Evolution is the biggest single power jump a unit gets, and it is gated behind two things: DNA and the unit’s specific evolution item. Both are farmable, and one of them is now partly purchasable with coins.
What evolution costs
DNA
DNA is the unit-evolution currency. The confirmed win payouts are:
| Source | DNA per win |
|---|---|
| Story | 2-5 |
| Story (Nightmare) | 10-20 |
| Challenges | 15-25 |
| Raids | 25-40 |
Duplicates feed it too: rolling a unit you already own gives 1 DNA.
The evolution item
Each unit needs its own item (for example Gojo’s evolution item is crafted, not bought). You make it in the Craft menu from map materials. On October 16 the developer stopped Speedwagon’s shop selling evolution items — they are crafting-only now — so if you are following an older guide telling you to buy them, that route is gone.
Coins
Evolution also has a coin charge on top of DNA and the item.
The fastest DNA routes
Challenges on rotation
15-25 DNA for a few minutes of work, with a 30-minute lockout per win. Two or three challenge windows per session is the baseline.
Nightmare story first clears
10-20 DNA plus the best gem payout in the game. Prioritise the acts you can clear without retries.
Raids when you have a bleed unit
25-40 DNA per clear is the best rate in the game, but raids assume a competent team. Do not raid before you can actually finish one.
Buying DNA with coins
The Gold Shop deal
Speedwagon’s shop in front of the summoning area sells 10 DNA for 8,000 coins, always in stock. Once your in-run upgrades stop eating every coin you earn, this is the best coin sink available.
When it is worth it
When you are sitting on 20,000+ coins with nothing left to upgrade in a run. Before that, coins in-run are worth more as upgrades.
Merging evolved units
The October 27 change
The October 27 hotfix allowed evolved units to be merged with unevolved ones. Before that, an evolved unit was effectively a dead end for merging, which punished players who evolved early. Now you can keep merging copies into an evolved unit.
What to merge
Merge duplicates into the copy you actually field, never into a bench unit you keep “for later” — bond and stats do not transfer.
Practical order
Step one: one evo per role
One farm evolution, one control evolution, one carry evolution. Those three carry the account.
Step two: craft the item before you farm the DNA
Crafting materials come from the same runs, but the item is the long pole. Start the craft early so DNA does not sit idle.
Step three: do not evolve a unit you cannot upgrade
An evolved unit still needs in-run levels. Evolving something you cannot afford to level in-run wastes the evolution.