- Survive The Swarm upgrades are split into in-run level picks, weapon evolutions, and permanent account upgrades.
- Priority picks: unlock the Four Weapons upgrade first, then focus gold and reroll upgrades.
- Weapon evolution: collect orbs during waves to level and evolve weapons into stronger rarities.
- Best early upgrades: +25% Daily Gold, Free Reroll, and +8% Egg Find offer the strongest start.
- Class synergy: Engineer and Healer classes amplify the value of your upgrade choices.
How Survive The Swarm Upgrades Work
Survive The Swarm layers its progression across three separate upgrade systems. Understanding how they interact is the difference between dying on wave four and extracting with a maxed loadout. Every level you gain inside a run lets you pick an upgrade, weapons evolve through orbs, and permanent account upgrades carry gold, eggs, and gear benefits across every future run.
Video Highlights:
- Engineer and Heeler ranked as the top two classes
- Bow weapons upgrade from common to mythic tier during a run
- Orbs on the map level up and evolve weapons
- Four Weapons unlock should be your first permanent upgrade
- Quest rewards give free coins and crates for extra upgrade resources
The three upgrade systems break down like this:
| Upgrade Type | When It Applies | Resets Between Runs? | Main Resource |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level-up picks | Every level during a run | Yes | XP from kills |
| Weapon evolution | Mid-run via orbs | Yes | Orbs picked up on the map |
| Permanent upgrades | Between runs | No | Coins and gold |
Your in-run picks determine how far a single run goes, but permanent upgrades decide how strong you are at the start of every run. Balance both rather than dumping everything into one system.
Best Permanent Upgrades & Priority Order
Permanent upgrades are purchased between runs and never reset, making them the most reliable long-term power boost. The unlock order matters: some upgrades only appear after you purchase the first one.
Recommended purchase order:
| Priority | Upgrade | Effect | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four Weapons | Unlocks fourth weapon slot, reveals further upgrades | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | +25% Daily Gold | Boosts daily gold income by 25% | ★★★★★ |
| 3 | Free Reroll | Reroll upgrade choices without cost | ★★★★ |
| 4 | +8% Egg Find | Increases egg discovery chance by 8% | ★★★★ |
| 5 | Friendly Gold | Shares gold gains with teammates | ★★★ |
Four Weapons First
- Unlocks the whole tree
- More damage sources per run
- Required for later upgrades
Gold Upgrades Second
- Compounds every day
- Funds future purchases faster
- Best long-term economy
Utility Third
- Free Reroll adds flexibility
- Egg Find grows your collection
- Friendly Gold helps team play
The Four Weapons upgrade gates the rest of the permanent upgrade tree. If you skip it, options like +25% Daily Gold and Free Reroll will not appear. Buy it before anything else.
Weapon Evolution System Explained
Weapons in Survive The Swarm evolve through rarity tiers as you collect orbs scattered around the map during waves. A bow picked at the start of a run can climb from common to rare, then to mythic, dramatically increasing damage output before the boss wave.
Observed evolution path for bow weapons:
| Stage | Weapon | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Bow / Heaven's Bow | Base | Heaven's Bow outperforms regular Bow |
| First upgrade | Rare Bow | Rare | Solid mid-wave damage |
| Second upgrade | Mythic Bow | Mythic | Major damage spike |
| Evolution | Falcon's Eye or similar | Evolved | Choose carefully — replaces the weapon |
Pick Strong Starting Weapons
Choose Heaven's Bow over the regular Bow where available. Running two bow-type weapons together keeps multiple damage sources active throughout the early waves.
Collect Orbs During Waves
Orbs spawn on the map and are the fuel for weapon leveling and evolution. Grab them between dodging zombie packs, prioritizing orbs near safe lanes.
Upgrade to Mythic Before the Boss
Push weapons to mythic tier before the boss wave arrives. Fully leveled weapons unlock the evolution option, which is your biggest power jump in the run.
Evolve, Then Extract
Once weapons are maxed, take the evolution. Watch what the evolution replaces — an evolution like Falcon's Eye can swap out a weapon you wanted to keep. Extract as soon as the run allows to bank your rewards.
An evolution can replace your existing weapon rather than add to it. If the evolution is a downgrade for your build, it may be better to keep your mythic weapon maxed instead of evolving.
In-Run Level Picks & Class Synergy
Every level during a run presents an upgrade choice. Your picks should complement your class and current weapon setup rather than following a fixed order.
| Class | Playstyle | Best Upgrade Focus | Team Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Turrets and area control | Damage and weapon-slot upgrades | High |
| Healer | Sustain and support | Survival and Friendly Gold | Very high in groups |
| Rogue | Mobility, free starter option | Skirmish and movement upgrades | Moderate |
| Others | Varies | Match your weapon loadout | Situational |
Key in-run survival tactics that pair with your picks:
- Use your Skirmish ability when surrounded — it is your escape tool, not a damage button
- Jump constantly while kiting zombie packs to avoid contact damage
- Claim quest rewards between runs for free coins, crates, armor, and lucky coins
- Play with others when possible — group runs are noticeably easier and pair well with Healer
If your run has strong AoE weapons, favor upgrade picks that boost attack speed or damage. If you are taking heavy damage, survival and mobility picks keep the run alive longer than extra damage.
Your Upgrade Roadmap Checklist
Work through this list across your first several sessions. Each milestone compounds: better permanent upgrades mean stronger starts, which mean deeper runs, which mean more coins for the next purchase.
Upgrade Milestones:
- Purchase the Four Weapons permanent upgrade
- Buy +25% Daily Gold and Free Reroll
- Evolve one weapon to mythic tier in a single run
- Complete a boss wave and extract successfully
- Claim all quest rewards and open your first crate
- Settle on a main class (Engineer or Healer recommended)
Quests, crates, and extraction rewards feed directly back into permanent upgrades. Completing quests each session keeps the coin income flowing without extra grinding.
FAQ
Q: What is the first Survive The Swarm upgrade I should buy?
Buy the Four Weapons upgrade first. It unlocks your fourth weapon slot and reveals the rest of the permanent upgrade tree, including +25% Daily Gold, Free Reroll, and +8% Egg Find.
Q: How does weapon evolution work?
Collect orbs during waves to level your weapons. Once a weapon is fully leveled, you can take its evolution, which converts it into a stronger form — for example, a bow climbing from rare to mythic tier, then evolving into Falcon's Eye.
Q: Is weapon evolution always worth taking?
Not always. Some evolutions replace your current weapon, and if the replacement does not fit your build, keeping your maxed mythic weapon can be the stronger choice. Check what the evolution swaps out before confirming.
Q: Which class pairs best with the upgrade system?
Engineer is the strongest overall pick thanks to its area control, while Healer excels in group play by keeping the team alive longer. Rogue is a solid free starting option for new players.