Is Grave Buster a Mushroom in Plants vs. Zombies? Unearthing the Truth

The short answer is no, Grave Buster is not a mushroom in the original Plants vs. Zombies game. Despite being found in the Night levels alongside various fungi, Grave Buster stands out as the sole non-mushroom plant available during those dark battles. This distinction often leads to confusion, so let’s delve deeper into why Grave Buster is categorized separately and what this means within the game.

Grave Buster: The Lone Non-Mushroom Night Plant

Grave Buster’s primary function is to remove tombstones and graves that populate the Night levels, reclaiming planting space for your defensive plants. This ability is critical as graves not only obstruct your strategy but also continuously spawn zombies. Grave Buster is an instant-use plant, costing 75 sun, and its effect is immediate.

This utility contrasts sharply with the other plants found in the Night levels, most of which are mushrooms. These mushroom plants, such as the Puff-shroom, Sun-shroom, and Fume-shroom, are all clearly part of the fungal family and possess unique, often time-based, offensive capabilities. Grave Buster, on the other hand, is not explicitly identified as a mushroom in-game. It lacks the characteristic features of mushrooms, such as a stem, cap, or gills. Instead, its appearance suggests something more like a leafy sprout or vine with the ability to ‘eat’ gravestones.

What are the Mushroom Plants in PvZ?

While Grave Buster isn’t a mushroom, Plants vs. Zombies offers a diverse array of mushroom-based plants. In the original game, the primary mushroom plants include:

• Puff-shroom: A free plant with low range, ideal for early-game defense on Night levels.
• Sun-shroom: Generates small amounts of sun initially, gradually increasing its production, which is very important on Night levels.
• Fume-shroom: A stronger mushroom with a cone-shaped attack, capable of dealing damage to multiple zombies.
• Hypno-shroom: Temporarily turns a single zombie into an ally, great for crowd control.
• Scaredy-shroom: Hides when zombies get too close but offers decent ranged damage when safe. (Note: It is mentioned later in the article that Scaredy-shroom is not actually in PvZ)

However, the mushroom selection expands significantly in later Plants vs. Zombies iterations, especially in Plants vs. Zombies 2. Some notable examples from PvZ2 and its updates include:

• Spore-shroom: Obtained in Neon Mixtape Tour.
• Perfume-shroom: Unlocked in Jurassic Marsh.
• Shadow-shroom: Found in Modern Day.
• Toadstool: A premium plant.
• Puffball, Vamporcini, and Nightcap: Obtained through seed packets.

These newer mushrooms introduce varied abilities, enhancing the strategic depth of the game and maintaining the importance of mushrooms in nighttime encounters and beyond.

Why the Confusion?

The confusion often arises because Grave Buster is exclusively found during Night levels, an environment primarily populated by mushroom plants. This association, coupled with Grave Buster’s unique role in removing grave obstacles, can make it seem like another variation of fungi, but Grave Buster is consistently treated separately within the game’s mechanics and plant classification.

Grave Buster’s Role and Mechanics

Grave Buster is an instant-use, one-time plant. Once placed, it immediately starts its animation of ‘eating’ a tombstone or grave, during which the plant can be attacked and consumed by zombies. This adds a layer of strategy to Grave Buster placement as it’s vital to protect the plant during its action to ensure the intended outcome of tombstone removal. Grave Buster doesn’t attack zombies directly, it’s purely used for grave and tombstone removal, highlighting its unique role in the game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does Grave Buster do exactly?

Grave Buster destroys graves and tombstones, removing them from the playing field and creating open space for your other plants.

2. How much does Grave Buster cost?

Grave Buster costs 75 sun to plant.

3. Can Grave Buster be eaten by zombies?

Yes, zombies can eat Grave Buster while it’s in the process of destroying a grave or tombstone.

4. Is Grave Buster reusable?

No, Grave Buster is a one-time-use plant, meaning it disappears after completing its task of removing a tombstone.

5. Are there any other plants that remove tombstones?

No, in the original Plants vs. Zombies, Grave Buster is the only plant that can remove tombstones.

6. Is Grave Buster a powerful plant?

Grave Buster is not designed for direct combat. It’s a support plant that facilitates strategic plant placement.

7. Does Grave Buster appear in Plants vs. Zombies 2?

Yes, Grave Buster is available in Plants vs. Zombies 2 but with a slightly different functionality.

8. Can Grave Buster remove graves in other modes besides Night levels?

Yes, if there are graves in other modes or levels in the game, Grave Buster will work to remove them.

9. Is there a plant that is completely useless?

Cactus from PvZ1 is often considered one of the least effective, while in PvZ2, Chomper is widely considered to be a very ineffective plant due to its high cost and tendency to eat the wrong zombie.

10. What is the toughest plant in Plants vs Zombies?

While not the toughest, Winter Melon is often cited as a powerful offensive plant and among the most effective. Plants like Gloom-shroom and Gatling Pea are also highly ranked for overall toughness and offensive power.

11. Who is Night Cap and what are they?

Night Cap is a mushroom plant in Plants vs. Zombies and is confirmed to be genderfluid, making them an LGBTQ+ character.

12. What is the giant zombie in Plants vs. Zombies?

The Gargantuar is a giant, powerful zombie character with high health and significant damage. The Giga-gargantuar is an even more powerful variant of the Gargantuar found in endless modes.

13. Which plants are not in the original Plants vs. Zombies?

Some plants not in the original PvZ include Scaredy-shroom, Chomper, Shamrockstar, Pumpkin, Aspearagus, and Umbrella Leaf.
(Note: As stated in the article above, Scaredy-shroom IS in the original PvZ game.)

14. What is Torchwood’s role?

Torchwood boosts the damage of peashooting plants by setting their projectiles on fire.

15. Which plant stuns zombies?

In Plants vs. Zombies 2, Contain-mint stuns all zombies on screen for a short duration when used.

Conclusion

While Grave Buster shares the Night setting with many mushroom plants, it is not, itself, a mushroom. Its unique function of removing graves and tombstones, coupled with its distinct appearance and game mechanics, firmly place it as a separate category. This makes it a unique plant and a vital strategic asset in navigating the graveyard-ridden levels of the game. Understanding Grave Buster’s role and limitations is crucial for mastering the challenging and strategic aspects of Plants vs. Zombies.