Sweet Potato: The Strategic Zombie Magnet in Plants vs. Zombies
The Sweet Potato in Plants vs. Zombies (PvZ) acts as a strategic redirection tool, manipulating zombie movement to the player’s advantage. In essence, when placed on the lawn, the Sweet Potato temporarily attracts all zombies within its range to its specific lane. This allows players to funnel zombies into heavily defended areas or to divert them away from vulnerable sections of the lawn. It does not damage zombies, but it drastically changes their pathing, making it a key component in creating effective defensive strategies.
Understanding the Sweet Potato’s Function
The Sweet Potato’s primary function is to act as a decoy, drawing zombies away from your other plants. Unlike offensive plants that deal damage, the Sweet Potato is all about controlling the battlefield. Its area of effect is significant, usually covering a large portion of the lane, which makes it highly effective in drawing crowds of zombies. This effect is temporary, lasting for a specific period before needing to be replanted.
The Sweet Potato’s ability to redirect zombies opens up several strategic opportunities:
- Creating Choke Points: Funneling zombies into areas where area-of-effect plants like Gloom-shroom, Banana Launcher, Spikerock, and Lava Guava can maximize their damage output.
- Protecting Valuable Plants: Diverting zombies away from plants that generate sun, like Sunflower, or support plants. This allows for a safer and more stable production of resources.
- Setting Up Kill Zones: Directing zombies toward a specific lane where you have strategically placed high-damage plants ready to wipe them out.
- Delaying Zombie Advances: Using the Sweet Potato to buy more time, allowing for additional sun production or for the deployment of more offensive plants.
Sweet Potato’s Role in PvZ 2
In Plants vs. Zombies 2, the Sweet Potato retains this core functionality but may be used slightly differently due to the new mechanics, environments, and zombies present in the game. Its role remains crucial for controlling crowds of zombies in more complex levels and environments that include varied zombie types and abilities.
Sweet Potato’s Advantages and Disadvantages
Like any plant, the Sweet Potato has its strengths and weaknesses:
Advantages
- Strategic Control: Allows for targeted redirection of zombies, enhancing defensive tactics.
- Supports Area-of-Effect Plants: Maximizes the damage output of plants that excel at handling groups of zombies.
- Defensive Flexibility: Provides more time to set up defenses and generate sun.
- Versatility: Useful in a variety of level designs and against different types of zombie hordes.
- Cost-Effective: Has a relatively low sun cost compared to more offensively focused plants, making it viable in the early and mid-game.
Disadvantages
- No Direct Damage: Does not directly harm zombies, so it needs to be used in combination with other offensive plants.
- Temporary Effect: Its attracting effect is not permanent, so needs to be replaced to maintain the redirection.
- Vulnerability: Is itself vulnerable to being eaten by zombies, so it is important to strategically position it with supporting defenses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sweet Potato in PvZ
1. Is the Sweet Potato a defensive or offensive plant?
The Sweet Potato is primarily a defensive plant, though not in the typical sense. It does not directly damage zombies; rather, it manipulates their pathing, making it more of a strategic tool to support offensive plants.
2. Does the Sweet Potato damage zombies?
No, the Sweet Potato does not damage zombies. Its primary function is to attract them to its lane temporarily, acting as a decoy rather than a source of damage.
3. How long does the Sweet Potato’s attracting effect last?
The duration of its attracting effect is limited and temporary. It usually lasts for a set period, after which the zombies will go back to their usual course.
4. How can I best use Sweet Potato in PvZ?
The Sweet Potato is best used to create choke points, funneling zombies into areas where area-of-effect plants can inflict maximum damage. It’s also great for protecting sun producers.
5. Can the Sweet Potato attract special types of zombies?
Yes, the Sweet Potato can attract most types of zombies within its range, including armored and faster zombies, making it incredibly useful against a variety of zombie hordes.
6. Is the Sweet Potato useful in all levels?
While effective in many scenarios, its usefulness depends on the level design. Levels with multiple lanes and open spaces are where the Sweet Potato shines, due to its ability to manipulate zombie movement.
7. What plants work well with Sweet Potato?
Plants that benefit from the Sweet Potato’s redirection include Gloom-shroom, Banana Launcher, Spikerock, Lava Guava, and other plants with area-of-effect damage.
8. Can zombies destroy the Sweet Potato?
Yes, the Sweet Potato is susceptible to being eaten by zombies if not properly defended. It is best to strategically place it behind wall plants like Tall-Nut or with other plants as an initial layer of defense.
9. How does Sweet Potato compare to other redirection plants?
The Sweet Potato provides strategic redirection that’s different from plants like Hypno-shroom, which causes zombies to fight for you. It is the primary redirect plant that focuses on luring zombies.
10. Is Sweet Potato more useful in PvZ 1 or PvZ 2?
The Sweet Potato is highly useful in both games. In PvZ 2, its strategic function is amplified due to the complex environments and varied zombies, although it functions mostly the same way as it did in the first game.
11. How much does the Sweet Potato cost?
The Sweet Potato has a relatively low sun cost, making it a viable option early to mid-game and easy to use often.
12. Is Sweet Potato considered a “must have” plant?
While not essential in every level, its strategic use makes it a highly valuable asset. Its ability to control zombie flow can greatly enhance defensive strategies, therefore, many players do consider it a “must have”.
13. What happens if you use plant food on Sweet Potato?
The Sweet Potato does not have a plant food effect. Instead, the player is better off using plant food on more offensive plants.
14. Is there a better plant for drawing zombies than Sweet Potato?
The sweet potato has the unique purpose of drawing the zombies to her location in the lane, making it the best plant at this. It does not attack, it just draws in the zombies from other lanes.
15. Where can I see Sweet Potato in action?
There are many gameplay videos of Plants vs. Zombies on platforms like YouTube, and watching these can demonstrate how the Sweet Potato is used effectively in various scenarios. Some also might be specifically for Sweet Potato, such as one titled: Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time – Gameplay Walkthrough Part 274 – Sweet Potato! (iOS).
In conclusion, the Sweet Potato is a key strategic plant in the Plants vs. Zombies series. Its ability to manipulate zombie movement opens up a world of tactical possibilities, allowing players to create effective defensive setups and maximize the damage output of their offensive plants. Understanding its functionality and the scenarios where it shines is essential for players looking to master the game.