The resource that unlocks a card's Evolution. Six Evolution Shards for a specific card unlock that card's evolved form.
Card-specific: shards are tied to one card. Drop odds vary by source and change with updates.
Six, tied to that specific card. There's no partial benefit at one to five shards — the evolution switches on only when the sixth lands, so a targeted source (Season Shop, a specific shop offer) beats random drops if you're close.
Wild Shards if your target evolution changes with the meta, card-specific shards if you're committed. Wild Shards convert into shards for any card, which makes them strictly more flexible when both are on offer at similar prices.