What Kills the Giant in Plants vs. Zombies?
The behemoth of the undead, the Gargantuar, is a recurring terror in the Plants vs. Zombies franchise. These massive zombies are known for their incredible health, powerful smash attacks, and the sheer panic they induce in even seasoned players. But fear not, as they are far from invincible. This article will explore all the methods, plants, and strategies for taking down these giants effectively, providing a comprehensive guide for players of all skill levels.
Understanding the Gargantuar’s Weaknesses
While seemingly unstoppable, Gargantuars are vulnerable to specific tactics. Their weaknesses largely revolve around their slow movement and attacks, as well as specific plant abilities that can bypass their high health. Instant kill effects, powerful burst damage, and strategic delaying tactics are all crucial for victory. Before delving into specifics, understand that no single plant will instantly defeat a Gargantuar on its own (aside from specific circumstances on a single row with instant-kill abilities). Instead, a combination of plants and strategies are required to handle this monstrous zombie.
Plants That Can Deal Significant Damage
Here’s a detailed look at plants effective against Gargantuars:
Explosive Plants
- Cherry Bomb: A classic choice for dealing massive damage in a small area, a Cherry Bomb can significantly damage a Gargantuar. Two cherry bombs are usually enough to defeat one at any point in the normal campaign. However, note their recharge time, meaning they are better used in emergencies and in combination with other plants.
- Jalapeno: Similar to the Cherry Bomb, Jalapenos deliver a powerful, screen-wide burst of damage, effective against multiple enemies. While a single Jalapeno cannot kill a Gargantuar alone, they heavily damage them. You can use them alongside other plants for a quick kill.
- Doom-Shroom: A high-risk, high-reward plant, the Doom-Shroom delivers a devastating blast of damage. It’s powerful enough to seriously harm or kill Gargantuars, but leaves a crater after detonation, preventing future plant placement in that area for several seconds.
- Squash: The Squash is an excellent single-target damage dealer. Two Squashes are usually required to squash (pun intended) a Gargantuar, or a combination with other instant-kill effects. Its instant damage makes it incredibly useful.
Instant-Kill Plants (With Limitations)
- Tangle Kelp: This plant is primarily for use on water levels. If used in these levels, it kills any zombie instantly regardless of health. However, when attacking Gargantuars or bosses, it will only deal 40 damage.
- Chomper: While Chompers can eat most zombies instantly, they deal 40 damage to a Gargantuar for each chomp.
- Chili Bean: Similar to Chomper, the Chili Bean only deals 40 damage to Gargantuars.
- Toadstool: Also similar to the Chomper and Chili Bean, the Toadstool will deal 40 damage to a Gargantuar.
Delaying and Support Plants
- Spikerock: Spikerocks can absorb nine smashes from a Gargantuar before disappearing. Use them to buy time to recharge your other plants or plant more damage dealers.
- Puff-shrooms and Scaredy-shrooms: These cheap plants, having quick recharge times, work well as emergency delay tactics, letting you delay a Gargantuar or create a zombie buffer.
- Garlic: While Garlic won’t stop a Gargantuar as it does not eat the Garlic, it can still be effective if other biting zombies appear alongside the Gargantuar. It will reroute biting zombies.
Strategies for Defeating Gargantuars
Understanding which plants to use is just half the battle, developing the right strategy is also crucial for success.
Focus Fire with High Burst Damage
The quickest way to eliminate a Gargantuar is to combine multiple powerful attacks in quick succession. Deploy a Cherry Bomb or Jalapeno, followed by Squashes or other damage-dealing plants for rapid damage. This is especially crucial on levels with multiple Gargantuars.
Use Delay Tactics
Utilize Spikerocks and cheap, quick-recharge plants to stall the Gargantuar and buy time to build your defense and recharge your powerful plants. By giving yourself more time between the attacks of a Gargantuar, it gives you a better opportunity to kill the behemoth before it reaches your main defenses.
Layer Your Defenses
Don’t rely solely on one type of plant. Instead, create a balanced defense combining damage, delay, and support. This layered approach ensures you have multiple avenues of defense.
Instant Kill Combinations
While a single instant-kill plant cannot defeat a Gargantuar, they can be useful in combination with other methods. Use two Squashes or a Squash combined with a Cherry Bomb to quickly take down a Gargantuar.
FAQs: Gargantuars and Plants vs. Zombies
1. Can a Lawn Mower or Roof Cleaner kill a Gargantuar?
Yes, a Lawn Mower or a Roof Cleaner can instantly kill a Gargantuar. This is a balancing mechanic in the game, often used as a last resort when a Gargantuar breaks through your defenses.
2. How do you kill Gargantuars fast?
The fastest method involves combining high burst damage from plants like Cherry Bombs, Jalapenos, Squashes, and Doom-Shrooms. Using delay tactics alongside these high damage options can make quick work of the Gargantuar.
3. What is the Giga-Gargantuar?
The Giga-Gargantuar is an even stronger variant of the Gargantuar with red eyes. It appears in the Survival and Endless modes and is the second-strongest zombie in the game, just below Dr. Zomboss.
4. Does Garlic work on Gargantuars?
No, Garlic does not affect Gargantuars. Garlic redirects zombies that bite it. However, Gargantuars do not eat the Garlic so they aren’t affected.
5. Can Chomper eat a Gargantuar?
Chompers cannot eat a full Gargantuar instantly. Instead, they deal 40 damage per chomp.
6. Can Rakes kill Gargantuars?
Rakes do not kill Gargantuars. They instantly defeat most zombies, but not the Gargantuar or Giga-Gargantuar.
7. Does the Shrinking Violet affect Gargantuars?
While Shrinking Violet is not featured in the original Plants vs. Zombies, it shrinks zombies, multiplying damage taken and reducing eating damage in Plants vs Zombies 2. However, there is no direct equivalent in the original game.
8. Can plants like Tangle Kelp, Chili Bean, and Toadstool instant kill Gargantuars?
No. They deal 40 damage to Gargantuars. Their instant kill abilities are nullified when attacking Gargantuars.
9. How much damage do instant kill plants deal against a Gargantuar?
Instant kill plants deal 40 damage to Gargantuars.
10. How many hits does it take to destroy a Spikerock?
A Spikerock can absorb nine smashes from a Gargantuar before disappearing.
11. Can two Squashes kill a Gargantuar?
Yes, two Squashes are usually sufficient to kill a Gargantuar.
12. Can a combination of Squash and Cherry Bomb kill a Gargantuar?
Yes, a Squash combined with a Cherry Bomb or a Doom-Shroom can kill a Gargantuar.
13. How many Cherry Bombs does it take to kill a Gargantuar?
Usually, two Cherry Bombs are enough to defeat a Gargantuar in the normal campaign.
14. Are Puff-shrooms and Scaredy-shrooms effective against Gargantuars?
While they don’t deal significant damage, Puff-shrooms and Scaredy-shrooms are good for emergency delay tactics due to their low cost and quick recharge.
15. Where do Gargantuars typically appear?
Gargantuars typically appear starting from the roof levels (level 5’s) and onward, specifically in the second half of those levels.
By understanding the Gargantuar’s weaknesses, utilizing the right plants and employing effective strategies, you can consistently defeat these towering terrors and continue your journey in Plants vs. Zombies. Good luck, and happy planting!