How to Beat the Shovel Zombie in Plants vs. Zombies 2
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The Shovel Zombie is a persistent threat in the Plants vs. Zombies universe, known for its ability to negate your carefully placed defenses. He’s not particularly strong or fast, but his shovel allows him to clear away any plant directly in front of him, opening a path for the horde. Understanding his vulnerabilities and deploying the correct countermeasures is vital to maintaining your lawn’s integrity.
The key to beating a Shovel Zombie lies in exploiting his weaknesses. You have several effective strategies at your disposal:
- Lobbed-shot Plants: These plants, such as A.K.E.E. and Melon-pult, launch projectiles that arc over the Shovel Zombie’s shovel, striking him directly. These bypass his defense entirely, making them highly effective.
- Penetrating Plants: Plants like Laser Bean and Fume-shroom fire projectiles that travel through or around the Shovel Zombie’s shovel. This ability allows them to damage him even while he’s actively clearing plants. Fume-shroom is also an excellent choice against Parasol Zombies as it can shoot through its umbrella.
- Rear Attack Plants: The Split Pea plant is a unique counter to the Shovel Zombie. It fires projectiles both forward and backward, allowing you to place one behind him to hit him, since he will always be facing the row and not facing away.
- Area-of-Effect (AoE) Plants: Certain plants deal damage in a radius rather than firing a single projectile, making them effective against the Shovel Zombie. This includes Laser Bean and Fume-shroom again as their beam and gas clouds will hit the zombie even if he tries to use his shovel.
- Insta-kill Plants: While this should be used sparingly, plants like Jalapeno, Cherry Bomb, or Squash can instantly eliminate the Shovel Zombie. However, using these on him may not be the most efficient way of using them when facing a horde, but should be an immediate priority if they are the closest plant you have and are near your home.
By understanding these core strategies and utilizing a combination of plant types, you can consistently defeat the Shovel Zombie and prevent him from breaching your defenses. Now let’s explore some related questions that players often encounter when facing this particular zombie.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Shovel Zombies
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding and provide additional strategies for dealing with the Shovel Zombie.
What is the primary threat posed by the Shovel Zombie?
The primary threat is the Shovel Zombie’s ability to remove plants, effectively creating a breach in your defenses. This can allow other zombies to bypass your front lines and approach your home more quickly and easily.
Can a Shovel Zombie remove a defensive plant like a Tall-nut?
Yes, a Shovel Zombie can remove any plant, including defensive ones like a Tall-nut. While they’re useful for slowing down other zombies, they won’t stop a Shovel Zombie directly. You should place damage dealing plants behind or near them.
Are there any plants that are completely ineffective against a Shovel Zombie?
Yes, plants that shoot only in a straight line in front of them, such as the Peashooter, are essentially rendered useless against the Shovel Zombie because he can use his shovel to block them. These plants won’t be able to deal damage as long as the zombie is using his shovel.
What if I don’t have lobbed-shot plants available?
If lobbed-shot plants aren’t an option, focus on using penetrating plants or placing Split Pea behind him. If you don’t have access to either, consider using a strong burst of damage from an Instant Plant if he is getting close to your home.
Can a Shovel Zombie remove planted tiles (like Power Tiles)?
No, the shovel zombie only removes plants. He cannot directly remove Power Tiles or other terrain modifications.
How should I position my plants to counter a Shovel Zombie?
Position lobbed-shot plants and penetrating plants in a manner that their projectiles can hit the zombie without being blocked by his shovel. You should place Split Peas behind the shovel zombie to ensure the rear projectiles hit him.
Are there any specific strategies to use against Shovel Zombies in conjunction with other zombies?
When dealing with multiple zombies, prioritize taking out the Shovel Zombie first, to prevent breaches in your defenses. Use area-of-effect plants to deal with other zombies as they arrive behind the shovel zombie, or use instant plants if he is near your home.
How does the Shovel Zombie behave differently in different levels or world types?
The core behaviour remains the same across all worlds, the Shovel Zombie will always prioritize clearing plants to make way for other zombies. However, their frequency and the combinations of zombies with them can change.
Can Plant Food effects help against Shovel Zombies?
Yes, Plant Food effects can be highly beneficial. Enhancing an AoE plant’s effect can make it easier to kill them quickly, and a boosted Split Pea can quickly eliminate him if he is far away.
Are there any world-specific plants that work particularly well against Shovel Zombies?
The Laser Bean, available in the Far Future world, is a very reliable counter because it can pierce through the shovel and damage multiple zombies. Plants with backwards-facing attacks like Split Pea remain effective, regardless of the world.
Does upgrading my plants make them more effective against Shovel Zombies?
Yes, plant upgrades increase their damage and range, making them much more effective at dealing with Shovel Zombies. This goes for all plants.
What about instants – which are best against Shovel Zombies?
All instant-kill plants like Cherry Bomb, Jalapeno, and Squash are effective, but it may be better to save them for stronger or groups of zombies. However, when the situation calls for it, it’s better to use the plants before it gets too late.
Does the Shovel Zombie ever appear in different varieties?
While the Shovel Zombie has remained mostly consistent, some games have introduced variants of the base shovel zombie with slightly different properties. The most notable is the Excavator Zombie, who is essentially the same, just with a larger shovel. The tactics remain mostly the same when facing either.
Is there a specific moment when the Shovel Zombie appears in Plants vs. Zombies 2?
The Shovel Zombie is introduced early in the game in the Ancient Egypt world. You will face many of them as the game progresses and there aren’t any specific levels with them.
What is the best long-term strategy for dealing with Shovel Zombies?
The best long-term strategy involves understanding the weaknesses of the Shovel Zombie and using plant combinations that will consistently counter them. Lobbed shot, Penetrating, and Rear attacking plants should always be considered when making a deck. A balanced approach with a few instant plants should be your main focus to deal with the shovel zombie.
By understanding these FAQs and the core strategies, you will be well equipped to handle the Shovel Zombie and maintain your lawn against any zombie onslaught. The key is adaptability and knowledge of your plant’s strengths.