Multiple-level abilities

I'm trying to create a 3 level critical strike on a footman, for example, that has its chance go up 20% each level. Now, I know I can do this with triggers, but that requires replicating the floating text, the second attack animation, etc...

Is there a way I could edit the ability through a trigger as upgrades are researched?

I think there is a "upgrade is researched" or something trigger, that is what this idéa is based on:

Make three different unit abilities and call them the same thing just make an editor's suffix to something like lvl 1 and lvl 2 and lvl 3.


Then use Unit - Remove ability and Unit - Add ability.

Prob with that is that new footmen built would have the old ability. Maybe make a trigger so that when a footman is built it would check upgrade level and give footman the ability.
Also, easier way then replacing the footmen is to use the Unit - Add ability and Unit - Remove ability events

That will work perfectly for what I need, thanks :)