hero ATK
2. Hero DEF
3. Hero HP
4. Required unlock nodes
5. Important Tactical Weapon milestones
6. Drone ATK / DEF / HP
7. Drone-related progression
8. Secondary nodes

Do not try to balance every branch perfectly.

Push important milestones first.

17. Tactical Weapon Breakpoints

Tactical Weapon becomes increasingly expensive.

A good general strategy is:

Unlock Tactical Weapon → Push valuable early nodes → Reach important Drone / Skill milestones → Continue while the value justifies the cost → Return to Mastery when the next Tactical Weapon progression becomes too expensive

The exact stopping point depends on your account and resource income.

Early Tactical Weapon progress can provide strong value, while deep completion is a long-term project.

18. Daily Queue Strategy

With 3 Tech Centers:

Queue 1

Highest-value long research.

Queue 2

Second important research.

Queue 3

Flexible / shorter research, VS preparation, or another long-term project.

When a research finishes, start another one immediately whenever possible.

Never leave a Tech Center idle without a specific reason.

19. Research Checklist

Before important research:

• [ ] Best Research Speed Survivors equipped
• [ ] Secretary of Science active, if available
• [ ] Win-Win Cooperation active, if applicable
• [ ] Cooperative Research active
• [ ] Research Speed buffs checked
• [ ] Correct Tech Center selected
• [ ] Research started
• [ ] Survivors rotated to the next Tech Center
• [ ] Speed-Ups used only if necessary

20. FAQ

Should I use speed-ups before Research Speed bonuses?

No.

Always use:

Survivors → Titles → Professional Skills → Start Research → Speed-Ups

Do Research Speed Survivors need to stay assigned?

No.

They only need to be assigned when the research starts.

Afterward, move them to the next Tech Center or wherever they are needed.

Does Win-Win increase Research Speed?

No.

It reduces the targeted War Leader's Construction and Tech Research costs.

Does Cooperative Research reduce research cost?

No.

It increases Research Speed.

Use Win-Win for cost reduction and Cooperative Research for Research Speed.

Can Cooperative Research stack?

The basic Cooperative Research buff does not stack.

Coordinate with your alliance instead.

Should I speed up every research?

No.

Let short research finish naturally when possible.

Save speed-ups for:

• Long research
• VS
• Important milestones
• Progression blockers

Do I need Tech Center 2 to unlock Tech Center 3?

No.

The third Tech Center is unlocked through the Age of Oil research path and does not require ownership of the second Tech Center.

Should I rush Tactical Weapon immediately?

Not necessarily.

Tactical Weapon is powerful but extremely expensive.

Your main squad, Mastery, Siege to Seize, and Defense Fortifications foundation should be strong before committing heavily to deep Tactical Weapon progression.

Final Tips

• Always maximize Research Speed before starting important research.
• Use your best Survivors to start each Tech Center's research, then rotate them.
• Use Secretary of Science for important long research.
• Use Cooperative Research immediately before major research.
• Use Win-Win to reduce expensive research costs.
• Keep all 3 Tech Centers running whenever possible.
• Save speed-ups for the right moment.
• Plan long research around VS Tech Day when possible.
• Prioritize your main squad.
• Do not choose research based on Power alone.
• Consider unlocks and long-term value when choosing your next research.
• Do not sacrifice cheaper high-value research just to push Tactical Weapon deeper.
• Change your research priority as your account progresses.

The Golden Rule

SURVIVORS → SECRETARY → WIN-WIN → COOPERATIVE RESEARCH → START RESEARCH → ROTATE SURVIVORS → SPEED-UPS

Maximize free Research Speed first. Spend speed-ups second.