Last War: How to Use the HQ Skin Exchange Shop

To unlock Headquarters (HQ) skins in the Last War exchange shop, accumulate dedicated shop tokens by sending and claiming eligible gift packs within your alliance, then save those tokens exclusively for permanent base skins. Permanent skins provide account-wide combat buffs that apply passively to all your squads regardless of which cosmetic is actively displayed on your base.

How the Exchange Shop and Gifting Work

The exchange shop introduces a non-expiring catalog where players can spend specialized exchange tokens on base cosmetics. Rather than relying solely on high-ranking event placement or limited-time pack purchases, players earn shop currency through the alliance gift feature:

Purchasing or Distributing Gifts: An alliance member purchases or distributes qualifying gift bundles through the alliance interface.
Generating Token Rewards: The sender accumulates designated exchange tokens, while the recipient or alliance pool receives associated reward chests.
Redeeming in the Shop Catalog: Senders use their accumulated tokens in the exchange interface to purchase base skins and decorative items.

Because shop tokens and catalog listings do not expire at the end of a weekly cycle, progress carries over indefinitely.

Item Categories in the Exchange Shop

The catalog contains three primary item categories, each offering different degrees of account progression:

Category	Cost Type	Combat Effect	Duration
Permanent HQ Skins	High Token Cost	Account-wide Attack, Defense, and HP increases	Permanent
Temporary Base Skins	Moderate Token Cost	Short-term stat and visual enhancements	1 to 30 Days
Decorative Props	Low Token Cost	Minor decorative power and collection score	Permanent

Why Permanent HQ Skins Are the Priority

Headquarters skins are functional combat upgrades rather than cosmetic items. Prioritizing permanent skins yields structural combat advantages:

Additive Stat Stacking: All unlocked permanent skin bonuses stack additively across your account. You receive the Attack, Defense, and HP bonuses automatically without needing to equip the skin on the map.
Universal Squad Coverage: Unlike hero gear or squad-type tech trees, base skin multipliers apply across Tank, Aircraft, and Missile squads simultaneously.
Capacity Expansions: Certain high-tier base skins include bonuses to march size or hospital capacity, aiding extended battles during Warzone Duel and Capital Wars.

Spending Strategy and Pitfalls to Avoid

Maximizing the value of the exchange shop requires long-term currency management and alliance coordination:

Do not buy temporary skins: 7-day and 30-day skins consume valuable tokens but remove all associated stat boosts once the timer expires. Spending currency on temporary items delays permanent account progression.
Save strictly for permanent skins: Because tokens do not reset, free-to-play and low-spending commanders should hold all earned currency until they can afford a permanent HQ skin.
Coordinate pack timing with alliance events: Align gift purchases with Alliance VS milestone days or server spending events. Distributing gifts during competitive windows ensures that spending progress contributes directly to weekly alliance point thresholds alongside personal token accumulation.