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Server Merge & Migration Guide

Strategy · 2026-04-26

Two Types of Server Change

Last War: Survival has two distinct ways your server can change:

  1. Voluntary Migration (Transfer Surge) — you choose to move your account to a different server
  2. Forced Server Merge — the game combines two or more low-population servers into one, automatically moving everyone

The two events are often confused but work very differently. This guide covers both.

Migration vs. Merge — Key Difference

Migration is your choice and requires Transfer Tickets. Merge is automatic and free. Migration moves your account to a server of your choosing (with target-server approval). Merge combines your existing server with another and you have no say in which server you end up on. Both preserve your account state — only the destination differs.

Transfer Surge (Voluntary Migration)

Transfer Surge is the in-game system that lets you move your account to a different server. It opens at specific times, requires currency, and needs approval from the destination.

When Transfer Surge Opens

  • Available after Season 2 — pre-season and Season 1 servers cannot transfer out
  • Opens at the end of each competitive season — typically a 1-2 week window
  • Closes during active seasons — you cannot migrate mid-season
  • Watch your in-game event calendar for exact dates per server

Cost: Transfer Tickets

  • 50 Transfer Tickets required for one migration
  • Sources:
    • Alliance Store (slow, accumulate over weeks)
    • Real-money pack bundles (faster but costs $)
    • Specific seasonal events occasionally award tickets
  • Start accumulating tickets weeks before Transfer Surge opens — last-minute migration plans usually fail because of ticket shortage

What Carries Over

Stays With Your AccountNotes
All buildingsHQ level, building levels, base layout. Nothing is rebuilt
All heroesHeroes, their levels, stars, gear, EW levels, Awakening status
All resourcesFood, Iron, Coins, Oil, season-specific resources
All troopsIncluding T11 troops once you have them
VIP level and progressYour VIP investment is permanent
All progressionTech research, Drone level, Chip Lab progress, Profession EXP, Wall of Honor levels
Inventory itemsAll speedups, gear blueprints, hero shards, gems, etc.

What You Lose

Reset on MigrationWhy
Arena rankingsRebuilt from scratch on the new server
Power rankingsYour power carries but the leaderboard placement is rebuilt
Event rankingsCurrent-cycle event rankings reset
Alliance membershipYou leave your old alliance. Must apply to a new one on the destination server
Alliance rankEven if you migrate to a friendly alliance, you start as a member, not R4/R5
Server-specific titlesCapitol roles, Marshal titles, etc. all reset

Migration Approval

The destination server's President (Capitol holder) approves or denies migration applications.

  • Top servers fill quickly during Transfer Surge — apply early
  • Some servers actively recruit; others restrict migration to maintain population balance
  • Establish a relationship before applying — research target server politics, talk to leaders, ideally get pre-approval before the window opens
  • Alliance leaders and Presidents themselves cannot migrate (they must demote first)

Forced Server Merges

When a server's population drops too low, the game automatically merges it with another server. You have no choice in this.

When Merges Happen

  • Triggered by population thresholds — the developers monitor active player counts
  • Typically affect older servers — newer servers rarely merge
  • Announced 1-2 weeks in advance — you have time to prepare
  • Often combine 2-4 servers into one — sometimes more

What Happens During a Merge

ElementResult
Account stateFully preserved (same as Transfer Surge)
AllianceYour alliance carries over, including all members and ranks
Server nameUsually the lowest-numbered server's name becomes the merged server's name
Map positionYou start in a fresh region of the new merged map. Your old coordinates do not carry
Capitol / CapitalThe merged server elects a new President. Old Capitol roles are dissolved
Server diplomacyReset. NAPs and alliance relationships from your original server are gone

Name Conflicts

A common concern: what if another player on the merged server has your username or alliance name?

  • Username collisions are resolved by appending a numeric suffix to the later-arriving account
  • Alliance name collisions force one alliance to rename — the older alliance typically gets priority
  • Player and alliance tags are recalculated to ensure uniqueness across the merged population

Pre-Merge Checklist

Once a merge is announced:

  1. Apply long shields — fresh territory means new neighbours, some hostile. Default to shielded
  2. Stockpile resources — merged servers often see immediate aggressive play; resource raiding is common
  3. Coordinate alliance hive plan — decide where the alliance regroups on the new map
  4. Talk to alliance leadership about the merge — confirm you are still in the alliance, confirm the regroup plan
  5. Apply to the new Capitol if your alliance is competitive for it — Capitol elections happen quickly post-merge
  6. Stockpile speedups — repositioning, rebuilding, and re-establishing on the new map costs speedups
  7. Save Transfer Tickets if you suspect the merged server will be hostile and you want to migrate again later

When to Migrate (Voluntary)

Migration is a major decision. Reasons people migrate:

ReasonSeverity
Server is deadNot enough active players for events. Strong reason
Server is dominatedA single coalition controls everything; competitive play is impossible. Strong reason
Power gap too largeTop players are unreachable; you cannot compete in rankings. Moderate reason
Want to join friendsPersonal preference. Valid reason if your current server isn't otherwise great
Bad alliance fitUsually solvable by changing alliance, not by migrating. Weak reason
Bored with current serverOften the new server is similar. Weak reason

Migration Reality Check

The Grass Is Often Not Greener

Players who migrate based on frustration rather than strategy frequently regret it. The new server has its own politics, its own dominant coalition, and its own social dynamics. Before migrating, ask: am I solving a real problem, or am I escaping one I could fix where I am? Switching alliances within your current server is almost always a better first step than full migration.

Post-Merge / Post-Migration Recovery

The first 2-4 weeks on a new server determine your standing for months:

  1. Establish position fast — reach the alliance hive within 24 hours
  2. Identify server power dynamics — who runs the Capitol? Who are the top alliances?
  3. Scout neighbours — know who is around your base and their power levels
  4. Don't fight unnecessarily — initial period is for setup, not aggression
  5. Participate in events immediately — visibility builds reputation
  6. Earn your alliance rank — even on a friendly alliance, you start at member level. Contribute to earn promotion
  7. Update your VIP and Daily Login Pack subscriptions — these tie to account, not server, but verify they migrated correctly

Common Migration / Merge Mistakes

  1. Migrating solo to a server with no contacts — you arrive isolated and become a target
  2. Not researching the destination — you might land in the middle of an active war
  3. Migrating without resources — you arrive weak and unable to recover
  4. Forgetting Transfer Tickets — without 50 tickets, you cannot migrate even if the window is open
  5. Migrating mid-season — Transfer Surge only opens between seasons
  6. Treating a merge as an emergency — merges are common; preparation matters but panic doesn't help
  7. Not coordinating alliance regroup post-merge — scattered members get picked off
  8. Burning bridges before migrating — leave your current server / alliance gracefully. The community is small, you'll see them again
  9. Ignoring server diplomacy on arrival — saying nothing is worse than introducing yourself
  10. Migrating to a top server expecting to compete immediately — you arrive at the bottom of the rankings, not the top

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