How to Evolve Units in Anime Vanguards
Checked 2026-10-14 · Update 15.0
Evolution is specific to a unit and form. Song Jinwu uses Shadow Traces for Monarch; The Struggler uses a Special Quest's Dragonslayer for Rampage. Trials reward Vanguard familiars, not these evolution items.
First evolution recipes
Obtain the base unit from the Special Banner when it is in the current pool, collect the named item and essences, and use the lobby evolution NPC. Do not substitute a trial clear for an evolution recipe.
| Evolution | Named item | Essences | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Song Jinwu -> Song Jinwu (Monarch) | 12 Shadow Traces | 30 Green, 10 Yellow, 12 Pink, 1 Rainbow | 15,000 |
| The Struggler -> The Struggler (Rampage) | 1 Dragonslayer | 30 Green, 20 Yellow, 20 Purple, 30 Red, 1 Rainbow | 15,000 |
How to get Dragonslayer
Obtaining The Struggler exposes his Special Quest in the Quests menu. The quest rewards Dragonslayer; it is not the Cannon Ball familiar trial.
- Evolve two Berk-category units.
- Use The Falcon's I, Sacrifice active ability to brand The Struggler.
- Use the resulting Dragonslayer with the listed essences and 15,000 Gold to evolve Rampage.
Song Jinwu's later evolutions
The standard Red Key -> Elixir of Life quest lists, in order: defeat Ant King 50 times, sacrifice 30 Mythic-or-higher units, create 5,000 summons with Song Jinwu (Monarch), then sacrifice an evolved Igros. These are standard requirements, not a confirmed current anniversary checklist.
The wiki Events page describes a Transcendent Preparations variant with 10 Ant King kills and 1,000 Arise summons, but its text still calls Transcendent upcoming and predates Update 15. Check the active quest in the current game before using the standard sacrifices or assuming the reduced variant still applies.
Update 15.0 adds True Shadow Monarch, a Transcendent evolution from Song Jinwu and Igros through the Player Quest. This is a later route, not the first Monarch recipe. The developer changelog confirms the route but does not publish a full Player Quest checklist.
Source review: 14 October 2026. The recipes below were checked against live unit pages and Evolution Quests, alongside the developer's Update 15.0 changelog. They are source-based instructions, not an in-game completion test.
FAQ
How do I evolve Sung Jin-Woo?
The wiki name is Song Jinwu. For Monarch, use 12 Shadow Traces, 30 Green, 10 Yellow, 12 Pink and 1 Rainbow Essence, plus 15,000 Gold. The later Red Key/Elixir quest is separate and can have event-adjusted requirements; True Shadow Monarch is the Update 15 Player Quest evolution from Song Jinwu and Igros.
How do I evolve The Struggler?
Complete the Special Quest: evolve two Berk units, then brand The Struggler with The Falcon's I, Sacrifice to obtain Dragonslayer. Rampage costs 1 Dragonslayer, 30 Green, 20 Yellow, 20 Purple, 30 Red and 1 Rainbow Essence, plus 15,000 Gold. The later trial awards Cannon Ball, not Dragonslayer.
Related
Sources
- Official wiki Song Jinwu — API checked 2026-10-14; Monarch recipe. Wiki contributors; adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Official wiki The Struggler — API checked 2026-10-14; Rampage recipe. Wiki contributors; adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Official wiki Evolution Quests — API checked 2026-10-14; Dragonslayer Special Quest and standard Red Key requirements with event caveat. Wiki contributors; adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Official wiki Events — API checked 2026-10-14; revision 2026-10-11 describes Transcendent Preparations at 10 Ant King kills and 1,000 Arise summons. Current activity after Update 15 is not established. Wiki contributors; adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Official wiki Trials — API checked 2026-10-14; evolved Struggler trial and Cannon Ball reward. Wiki contributors; adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Developer Update 15.0: True Shadow Monarch — 2026-10-12 release; developer text checked 2026-10-14 in changelog-live.txt. Player Quest evolution from Song Jinwu and Igros; no full quest checklist stated.