The Ultimate Guide to Vanquishing Wizards in Plants vs. Zombies 2: The Best Plant and Strategies
The Wizard Zombie in Plants vs. Zombies 2 is a formidable foe, capable of turning your carefully placed plants into harmless sheep, disrupting your defense and paving the way for other zombies. While many plants can contribute to a successful defense against him, the single most effective plant to directly counter the Wizard’s transformation spell, ensuring a swift and definitive defeat, is the Guacodile. Its unique rush attack, when timed correctly, allows for a guaranteed elimination of the Wizard Zombie without the risk of any sheep transformation.
Why Guacodile is the Best Wizard Counter
The key to understanding the Guacodile’s efficacy lies in its rush attack. This ability, a powerful charge straight ahead, delivers significant damage and knockback. More importantly, a single rush attack is sufficient to completely destroy a Wizard Zombie, preventing the wizard from even initiating his sheep transformation. This direct counter strategy is far more efficient than other approaches that rely on damage over time or area attacks, which can often be affected by the Wizard’s magic.
The Perfect Timing for Guacodile
The best way to utilize the Guacodile is to place it directly in front of the Wizard Zombie the moment the Wizard enters the lane and starts to approach the plants. By doing this, the Guacodile will immediately trigger its rush attack, slamming into the Wizard before he has a chance to cast his spell. The timing is crucial: a moment too soon or too late, and the Wizard may transform a plant. With proper execution, the Guacodile not only eliminates the Wizard but also damages any zombies lined up behind him, creating a path for other plants to take advantage.
Other Effective Strategies Against Wizards
While Guacodile excels as a direct counter, other strategies can work well, often in combination with it:
- High Damage Plants: Plants that do considerable burst damage can also be useful, though not as reliable as the Guacodile. For example, Laser Bean or Power Lily paired with a high damage plant can also kill the Wizard fast before he transforms your plants.
- Plants Immune to Transformation: Some plants like Ghost Pepper are immune to the Wizard’s transformation spell. However, they don’t directly counter the Wizard, and mostly act as a continuous damage option.
- Stalling Plants: Plants like Iceberg Lettuce or Stallia can momentarily slow down or freeze the Wizard, giving your plants more time to eliminate it. However, this works best if you have high damage plants to take down the Wizard while he is slowed.
- Area of Effect (AoE): Plants that deal splash damage, such as Dusk Lobber or Grapeshot, can damage multiple zombies, including the Wizard, although they might not be able to defeat him as quickly or reliably as the Guacodile. This strategy also has the risk of the Wizard still transforming your plants before he is eliminated.
- Plant Food Abilities: Combining the Plant Food ability of a high-damage plant or the Guacodile can speed up the Wizard’s destruction if he isn’t eliminated quickly enough.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes the Wizard Zombie so dangerous?
The Wizard Zombie is dangerous because of his ability to turn your plants into sheep. This not only temporarily disables your defenses but also allows other zombies to advance unimpeded. The sheep transformation also disables the plant and turns it into a low health sheep, requiring it to be replaced or having it be completely vulnerable.
2. Can any plant prevent the sheep transformation?
Yes, certain plants like Ghost Pepper and Lily Pad (when placed on water) are immune to the Wizard’s transformation spell. However, they don’t directly eliminate the Wizard, and should be considered as defensive plants rather than a counter.
3. Is there a strategy besides Guacodile that guarantees Wizard defeat?
While no strategy is as reliable as a well-timed Guacodile rush, focusing all your Plant Food and sun on a high-damage plant to take out the Wizard quickly can be effective if you are quick enough.
4. How important is timing when fighting the Wizard Zombie?
Timing is paramount, especially when using the Guacodile. Placing it too early could make it target the wrong zombie, while placing it too late could lead to a plant being transformed. Proper timing is key to successfully countering the Wizard.
5. Can I use Plant Food on the Guacodile for an even stronger attack?
Yes, using Plant Food on the Guacodile will significantly increase its damage and pushback, making it even more effective. It’s especially useful when dealing with multiple Wizards or a large crowd of zombies.
6. What are some common mistakes when fighting Wizard Zombies?
Common mistakes include placing plants that are easily turned into sheep, underestimating the Wizard’s transformation range, not utilizing plants that are immune, or not focusing fire on the Wizard first.
7. Can the Wizard Zombie be stunned?
Yes, plants like Iceberg Lettuce, Stallia and Winter Melon can stun or slow down the Wizard, giving your plants a window of opportunity. However, these plants are mostly support, and are unable to quickly eliminate the Wizard like the Guacodile.
8. Are there any special level setups that make Wizard Zombies harder?
Yes, levels with limited plant space, multiple lanes of zombies, or obstacles can make defeating Wizard Zombies more challenging. In these cases, effective use of your limited resources and Plant Food is key.
9. How should I prioritize targets when multiple zombies are present with the Wizard?
Generally, eliminating the Wizard should be your top priority. Its ability to disrupt your defense makes it the most immediate threat. Then you need to look to see what type of zombies are lining up behind him.
10. What other plants are good for dealing with zombies coming from behind the Wizard?
Plants like Dusk Lobber, Grapeshot, Laser Bean and Pea Pod are great for attacking other zombies while your main plant focuses on the Wizard. Primal Peashooter and Repeater also provide effective damage output.
11. Is the Wizard Zombie the hardest zombie in the game?
While the Wizard Zombie is undoubtedly dangerous, particularly with its disruptive sheep transformation ability, he is not generally considered the most difficult zombie. The Octo Zombie or Giga-Gargantuar are often cited as more formidable opponents due to their high health and unique abilities.
12. Is the Guacodile useful in other scenarios, not just against Wizards?
Absolutely. The Guacodile’s rush attack is effective against many types of zombies, making it a versatile plant for both offense and defense, and its ability to deal high damage in a straight line makes it useful for clearing out hordes of zombies.
13. How early in the game can I unlock the Guacodile?
The Guacodile is unlocked in Big Wave Beach, the seventh world in the game, so you’ll need to advance in the game to get access to this crucial plant.
14. What are the disadvantages of using the Guacodile?
The primary disadvantage of the Guacodile is its reliance on timing. Misplaced or mistimed, it can be vulnerable. Additionally, it’s a one time use plant, and thus is not suitable for long term defense.
15. Can the Wizard Zombie turn plants into sheep with Plant Food active?
Yes, the Wizard Zombie’s transformation ability can affect plants regardless if Plant Food is active on them. It is extremely important to eliminate him before he gets the chance.
By understanding the Wizard Zombie’s mechanics and employing the strategies outlined, you can effectively neutralize this threat and ensure your victory in Plants vs. Zombies 2. The Guacodile, with its direct and powerful rush attack, stands as the most reliable answer to the Wizard’s tricks, allowing you to keep your lawn green and zombie-free.