Can an Aquatic Eidolon with a 'Free' Nat Armor evolution take that evolution again at first level?

[Sanjiv]

the Aquatic gets the Nat Armor evolution for free, and I don't think this prevents it from getting the +2 Nat Armor evolution again at first level.

Is that true?

[DM Carpe]

Nothing I can find exempts free evolutions from evolution limits, and it would need to be explicitly stated. The free attack evolutions do not bypass the max attacks limit either.

[Starglim]

APG wrote:

This evolution can be taken once for every five levels the summoner possesses.

The eidolon can have Improved Natural Armor once at levels 1-9, twice at levels 10-14 and so on. This doesn't change if it gets the evolution for free.

[Christopher Woldridge]

From the FAQ

Summoner: What's the minimum level to take the improved natural armor evolution (page 60) for an eidolon?
The description of the evolution says, "This evolution can be taken once for every five levels the summoner possesses." Unfortunately, that text is unclear.
A summoner can select this evolution once for levels 1—4, again for levels 5–9, a third time at levels 10–14, a fourth time at levels 15–19, and a fifth time at level 20.
This wording will be clarified in the next update document and print run for the APG.
Update: Page 60: Change the the Improved Natural Armor evolution to read as follows: "Improved Natural Armor (Ex): An eidolon's hide grows thick fur, rigid scales, or bony plates, giving it a +2 bonus to its natural armor. This evolution can be taken once at 1st level, and again at 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th."

—Sean K Reynolds, 06/06/11

[Starglim]

Good point. It doesn't change the conclusion for 1st level though.