Z Route Purple Heroes (SSR): Who to Build and the 3 Best Teams

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Short answer: The best purple (SSR) heroes in Z Route are Zara and Conan as front-row walls, and Celeste, Logan and Rachel as back-row damage, because their key skills work against players and monsters alike. Jack, Kim Mina, Aria and Nora are excellent on monster maps but lose some or all of their skill value in PvP, so build them for zombies, not Arena.

Purple heroes are the SSR tier in Z Route: Redemption: twelve heroes that sit between the three SR heroes and the fifteen orange UR heroes. Most players own several of them in the first weeks, and most free-to-play players will rely on them for a long time. The trap is that nine of the twelve have at least one skill that only works against monsters. If you build the wrong ones for the fight you actually do, you pour skill books and shards into effects that never trigger. This guide sorts all twelve into three groups, shows which skills switch off against players, tells you what to level first, and gives you three full teams you can copy.

Watch the video: Stop Upgrading These Purple Heroes in Z Route
Video by Devil King (server 184)

All stats below are from this site’s hero data at level 150 and 5★ with no gear, and skill values are the max-level values shown in each hero guide. Use the Hero Calculator to check your own hero at its current level, and the Hero Compare tool to put any two side by side.

Which purple heroes are best in Z Route?

The best purple heroes depend on what you fight. For player fights (Arena, attacking bases, PvP events), pick heroes whose skills do not mention monsters. For zombie maps and monster bosses, the monster specialists pull ahead. The table gives you the quick version for all twelve.

For the current community ranking of every hero, see the Tier List and the monthly Best Heroes list.

Why does the 2 + 3 march layout matter?

Your march holds five heroes: two in the front row and three in the back row. That layout decides more than raw stats do. The front two absorb most of the damage, so they need a big HP pool and defence. The back three are where your damage comes from, so they need attack.

Several purple skills target a specific row. Conan’s Battle Anthem raises the defence of the front row, Jack’s Pincer Tactic protects the front row from monsters, and Kim Mina’s Cheer Captain and Aria’s Zombie Hunter boost the back row. Put one of these heroes in a march without the right partners in the right row, and the buff lands on nobody useful. Plan the row first, then pick the hero.

• Front row (2 slots): Zara, Toxina, Conan, Jack — the four purple Frontline heroes.
• Back row (3 slots): Celeste, Lee Yu, Logan, Rachel, Taylor, Aria, Nora, Kim Mina.

The Team Builder lets you drag heroes into the two rows and see the lineup before you spend anything.

Which purple heroes switch off vs players?

Nine of the twelve purple heroes have at least one skill whose text says “monsters”. Those effects do nothing in Arena or when you attack another player’s base. Only Celeste, Logan and Rachel keep every skill active in every fight.

Jack and Kim Mina are the two to watch. Both of their signature skills are monster-only, so in Arena they are reduced to a basic attack and a stat bonus. That does not make them bad heroes. It makes them specialists: outstanding on zombie maps, a wasted slot against players.

Which purple heroes are the best walls?

Zara is the toughest purple hero, and Conan is the most useful one for the team. Toxina is a close second to Zara in HP, and Jack is the front-row specialist for monster maps. None of the four deals real damage — their job is to stay alive so your back row can work.

Zara has the highest HP of all purple heroes, and her passive, Robust Physique, adds defence in every fight. Her Roar only reduces monster damage, and her attack is the lowest of the twelve. Put her in front and never expect her to kill anything. (Zara calculator)

Toxina is almost as sturdy. Her Venom Burst hits the two enemy front-row heroes and cuts their attack for a few seconds, which also works against players. Her passive, Nimble Steps, only protects her from monsters, so in PvP she is a little softer than her HP suggests. Zara and Toxina together make the strongest all-Warrior front row. (Toxina calculator)

Conan is the only purple hero who raises the defence of the whole front row. Battle Anthem lasts longer as you add stars, and because the front row is only two heroes, it effectively makes his partner tougher too. If you are building toward a Tactical team, he is the front-row hero to raise first. (Conan calculator)

Jack carries one of the strongest monster defence skills on any purple: Pincer Tactic cuts the damage your front row takes from monsters, and stars extend how long it lasts. Against players both his skills are blank, so keep him out of Arena. (Jack calculator)

Which purple heroes deal the most damage?

Celeste has the highest attack of all purple heroes, followed by Lee Yu and Logan. Rachel and Taylor are close behind. All five belong in the back row, and all five are fragile, so they need a real wall in front of them.

Celeste is the strongest purple damage dealer, and once White Phosphorus reaches 2★ it lowers the defence of the two front enemies, so the rest of your team hits harder too. She also has the lowest HP of the twelve. Keep her in the back and behind a proper tank. (Celeste calculator)

Lee Yu throws Frag Grenades at random enemies, and stars add more throws. Her passive, Martial Arts Family, adds bonus damage against monsters only, which makes her one of the most comfortable zombie farmers. Random targets mean you cannot aim her at one dangerous enemy. (Lee Yu calculator)

Logan is underrated. Multiple Loading hits two random enemies hard, and his passive, High Pressure Air Pump, raises his attack in every fight, not just against monsters. If you care about Arena or attacking bases, he is the first purple damage hero to look at after Celeste. (Logan calculator)

Rachel fires slowly, but Grenadier adds more hits as you star it, and her attack passive, Caliber Modification, also works against players. She is a steady, dependable back-row pick for any Warrior team. (Rachel calculator)

Taylor is the Tactical damage hero to build. Heavy Arrow hits the enemy front row, gains a 50% chance to stun at 2★, and the stun becomes guaranteed at 4★. A reliable stun on a purple hero is rare, and it works against players. Her passive only helps against monsters. (Taylor calculator)

What do Aria, Nora and Kim Mina do?

These three are specialists. They shine on monster maps and in farming, and they lose part or all of their skill value against players.

Aria has a big burst in Unload Magazine, and her passive, Zombie Hunter, makes back-row Warrior allies deal more damage to monsters. She is a team player for Warrior monster lineups and noticeably quieter in PvP. (Aria calculator)

Nora is sturdier than most purple damage heroes, with lower attack. Her Treasure Hunter passive increases her damage to monsters and the resources you collect, so she is a farming hero more than a fighter. You also unlock her for free through the Road to Survival beginner event. (Nora calculator)

Kim Mina is a pure monster support. Cheer Captain makes every back-row ally deal more damage to monsters for a few seconds, and Agile Stance cuts the monster damage she takes. Pair her with two real back-row hitters such as Taylor or Lee Yu. In Arena both skills switch off. (Kim Mina calculator)

What does Wasteland Wanderer do?

Every purple hero shares the same fourth skill, Wasteland Wanderer: a flat +10% ATK, DEF and HP for that hero. The site’s hero data lists it as unlocking at level 31 and 4★. It is a personal bonus, not a team buff, and its value does not change with more stars once unlocked.

Because it is the same on all twelve, it is never a reason to pick one purple over another. Treat 4★ as a milestone on the heroes you are definitely keeping — your two walls and your main back-row damage — rather than spreading shards across the whole roster to unlock it everywhere.

Which skill should you level first?

Level the skill that helps the whole team first, and the hero’s main damage or control skill second. Team skills affect up to five heroes, so every level counts several times over.

Skill book costs per skill are listed in each hero guide. Check them before you commit, and do not split books evenly across all four skills.

What are the best purple hero teams?

Use one team per job: an all-Warrior team for monsters, a separate team for Arena, and a Tactical team for monsters if you are building toward that faction. Each team below uses only purple heroes.

Team 1: All-Warrior monster team

Warrior is the only faction that fills all five slots with purple heroes, and this lineup lets Aria’s Zombie Hunter hit two Warrior allies in the back row. If you own Nora, swap her in for Rachel when you are farming and want the extra resources.

Team 2: Arena (PvP) team

Every key skill here works against players. Once Taylor reaches 4★ and her stun is guaranteed, try her in place of Logan.

Team 3: Tactical monster team

This team is built around monster-only skills, so do not take it into Arena: Jack and Kim Mina lose their signature skills there. It is a strong choice if you are collecting Tactical heroes, since Conan, Taylor and Kim Mina carry into a later Tactical lineup.

How should F2P players invest?

Pick one faction, build one team properly, and move resources to orange heroes as they arrive. Twelve half-built purples lose to five fully built ones.

• Decide what you fight most. Mostly zombies and events? Lean on Team 1 or Team 3. Mostly Arena? Build Team 2 first.
• Build walls before guns. A back row with no tank in front dies before its skills fire.
• Spend books on team skills first. Anthem, Pincer and Cheer Captain affect several heroes.
• Do not chase 4★ on everyone. Wasteland Wanderer is the same on every purple; unlock it on keepers.
• Plan the switch to orange. Purple heroes carry the early game, but the UR heroes in the same role have much higher stats. Compare before you max a purple you will replace soon.

New players should also read the First Week Mistakes guide, which covers hero recruitment and Omni Hero Shards.

Key takeaways

• Purple means SSR; there are 12 purple heroes.
• Your march is 2 front + 3 back, and many skills target only one row.
• 9 of 12 purples have a monster-only skill; Celeste, Logan and Rachel work fully against players.
• Walls: Zara, Toxina, Conan, Jack. Guns: Celeste, Lee Yu, Logan, Rachel, Taylor. Specialists: Aria, Nora, Kim Mina.
• Jack and Kim Mina are monster-only picks; keep them out of Arena.
• Wasteland Wanderer (+10% ATK/DEF/HP) is shared by all purples and unlocks at level 31 and 4★.
• Level team skills first, then each hero’s main skill.
• Build one faction and one team well before spreading resources.

Frequently asked questions

What does purple mean in Z Route?

Purple is the SSR rarity. It sits above the three SR heroes and below the orange UR heroes.

Which purple hero is the best tank?

Zara. She has the highest HP of all purple heroes and a defence passive that works in every fight.

Which purple hero deals the most damage?

Celeste has the highest attack of the purple heroes, and her White Phosphorus lowers enemy defence from 2★.

Is Jack good in Arena?

No. Both Pincer Tactic and Zombie Nemesis only work against monsters, so in Arena he only has his basic grenade and stat bonus.

Is Kim Mina worth building?

Yes, for monster content. Cheer Captain boosts back-row damage to monsters, but both of her skills switch off against players.

Which purple heroes work best in PvP?

Celeste, Logan and Rachel keep every skill in PvP. Zara, Conan, Toxina and Taylor are also strong because their main skills still work.

When does Wasteland Wanderer unlock?

The site’s hero data lists it at level 31 and 4★. It gives that hero +10% ATK, DEF and HP.

Should I level every skill equally?

No. Level the team skill first (for example Battle Anthem or Cheer Captain), then the hero’s main damage or control skill.

How do I get Nora?

Nora unlocks for free through the Road to Survival beginner event.

Should I replace purple heroes with orange ones?

Yes, over time. Orange UR heroes in the same role have much higher stats, so keep purples for the early game and for gaps in your faction.

More hero tools and guides

• Team Builder — plan your 2 + 3 lineup
• Hero Compare — any two heroes side by side
• Hero Calculator — stats, EXP and shards by level
• Tier List and Best Heroes this month
• All hero guides
• First Week Mistakes guide