Vampire Survivors Evolution Chart — Every Weapon Evolution and Union in 2026

By the Choost Games team, indie game developers behind Granny's Rampage and Granny's Gambit. We play what we recommend.

Every weapon in Vampire Survivors can evolve into a stronger form when paired with the right passive item and leveled to max. Below is the complete evolution chart covering the base game and all DLC released through 2026, including Legacy of the Moonspell, Tides of the Foscari, Emergency Meeting, and Ode to Castlevania.

How Do Evolutions Work in Vampire Survivors?

To evolve a weapon in Vampire Survivors, max out the base weapon (usually level 8), equip the required passive item at any level, then open a chest dropped by a boss after the 10-minute mark. The game automatically checks which weapons qualify and upgrades them. Unions work differently, merging two max-level weapons instead of pairing a weapon with a passive.

Evolving a weapon requires three things: the base weapon at max level (usually level 8), the correct passive item at any level, and opening a chest dropped by a boss after the 10-minute mark. Once those conditions are met, the chest transforms your weapon into its evolved form automatically. You don't choose, the game checks what's eligible and upgrades accordingly.

Union combos work differently. Instead of a weapon plus a passive, unions merge two weapons together. You need both weapons at max level, then the same chest mechanic applies.

What Are All the Base Game Weapon Evolutions in Vampire Survivors?

The base game includes 21 weapon evolutions and unions. Key pairings include Whip plus Hollow Heart for Bloody Tear, Fire Wand plus Spinach for Hellfire, and the Peachone/Ebony Wings union into Vandalier. Each evolution requires a boss chest after minute 10 to trigger the upgrade.

What Are the Legacy of the Moonspell Evolutions?

Legacy of the Moonspell adds seven evolutions and unions. Notable pairings include Silver Wind plus Pummarola for Festive Winds, and Four Seasons requiring both Spinach and Candelabrador for Godai Shuffle. The DLC also introduces chained unions like Night Sword combining with Festive Winds to form Muramasa.

What Are the Tides of the Foscari Evolutions?

Tides of the Foscari adds seven evolutions, including the unique SpellString line that evolves purely through leveling into SpellStream, then SpellStrike, then unions into SpellStorm. Other standouts are Eskizzibur plus Wings for Legionnaire and Flash Arrow plus Bracer for Millionaire.

What Are the Ode to Castlevania Evolutions?

The Ode to Castlevania DLC adds its own evolution roster, with many weapons following the standard passive-item pairing. Some evolutions, like Vampire Killer+, are tied to specific Belmont characters rather than passive items. The DLC also introduces Grand Cross and Hydro Storm as evolved forms of Castlevania-themed base weapons.

The Castlevania DLC added a massive roster of weapons with their own evolution paths. Many follow the same passive-item pairing logic, while some require unique unlock conditions tied to Castlevania characters.

Note: The Castlevania DLC has additional evolutions tied to specific character unlocks. Check individual character pages for their unique evolution paths.

What Are the Best Evolution Tips in Vampire Survivors?

The most impactful evolution tips: grab Spinach and Empty Tome early to unlock Hellfire and Holy Wand before minute 15, only take passives that match your equipped weapons, and remember that boss chests evolve weapons in pickup order. Arcana cards can also change evolution requirements, so check those before locking your build.

Prioritize Spinach and Empty Tome early. These two passives pair with Fire Wand and Magic Wand, two of the strongest evolved weapons in the base game. Getting Hellfire and Holy Wand online before the 15-minute mark gives you enough damage to coast through mid-game.

Don't take passives you can't use. Every passive slot matters. If you're running Whip, Knife, and King Bible, your passive slots should be Hollow Heart, Bracer, and Spellbinder, not Crown or Skull O'Maniac unless you plan to swap weapons later.

Boss chest timing matters. Bosses drop chests on a predictable schedule. After minute 10, every boss has a chance to drop the chest that triggers evolution. If you have multiple weapons ready to evolve, the chest will evolve them one at a time in the order you picked them up.

Arcanas change the math. Some Arcana cards modify evolution requirements or grant bonus effects to evolved weapons. Check your Arcana selection before locking in your build.

What We're Building at Choost Games

We're a small indie studio that loves the bullet heaven genre, it's why we're building Granny's Rampage, a bullet heaven where a grandmother fights through waves of enemies with increasingly absurd weapons. If you've exhausted Vampire Survivors and want to see what a solo dev take on the genre looks like, check it out.

For more in this genre, see our guides to the best bullet heaven games, games like Vampire Survivors, and games like Brotato.