Is Shrinking Violet Worth It? A Deep Dive into the Petite Powerhouse
The burning question on every Plants vs. Zombies 2 strategist’s mind: Is Shrinking Violet worth the gems? The answer, like many things in this game, is nuanced. Shrinking Violet isn’t a powerhouse attacker, nor is it a vital defensive staple in every strategy. However, it possesses niche strengths that, when leveraged correctly, can turn the tide of battle. Therefore, Shrinking Violet is worth it for players seeking a unique strategic advantage, particularly against specific zombie types, and who understand how to maximize its damage-amplifying effect. But, it may not be essential for casual players or those on a tight budget who already have core plant options covered.
Understanding Shrinking Violet’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Shrinking Violet’s primary function is to shrink zombies in a 3×3 area around it. This shrinking effect has two key consequences:
- Increased Damage Taken: Shrunken zombies become significantly more vulnerable, taking double the damage from all sources. This is Shrinking Violet’s main selling point.
- Reduced Bite Damage: The eating damage of shrunken zombies is halved, providing a minor defensive benefit.
However, Shrinking Violet also has limitations:
- Area of Effect: The 3×3 area is relatively small, requiring careful placement.
- No Direct Damage: Shrinking Violet does not directly damage zombies. It relies entirely on other plants to capitalize on the amplified damage.
- Vulnerability: Like most plants, Shrinking Violet is susceptible to zombie attacks and requires protection.
Niche Uses and Strategic Applications
Despite its limitations, Shrinking Violet shines in specific situations:
- Gargantuar Imp Removal: Shrinking Violet instantly eliminates Imps riding on Gargantuars, a huge advantage in levels with numerous Gargantuars. It also works on regular Imps.
- Weakening Tough Zombies: Combining Shrinking Violet with high-damage plants like Laser Bean, Winter Melon, or Spikerock can quickly take down tough zombies like Bucketheads, Coneheads, and even Gargantuars.
- Disabling Zombie Abilities: Shrinking Violet can temporarily disable certain zombie abilities.
- Final Wave Advantage: Using Shrinking Violet’s Plant Food effect on the final wave can shrink all remaining zombies, even those off-screen, making cleanup easier.
Comparing Shrinking Violet to Imp Pear
A common comparison is between Shrinking Violet and Imp Pear. Both plants offer unique zombie manipulation, but their strengths differ.
Imp Pear excels at crowd control and instant kills. Its Plant Food effect can instantly kill specific zombies like Imp Cannons, Fisherman Zombies, and Zombie Kings, which Shrinking Violet cannot affect. However, Imp Pear’s transformation into Imps can sometimes create new problems, especially if the resulting Imps aren’t dealt with quickly.
Shrinking Violet, on the other hand, focuses on amplifying damage. It doesn’t offer instant kills but makes all zombies in its area more vulnerable.
The better choice depends on the level and your overall strategy. If you need to deal with specific problem zombies quickly, Imp Pear might be preferable. If you want to enhance the damage output of your existing plants, Shrinking Violet is the better option.
Synergies and Team Compositions
Shrinking Violet works best when paired with plants that deal high damage or have area-of-effect attacks. Some effective synergies include:
- Laser Bean: The already powerful Laser Bean becomes a zombie-vaporizing machine when targeting shrunken enemies.
- Winter Melon: Winter Melon’s slowing effect combined with the increased damage makes it extremely effective against large groups of shrunken zombies.
- Spikerock: Spikerock’s high damage output is amplified, allowing it to quickly eliminate tougher zombies that walk over it.
- Snapdragon: Snapdragon’s area-of-effect fire damage benefits greatly from the damage multiplier.
Is Shrinking Violet Worth the Gems? The Verdict
If you’re looking for a straightforward, all-purpose plant, Shrinking Violet might not be the best choice. However, if you appreciate strategic depth and want a plant that can dramatically enhance your damage output in specific situations, Shrinking Violet is definitely worth considering. Its ability to amplify damage, remove Imps from Gargantuars, and potentially disable certain zombie abilities makes it a valuable addition to any Plants vs. Zombies 2 arsenal, especially for players tackling challenging levels or Endless Zones. Also, consider that Plants vs. Zombies can be enhanced with educational content, for example exploring game-based learning, visit Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does Shrinking Violet actually do to zombies?
Shrinking Violet reduces the size of zombies in a 3×3 area, doubling the damage they receive and halving the damage they inflict when biting. It also removes Imps from Gargantuars and can disrupt certain zombie abilities.
2. How much does Shrinking Violet cost?
Shrinking Violet typically costs 75 gems in the Plants vs. Zombies 2 store.
3. Is Shrinking Violet a premium plant?
Yes, Shrinking Violet is a premium plant, meaning it must be purchased with gems or obtained through special events.
4. Does Shrinking Violet work on all zombies?
Shrinking Violet works on most standard zombies. However, some zombies, like mechanical zombies (e.g., Zombot Dinotronic Mechasaur), may be resistant or immune to its effects.
5. How effective is Shrinking Violet against Gargantuars?
While Shrinking Violet doesn’t directly damage Gargantuars, it instantly removes the Imps riding on them, which is a significant advantage. Also, the increased damage taken makes it easier to defeat the Gargantuar itself.
6. Can Shrinking Violet disable the abilities of all zombies?
No, Shrinking Violet only disables the abilities of some zombies. For example, it can disable the freezing effect of Troglobites.
7. Is Shrinking Violet effective in the Endless Zones?
Yes, Shrinking Violet can be very effective in Endless Zones, particularly when paired with high-damage plants. Its ability to amplify damage is crucial for dealing with the increasingly tough zombies found in these modes.
8. How do I best protect Shrinking Violet?
Because Shrinking Violet doesn’t directly attack, place defensive plants like Wall-nut or Tall-nut in front of it to protect it from zombie attacks. Using plant food on a defensive plant when zombies get too close can help as well.
9. Can Shrinking Violet be used on the roof levels?
Yes, Shrinking Violet can be used on roof levels, but you’ll need to ensure it’s placed strategically to maximize its effect within its limited 3×3 area.
10. Does the Plant Food effect of Shrinking Violet stack?
No, the effects of multiple Shrinking Violets don’t stack. Applying Plant Food to another Shrinking Violet while the effect is already active won’t further increase the damage amplification.
11. Is Shrinking Violet a good early-game plant?
Shrinking Violet can be useful in the early game, particularly for dealing with Imps and amplifying the damage of your other plants. However, there might be more versatile plants for players in the early stages of the game.
12. Are there any zombies that are immune to Shrinking Violet?
While no zombies are entirely immune, some, such as heavily armored or mechanical zombies, are less affected by the damage amplification.
13. What happens if a zombie eats a Shrinking Violet?
If a zombie eats a Shrinking Violet, it will be destroyed. However, the shrinking effect will still be applied to the zombie before it’s eaten.
14. Does Shrinking Violet affect zombie bosses?
While Shrinking Violet can shrink zombie bosses, the increased damage taken might be less noticeable due to their high health. The Imp removal aspect remains useful against bosses that spawn Imps.
15. What are some alternatives to Shrinking Violet?
Alternatives to Shrinking Violet include Imp Pear (for instant zombie transformations), Primal Potato Mine (for early game defense and damage), and Chili Bean (for stunning groups of zombies). The best alternative depends on your specific needs and playstyle.