{"id":486,"date":"2024-01-27T01:25:20","date_gmt":"2024-01-27T07:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/?p=486"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:53:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T18:53:01","slug":"guide-hero-upgrade-vs-evolve-vs-enhance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/guide-hero-upgrade-vs-evolve-vs-enhance\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide and Reference – Hero Upgrade vs. Evolve vs. Enhance vs. Promote"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

This guide explains everything in detail.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reference Chart<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Combat Manuals (Books)<\/h2>\n

Evolving a hero requires Combat Manuals (books), and higher evolutions require higher levels of combat manuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Combat Manual<\/th>\nEvolution Level(s)<\/th>\nFirst Obtainable<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
I (Brown)<\/td>\n10, 30, 70, 130, 210, 310<\/td>\nCampaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
II (Green)<\/td>\n30, 70, 130, 210, 310<\/td>\nCampaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
III (Blue)<\/td>\n70, 130, 210, 310<\/td>\nCampaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IV (Purple)<\/td>\n130, 210, 310<\/td>\nCampaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
V (Orange)<\/td>\n210, 310<\/td>\nCampaign Difficulty 1 Chapter 20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VI (Yellow, “Star”)<\/td>\n(Promotion)<\/td>\nCampaign Difficulty 2 Chapter 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VII (Red, “Double Star”)<\/td>\n350<\/td>\nCampaign Difficulty 3 Chapter 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Campaign (puzzle levels) consist of 24 chapters.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • When you begin the game, you start on Campaign difficulty level 1 (Normal).<\/li>\n
  • Once you beat Chapter 24, the Campaign starts over with difficulty 2 (Hard).<\/li>\n
  • Once you beat Chapter 24 on Hard difficulty, this unlocks difficulty 3 (Master).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Upgrade (Level)<\/h2>\n

    Level determines a hero’s power and stats (ATK, DEF, HP) which come in to play:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • during puzzle campaigns<\/li>\n
    • when attacking zombies and lairs<\/li>\n
    • when attacking or being attacked by other players<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Upgrading a hero uses antiserum (green slime) obtained from virology labs, as well as from hunting zombies and lairs.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Evolve (Level)<\/h2>\n

      Heroes can only be upgraded to specific levels.\u00a0 Evolving a hero upgrades it to the first level of the next range.<\/p>\n

      The star level of a hero determines the number of times it can be evolved, and thus the highest upgrade level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Star Level<\/th>\nEvolutions<\/th>\nMax Level<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
      2 Star<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      3 Star<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n130<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      4 Star<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n210<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      5 Star, 6 Star<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n310, 350, 400<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Higher evolutions require higher-level Combat Manuals in increasing quantities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Evolution<\/th>\nI (Brown)<\/th>\nII (Green)<\/th>\nIII (Blue)<\/th>\nIV (Purple)<\/th>\nV (Orange)<\/th>\nVII (Red)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
      10<\/strong><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      30\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      70<\/strong><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n95<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      130<\/strong><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n95<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      210<\/strong><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n95<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n200<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      310<\/strong><\/td>\n60<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n190<\/td>\n240<\/td>\n400<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      350<\/strong><\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n3000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      The highest level for 5 Star, 6 Star, and 7 Star heroes is 400, after evolving from level 350 to 351.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Troop Skills<\/h2>\n

      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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Star Level<\/th>\nSecond Troop Skill<\/th>\nThird Troop Skill<\/th>\nFourth Troop Skill<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
      2 Star<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      3 Star<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n71<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      4 Star, 5 star<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n131<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      6 Star<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n131<\/td>\n211<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Only native 6 Star heroes have a 4th troop skill, and include heroes such as Gerald, Sembello, Ginny, Hanna, Kajisha, Amelia, and Celine.\u00a0 5 Star heroes promoted to 6 Star do not have a fourth troop skill.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Promotion<\/h2>\n

      When a 5 Star or 6 Star (red star) hero reaches level 310 with enhancement level +5, they can be promoted:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • 5 Star heroes can be promoted to 6 Star (Red Star)<\/li>\n
      • 6 Star heroes can be promoted to 7 Star (Double Red Star)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Promotion requires Yellow (Combat Manual VI) “star” books, obtainable via Campaign difficulty 2 (Hard).<\/p>\n

        Promotion unlocks an extra hero skill, and significantly improves all stats (ATK, DEF, HP), tactical and troop skills.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Enhance (+ Level)<\/h2>\n

        To unlock a hero, you must obtain 10 of their “fragments”.\u00a0 Once a hero has been unlocked, obtaining more fragments allows you to Enhance them (increase the plus level),<\/p>\n

        Enhancement significantly improves stats (ATK, DEF, HP), tactical skill, and troop skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Enhancement Level<\/th>\nFragments<\/th>\nTotal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
        Unlock (+0)<\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/td>\n10<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +1<\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/td>\n20<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +2<\/strong><\/td>\n20<\/td>\n40<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +3<\/strong><\/td>\n35<\/td>\n75<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +4<\/strong><\/td>\n50<\/td>\n125<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +5<\/strong><\/td>\n75<\/td>\n200<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +6
        \n(5* \/ 6* only)<\/strong><\/td>\n        		150<\/td>\n350<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +7
        \n(5* \/ 6* only)<\/strong><\/td>\n        		200<\/td>\n550<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        +8
        \n(5* \/ 6* only)<\/strong><\/td>\n        		500<\/td>\n1050<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        Heroes up to 4 Stars can be enhanced to +5.\u00a0 Heroes that are natively 5 Star or 6 Star (before promotion) can be enhanced to +8.<\/p>\n

        Once a hero has been unlocked, they can be enhanced using the corresponding “perfect” fragments.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • 3 Star – 3 Star perfect fragments (blue puzzle piece)<\/li>\n
        • 4 Star – 4 Star perfect fragments (purple puzzle piece)<\/li>\n
        • 5 Star – 5 Star perfect fragments (yellow puzzle pieces)<\/li>\n
        • 6 Star – 5 Star perfect fragments, but traded at or above a ratio of 4 to 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Also, Enhancement to +5 is required for promotion.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          Nanoweapons<\/h2>\n

          Heroes at level 211 and up can equip a nanoweapon.<\/p>\n

          Only 5 Star and 6 Star heroes can be promoted above 210, and thus, only these heroes can equip nano.<\/p>\n

          Each 5 Star and 6 Star hero has a signature weapon.\u00a0 Although any hero can equip any nano, a hero gets a special boost if they equip their signature nano.\u00a0\u00a0In addition to signature weapons, there are “radars”, which are generic.<\/p>\n

          Nanoweapons have 5 levels:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Common (Green) – most common, least powerful<\/li>\n
          • Uncommon (Blue)<\/li>\n
          • Rare (Purple)<\/li>\n
          • Epic (Gold)<\/li>\n
          • Apex (Red) – least common, most powerful<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            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.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guides","category-reference"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=486"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1389,"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/486\/revisions\/1389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zombiebbq.biz\/Zombie-BBQ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}