Survivor.io throws you into relentless waves of monsters, and to survive, mastering skills is paramount. As you level up during battles, you’re presented with a crucial choice: selecting the right skills to enhance your arsenal. While Survivor.io boasts 13 weapon skills, the real game-changer lies in Evolution Skills. These powerful upgrades are unlocked by combining weapon skills with support skills, creating devastating synergies that can turn the tide of any encounter.
Sound complex? It’s surprisingly straightforward once you understand the mechanics. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Evolution Skills in Survivor.io, from how they work to which ones you should prioritize to build the ultimate survivor. Get ready to elevate your gameplay and become unstoppable!
Understanding Survivor.io Evolution Skills
Evolution Skills are essentially upgraded versions of your base weapon skills. They offer enhanced damage, wider area of effect, or additional functionalities, significantly boosting your combat effectiveness. Think of them as the key to unlocking the true potential of your chosen weapons.
How Evolution Skills Work:
- Level Up Your Weapon Skill: First, you need to level up your desired weapon skill to its maximum 5-star level by repeatedly selecting it when leveling up during a run.
- Acquire the Corresponding Support Skill: Each weapon skill has a specific support skill that, when combined, unlocks its evolution. You need to obtain at least one level of this designated support skill.
- Evolution Trigger: Once both the weapon skill is at 5-star and you possess the required support skill (even at level 1), the Evolution Skill will become available as an option when you next level up.
- Select the Evolution Skill: Choose the Evolution Skill option when it appears during your level-up choices. Your base weapon skill will then transform into its evolved form, granting you its enhanced abilities.
Why Evolution Skills are Crucial:
- Increased Power: Evolution Skills provide a significant power spike, allowing you to clear stages faster and tackle tougher enemies.
- Enhanced Abilities: They often introduce new mechanics or improve existing ones, making your skills more versatile and effective.
- Late-Game Viability: In the later stages of Survivor.io, Evolution Skills are almost essential to keep up with the increasing enemy density and strength.
- Strategic Depth: Understanding and utilizing Evolution Skills adds a layer of strategic depth to your skill selection, encouraging you to plan your builds in advance.
Survivor.io Evolution Skill Tier List: General & Special Skills
To help you navigate the vast skill pool, we’ve compiled a comprehensive tier list of the best Evolution Skills in Survivor.io. We’ve categorized them into General EVO Skills (available to all survivors) and Special EVO Skills (unique to specific characters). This tier list will guide you in prioritizing the most impactful skills for your runs.
Tier List Ranking:
- S+ Tier: God Tier – The absolute best skills, game-changing and incredibly powerful in almost any situation. Must-picks whenever available.
- S Tier: Top Tier – Excellent skills, highly effective and contribute significantly to your survivability and damage output. Prioritize these.
- A+ Tier: Great Tier – Strong and reliable skills, very useful in most builds. Solid choices for well-rounded performance.
- A Tier: Good Tier – Decent skills, effective in specific situations or with certain builds. Worth considering depending on your strategy.
- B+ Tier: Average Tier – Moderately useful skills, can be helpful but not game-breaking. Pick if better options aren’t available or for specific synergies.
- B Tier: Below Average Tier – Skills with limited impact or situational usefulness. Lower priority compared to higher-tier skills.
- C+ Tier: Low Tier – Weak or niche skills, generally not recommended unless experimenting or for very specific builds.
- C Tier: Worst Tier – The least effective skills, avoid picking these if possible.
General EVO Skills Tier List
These Evolution Skills are accessible regardless of the survivor you choose, making them fundamental to any build.
S+ Tier
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Thunderbolt Power Cell (Evolved Lightning Emitter):
Image alt text: Thunderbolt Power Cell Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Evolved form of Lightning Emitter.
- Base Skill: Lightning Emitter
- Support Skill: Energy Cube
- Description: Evolves Lightning Emitter into Thunderbolt Power Cell, unleashing a barrage of lightning strikes that deal massive area damage and also effectively target single bosses. With its Tech Part, which adds +2 bolts, it becomes the undisputed king of damage, carrying you through early and late game. Its consistent area damage and single-target capability make it incredibly versatile.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: A+
- EVO: S
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: S+
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: S+
S Tier
-
Weapon Evolution (Primary Weapon Evolution):
- Base Skill: Your chosen Primary Weapon (Katana, Lightchaser, etc.)
- Support Skill: Varies depending on the weapon (e.g., Ronin Oyori for Katana/Lightchaser)
- Description: Evolving your primary weapon is always a top priority. Each weapon’s evolution offers unique and powerful enhancements. These evolutions are crucial for maximizing your primary damage source and often provide unique abilities that complement your playstyle. Refer to specific weapon guides for detailed information on each weapon evolution.
- Tier Ranking: S (Varies slightly by weapon, but generally top tier)
A+ Tier
-
Inferno Mine (Evolved Mine):
- Base Skill: Mine
- Support Skill: Molotov (non-evolved)
- Description: Transforms the standard Mine into Inferno Mine, a devastating area-of-effect skill. Inferno Mines explode with a massive fiery blast, dealing significant damage to both mobs and bosses. The large size and spread make it excellent for crowd control and area denial.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C+
- EVO: A+
-
Quantum Ball (Evolved Football):
Image alt text: Quantum Ball Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Evolved form of Football.
- Base Skill: Football
- Support Skill: Sneaker
- Description: Evolves Football into Quantum Ball, which bounces around the map, hitting enemies multiple times. Quantum Ball offers reliable damage output and consistent area coverage. With Tech Parts that boost damage and duration, it becomes even more potent.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C+
- EVO: B+
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: A
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: A+
- EVO w. Eternal Tech Part: S
-
Caltrops (Evolved Durian):
- Base Skill: Durian
- Support Skill: HE Fuel
- Description: Upgrades Durian to Caltrops, increasing its size, projectile count, and damage. Caltrops are particularly effective against bosses due to their concentrated damage output. The Epic Tech Part, which reduces spread, makes it even more effective in the early game by providing better area protection.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: B+
- EVO: A
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: A+
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: A+
- EVO w. Eternal Tech Part: A+
A Tier
-
Destroyer Drone (Evolved Drone Type A & B):
- Base Skill: Drone Type A & Drone Type B (both at 5-star)
- Support Skill: None (Combines two weapon skills)
- Description: Merges Drone Type A and Drone Type B into the Destroyer Drone, freeing up a skill slot. With Tech Parts, especially the Epic Tech Part that adds homing, Destroyer Drone becomes much more effective at targeting enemies and provides consistent damage. It’s also effective against bosses when in range.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C
- EVO: C+
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: B+
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: A
-
Whistling Arrow (Evolved Drill Shot):
Image alt text: Whistling Arrow Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Evolved form of Drill Shot.
- Base Skill: Drill Shot
- Support Skill: Ammo Thruster
- Description: Evolves Drill Shot into Whistling Arrow, which pierces through enemies and homes in on targets after evolution. Whistling Arrows are excellent for mob control and dealing with groups of enemies. The Tech Parts significantly enhance its speed and projectile count, making it a reliable damage source.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C+
- EVO: B
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: B+
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: A
- EVO w. Eternal Tech Part: A
-
Defender (Evolved Guardian):
Image alt text: Defender Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Evolved form of Guardian.
- Base Skill: Guardian
- Support Skill: Exo-Bracer
- Description: Upgrades Guardian to Defender, creating a spinning shield that blocks projectiles and damages enemies. Defender is excellent for crowd control and provides defensive capabilities, especially against bullet-heavy stages. The Epic Tech Part adds knockback, further enhancing its crowd control ability.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: D+
- EVO: B
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: B+
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: A
- EVO w. Eternal Tech Part: A
-
Fuel Barrel (Evolved Molotov):
- Base Skill: Molotov
- Support Skill: Oil Bonds
- Description: Evolves Molotov into Fuel Barrel, creating a large and persistent fire area that burns enemies within. Fuel Barrel is great for area denial and sustained damage against mobs. While the Tech Parts offer minor improvements, the base skill is already effective for area control.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C
- EVO: B
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: B+
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: A
- EVO w. Eternal Tech Part: A
B+ Tier
-
Thunderbolt Mine (Evolved Mine):
Image alt text: Thunderbolt Mine Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Evolved form of Mine.
- Base Skill: Mine
- Support Skill: Lightning Emitter (non-evolved)
- Description: Transforms Mine into Thunderbolt Mine, which releases lightning bolts upon detonation, adding area-of-effect damage. While less powerful than Inferno Mine, Thunderbolt Mine still provides decent area damage and crowd control.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C+
- EVO: B+
-
Dumbbell (Evolved Brick):
- Base Skill: Brick
- Support Skill: Fitness Guide
- Description: Evolves Brick into Dumbbell, which deals massive damage, especially against bosses. While the EVO version changes its mechanics to fire in multiple directions, it remains a solid choice for single-target damage. The Epic Tech Part adds penetration, further increasing its damage potential.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: B
- EVO: B
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: B+
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: B+
-
Sharkmaw Gun (Evolved RPG):
Image alt text: Sharkmaw Gun Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Evolved form of RPG.
- Base Skill: RPG
- Support Skill: HE Fuel
- Description: Upgrades RPG to Sharkmaw Gun, which prioritizes bosses and deals increased damage to them. After recent updates, Sharkmaw Gun has become more viable, especially in boss-focused stages. The Tech Parts, reducing cooldown and adding double shots, significantly improve its effectiveness.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: D+
- EVO: C+
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: B
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: B+
-
Pressure Forcefield (Evolved Forcefield):
- Base Skill: Forcefield
- Support Skill: Energy Drink
- Description: Evolves Forcefield into Pressure Forcefield, providing a protective shield that damages and slows down enemies. Pressure Forcefield is very convenient for early stages and mob control. While its damage scaling is limited, it offers excellent survivability. The Epic Tech Part enhances its damage by reducing its size.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C
- EVO: C+
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: B
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: B
C Tier
-
Death Ray (Evolved Laser Launcher):
Image alt text: Death Ray Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Evolved form of Laser Launcher.
- Base Skill: Laser Launcher
- Support Skill: Energy Cube
- Description: Upgrades Laser Launcher to Death Ray, which projects a laser beam and creates a circular area around you that damages enemies moving inwards. Death Ray is best suited for vertical maps and close-quarters combat. While the Tech Parts add slowing and snaring effects, it remains less effective compared to higher-tier area damage skills.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: D+
- EVO: C
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: C
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: C
-
Magnetic Dart (Evolved Boomerang):
- Base Skill: Boomerang
- Support Skill: Hi-Power Magnet
- Description: Evolves Boomerang into Magnetic Dart, which becomes an area damage skill after evolution. However, its erratic movement and inability to consistently hit nearby enemies make it unreliable for zombie waves. The Epic Tech Part reduces cooldown upon catching the boomerang, but overall, it’s less effective than other area damage options.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: B
- EVO: C
- EVO w. Epic Tech Part: C
- EVO w. Legend Tech Part: C
Special EVO Skills Tier List
These Evolution Skills are exclusive to specific Survivor characters and often synergize strongly with their unique abilities.
S+ Tier
-
Survivor Instinct (King Exclusive):
Image alt text: Survivor Instinct Special Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – King’s Exclusive Skill.
- Base Skill: King’s inherent ability
- Support Skill: None (Character-specific)
- Description: Exclusive to King, Survivor Instinct is arguably the best skill in the game. It significantly increases crit rate and crit damage, scaling incredibly well with all other damage sources. It’s a must-pick when playing as King, as it amplifies his damage output to insane levels.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: S
- EVO: S+
-
Sunfire Palm (Master Yang Exclusive):
- Base Skill: Master Yang’s inherent ability
- Support Skill: None (Character-specific)
- Description: Exclusive to Master Yang, Sunfire Palm is a powerful damage skill that synergizes perfectly with his kit. Especially when Master Yang is leveled up, Sunfire Palm becomes incredibly strong, benefiting from his bonuses and 6-star ability which further increases crit damage.
- Tier Ranking: S+
S Tier
-
Lunar Frost/Lunar Eternity (Tsukiyomi Exclusive):
Image alt text: Lunar Frost Special Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Tsukiyomi’s Exclusive Skill.
Image alt text: Moonhalo Slash Special Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Tsukiyomi’s Exclusive Skill.
- Base Skill: Moonhalo Slash (Tsukiyomi’s weapon skill)
- Support Skill: Ronin Oyori (same as Katana/Lightchaser EVO)
- Description: Exclusive to Tsukiyomi, Lunar Frost and Lunar Eternity are evolutions of Moonhalo Slash. Lunar Frost adds a slowing effect to Moonhalo Slash, while Lunar Eternity increases its damage. Both evolutions enhance Tsukiyomi’s signature skill, providing strong area damage and crowd control.
- Tier Ranking: S (Both Lunar Frost and Lunar Eternity)
-
Moonhalo Slash (Tsukiyomi Exclusive):
- Base Skill: Moonshade Slashes (Tsukiyomi’s initial skill)
- Support Skill: Ronin Oyori
- Description: Exclusive to Tsukiyomi, Moonhalo Slash evolves Moonshade Slashes into a 360-degree pulse around you, dealing significant damage. Moonhalo Slash provides excellent area damage and becomes a core part of Tsukiyomi’s build.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: A
- EVO: S
A Tier
-
Divine Destroyer (Catnip Exclusive):
Image alt text: Holo Projection Special Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Yelena’s Exclusive Skill.
- Base Skill: Destroyer Drone + Medi-drone (Catnip’s weapon skills)
- Support Skill: None (Combines two weapon skills)
- Description: Exclusive to Catnip, Divine Destroyer combines Destroyer Drone and Medi-drone, freeing up a skill slot. While it doesn’t offer added damage or healing beyond the combined skills, freeing a slot is valuable for build flexibility.
- Tier Ranking: A
-
Holo Projection (Yelena Exclusive):
- Base Skill: Automatic Pistols (Yelena’s weapon skill)
- Support Skill: Sport Shoes
- Description: Exclusive to Yelena, Holo Projection evolves Automatic Pistols, dealing decent damage in chapters. It enhances Yelena’s starting weapon, providing a solid damage option.
- Tier Ranking: A
B+ Tier
-
Drillmaster’s Fury (Wesson Exclusive):
- Base Skill: Grenade (Wesson’s weapon skill)
- Support Skill: Hi-Power Bullet
- Description: Exclusive to Wesson, Drillmaster’s Fury evolves Grenades, dealing nice damage. While the EVO version increases damage, it also increases cooldown, limiting its overall ranking.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: B+
- EVO: A
-
Hydro-Dynamic Spatula (Spongebob Exclusive):
Image alt text: Hydro-Dynamic Spatula Special Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Spongebob’s Exclusive Skill.
- Base Skill: Primary Weapon (Spongebob’s ability)
- Support Skill: None (Character-specific Primary Weapon Evo)
- Description: Exclusive to Spongebob, Hydro-Dynamic Spatula evolves his primary weapon, targeting the nearest enemy. It replaces your primary weapon’s abilities but retains its stats.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: B+
- EVO: A
-
Listening Bug (Worm Exclusive):
- Base Skill: Worm’s inherent ability
- Support Skill: None (Character-specific Passive)
- Description: Exclusive to Worm, Listening Bug is a passive skill that increases range and damage taken by enemies within range. It is designed around Enders Echo and enhances Worm’s utility.
- Tier Ranking: B
C+ Tier
-
Clarinet (Squidward Exclusive):
Image alt text: Clarinet Special Evolution Skill in Survivor.io – Squidward’s Exclusive Skill.
- Base Skill: Primary Weapon (Squidward’s ability)
- Support Skill: None (Character-specific Primary Weapon Evo)
- Description: Exclusive to Squidward, Clarinet evolves his primary weapon, providing area damage. Similar to Hydro-Dynamic Spatula, it replaces primary weapon abilities and is less effective against bosses.
- Tier Ranking:
- Non-EVO: C+
- EVO: B
-
Medi-drone (Catnip Exclusive):
- Base Skill: Catnip’s weapon skill
- Support Skill: None (Character-specific Weapon Skill)
- Description: Exclusive to Catnip, Medi-drone creates a healing area around you. While healing is useful, Energy Drink passive skill provides similar healing and Medi-drone occupies a weapon skill slot, making it less efficient.
- Tier Ranking: C+
Best Skill Picks and Strategies in Survivor.io
Choosing the right skills in Survivor.io is crucial for success. While the tier list provides a solid foundation, the “best” skills can also depend on your chosen character, weapon, and gear build. Here are some general strategies and considerations for skill selection:
General Skill Picking Strategy:
- Prioritize Area Damage Early: In the early game, focus on skills that provide strong area damage to clear out the hordes of mobs. Skills like Lightning Emitter, Molotov, and Football are excellent starting choices.
- Transition to Single-Target Damage: As you progress and face bosses, shift your focus to skills that excel in single-target damage. Skills like Katana/Lightchaser (and their evolutions), Brick, and RPG become more valuable.
- Balance Offense and Defense: Don’t neglect defensive skills. Guardian/Defender and Forcefield/Pressure Forcefield can significantly improve your survivability, especially in later stages.
- Consider Tech Parts: Tech Parts can dramatically enhance certain skills. Prioritize skills with powerful Tech Parts, such as Lightning Emitter, Football, and Drill Shot.
- Synergize with Your Character: If you’re playing a specific survivor, leverage their unique skills and choose evolutions that complement their abilities. King benefits immensely from Survivor Instinct, while Master Yang excels with Sunfire Palm.
- Plan Your Build: Before each run, have a general idea of the skills you want to aim for. This will help you make more strategic decisions when leveling up and choosing skills.
Character-Specific Skill Recommendations:
As the game evolves, the optimal skill picks become increasingly character-dependent. For in-depth, character-specific skill recommendations, check out these dedicated guides:
- Master Yang: Best Skill Picks for Master Yang
- King: Best Skill Picks for King
- Metallia: Best Skill Picks for Metallia
- Worm: Best Skill Picks for Worm
- Tsukiyomi: Best Skill Picks for Tsukiyomi
- Catnip: Best Skill Picks for Catnip
- Common: Best Skill Picks for Common
- Yelena: Best Skill Picks for Yelena
- Wesson: Best Skill Picks for Wesson
- Spongebob: Best Skill Picks for Spongebob
Skill Selection Limits:
Remember that you can only have a maximum of 5 weapon skills and 6 support skills active at any time. After reaching these limits, you will only be offered healing or gold bonus skills. This limitation emphasizes the importance of strategic skill selection and focusing on building a synergistic and effective skill combination.
Pro Tips for Evolution Skills
-
Prioritize Evolution: Always aim to evolve your key weapon skills. Evolution Skills provide a significant power boost and are crucial for progressing in the game.
-
Plan Your Evolutions: Pay attention to the support skills required for each evolution and try to acquire them strategically. Don’t randomly pick support skills; focus on those that unlock evolutions you want.
-
Boss Chest Strategy: Boss chests guarantee a skill upgrade. If you have a weapon skill at 5-star and the corresponding support skill, save the boss chest until you level up again to guarantee the Evolution Skill appears as an option. This ensures you get the evolution you need instead of a random support skill.
Conclusion: Mastering Evolution Skills for Victory
Evolution Skills are a cornerstone of success in Survivor.io. Understanding how they work, which ones are the most effective, and how to strategically build your skill set is vital for conquering the relentless monster hordes. By using this guide and planning your skill evolutions, you’ll be well-equipped to dominate Survivor.io and become the ultimate survivor! Experiment with different builds, find your preferred playstyle, and unleash the power of Evolution Skills to achieve victory.
