What level do units evolve at?

Level 20. Eligibility is not automatic though: the unit also needs to be ascended first, and not every unit has an evolution at all.

Ascending or evolving - what is the difference?

Ascending feeds a duplicate copy of the same unit into it for extra stats, up to third ascension. Evolving changes it into its next form and needs that third ascension plus level 20.

Where is the evolve station?

From spawn take the stairs and turn right for ascension. For evolution, head from there back toward the summoning area, turn right, and look under the golden dragon for a large sign reading Evolve.

Should I sell duplicate units?

No. Duplicates are the only currency for ascension, and ascension gates evolution. Every duplicate you sell is progress you have to earn again.

Progression

How to evolve units

Evolution is gated behind three separate requirements. About ten units qualify today, and the order you do them in matters more than how many duplicates you own.

Step 1
Reach level 20
Level 20 is the per-unit cap, so this is the last upgrade step before evolving.
Step 2
Ascend to third ascension
Ascending consumes duplicates. Do it before evolving, because evolving changes which unit you are feeding.
Step 3
Only about ten units qualify
Most of the roster, including the four-star specials as of Update 2, has no evolution yet.

Every reported evolution chain

These chains come from creator gameplay, which makes them single-source. Post-evolution star costs are often unreported, so each evolved form links to its own page where the confidence level is stated.

What to evolve first

Do these first

Fire Archer - the undisputed first evolution, since it is the only unit with burn damage.
Lancer - the only four-star unit currently reachable through evolving.
Halberdier - shield and Spartan breaker, though archers delete it.
Spear Vanguard - a faster, longer-ranged alternative to the Imperial Wall.

Skip or delay these

Javelin - called a waste of time by the creator who ranked every option.
Mercenary into Squire - a real chain, but rated neutral next to the picks above.
Berserker - the four-star specials have no evolution as of Update 2.

The order to do things in

Level the unit to 20 first: nothing else is possible before that, and levelling is the cheapest step by far.
Ascend to third ascension by feeding duplicates. This is the expensive part, and the reason selling duplicates is a mistake you cannot undo.
Evolve last. Evolving changes the unit you are feeding, so doing it early can strand the duplicate progress you already banked.

One warning worth repeating: evolved forms usually cost more stars than the unit they came from, so an evolution can price itself out of your current loadout. If you are fielding four slots on a small cap, check the star cost before you evolve, not after.

Open a unit page Evolved units cost more stars Where duplicates come from

Evolution FAQ

What level do units evolve at?: Level 20. Eligibility is not automatic though: the unit also needs to be ascended first, and not every unit has an evolution at all.
Ascending or evolving - what is the difference?: Ascending feeds a duplicate copy of the same unit into it for extra stats, up to third ascension. Evolving changes it into its next form and needs that third ascension plus level 20.
Where is the evolve station?: From spawn take the stairs and turn right for ascension. For evolution, head from there back toward the summoning area, turn right, and look under the golden dragon for a large sign reading Evolve.
Should I sell duplicate units?: No. Duplicates are the only currency for ascension, and ascension gates evolution. Every duplicate you sell is progress you have to earn again.

How to evolve in Command An Army, in order

Searches for Command An Army how to evolve, and for how to evolve in command an army, both land on the same two gates: the level 20 requirement and the duplicate copies. Nothing about the order is hidden, it is just easy to start paying for the wrong half of it. Level first, because a unit under 20 cannot evolve at any price. Copies second, because ascension is what the evolution actually consumes, and copies arrive from summons rather than from gems spent directly.

If you want to know how to evolve units in Command An Army cheaply, the honest answer is to evolve few units rather than many. The first evolution on a unit you already field every match pays for itself; a third or fourth evolution on a unit you bring once a week does not. Check the evolution chain on each unit page before you commit copies, because a chain that ends early is a dead end no amount of levelling will open.

Ascension resets the unit to level 1

This is the most expensive rule in the system and it is not stated anywhere in the game's own summaries: ascending a unit with its duplicates reportedly resets that unit's level. The claim comes from a single source, so treat it as a strong warning rather than a confirmed mechanic and read the unit panel before you spend a copy. If it holds in your build, the correct order is level first and ascend after, never the other way around, and never ascend a unit you are halfway through levelling.

Ascension and evolution are separate steps and they consume different things. Ascension eats duplicates of the same unit and raises its ceiling; evolution needs the unit at Mastery level 20 and moves it along a fixed chain such as Mercenary to Squire to Knight. A unit you plan to evolve should therefore be ascended before it is evolved, not after, or you will be feeding duplicates into a unit whose level you have already paid for once.

Watch it in action

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Mechanic explainer