Decoding the Impact: The Best Bloon Impact Crosspath in Bloons TD 6

The question of the best Bloon Impact crosspath is a common one among Bloons TD 6 strategists. The answer, while seemingly simple, depends heavily on the intended role of the tower and the overall game strategy. However, generally speaking, the 4-2-0 crosspath is better than 4-0-2. While the added fragments offered by 4-0-2 are stronger, the extra damage from these fragments do sacrifice Bloon Impact’s permastun potential for much higher DPS, but the black-popping for explosions can come in handy.

Understanding Bloon Impact’s Strengths

Before diving into specific crosspaths, it’s crucial to understand what makes Bloon Impact such a valuable tower. As the fourth-tier upgrade on the top path of the Mortar Monkey, Bloon Impact excels at:

• Stunning Bloons: Its primary function is to stun bloons, especially MOAB-class bloons, effectively pausing their advance and allowing other towers to deal damage.
• Crowd Control: While not its main strength, the explosion radius can affect multiple bloons, providing some degree of crowd control.
• Utility: Synergizes well with other towers that benefit from stunned targets, such as sniper monkeys with the cripple MOAB upgrade.

Analyzing the Crosspaths: 4-2-0 vs. 4-0-2

The two primary crosspath options for Bloon Impact are:

4-2-0 (Faster Reload)

This crosspath prioritizes attack speed. The Faster Reload and Rapid Reload upgrades significantly reduce the time between shots, leading to more frequent stuns.

• Pros:
  • Increased Stun Uptime: More frequent explosions translate to a higher chance of keeping MOAB-class bloons consistently stunned.
  • Better for Single-Target Stun: Ideal when the primary goal is to lock down a specific MOAB-class bloon.
• Cons:
  • Lower Fragment Damage: Lacks the extra damage from the bottom path fragments.
  • Less Effective Against Clumped Bloons: Relies more on the stun effect than dealing damage to large groups.

4-0-2 (Mortar Crates, Pop and Awe)

This crosspath focuses on adding extra damage with fragments, as well as granting the explosion the ability to pop black bloons.

• Pros:
  • Higher Burst Damage: The fragments add more damage to regular bloons on top of already existing damage.
  • Black Bloon Popping: Mortars normally are unable to pop black bloons, this crosspath remedies the issue.
• Cons:
  • Reduced Stun Uptime: The slower attack speed can lead to gaps in stun coverage, especially against faster MOAB-class bloons.
  • Less Effective Against Super Ceramics: The stun effect is not as reliable against this kind of bloon.

Determining the “Best” Crosspath

The “best” crosspath depends on the specific map, strategy, and game mode. Here’s a general guideline:

• 4-2-0 is Generally Preferred: For most situations where the primary goal is consistent stunning of MOAB-class bloons, the 4-2-0 crosspath is the superior choice. The increased attack speed significantly improves stun uptime, making it invaluable for supporting other damage-dealing towers.
• 4-0-2 is Situational: If dealing with waves that consist of normal bloons rather than MOAB-class bloons, then 4-0-2 could work due to the extra bloon popping power.

Synergy is Key

Remember that Bloon Impact rarely works in isolation. Its effectiveness is maximized when combined with other towers that can capitalize on stunned targets. Good pairings include:

• Sniper Monkey (Cripple MOAB): Cripple MOAB inflicts a substantial damage buff against stunned MOAB-class bloons.
• Dartling Gunner (Hydra Rocket Pods): Hydra Rocket Pods and other upgrades can deal significant damage to stunned MOAB-class bloons.
• Towers with High Single-Target Damage: Any tower with strong single-target damage, like a Super Monkey or a Plasma Monkey Fan Club, benefits from the prolonged stun duration.

Don’t Forget the Mortar Monkey’s Micro Potential

The Mortar Monkey is one of the few towers that greatly benefits from micro-management. Manually targeting the Bloon Impact can ensure that the stun effect is applied to the most critical targets at the most opportune times. Mastering the micro potential of the tower can drastically improve its performance.

Beyond Bloon Impact: The Level 5 Upgrade

When upgrading to the Tier 5 upgrade, The Bloon Crusher, the same principles apply. You typically want to go with the faster attack speed crosspath (5-2-0) as it offers a higher chance to stun bloons.

Learning Resources

For more in-depth analysis and strategic tips, be sure to check out resources like the Games Learning Society (https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/) which explores the educational aspects of gaming and can help you develop a more strategic approach to Bloons TD 6.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bloon Impact

Here are some common questions regarding the Bloon Impact upgrade.

1. Which Bloon Crush Crosspath is Better?

The 5-2-0 Bloon Crush crosspath is usually the best option if there are too many bloons nearby to keep its stun reliability, though 5-0-2 offers much stronger fragments.

2. Does the 4-0-2 crosspath make Bloon Impact pop Lead Bloons?

No, the 4-0-2 crosspath does not give Bloon Impact the ability to pop Lead Bloons. You’ll need to rely on other towers for Lead popping power.

3. How important is the stun effect of Bloon Impact?

The stun effect is the primary reason to use Bloon Impact. It’s essential for stalling MOAB-class bloons and allowing other towers to deal damage.

4. Can Bloon Impact permastun MOAB-class bloons?

With the right setup and crosspath (4-2-0), Bloon Impact can effectively perma-stun certain MOAB-class bloons, especially slower ones like the MOAB itself.

5. What is the best way to target with Bloon Impact?

Generally, targeting the strongest bloon is the most effective. This ensures that the stun effect is applied to the most dangerous threat.

6. Is Bloon Impact good against DDTs?

Bloon Impact can stun DDTs, making them vulnerable to other towers, but its single-target focus means it may struggle against large groups of DDTs.

7. How does Bloon Impact compare to other stun towers?

Bloon Impact offers consistent stun, but may not be as powerful as other stun towers, such as Ice Monkeys with Icicle Impale.

8. Does the Faster Reload crosspath affect the stun duration?

No, the Faster Reload crosspath only affects the time between shots, not the duration of the stun effect.

9. What is the best placement for Bloon Impact?

Position Bloon Impact in a location where it can target as many lanes as possible.

10. Is Bloon Impact worth using on CHIMPS mode?

Bloon Impact can be valuable on CHIMPS mode for its stun utility, but it requires careful planning and synergy with other towers.

11. How does Bloon Impact synergize with MOAB Glue?

MOAB Glue can slow down MOAB-class bloons, making them easier for Bloon Impact to stun consistently.

12. Can Bloon Impact stun multiple MOAB-class bloons at once?

While the explosion radius can affect multiple bloons, the stun effect is primarily single-target focused.

13. Is the 5-0-2 upgrade of the Mortar Monkey worth it?

While the 5-0-2 can deal more damage, the 5-2-0’s increase in fire rate provides a better stun.

14. How does Bloon Impact fare against Super Ceramics?

Bloon Impact can stun Super Ceramics, but its effectiveness depends on the number of Super Ceramics and the overall defense setup.

15. What are some good maps for using Bloon Impact?

Maps with long, straight lanes or areas with concentrated bloon paths are ideal for Bloon Impact, as they allow for optimal targeting and stun coverage.

By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each crosspath and considering the overall game strategy, players can effectively utilize Bloon Impact to control the battlefield and achieve victory in Bloons TD 6.