Toadstool vs. Chomper: Which is the Superior Plant?
The age-old question in the Plants vs. Zombies community often boils down to this: is the Toadstool or Chomper the better plant? The simple answer is, Toadstool is generally superior to Chomper in most scenarios. While both plants share the core ability to instantly vanquish zombies by eating them, their mechanics, cost-effectiveness, and overall utility differ significantly. Toadstool, though initially more expensive, quickly proves to be a more reliable and beneficial choice due to its unique sun-generating ability and its faster eating speed. Let’s delve deeper into the reasons behind this conclusion.
The Case for Toadstool
Cost and Sun Generation
At first glance, Toadstool’s higher initial cost of 150 sun compared to Chomper’s 100 sun might seem like a disadvantage. However, this is where the core strength of Toadstool lies. Upon successfully eating a zombie, Toadstool generates a substantial amount of sun, typically exceeding the initial cost difference. This sun-generation ability allows players to quickly recoup the investment and even amass additional sun, enabling them to plant more defenses and expand their strategies faster. Chomper, on the other hand, provides no such resource benefit.
Eating Speed and Efficiency
Toadstool boasts a noticeably faster eating speed compared to Chomper. This allows her to process zombies more quickly and become available for another attack much sooner. While Chomper is known for his long chewing animation, leaving him vulnerable to other approaching zombies. Toadstool’s swiftness means she can handle multiple zombies in quick succession, making her a more reliable defense against swarms. This efficiency gives Toadstool a significant edge in surviving challenging waves of zombies.
Range and Targeting
Both Toadstool and Chomper are close-range plants that prioritize eating zombies in their immediate vicinity. However, the way they select targets can sometimes be problematic. The main issue is that both plants will eat the first zombie in their lane to reach them, instead of the strongest and/or the most dangerous one. This is a flaw shared with both plants, and will sometimes lead to a chomper being left with the zombie they have just finished chewing.
Strategic Flexibility
The sun generation aspect of Toadstool makes her an excellent choice for a variety of strategies. Not only can she serve as a formidable defense, but she also contributes directly to a player’s economic stability. In contrast, Chomper, while effective at eliminating single zombies, offers little to no additional strategic value. Her faster eating speed, too, makes her a more reliable plant when dealing with fast-paced waves.
Why Chomper Falls Short
Inconsistent Performance
Chomper’s slow eating animation often leaves him vulnerable to being overrun. If a horde of zombies approaches, Chomper may not finish his meal in time, becoming an easy target for other incoming enemies. This inconsistency makes him a less reliable defensive option compared to the more efficient Toadstool.
Lack of Utility
Apart from the ability to consume zombies, Chomper brings nothing else to the table. He doesn’t offer extra sun, doesn’t slow zombies down, and doesn’t provide any other supportive benefits. In a game where resources and strategic placement are crucial, Chomper’s lack of versatility is a significant drawback. He can only eat one zombie at a time, making him a poor choice against stronger zombies or large hordes.
Vulnerability
The lengthy chewing animation also makes chompers an easy target for zombies with ranged attacks. In levels where ranged enemies are common, Chomper can be easily taken out while he is in the middle of his chewing, effectively eliminating any defensive ability and wasting the initial sun investment.
Conclusion
While Chomper holds a special place in many players’ hearts due to his iconic status, the numbers clearly lean towards Toadstool as the superior choice. Her sun-generating capability, combined with her faster eating speed, makes her more cost-effective and strategically viable in almost every situation. Toadstool’s combination of offense and resource generation makes her an essential addition to any player’s arsenal. Chomper’s limitations in speed and lack of utility means that a player would rarely choose Chomper over Toadstool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Chomper ever useful in PvZ 1?
Chomper can be useful in specific scenarios, such as dealing with single, powerful zombies early in a level. However, he is easily overwhelmed by hordes of zombies and often struggles to keep up with the pace of the game. His slow eating speed makes him inconsistent and a poor choice in most other scenarios.
2. How does Toadstool’s sun generation work?
Toadstool generates sun each time she successfully eats a zombie. The amount of sun generated is generally sufficient to recoup her initial cost, making her a very worthwhile investment, especially in the long run. She’s essentially a zombie-eating money-making machine.
3. Is Snap Pea a better alternative to both Chomper and Toadstool?
While Snap Pea is an upgrade to Chomper, offering a ranged attack and a shorter eating time, it is not a direct comparison to Toadstool. Snap Pea has its own weaknesses as the entire row is its range, making it awkward to use. Toadstool’s ability to generate sun makes her the better option.
4. Are there any plants better than Toadstool?
Yes, there are several plants better than Toadstool in Plants vs Zombies 2, such as Gloom-shroom, Cattail, Cold Snapdragon and Dusk Lobber. These offer area damage or more significant strategic benefits. The best plant in PvZ 1 is commonly agreed to be the Gloom-shroom.
5. Why do people still use Chomper despite his flaws?
Many players use Chomper for his fun factor or nostalgic appeal. Despite his mechanical shortcomings, some enjoy the unique animation and novelty of a plant that eats zombies. But objectively, he is a terrible plant.
6. How do you unlock Toadstool in Plants vs Zombies 2?
Toadstool is unlocked by completing level 11-7. She rapidly slaps zombies within 4 tiles in front of her with her tongue.
7. What is the best way to use Toadstool effectively?
Place Toadstool in strategic locations where she can efficiently intercept incoming zombies. Use her sun generation to fund your other defenses. Avoid putting her in locations where ranged zombies can easily take her out.
8. Are there any upgrades for Chomper in PvZ?
In the original Plants vs. Zombies, there are no upgrades for Chomper. In Plants vs. Zombies 2, they have introduced various power-ups that can increase speed.
9. Is Chomper a boy or a girl in the PvZ franchise?
Originally, Chomper was consistently male. However, with the introduction of Chompzilla, she is female in later games. Now, Chomper is often referred to as female in more recent installments of the Plants vs. Zombies franchise.
10. Can Chomper eat Gargantuars?
Chomper is one of the only instant kill plants that is unable to kill a Gargantuar in two hits, or a Giga-Gargantuar in four. All other instant kill plants will instantly eliminate a Gargantuar.
11. What is the worst plant in Plants vs Zombies 2?
According to many players, the Chomper is generally considered one of the worst, if not the worst, plant in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
12. Is the Unicorn Chomper the rarest Chomper?
The Unicorn Chomper was the rarest Chomper to acquire, as players had to reach rank 313 in Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare to earn him. He is now unavailable and can no longer be obtained.
13. Why was PvZ discontinued?
Plants vs. Zombies as a franchise was never discontinued. The developers at EA cancelled an unnamed game so they could pull in more resources to help Visceral Games work on a Star Wars game.
14. What is the hardest level in Plants vs Zombies 1?
Level 5–9 in adventure mode is widely regarded to be one of the most challenging. This level features a range of challenging zombies.
15. Can you make Giga-Gargantuars get stuck?
You can stop the Giga-Gargantuar from moving by placing a Puff-shroom in front of them, and immediately placing another when it is destroyed. This will keep the Giga-Gargantuar stuck in place.