8/11/24

Last War Mobile Game: Your In-Depth Guide to Upgrading That Second Garage

Hey everyone, it’s your friendly neighborhood Last War strategist here. I’ve been deep in the trenches of this game, figuring out the best ways to get ahead without breaking the bank. One of the BIGGEST questions I see popping up in forums & our alliance chat is about the second garage. Is it worth it? When should you upgrade it? & why does it feel like such a resource hog?
Honestly, the garage system in Last War can be a little confusing, especially when you're trying to manage your resources & build up your power. The game doesn't exactly hold your hand & explain the nitty-gritty details. But don't worry, I've done the research, made the mistakes & figured out the optimal strategy so you don't have to. Let's dive deep into everything you need to know about your second garage & how to make it work for you.

What's the Deal with Garages Anyway?

First things first, let's break down what garages actually do in Last War. Think of them as individual tech trees that provide powerful buffs to your hero squads. Each garage corresponds to a specific squad that you can send out for battles, resource gathering, or defending your base. When you go into your tech center, you'll see separate upgrade paths for each garage, allowing you to boost stats like attack, defense, HP & even march speed.
Here's the kicker that many new players miss: each garage's buffs ONLY apply to the squad assigned to it. So, if you max out all the attack bonuses in Garage 1, those bonuses won't affect the squad in Garage 2. You can, however, swap which squad is assigned to which garage, which is a key strategic element we'll get into later.
You start the game with one garage, & as you progress, you can unlock up to three. A fourth garage can be unlocked by purchasing the monthly pass. This is where things start to get interesting & where a lot of players make some critical mistakes.

The Great Garage Divide: Why Garages 1 & 4 are Your Best Friends

Now, here's the most important piece of insider knowledge you need to have about garages: Garages 1 & 4 are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper & faster to upgrade than Garages 2 & 3. This isn't just a small difference; it's a game-changer. The resource cost & time it takes to level up the tech in your second & third garages are MASSIVELY inflated. For the same level upgrade that might take a couple of days in Garage 1 or 4, you could be looking at a 10-day wait for Garage 2.
This is a deliberate game design choice to make you think strategically about your resource allocation. So, what does this mean for you? It means you should prioritize upgrading Garage 1 & Garage 4 (if you have the monthly pass) to the absolute max before you even think about sinking significant resources into Garage 2.
A common mistake I see is players diligently trying to level up their garages in numerical order. They get their first garage to a decent level & then immediately start pouring resources into their second, only to find themselves resource-starved & falling behind. The smart play is to get two powerful squads by maxing out the tech in Garages 1 & 4.

Unlocking Your Garages: A Quick Rundown

For those of you wondering how to get all your garages up & running, here's a quick breakdown:
  • Garage 1: You start with this one. It's your bread & butter, so get to upgrading it ASAP.
  • Garage 2: This unlocks as you progress through the early stages of the game.
  • Garage 3: This one takes a bit more work. You'll need to get your headquarters to level 20 & have Garage 2's tech at 25% completion to unlock it.
  • Garage 4: This is a premium option that becomes available when you purchase the monthly pass. While it's a paid option, the significantly reduced upgrade cost makes it a very attractive choice for those who are willing to spend a little.

Strategizing Your Second Garage Upgrade: A Tale of Two Playstyles

So, with the massive cost difference in mind, how should you approach upgrading your second garage? It really depends on your playstyle.

For the Free-to-Play Grinder

If you're a free-to-play player, resource management is EVERYTHING. Your focus should be on getting the most bang for your buck. Here's my advice:
  1. Max Out Garage 1 First: Don't even think about seriously upgrading Garage 2 until Garage 1 is as high as you can get it. This will be your "hammer" squad, the one you use for your most important battles.
  2. Dip Your Toes in Garage 2: While you shouldn't be pouring all your resources into it, you can selectively upgrade the first few nodes of Garage 2's tech tree. The initial upgrades are relatively cheap & can give your second squad a decent little boost. Some players recommend getting it to around level 15 for some easy power gains & points during City Day in VS events.
  3. Focus on Core Stats: When you do upgrade Garage 2, prioritize the most impactful stats: squad attack, defense & HP. These will give you the most noticeable improvement in your second squad's performance.
  4. Don't Neglect Your Second Squad's Heroes: Remember that garage buffs are only one part of the equation. Make sure you're also leveling up the heroes in your second squad & equipping them with decent gear.

For the Monthly Pass Holder

If you've invested in the monthly pass & have access to Garage 4, your strategy is a little different:
  1. Max Out Garages 1 & 4: This should be your top priority. With these two garages maxed out, you'll have two incredibly powerful squads at a fraction of the cost of upgrading Garage 2 & 3.
  2. Assign Your Best Squads: Put your top two squads in Garages 1 & 4 to take full advantage of those maxed-out buffs.
  3. Garage 2 Becomes Your "Third" Priority: Once you have two dominant squads, you can start slowly upgrading Garage 2 as a longer-term project. It's still a resource-heavy endeavor, so don't rush it.
  4. The 3v3 Arena Advantage: Having two strong squads is a HUGE advantage in the 3v3 arena. You'll be able to field a much more competitive lineup than players who have spread their resources too thin.

What to Upgrade in Your Second Garage: A Stat-by-Stat Breakdown

When you do decide to start upgrading your second garage, it's important to know which stats will give you the most significant advantage. Here's a breakdown of the tech tree & what you should focus on:
  • Squad Attack, Defense & HP: These are the holy trinity of garage upgrades. They provide a direct & noticeable boost to your squad's survivability & damage output in ALL aspects of the game, from PvP to fighting monsters. These should ALWAYS be your top priority.
  • Physical & Energy Damage: These are your next most important upgrades. If your second squad is composed mainly of tanks, you'll want to focus on energy damage. If you're running aircraft, prioritize physical damage. Ultimately, you'll want to max out both, but you can tailor your initial upgrades to your squad's composition.
  • March Speed: This is a surprisingly important stat, especially for PvP. Having a higher march speed can allow you to outmaneuver your opponents, whether you're racing to a resource tile to launch a surprise attack or trying to intercept an enemy march.
  • Gather Speed & Food Load Capacity: These are nice to have but are a much lower priority. They'll help you gather resources a bit faster, but they won't win you any battles. Upgrade these when you have some spare resources.
  • Casualty Rate: This is at the very bottom of the priority list. The "casualty rate" stat determines the percentage of your troops that are permanently killed in a battle, rather than just being wounded & sent to the hospital. While reducing your casualties sounds good in theory, the impact of this stat is pretty minimal compared to the core combat stats. You're much better off investing in attack & defense to win the battle outright. The attacker starts with a 20% casualty rate, while the defender starts at 0%, so this stat can slightly alter those numbers.

Managing Your Squads & Garages: The UI Guide

Knowing which garages to upgrade is only half the battle. You also need to know how to assign your squads to take advantage of those buffs. Here's how to do it:
  1. Outside Your Base: The easiest way to manage your squads is by tapping on the physical garage buildings outside your base walls.
  2. The "Configure" Button: When you're setting up a march for an attack or a rally, you'll see a small "configure" button. Tapping on this will allow you to select which garage's buffs you want to apply to that squad. This is incredibly useful for situations where you might want to temporarily swap your missile squad into your maxed-out garage to take on a specific boss.
  3. The 3v3 Arena: In the 3v3 arena, you'll have a similar option to assign your garage buffs to your different squads. This allows you to mix & match your strongest buffs with your best hero lineups to create the most effective combinations.

A Quick Word on Passive Income & Parking

As we're talking about garages, it's funny how they're a central part of our lives both in & out of the game. In Last War, we're constantly fighting for resources to upgrade our virtual garages. In the real world, many of us have a garage that's just sitting there, not being used to its full potential.
Here's a thought: what if your real-life garage could help you fund your in-game upgrades? With a platform like Prked, you can rent out your unused garage or driveway space to people who need it. It's a pretty cool way to earn some passive income on the side. Think of it as your own personal resource node in the real world. Or, if you're like me & find yourself playing Last War while you're out & about, you can use Prked to find a convenient & affordable parking spot, so you don't have to circle the block & miss out on a crucial battle. It's all about making the most of the space you have, both in the game & in real life.

The Bottom Line

So, there you have it – a comprehensive guide to upgrading your second garage in Last War: Survival. The key takeaway is to be smart & strategic with your resources. Don't fall into the trap of upgrading Garage 2 just because it's there. Focus your efforts on Garages 1 & 4 to create two powerhouse squads that will give you a serious advantage.
I hope this was helpful! Let me know what you think in the comments below. Have you been making the mistake of upgrading your second garage too early? Or have you already discovered the power of the 1 & 4 strategy? I'd love to hear your thoughts & experiences. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some virtual garages to upgrade.
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