Table of Contents

Can Monkey Ace Hit DDTs? A Bloons TD Expert’s Guide

The short answer is: yes, a Monkey Ace can hit DDTs (Dark Dirigible Titans), but it requires specific upgrades and/or support towers. DDTs possess a nasty combination of properties: Camo, Lead, and Black. This means they are immune to attacks that can’t target Camo Bloons, Lead Bloons, or Black Bloons. A base Monkey Ace won’t cut it. To effectively combat DDTs, you’ll need to leverage the Monkey Ace’s upgrade paths strategically.

Understanding the DDT Threat

Before diving into the Monkey Ace’s capabilities, it’s crucial to understand the nature of the DDT. These fast-moving MOAB-class bloons appear later in the game and often catch players off guard. Their immunity to common damage types makes them a significant threat. They possess the speed of Pink bloons, the camo property of Camo bloons, and the immunity of Black and Lead bloons. This trifecta demands specific countermeasures. Without the proper defenses, DDTs will quickly overwhelm your defenses and lead to a game over.

Monkey Ace Upgrade Paths and DDTs

The Monkey Ace has three upgrade paths: Top, Middle, and Bottom. Let’s examine how each path can contribute to DDT defense.

Top Path: Focused on Single-Target Damage and Global Range

The Top Path of the Monkey Ace focuses on increasing the damage output of the plane.

Upgrades 1-4 (Neva-Miss Targeting to Operation: Dart Storm): These upgrades increase the number of darts and their fire rate. However, they don’t inherently address the DDT’s immunities. Without further support, these upgrades alone are ineffective against DDTs.
Upgrade 5 (Sky Shredder): This upgrade is extremely effective against DDTs, but it requires camo detection. The Sky Shredder unleashes a barrage of darts and bombs that deals immense damage. Its raw power can quickly tear through DDTs, making it a premier choice for late-game defense. It cannot pop leads by default. Pairing this with a Monkey Intelligence Bureau from a Monkey Village is the simplest way to make it effective against DDTs, otherwise, use the Ground Zero ability when the DDTs appear.

Middle Path: Bombs Away!

The Middle Path of the Monkey Ace enhances its explosive capabilities.

Upgrades 1-3 (Bomber Ace to Rapid Fire): These upgrades increase the number of bombs dropped and their attack speed. However, they don’t inherently address the DDT’s immunities.
Upgrade 4 (Ground Zero): This upgrade provides a powerful ability that can instantly destroy weaker MOAB-class bloons, including DDTs. The Ground Zero ability is a reliable panic button for dealing with unexpected DDT rushes. Two hits will destroy the D.D.T. layer but keeping the Camo Regrowth Ceramic Bloons alive.
Upgrade 5 (Flying Fortress): While incredibly expensive, the Flying Fortress unleashes a constant stream of bombs and darts, dealing massive damage. Like the Sky Shredder, it requires camo detection and lead popping to be effective against DDTs. A Monkey Intelligence Bureau is a must.

Bottom Path: Utility and Support

The Bottom Path of the Monkey Ace is more focused on utility and support.

Upgrades 1-3 (Wingmonkey to Spy Plane): The Spy Plane is crucial for DDT defense, as it provides camo detection to nearby towers, including other Monkey Aces. This is often the most cost-effective way to enable your other Monkey Aces to target DDTs.
Upgrades 4-5 (Spectre to Tsar Bomba): The Spectre is a decent damage dealer that can target camo bloons, however, unlike in BTD5, the Spectre’s bombs do not harm Black Bloons, so it cannot damage DDTs without a Monkey Intelligence Bureau or similar upgrades. The Tsar Bomba offers another powerful ability with widespread damage.

Synergies and Support Towers

The Monkey Ace excels when supported by other towers that address its weaknesses.

Monkey Village: As mentioned above, the Monkey Intelligence Bureau (MIB) upgrade on the Monkey Village is invaluable. It allows towers within its range to target all bloon types, including Lead, Black, and Camo. This is the easiest way to enable your Monkey Ace to hit DDTs. Furthermore, the Camo Village enables camo detection, which is critical for your Monkeys Aces to target DDTs in the first place.
Ice Monkey: While DDTs are immune to being frozen, the Icicle Impale upgrade provides a significant slow effect. This allows your Monkey Aces more time to target and destroy the DDTs before they reach your defenses.
Ninja Monkey: A large amount of 4/2 Ninja Monkeys with an x/3 Monkey Village are capable of popping a D.D.T. due to Ninja Monkeys’ massive popping power.

Conclusion

While the Monkey Ace isn’t a guaranteed DDT solution on its own, its raw damage potential, particularly with the Sky Shredder or Flying Fortress, makes it a valuable asset against DDTs. The key is to provide the necessary support for camo detection and Lead/Black popping capabilities. With strategic planning and careful tower placement, the Monkey Ace can become a formidable weapon against even the most challenging DDT rushes. Remember to experiment and find the combinations that work best for your play style and map! Understanding tower synergies is crucial for success in Bloons TD 6 and games like it, where strategic thinking and problem-solving are key. Check out the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) for more insights on learning through games!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can a base Monkey Ace hit DDTs?

No, a base Monkey Ace cannot hit DDTs. DDTs have Camo, Lead, and Black properties, and the base Monkey Ace lacks the ability to target these bloon types without upgrades or support.

2. Does the Spy Plane upgrade allow Monkey Aces to hit DDTs?

Yes, the Spy Plane upgrade on the Bottom Path provides camo detection, allowing Monkey Aces within its range to target DDTs if they can already pop Lead and Black Bloons.

3. Does the Sky Shredder Monkey Ace destroy DDTs?

Yes, the Sky Shredder is very effective against DDTs. It can quickly tear through them, if the Sky Shredder has camo detection and lead popping abilities from upgrades like Monkey Intelligence Bureau.

4. Can the Ground Zero ability destroy DDTs?

Yes, the Ground Zero ability can destroy DDTs. It’s a good panic button for dealing with DDT rushes.

5. Does the Flying Fortress Monkey Ace destroy DDTs?

Yes, the Flying Fortress can destroy DDTs. But as with the Sky Shredder, it requires camo detection and lead popping to target and damage DDTs effectively.

6. Is the Monkey Intelligence Bureau (MIB) necessary for Monkey Aces to hit DDTs?

The Monkey Intelligence Bureau is one of the most effective methods to allow your Monkey Aces to hit DDTs. It enables towers within its range to target all bloon types, including Lead and Black, making them vulnerable to the Monkey Ace’s attacks (assuming they already have camo detection).

7. Does camo detection from other towers affect the Monkey Ace’s ability to hit DDTs?

Yes, camo detection from towers like the Village’s Camo Village upgrade, or a Ninja Monkey’s camo crosspath, will allow your Monkey Ace to target DDTs.

8. Which Monkey Ace upgrade path is best for DDT defense?

The Top Path (Sky Shredder or Flying Fortress) is generally considered the best for pure DDT damage, but requires external camo detection and Lead/Black popping.

9. Can the Spectre Monkey Ace hit DDTs without support?

No, because the Spectre’s bombs do not harm Black Bloons without a Monkey Intelligence Bureau.

10. How does the Icicle Impale help against DDTs with Monkey Aces?

The Icicle Impale slows down DDTs significantly, giving Monkey Aces more time to target and destroy them. This synergy can be crucial for late-game defense.

11. Can Monkey Pirates hook DDT?

In Bloons Monkey City, Monkey Pirates can take down a DDT in a single shot.

12. What are DDTS immune to BTD6?

DDT is immune to Sharp, Explosive, Freeze, and non-Camo detecting attacks.

13. Is a DDT a black bloon?

DDT has Black Bloon properties, among others (Camo, Lead, Pink).

14. What is the best monkey for DDT BTD6?

A good, though expensive way to deal with the D.D.T.s is to use a Pre-Emptive Strike Monkey Sub (0-5-0).

15. How do you pop DDTs easily?

Spike Storm is capable of popping a D.D.T., but this might be sometimes unnecessary as another cheap way to destroy D.D.T.s is to use 2/3 Spike Factories.

Can Monkey Ace hit DDTs?