Especially from newer players, there is often a lot of confusion around the mechanics of upgrading, evolving, and enhancing heroes, and specifically how this process works above level 310.
This guide explains everything in detail.
Reference Chart
Combat Manuals (Books)
Evolving a hero requires Combat Manuals (books), and higher evolutions require higher levels of combat manuals.
| Combat Manual | Evolution Level(s) | First Obtainable |
|---|---|---|
| I (Brown) | 10 to 310 | Campaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 1 |
| II (Green) | 30 to 310 | Campaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 5 |
| III (Blue) | 70 to 310 | Campaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 10 |
| IV (Purple) | 130 to 310 | Campaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 16 |
| V (Orange) | 210 to 310 | Campaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 20 |
| VI (Yellow, “Star”) | (Promotion) | Campaign Difficulty 2 Chapter 1 |
| VII (Red, “Double Star”) | 350 | Campaign Difficulty 3 Chapter 1 |
The Campaign (puzzle levels) consist of 24 chapters.
- When you begin the game, you start on Campaign difficulty level 1 (Normal).
- Once you beat Chapter 24, the Campaign starts over with difficulty 2 (Hard).
- Once you beat Chapter 24 on Hard difficulty, this unlocks difficulty 3 (Master).
Upgrade (Level)
Level determines a hero’s power and stats (ATK, DEF, HP) which come in to play:
- during puzzle campaigns
- when attacking zombies and lairs
- when attacking or being attacked by other players
Upgrading a hero uses antiserum (green slime) obtained from virology labs, as well as from hunting zombies and lairs.
Evolve (Level)
Heroes can only be upgraded to specific levels. Evolving a hero upgrades it to the first level of the next range.
The star level of a hero determines the number of times it can be evolved, and thus the highest upgrade level.
| Star Level | Evolutions | Max Level |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Star | 2 | 70 |
| 3 Star | 3 | 130 |
| 4 Star | 4 | 210 |
| 5 Star, 6 Star | 7 | 310, 350, 400 |
Higher evolutions require higher-level Combat Manuals in increasing quantities:
| Evolution | I (Brown) | II (Green) | III (Blue) | IV (Purple) | V (Orange) | VII (Red) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 30 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 30 | 30 | 60 | – | – | – | – |
| 70 | 30 | 60 | 95 | – | – | – |
| 130 | 30 | 60 | 95 | 120 | – | – |
| 210 | 30 | 60 | 95 | 120 | 200 | – |
| 310 | 60 | 120 | 190 | 240 | 400 | – |
| 350 | – | – | – | – | – | 3000 |
The highest level for 5 Star, 6 Star, and 7 Star heroes is 400, after evolving from level 350 to 351.
Troop Skills
Heroes have 3 or 4 troop skills that can be unlocked at specific levels. This first is always unlocked at level 1 (when you unlock the hero).
| Star Level | Second Troop Skill | Third Troop Skill | Fourth Troop Skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Star | 11 | 31 | – |
| 3 Star | 31 | 71 | – |
| 4 Star, 5 star | 31 | 131 | – |
| 6 Star | 31 | 131 | 211 |
Only native 6 Star heroes have a 4th troop skill, and include heroes such as Gerald, Sembello, Ginny, Hanna, Kajisha, Amelia, and Celine. 5 Star heroes promoted to 6 Star do not have a fourth troop skill.
Promotion
When a 5 Star or 6 Star (red star) hero reaches level 310 with enhancement level +5, they can be promoted:
- 5 Star heroes can be promoted to 6 Star (Red Star)
- 6 Star heroes can be promoted to 7 Star (Double Red Star)
Promotion requires Yellow (Combat Manual VI) “star” books, obtainable via Campaign difficulty 2 (Hard).
Promotion unlocks an extra hero skill, and significantly improves all stats (ATK, DEF, HP), tactical and troop skills.
Enhance (+ Level)
To unlock a hero, you must obtain 10 of their “fragments”. Once a hero has been unlocked, obtaining more fragments allows you to Enhance them (increase the plus level),
Enhancement significantly improves stats (ATK, DEF, HP), tactical skill, and troop skills.
| Enhancement Level | Fragments | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock (+0) | 10 | 10 |
| +1 | 10 | 20 |
| +2 | 20 | 40 |
| +3 | 35 | 75 |
| +4 | 50 | 125 |
| +5 | 75 | 200 |
| +6 (5* / 6* only) |
150 | 350 |
| +7 (5* / 6* only) |
200 | 550 |
| +8 (5* / 6* only) |
500 | 1050 |
Heroes up to 4 Stars can be enhanced to +5. Heroes that are natively 5 Star or 6 Star (before promotion) can be enhanced to +8.
Once a hero has been unlocked, they can be enhanced using the corresponding “perfect” fragments.
- 3 Star – 3 Star perfect fragments (blue puzzle piece)
- 4 Star – 4 Star perfect fragments (purple puzzle piece)
- 5 Star – 5 Star perfect fragments (yellow puzzle pieces)
- 6 Star – 5 Star perfect fragments, but traded at or above a ratio of 4 to 1
Also, Enhancement to +5 is required for promotion.
Nanoweapons
Heroes at level 211 and up can equip a nanoweapon.
Only 5 Star and 6 Star heroes can be promoted above 210, and thus, only these heroes can equip nano.
Each 5 Star and 6 Star hero has a signature weapon. Although any hero can equip any nano, a hero gets a special boost if they equip their signature nano. In addition to signature weapons, there are “radars”, which are generic.
Nanoweapons have 5 levels:
- Common (Green) – most common, least powerful
- Uncommon (Blue)
- Rare (Purple)
- Epic (Gold)
- Apex (Red) – least common, most powerful
Equipping a higher-level weapon has a greater effect – for example, equipping an Epic radar is superior to a common, uncommon, or rare signature weapon.