How to Conquer the Giants: A Comprehensive Guide to Beating Giant Zombies in Plants vs. Zombies
The Gargantuar and its more menacing cousin, the Giga-gargantuar, represent some of the most formidable challenges in the Plants vs. Zombies universe. These colossal zombies can quickly overwhelm your defenses if you’re not prepared. Defeating them requires a combination of strategy, quick thinking, and a well-chosen arsenal of plants. In short, the answer to “How do you beat giant PvZ?” is multifaceted, involving not one but several potent techniques. The core strategy involves leveraging plants that offer instant kills, high damage output, and tactical advantages, while considering the strengths and weaknesses of each zombie type.
Core Strategies for Defeating Gargantuars
Instant Kill Methods
One of the most reliable ways to eliminate a Gargantuar quickly is through instant-kill plants. Here are the primary options:
- Squash: A well-placed Squash can instantly crush a Gargantuar. Two squashes will definitely get the job done.
- Cherry Bomb: The explosive Cherry Bomb is another great option, dealing significant damage in a wide area and usually resulting in the instant elimination of the Gargantuar.
- Doom-shroom: Similar to the Cherry Bomb but with a wider area of effect, the Doom-shroom is a risky but effective instant kill method.
- Hypno-shroom Combo: While not an instant kill in itself, utilizing the Hypno-shroom can turn an Imp into an ally who then eats the Gargantuar. After the Gargantuar throws its Imp, plant a Hypno-shroom where the Imp lands, quickly wake it with a Coffee Bean, and the Imp will consume the Gargantuar.
High Damage and Strategic Plants
While instant kills are effective, you can also chip away at a Gargantuar’s health with high damage plants and smart positioning:
- Gatling Peas & Torchwood: The combination of Gatling Peas (which shoot multiple peas) and the Torchwood (which ignites the peas for increased damage) can quickly melt through a Gargantuar’s health.
- Spikerock & Cob Cannons: In later stages, using Spikerocks to damage the Gargantuar over time, followed up by powerful Cob Cannons can also deal a massive blow to these massive zombies.
- Reinforce-Mint & Blover: In Plants vs. Zombies 2, the Reinforce-Mint + Blover combo is effective to quickly clear the screen of zombies including Gargantuar Primes due to the Blover forcing zombies back to the beginning of the lane with added mint effect damage from the Reinforce-Mint.
Timing is Key
A crucial aspect of defeating Gargantuars is timing. Sometimes, it’s not just about what plants you use, but when you use them.
- Imp Throw Timing: As mentioned earlier, a key strategic time to employ a Hypno-shroom is right after the Imp is thrown by the Gargantuar.
- Weak Point Exploitation: When dealing with a Gargantuar, wait for your regular plants to weaken him until he gets a visible “patch” on his arm; this signifies he’s close to being defeated, and this is the perfect time to unleash an instant kill.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about dealing with giant zombies in the Plants vs. Zombies franchise:
1. What is the main weakness of Gargantuars?
Gargantuars are vulnerable to instant-kill plants such as Squash, Cherry Bomb, and Doom-shroom, and the Hypno-shroom + Imp combo. They can also be defeated with combined high-damage strategies like Gatling Peas with Torchwood, especially when their health is chipped down to a certain point.
2. What is Gargantuar Prime and how is it different?
Gargantuar Prime is an upgraded version of the Gargantuar that appears in the later stages of Plants vs. Zombies 2. While they are even tougher than regular Gargantuars, they are susceptible to the same strategies, most notably the Reinforce-Mint + Blover combo mentioned previously.
3. What is the toughest plant in PvZ for dealing with big zombies?
The effectiveness of plants is situational, but some consistently perform well against big zombies. Top contenders include the Winter Melon (for its crowd control and splash damage), Gatling Pea (for sheer damage output when combined with the Torchwood), Gloom-shroom (for consistent area damage), and Cob Cannons (for massive burst damage when available). In PvZ2 the Reinforce-Mint alongside other powerful damage plants is key.
4. Can a Chomper eat a Gargantuar?
Unfortunately, Chompers cannot eat a full Gargantuar. Instead, they deal only a small amount of damage (40) per chomp. Chompers are generally not the best option to deal with large zombies but can provide useful chip damage.
5. Does Garlic work on Gargantuars?
Garlic does not work on Gargantuars. Garlic only redirects zombies that bite them. Gargantuars do not bite the garlic so they are immune to its effects.
6. What is the Giga-gargantuar?
The Giga-gargantuar is an enhanced version of the Gargantuar, distinguished by its red eyes. It is the second-strongest zombie in the first Plants vs. Zombies game and mainly appears in endless survival modes.
7. Is Chomper a useless plant in PvZ2?
Many consider Chomper to be a less effective plant in PvZ2 due to its high cost, slow attack speed, and tendency to eat the wrong zombies if not planned accordingly. Its lack of range also makes it less versatile compared to other plants.
8. Are there any cheat codes for PvZ to help defeat giant zombies?
Some cheat codes can add visual flair or alter the game but won’t directly defeat giant zombies. Codes like “future,” “mustache,” “pinata,” “trickedout,” and “sukhbir” provide visual changes to zombies but provide no advantage in gameplay.
9. Is the Cactus an effective plant against Gargantuars?
Cactus is generally not effective against Gargantuars. It’s primary function is to target Balloon Zombies. While it does provide some peashooter-like damage, it lacks the power needed to harm the giants.
10. How many Cherry Bombs or Squashes does it take to kill a Gargantuar?
Typically, two Squashes will crush a Gargantuar, or a combination of one Squash and a Cherry Bomb. Two Cherry Bombs will also get the job done as well.
11. What weapons do Gargantuars wield?
Gargantuars are known for their large size, muscles, and aggressive faces. They typically wield large weapons, like telephone poles, which they use to smash plants.
12. What is the hardest zombie to beat in PvZ2?
Many consider the Octo Zombie to be among the hardest zombies to beat in PvZ2. The Octo Zombie can deploy octopus to disable plants and has a high health pool making it difficult to defeat.
13. What plants are the best against Balloon Zombies?
Cactus and Cattail are effective for popping balloon zombies since their projectiles can bypass the balloons. Blover can also blow them away completely, and any plant with splash damage can pop them if you hit the balloon.
14. Is PvZ2Tool a virus?
PvZ2Tool is often falsely flagged as having a virus. If you want to use this tool, you may need to disable your antivirus or mark the file as safe. Use caution when downloading and running unofficial tools.
15. Can you beat endless modes in PvZ?
Yes, you can keep playing endless modes in PvZ until you lose or decide to reset the game. The objective is to survive as long as possible.
By mastering these strategies and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your plants, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer even the toughest giant zombies and ensure your lawn remains safe in the Plants vs. Zombies universe.