What Plant Does the Most Damage in Plants vs. Zombies?

The question of which plant reigns supreme in damage output in Plants vs. Zombies (PvZ) is a popular one, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. While many plants pack a punch, no single plant consistently tops the damage charts across all situations. However, if we consider the potential for the absolute highest single instance of damage within the core PvZ game, the Gatling Pea, enhanced by a Torchwood, and further amplified by area damage takes the lead, especially when combined with Gloom Shroom placement for sustained DPS.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Gatling Pea: By itself, a Gatling Pea does moderate damage. However, when placed behind a Torchwood, its peas become flaming projectiles. This dramatically increases the damage of each pea and adds an additional splash effect. Each standard shot effectively becomes an 80 dps shot that now also does splash, or a total of 160 dps with splash.

• Torchwood Synergy: The Torchwood’s primary function is to ignite projectiles. This transforms the Gatling Pea into a force to be reckoned with as it creates an increased damage, splash effect that impacts more than one zombie at a time. The splash damage makes it incredibly efficient for dealing with hordes.

• Gloom Shroom for AoE: The Gloom Shroom stands out as the main source of AoE damage in the original PvZ. Its wide area of attack and consistent damage per second is not the highest, but does a very high level of overall damage, when combined with other plants.

• Strategic Placement: Combining Gatling Peas with Torchwoods is crucial for maximum damage output. Gloom Shrooms positioned to hit multiple lanes can effectively clear out numerous zombies at once, while also contributing to overall DPS.

While the Gatling Pea behind a Torchwood, amplified by the AoE damage of Gloom Shroom offers the highest sustained damage potential and single-instance impact, it’s essential to understand that other plants excel in different areas, such as instant kill abilities and area denial. Thus, a balanced strategy using multiple high damage plants like those outlined above is critical for success in most difficult PvZ situations.

Understanding Damage Types in PvZ

To fully grasp the concept of damage in PvZ, it’s essential to differentiate between different damage types:

• Single-Target Damage: This is damage that focuses on a single zombie at a time. Plants like the standard Pea Shooter, Repeater and Gatling Pea all exemplify single target damage, but at varying DPS.

• Area-of-Effect (AoE) Damage: AoE damage impacts multiple zombies simultaneously. The Gloom Shroom, Cherry Bomb, and even the splash damage from a Torchwood-ignited pea are examples of this type of damage.

• Instant Kill: These effects immediately eliminate a zombie, regardless of its remaining health. Plants like the Squash and Jalapeno are great examples of instant kill plants.

• Sustained Damage: Plants that deal consistent damage over time contribute to sustained damage output. The Gatling Pea with Torchwood combo, and the Gloom Shroom are prime examples.

The most effective strategy in PvZ utilizes a mix of these damage types, exploiting the weaknesses of different zombies and handling different wave compositions.

Damage Per Second (DPS) Considerations

Damage per Second (DPS) is a crucial metric when assessing a plant’s combat effectiveness. It calculates the average damage output of a plant over time. While a plant like the Cherry Bomb has a high single-instance damage potential, its cooldown time means its DPS is lower than, for example, the consistent damage of a Gatling Pea.

• High DPS Plants: The Gatling Pea with Torchwood and Gloom Shroom offer very high DPS when strategically placed, making them essential for dealing with large waves of zombies, specifically gargantuars.
• Situational DPS: Some plants excel at high DPS but only under specific circumstances. For example, the Melon-pult does significant damage, but is slow to fire. The Winter Melon adds to the damage output by adding a slow to affected zombies.
• Strategic Combinations: The best DPS comes from a combination of various plants. The Gatling Pea’s DPS is amplified with a Torchwood, while the Gloom Shroom adds AoE damage to the mix.

By considering both single damage instances and DPS, you can understand the full offensive potential of each plant.

FAQs about Damage in Plants vs. Zombies

Here are some frequently asked questions about plant damage in PvZ to provide additional clarity and context:

1. What is the highest single-instance damage in PvZ?

While Gatling Pea with Torchwood provides the highest sustained DPS, a Cherry Bomb or Jalapeno deals high single-instance damage in a single burst to multiple zombies at a time. However, their cooldown significantly reduces their overall effectiveness.

2. Does the Winter Melon do more damage than the Melon-pult?

No, the Winter Melon does the same damage per hit as the Melon-pult. Its primary advantage is the freezing effect, which significantly slows down the zombies.

3. Is the Gloom Shroom the best plant for AoE damage?

In the original PvZ, the Gloom Shroom is one of the best plants for AoE damage, covering a wide area and providing consistent damage per second, while also making the most of a dense placement of zombies.

4. How does the Torchwood affect pea damage?

The Torchwood ignites any pea passing through it. This effect significantly increases damage and adds splash damage for any peas that pass through the torchwood.

5. What are the most effective plants for taking down a Gargantuar?

A combination of Gatling Peas, Torchwoods, and Gloom Shrooms are highly effective against Gargantuars. Instant kill plants like the Squash and Jalapeno are also great at finishing off the large zombies.

6. Are there any plants that deal damage by poisoning?

No, the original Plants vs. Zombies did not have any plants that deal damage by poisoning. There are some plants with the poisoning ability in the sequel Plants vs. Zombies 2.

7. What is the DPS of a Gatling Pea with a Torchwood?

A Gatling Pea alone does about 80 dps, a Gatling Pea behind a Torchwood is at least 160 DPS, and the total DPS would further increase due to the splash damage. It effectively doubles, and adds more due to splash.

8. What role does the Sunflower play in damage output?

The Sunflower does not deal any damage, it produces sun which is required to place other damaging plants. Therefore, Sunflowers are more of an important supporting plant.

9. Is the Cob Cannon worth using for damage?

The Cob Cannon deals massive single-instance damage over a large area, making it extremely effective when used correctly, but it is expensive and requires two kernel-pults to operate.

10. How important is plant placement for damage output?

Extremely important. Placing plants strategically, such as putting Gatling Peas behind Torchwoods or Gloom Shrooms in high traffic areas, maximizes their damage potential.

11. Which plant is the most useless in PvZ?

There really is no useless plant in the first PvZ game. They each have their niche and are useful in different situations.

12. Does the Scaredy-Shroom do any damage?

Yes, the Scaredy-shroom does the same amount of damage as a normal pea shooter, it only hides when zombies get close to it.

13. What about the Split Pea? Does it do more damage?

The Split Pea shoots peas both forwards and backwards. This is great for flexibility and lane management. It does not do any extra damage compared to a regular pea shooter, but it does shoot two lanes at the same time.

14. What is the fastest way to clear a lane?

A Gatling Pea behind a Torchwood, supported by Gloom Shrooms, is the fastest way to clear out a lane. Using instant kill plants like the Cherry Bomb, Jalapeno, and Squash are also great options.

15. Can you beat endless mode in PvZ?

The Survival: Endless mode can be played as long as your defenses hold up. There is not any “win” state for endless mode. This tests the efficiency and resilience of your plant placement and is not meant to be beaten.

By understanding the dynamics of damage output, strategic combinations, and plant placements in Plants vs. Zombies, you can build a resilient defense to hold off every type of zombie.