Command An Army Evolution: All 8 Paths & Level 20
Players ask this more than anything else: the unit card shows an "evolves into" preview long before the button works. That preview is the next form on the path; the button stays locked until the unit reaches level 20.
All evolution paths
| Base unit | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercenary (1★) | Squire | Knight (3★) | Launch (game's feature list) |
| Shieldman (1★) | Sentinel (2★) | Imperial Wall | Launch (game's feature list) |
| Spearman (1★) | Pikeman | — | Launch (game's feature list) |
| Archer (1★) | Longbowman | — | Launch (game's feature list) |
| Scout Rider (2★) | Cavalryman | Lancer | Launch (game's feature list) |
| Spear Militia (2★) | Spear Vanguard (3★) | — | Update 1 event text |
| Halberder (2★) | Imperial Halberder (3★) | — | Update 1 event text |
| Javelineer (2★) | Elite Javelineer (3★) | — | Update 1 event text |
Paths checked:
How to evolve, step by step
- Equip the unit you want to evolve and play matches with it. Troops gain levels from matches, not from Gems.
- Keep it in your loadout until the card shows level 20 (the game calls this Mastery level 20).
- In the lobby, open the upgrade area and switch from Ascension to Evolve.
- Pick the unit and confirm. It becomes the next form on its path, for example Shieldman into Sentinel.
- Repeat on the new form to reach stage 3 on the three-stage paths (Knight, Imperial Wall, Lancer).
The Gem or material cost of an evolution has not been shown clearly in any source yet. One creator guesses it uses Gems; until the screen is shown, keep some Gems spare before you hit level 20.
Which paths are worth it
- Scout Rider → Cavalryman → Lancer: the best long-term path. Scout Rider is the most common pull (20%), and Lancer is named by players as one of the strongest units in the game.
- Shieldman → Sentinel → Imperial Wall: the defensive path. A level 13 Sentinel showed 333 HP on its card, and Imperial Wall appears in player defense builds next to Spartans.
- Archer → Longbowman: Longbowman out-ranges the 3-star Crossbowman, which makes Archer worth keeping even though it is the weakest starter.
- Mercenary → Squire → Knight: ends at the 3-star Knight, the gate-breaker from the tutorial.
- Spearman → Pikeman: a two-stage path that keeps its anti-cavalry job.
Update 1 evolutions
Update 1 on September 12, 2026 added three new 2-star units that evolve into 3-star forms: Spear Militia into Spear Vanguard, Halberder into Imperial Halberder and Javelineer into Elite Javelineer. Flaming Archers and Mace arrived as 3-star units with no evolution listed. The full roster is on the units page.
Evolution versus Ascension
Evolution changes the unit into a new form. Ascension merges duplicate copies of the same unit to raise its stats and costs nothing. Ascend the copies you have first; evolving is the level 20 step on top.
Evolution FAQ
What level do you need to evolve a unit?
Level 20 on the unit itself. The game describes troop levels as Mastery levels up to 20, and three creators show the Evolve button unlocking at 20. One beginner guide words it as account level 20, so if your unit is 20 and the button is still locked, check your account level too.
Can 4-star units evolve?
No. Spartan, Immortal, Berserker and Samurai have no evolution; Rexon checked the Evolve screen with his Berserker and it had none.
Does Crossbowman have an evolution?
Not one that has been shown. It is missing from the official evolution list, and creators disagree about it, so we list it as none until someone puts it on screen.
Is it better to evolve or to buy the evolved unit?
Squire, Sentinel and Pikeman have been sold in the lobby store, which skips the level 20 grind for those three. The other evolved forms only come from evolving.