How to Beat the Jester Zombie in Plants vs. Zombies 2: A Comprehensive Guide

The Jester Zombie in Plants vs. Zombies 2 is a tricky adversary known for its ability to deflect most projectile-based attacks, making it a real challenge for unsuspecting players. To effectively counter this quirky foe, you need to employ strategies that bypass its defensive capabilities. The key to defeating the Jester Zombie lies in utilizing plants that don’t rely on direct, physical projectiles. These include plants that deal area-of-effect (AoE) damage, splash damage, or use non-physical projectiles, such as beams or ghostly attacks. Think of it as an exercise in strategic plant selection that requires understanding the Jester’s defenses and choosing plants to exploit its vulnerabilities.

Understanding the Jester Zombie’s Weaknesses

The Jester Zombie’s main power is its capacity to reflect direct, physical projectiles. If you try using plants like the Peashooter, Cabbage-pult, or Kernel-pult, their projectiles will bounce right off, often hitting your own plants or simply wasting valuable sun resources. However, this reflection doesn’t extend to AoE attacks, instant-kill abilities, or non-physical projectiles. Therefore, the strategy to defeat him lies in exploiting these vulnerabilities.

Effective Plant Strategies

To take down the Jester Zombie, you need to use plants that work around its reflective ability. Here’s a detailed look at some of the most effective options:

Area-of-Effect Plants

• Ghost Pepper: This plant inflicts continuous damage to all zombies within a lane and explodes after a set time, causing additional AoE damage, making it excellent for dealing with groups of Jester Zombies. Ghost Pepper’s haunting attack isn’t a projectile, and thus can’t be deflected.
• Lightning Reed: The Lightning Reed’s attack jumps between zombies, creating a chain reaction that is very effective against Jester Zombies as well as groups of other types.
• Fume-shroom: This plant’s attack pierces through multiple zombies in a short cone range, making it great for tackling Jester Zombies at the front and damaging others behind them. Its fumes are not projectiles.
• Laser Bean: The laser beam this plant shoots does not involve any physical projectiles. This consistent beam damage is very effective against Jester Zombies, though its short range can be a limitation.
• Snapdragon: With its fire breath attack, the Snapdragon hits all zombies within a cone-shaped area, making it good for clearing out groups of Jester Zombies. Its flame breath is not deflectable.
• Cold Snapdragon: Very similar to the Snapdragon, but with a freezing attack instead, making it equally effective against the Jester Zombie.

Instant-Kill Plants

• Chili Bean: This plant causes the zombies to fart and die instantly.
• Potato Mine & Primal Potato Mine: A well-timed explosion from a Potato Mine, or Primal Potato Mine, can instantly remove a Jester Zombie, making them useful in critical situations.
• Cherry Bomb: This classic plant can clear a 3×3 area of zombies, instantly killing any Jester Zombies caught in the blast.

Other Effective Options

• Nightcap: This plant shoots piercing stars with poisonous damage, ignoring the Jester Zombie’s deflection ability.
• Bonk Choy: While not a direct counter, if placed behind the Jester Zombie, it can inflict damage as they cannot deflect an attack coming from behind.

Combinations for Success

Combining plants is often the most effective strategy. A row of Fume-shrooms combined with a back-up of Snapdragons can quickly clear a lane of all zombies, including Jester Zombies. Employing Cherry Bombs or Potato Mines for emergency situations alongside your primary offensive plants is also a wise tactic.

General Tips for Dealing With Jester Zombies

Beyond specific plant choices, there are general tips to remember:

• Avoid projectile-based plants: Don’t waste sun on plants that the Jester Zombie can simply deflect, such as Peashooters, Cabbage-pults, Kernel-pults.
• Focus fire: Concentrating your damage output on a single Jester Zombie at a time can eliminate it faster.
• Plan for groups: Jester Zombies usually appear in groups, therefore, planning for AoE damage is paramount.
• Layer defenses: Placing defensive plants (like Tall-nuts) can buy you time to set up your Jester-killing plants.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What makes the Jester Zombie so difficult to deal with?

The Jester Zombie’s ability to reflect most physical projectiles makes it unique and difficult. This forces players to think outside the box and use plants that work around this.

2. Can the Jester Zombie reflect all projectiles?

No, the Jester Zombie can only reflect direct, physical projectiles. It cannot reflect beams, AoE attacks, or instant-kill abilities.

3. Is there any plant that completely ignores the Jester Zombie’s reflection?

Several plants completely ignore the Jester Zombie’s reflection. These are plants like Ghost Pepper, Lightning Reed, Fume-shroom, Laser Bean, Snapdragon, and Nightcap, among others. These all use non-projectile-based attacks.

4. Is the Jester Zombie always accompanied by other zombies?

Usually, Jester Zombies come alongside other common zombies, making AoE plants especially useful.

5. Can instant-kill plants stop the Jester Zombie?

Yes, plants like Cherry Bomb, Potato Mine, and Chili Bean can effectively stop the Jester Zombie instantly.

6. Can I use Wall-nuts against Jester Zombie?

While Wall-nuts don’t directly harm the Jester Zombie, they can slow it down and give your offensive plants more time to attack.

7. Are there any level-specific strategies for dealing with Jester Zombies?

Level layouts can vary, but the core strategy remains consistent: use AoE, splash damage, or non-physical projectile plants. Always tailor your plant selection to the specific level and other zombie types present.

8. Do boosted plants work better against Jester Zombies?

Yes, boosted plants, such as those powered by Plant Food, will inflict more damage, making them even more effective against Jester Zombies.

9. Can slowing plants be effective against Jester Zombies?

Yes, plants like Iceberg Lettuce and Winter Melon, can slow down Jester Zombies, giving your other plants more time to deal damage.

10. Does the Jester Zombie have any counter-zombies?

No, the Jester Zombie doesn’t have a direct counter-zombie. The counter is a strategic choice of plants.

11. Can the Jester Zombie be used in the Arena Mode?

Yes, Jester Zombies appear in various levels and challenges in the Arena Mode, requiring players to use strategic plant placement.

12. Is the Jester Zombie one of the hardest zombies in PvZ2?

While it is considered a challenging zombie due to its reflective abilities, other zombies like the Octo Zombie or the Giga-Gargantuar are often regarded as more difficult.

13. Are there any power-ups that are especially good against the Jester Zombie?

Plant Food power-ups can be highly effective with plants that already counter the Jester Zombie, increasing their area of effect or damage output.

14. Does the Jester Zombie have any additional special abilities besides reflection?

No, the primary threat of the Jester Zombie is its reflection ability. It does not have additional special powers.

15. What is the best way to practice against the Jester Zombie?

Practicing in different adventure mode levels or through Penny’s Pursuit can help you learn the timing and placement of counter plants against Jester Zombies. It is important to experiment with different plant combinations to see which works best.