Air+Murphy Meta Guide: Why It Dominates and How to Fight It
Complete breakdown of Air+Murphy in Last War — why it's the strongest formation, how to counter it with Adam+Scarlett, and what S5 changes mean.
Why Air+Murphy Is the #1 Formation Right Now
If you’ve been playing Last War for more than a few weeks, you already know: Air+Murphy is king. It’s the most discussed, most complained about, and most feared formation in the game. With over 7,000 balance-related discussions on the official Discord, the community consensus is clear — Air+Murphy breaks the intended rock-paper-scissors system and there’s no easy answer.
But understanding why it’s dominant is the first step to beating it.
ℹ️ NOTE: Season 5 Update Season 5 brought some balance changes. The meta is “a lot more even” than Season 4, but Air+Murphy is still on top. The gap has narrowed — Tank and Missile formations are slightly more competitive — but the core dominance remains intact.
How the Combat Triangle Works (And How Murphy Breaks It)
Last War’s combat system is built on a rock-paper-scissors triangle:
| Matchup | Damage Bonus |
|---|---|
| Aircraft beat Tanks | +20% damage |
| Tanks beat Missiles | +20% damage |
| Missiles beat Aircraft | +20% damage |
Air+Murphy breaks this triangle because Murphy provides durability that Air units shouldn’t have. Aircraft are designed as glass cannons — high damage, low survivability. Murphy’s support abilities let Air units survive long enough to overwhelm opponents that should theoretically counter them.
The result? A formation with burst damage AND staying power — the two things that are supposed to be mutually exclusive.
⚠️ WARNING: Don’t Rely on the Triangle If you’re running Missiles expecting the +20% counter bonus to carry you against Air+Murphy, you’ll be disappointed. Murphy’s disruption and damage reduction effectively neutralize the type advantage. You need a specific counter strategy, not just type advantage.
Why Murphy Specifically?
Murphy functions as a tank/support hybrid that synergizes with Air units because of three key abilities:
Damage Reduction
CORE SYNERGYMurphy provides team-wide damage reduction that has outsized impact on Air units. High ATK / low DEF heroes benefit more from flat or percentage DEF boosts than naturally tanky heroes. This turns glass cannons into glass cannons with armor.
Disruption
CONTROLMurphy's disruption abilities interrupt enemy formations before they execute counter-play. This shuts down Missile squads that should theoretically win, preventing them from firing key abilities during the critical opening seconds.
Survivability Extension
TIME = DAMAGEBy keeping the formation alive through the first critical seconds of combat, Murphy lets Air DPS heroes finish fights before they can be countered. Every extra second an Air hero survives is massive additional damage output.
The Key Heroes
In the Air+Murphy Formation
| Hero | Role | Why They’re Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Murphy | Support/Tank hybrid | Provides the durability that makes the whole formation work |
| Kim | Air DPS | High single-target damage with “individual rockets” — devastating burst |
| Stet | Air DPS/Utility | ”Big blue spheres” — area damage that benefits enormously from extended fight time |
| DVA | Air DPS | Attack speed x5 capability makes her devastating with Murphy’s protection |
Counter Heroes
| Hero | Role | Why They Help |
|---|---|---|
| Adam | Tank/Offense | Best offensive tank; pairs specifically with Scarlett for the strongest counter |
| Scarlett | Tank/Defense | +75% passive DEF buff — the single strongest anti-burst tool available |
| Schuyler | Disruption | Can stun even while stunned — useful for disrupting Murphy’s support chain |
Heroes That Need Help
| Hero | Issue | Community Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Carly | Underperforming support | ”Carly needs a buff” — if Murphy gets nerfed, she’s the likely Air replacement |
| Marshall | Low impact | ”Marshall seems pretty lackluster” — needs significant buffs to be viable |
How to Counter Air+Murphy
Let’s be honest — there’s no hard counter that makes Air+Murphy easy to beat. But there are formations and strategies that give you the best chance.
Counter #1: Adam+Scarlett Tank Formation (Best Available)
The community-identified strongest counter is the Adam+Scarlett tank combination.
Why it works:
- Scarlett’s +75% passive DEF buff creates an incredibly durable frontline that can survive Air burst damage
- Adam provides offensive capability that pure defensive tanks lack — he’s not just soaking, he’s hitting back
- Together they create a formation that can outlast Air+Murphy’s burst window and grind them down
💡 PRO TIP: Survive the Burst Window The key to beating Air+Murphy is surviving the first 10-15 seconds. Air formations front-load their damage — if you’re still standing after the initial burst, you win the attrition war. Prioritize damage reduction gear, defensive tech, and anything that extends your survivability through those critical opening seconds.
How to build it:
- Run Adam and Scarlett as your core duo
- Fill remaining slots with your best Tank heroes
- Prioritize damage reduction gear and defensive tech
- Focus on surviving the opening burst — after that, your tank advantage takes over
⚠️ WARNING: Generic Tanks Won’t Work Adam+Scarlett tanks is “probably still better than vanilla tanks against Air+Murphy.” Don’t run generic tank formations and expect results. The specific Adam+Scarlett pairing is what makes this counter viable. Random tanks will get shredded.
Counter #2: Disruption-First Strategy
The community “Damage Formula” guide on Discord revealed critical disruption mechanics:
| Mechanic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gorilla’s crit | Disruption works on Gorilla’s crit ability in the first 9 seconds |
| DVA vs Drone | Disruption prioritizes drone buff over DVA attack speed increases |
| Schuyler interaction | Schuyler can still stun while stunned but cannot disrupt |
If you can disrupt Murphy’s support abilities early, the Air units lose their durability advantage. Heroes with disruption should target Murphy specifically.
💡 PRO TIP: Target Murphy First In any counter strategy against Air+Murphy, your disruption and crowd control should target Murphy — not the Air DPS heroes. Murphy is the linchpin. Remove his support, and the Air units become the glass cannons they were designed to be.
Counter #3: Pure Missile (Risky)
Missiles should counter Air. In practice against Air+Murphy, pure Missile formations struggle because Murphy’s disruption shuts down Missile abilities before they fire. But if you can:
- Build a Missile squad focused on first-strike speed
- Use heroes with disruption resistance
- Target Murphy specifically with crowd control
…you can occasionally break through. This is matchup-dependent and less reliable than Adam+Scarlett.
Season 5 Meta Update
| Aspect | Season 4 | Season 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Meta hierarchy | Missiles > Air > Tank (strict) | Similar hierarchy but closer gaps |
| Air+Murphy status | Dominant | Still dominant, slightly less oppressive |
| Tank viability | Very low | Improved (Adam+Scarlett competitive) |
| Missile viability | Strong | Slightly improved |
| Community sentiment | Angry | Still frustrated, but acknowledging improvement |
The Balance Debate: What Should Change?
The community is split on solutions but united on the problem.
Team Nerf Murphy
MOST POPULAR"Murphy needs a non-tank nerf like Lucius" — reduce his Air synergy without killing him as a hero. The Lucius precedent showed this is possible: personal power reduced without gutting the tank class. Players want the same surgical treatment.
Team Buff Tanks
ALTERNATIVEInstead of nerfing Air+Murphy, make tanks strong enough to compete. "Tanks need a buff. Maybe Marshall can do something." This would also improve overall formation diversity beyond just the Air+Murphy matchup.
Team Buff Carly
DIVERSITY PLAY"If they nerf Murphy so that it only helps tanks, then Air would be stuck with Carly or Sarah." Some players want Air alternatives buffed so Murphy isn't the only viable support, increasing squad diversity.
The S5 Concern
INVESTOR FEAR"If they nerf Air+Murphy while I'm in S5, I know who to blame." Players who invested heavily are nervous about mid-season nerfs. Devs must balance long-term health with fairness to existing investments.
What This Means for Your Investment
If You’re Running Air+Murphy
- Enjoy it while it lasts — nerfs are likely coming eventually
- Diversify your second squad — don’t put all eggs in one basket
- Build Adam+Scarlett as a backup — they’ll be valuable regardless of meta shifts
If You’re Fighting Air+Murphy
- Invest in Adam+Scarlett — it’s the best available counter right now
- Don’t waste resources on “vanilla” tanks — only Adam+Scarlett is competitive
- Focus on disruption heroes — whoever can shut down Murphy fastest wins
If You’re F2P
- One maxed formation beats two half-built ones — pick a lane
- Air+Murphy is expensive to build — consider Adam+Scarlett tanks as a more accessible path
- Watch for balance patches — a Murphy nerf could reshape the meta overnight
💡 PRO TIP: Build Smart, Not Just Meta The question isn’t if the balance will shift — it’s when and how much. Build for the current meta, but diversify your investments. Adam+Scarlett tanks are valuable both as an Air+Murphy counter NOW and as a strong formation regardless of future balance changes. That’s a safe investment.
The Bottom Line
Air+Murphy is the undisputed king of Last War’s current meta. It breaks the combat triangle by giving Air units survivability they shouldn’t have, and no clean counter exists. Adam+Scarlett tanks are your best bet, Season 5 narrowed the gap slightly, and the community is loudly calling for targeted nerfs.
Build for the meta, but build smart. Diversify your investments. And if you’re running Air+Murphy right now? Win everything you can before the nerf hammer drops.
Sources & Verification
| Source | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Last War Official Discord #discussion | Community Analysis | February 2026 |
| Last War Official Discord #suggestion | Balance Feedback | February 2026 |
| ”Damage Formula (Work in Progress)” Community Guide | Technical Analysis | February 2026 |
| Last War Official Discord #sneak-peek (S5 Balance) | Official Preview | February 2026 |
ℹ️ NOTE: Verification Balance analysis sourced from 7,000+ community discussions on the official Discord, the community “Damage Formula” guide, and Season 5 sneak-peek balance notes. Hero interactions verified across multiple player reports. Meta assessment reflects community consensus as of February 2026.
Related Guides:
- Best Heroes Tier List 2026 — full hero rankings across all formations
- Squad Formation Basics — understand troop types and formation bonuses
- Gold Vein Event Guide — apply these counters in S5 cross-server PvP