What Kills Jesters in Plants vs. Zombies? A Comprehensive Guide

Jester Zombies in the Plants vs. Zombies universe are notoriously tricky adversaries due to their unique ability to deflect projectiles back at your defenses. Successfully eliminating them requires an understanding of their mechanics and employing specific counter-strategies. The core answer to what kills jesters in Plants vs. Zombies is: plants that don’t shoot projectiles or instant-kill plants. This means using plants that inflict area-of-effect damage or plants that apply direct damage without firing anything. Let’s delve deeper into how to handle these mischievous foes.

Plants Effective Against Jester Zombies

Area-of-Effect Damage Dealers

The primary weakness of Jester Zombies lies in their inability to deflect attacks that don’t involve projectiles. This makes area-of-effect (AOE) plants incredibly effective. Several plants fall under this category:

• Fume-shroom: This plant releases a cloud of fumes that damages all zombies within a small radius. Since it doesn’t fire projectiles, the Jester’s deflection ability is useless against it.

• Ghost Pepper: This explosive plant inflicts significant AOE damage upon detonation, making it ideal for clearing multiple Jesters or severely damaging groups containing them.

• Lightning Reed: While it might seem like it shoots a projectile, its chain lightning effect damages multiple zombies without using traditional projectiles. The Jester cannot deflect this type of attack.

• Snapdragon: This plant breathes fire in a cone, hitting multiple zombies in front of it. The continuous fire stream renders the Jester’s deflection power irrelevant.

• Laser Bean: This plant fires a continuous laser beam down its lane, making it an excellent option against Jester Zombies as the beam cannot be deflected.

Instant Kill Plants

Another powerful method of dealing with Jester Zombies is employing instant kill plants. These plants bypass the Jester’s deflection ability entirely:

• Squash: This plant crushes a single zombie instantly. A well-placed Squash will neutralize the Jester swiftly.

• Cherry Bomb: This plant will explode, causing massive damage to all zombies within a radius. This is effective at taking out a Jester along with others nearby.

• Plant Food Effects: Applying Plant Food to certain plants can trigger an instant-kill effect or other damage effects that will bypass the Jester’s deflection ability. For instance, Plant Food on a Shadow Shroom can wipe out enemies on screen.

Why Conventional Projectile Plants Fail

Plants that rely on projectiles, such as Pea Shooters, Repeater, and Gatling Pea, are highly ineffective against Jester Zombies. The Jester’s ability reflects these projectiles back at the plants, potentially damaging or destroying your defenses. Understanding this core mechanic is vital for building successful defenses.

Tactical Tips When Facing Jesters

• Prioritize the Jester: Focus your non-projectile or instant-kill attacks on the Jester to eliminate it quickly. This prevents the devastating ricochet of projectile attacks.
• Use AOE Wisely: Position AOE plants strategically to damage multiple zombies, not just the Jester. This maximizes their effectiveness.
• Plan Ahead: Understand the timing of Jester Zombies appearing so you can have the appropriate plants placed and ready.
• Instant Kills as Emergency Measures: Use instant kill plants like Squash or Cherry Bomb as an emergency if a Jester is too close to your defensive line.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Jester Zombies Reflect All Projectiles?

Yes, Jester Zombies can reflect all standard projectiles, including peas, spikes, and even melons. This is why relying solely on projectile plants is not effective against them.

2. Are There Any Projectile Plants That Can Hurt Jesters?

No, no projectile based attacks are effective against jesters. Their power is in the ability to reflect projectiles, no matter the type.

3. Are Ice-based attacks effective against Jesters?

While ice-based attacks can slow Jester Zombies, they do not bypass their reflection ability. You’ll still need to use non-projectile plants to ultimately take them out.

4. What happens if multiple Jester Zombies are on screen?

Multiple Jester Zombies amplify the danger as they can reflect multiple projectiles, turning your own attacks against your plants. Area-of-effect attacks become even more important in these situations.

5. Do Instant Kills Work on Jester Zombies?

Yes, instant kills completely bypass the Jester’s reflection ability. Squash, Cherry Bomb, and similar plants will kill a Jester instantly.

6. Can a Jester Reflect a Plant Food Effect?

No, Jester Zombies cannot reflect plant food effects. Plant food can trigger effects such as instant kills and damage-based AOE effects that are not reflected.

7. Is the Magnet-shroom Useful Against Jester Zombies?

No, the Magnet-shroom’s ability is to pull off metal objects from zombies, and the Jester does not have any metal pieces on him. This makes the Magnet Shroom ineffective against Jester Zombies.

8. How Do I Best Handle Jester Zombies in the Early Game?

In the early game, focus on plants like Fume-shroom, which you can acquire early on, or rely on instant kill plants like the Squash. Do not over-rely on Pea Shooters or similar projectiles.

9. Are Spikeweed and Spikerock Effective Against Jester Zombies?

Spikeweed and Spikerock are effective as normal against Jester Zombies. They do not send out projectiles and will damage the Jesters that walk over them.

10. Does Leveling Up Plants Change their Effectiveness Against Jesters?

Yes, leveling up plants will increase their effectiveness against all zombies, including Jesters. Increased damage output or faster attack speeds can make a significant difference.

11. Can a Jester Zombie be Stunned or Immobilized?

Yes, stuns and immobilizing effects, such as from Stun plants or the ice from an Iceberg lettuce, can slow down the Jester Zombies. However, they still retain their reflection ability.

12. Does the Jester’s Reflection Ability Work Against Boss Zombies?

Jester Zombies do not appear in levels containing Boss Zombies. However, they do appear with some minibosses, and the jesters can still reflect projectiles.

13. Are there specific worlds in Plants vs. Zombies where Jesters are more common?

Jester Zombies appear frequently in worlds such as the Dark Ages where projectile attacks are also common. This world encourages the use of area-of-effect plants, which can be beneficial to learn and apply in other worlds.

14. Can a Jester Deflect a Laser Bean?

No, a Laser Bean is an AOE attack that does not use projectiles. This makes it an incredibly effective method against a Jester zombie.

15. What is the most reliable method for taking down jester zombies?

Using non-projectile AOE or instant kill attacks such as a Ghost Pepper explosion and a Squash are the best and most reliable ways to take down a Jester Zombie.