Dart Monkeys and Lead Bloons: A Comprehensive Guide

The Bloons TD universe is filled with colorful chaos, and understanding which towers can tackle which bloon types is crucial for victory. Today, we’re diving deep into the capabilities of the humble, yet surprisingly versatile, Dart Monkey, specifically focusing on its ability to pop those pesky Lead Bloons.

The answer is simple: the Dart Monkey can pop Lead Bloons, but only after certain specific upgrades. The base Dart Monkey struggles against the armored threat. However, with the right enhancements, this starting tower becomes a Lead-popping machine! Here’s the breakdown of which upgrades enable this ability:

• Juggernaut: This fourth-tier upgrade on the top path (Path 1) grants the Dart Monkey the power to pop Lead Bloons in addition to dealing increased damage to Ceramics and Fortified bloons. The massive spiked ball obliterates leads with ease.

• Crossbow Master: Reaching the fifth tier on the top path turns the Dart Monkey into the ultimate Lead Bloon destroyer. The Crossbow Master can pop any bloon type, including Lead, and does so with incredible speed and precision. This is your “one stop” tower.

• Plasma Monkey Fan Club: This fourth tier upgrade to the middle path grants the dart monkey to pop lead bloons, as well as drastically increasing the power and capabilities of its attack. This upgrade allows the monkey to do significantly more damage to all bloon types.

Dart Monkey Upgrades and Lead Popping: A Detailed Look

Let’s explore each of these upgrades in more detail to understand why they grant the Lead-popping ability:

Juggernaut: The Kinetic Crusher

The Juggernaut upgrade fundamentally changes the Dart Monkey‘s attack. Instead of firing regular darts, it launches a massive spiked ball that bounces across the track. This ball deals significant damage and, crucially, possesses the necessary force to shatter Lead Bloons. The upgrade gives 2 damage (+3 to Ceramics and +2 to Fortified bloons), as well as popping Frozen and Lead Bloons.

The Juggernaut is an excellent mid-game option for dealing with clumped bloons and handling early Lead rounds. Its bouncing attack provides good coverage, and the increased damage against Ceramics is a valuable bonus.

Crossbow Master: The Ultimate Versatility

The Crossbow Master takes the Dart Monkey to its absolute peak potential. This upgrade provides increased attack speed, pierce, and, most importantly, the ability to pop all bloon types. The Crossbow Master can tear through Lead Bloons, Ceramics, MOABs, and everything in between. Its rapid-fire, high-damage bolts are a force to be reckoned with.

The Crossbow Master is expensive, but its versatility makes it a worthwhile investment for late-game defense. It’s an excellent choice for tackling challenging rounds with mixed bloon types and provides consistent damage output.

Plasma Monkey Fan Club: Dart Monkey On Steroids

The Plasma Monkey Fan Club upgrade to the dart monkey is an essential tool when you need to get a bunch of extra dart monkeys quickly. The power it has to offer is exceptional, and it allows dart monkeys to pop any type of bloon, including the Lead Bloon. It also comes equipped with other amazing benefits, such as increasing overall damage output across a large group of monkeys.

It is a very strong option for those difficult late-game encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can the base Dart Monkey pop Lead Bloons?

No, the base Dart Monkey cannot pop Lead Bloons. Its standard dart attack is ineffective against their armored exterior.

2. Does the Sharp Shooter upgrade allow the Dart Monkey to pop Lead Bloons?

No, the Sharp Shooter upgrade enhances pierce and damage but does not grant the ability to pop Lead Bloons.

3. What is the cheapest Dart Monkey upgrade that can pop Lead Bloons?

The Juggernaut is typically the cheaper of the two, though pricing may vary slightly depending on the game mode and difficulty. The Plasma Monkey Fan Club is usually the third option, depending on the price.

4. Can a Dart Monkey with the Spike-o-pult upgrade pop Lead Bloons?

No, the Spike-o-pult upgrade focuses on area denial with spike balls and does not enable Lead-popping.

5. Does Monkey Knowledge affect a Dart Monkey’s ability to pop Lead Bloons?

While some Monkey Knowledge perks can enhance the performance of Dart Monkeys, none of them directly grant the ability to pop Lead Bloons. You still need the Juggernaut, Crossbow Master, or Plasma Monkey Fan Club upgrade.

6. Can a Dart Monkey crosspathed with Enhanced Eyesight pop Camo Leads?

No. Enhanced Eyesight will allow the dart monkey to see camo, but the lead property will still stop the base dart monkey from damaging the bloon. You would still need Juggernaut or Crossbow Master.

7. What are some good strategies for supporting a Juggernaut Dart Monkey?

Consider using towers that slow bloons down, such as Ice Monkeys or Glue Gunners, to give the Juggernaut more time to target and destroy Lead Bloons. Alchemist buffs can also significantly increase its damage output.

8. How does the Crossbow Master compare to other Tier 5 towers for Lead Bloon defense?

The Crossbow Master is a highly versatile option that can handle a wide range of bloon types, including Lead. However, other Tier 5 towers, such as the Wizard Lord Phoenix or the Anti-Bloon, may offer more specialized damage against specific threats like MOABs or Super Ceramics. It ultimately depends on your overall strategy.

9. Can a Dart Monkey with the PMFC ability pop lead bloons?

No, the dart monkeys under the effect of the Plasma Monkey Fan Club ability can pop lead bloons. This is in addition to the dart monkey tower itself being able to.

10. Is the Juggernaut a good option for early game lead defense?

Yes, the Juggernaut is very useful for early-game lead defense. It can tear through early lead bloons easily.

11. Is the Crossbow Master worth the cost?

While expensive, the Crossbow Master‘s extreme damage output and ability to target any bloon type make it a potent pick that is very often worth the cost.

12. What are some good complementary towers to use with the Crossbow Master?

Support towers that provide buffs, such as Overclock or Ultraboost, can significantly enhance the Crossbow Master‘s performance. Towers that slow or stun bloons, such as Ice Monkey or Bloon Sabotage, can also help to maximize its damage output.

13. Can the Dart Monkey’s Super Monkey Fan Club upgrade pop Lead Bloons?

No. The dart monkeys that are called in by the ability cannot pop lead bloons. You would need the Plasma Monkey Fan Club.

14. Does the dart monkey need external buffs to pop lead efficiently?

While the Juggernaut and Crossbow Master can pop Lead Bloons on their own, external buffs such as Alchemist or Village buffs can drastically improve their efficiency and overall damage output.

15. Where can I learn more about strategies for Bloons TD 6?

There are many resources available online, including forums, wikis, and video guides. You can also explore educational resources on gaming and learning at places like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org), which explores the intersection of games and education.