Smart Spikes (BTD6): Difference between revisions

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'''Smart Spikes''' ('''Directed Spikes''' prior to {{BTD6 version|14.0}}) is the [[Spike Factory (BTD6)|Spike Factory]]'s path 3 tier 2 [[upgrade]] in ''[[Bloons TD 6]]''. It gains a [[tower buff]] at the start of each [[round]] that quadruples its [[attack speed]] for 3 seconds. If [[crosspath]]ed with [[Spike Storm (BTD6)|Spike Storm]] and [[Carpet of Spikes (BTD6)|Carpet of Spikes]], their abilities will only dispense spikes on paths that currently have Bloons on them, and their abilities will dispense more spikes if they're triggered while the buff is still active. The buff can be absorbed by [[Lych]]. The Spike Factory also gains four new [[targeting]] options in addition to the default random behavior, which is labeled as Normal in the options:
'''Smart Spikes''' ('''Directed Spikes''' prior to {{BTD6 version|14.0}}) is the [[Spike Factory (BTD6)|Spike Factory]]'s path 3 tier 2 [[upgrade]] in ''[[Bloons TD 6]]''. <section begin="lede" />This upgrade gains a [[tower buff]] at the start of each [[round]] that quadruples its [[attack speed]] for 3 seconds. If [[crosspath]]ed with [[Spike Storm (BTD6)|Spike Storm]] and [[Carpet of Spikes (BTD6)|Carpet of Spikes]], their abilities will only dispense spikes on paths that currently have Bloons on them, and their abilities will dispense more spikes if they're triggered while the buff is still active. The buff can be absorbed by [[Lych]]. The Spike Factory also gains four new [[targeting]] options in addition to the default random behavior, which is labeled as Normal in the options:
*Close — Dispenses spikes on the nearest section of track within range.
*Close — Dispenses spikes on the nearest section of track within range.
*Smart — Targets whichever track has the Bloons that are closest to reaching the exit (or has Bloons at all), and dispenses spikes on the point closest to the end of that track. If it cannot reach any paths that have Bloons on them, it will dispense spikes on the points closest to the ends of each track within its range, keeping their coverage roughly even.
*Smart — Targets whichever track has the Bloons that are closest to reaching the exit (or has Bloons at all), and dispenses spikes on the point closest to the end of that track. If it cannot reach any paths that have Bloons on them, it will dispense spikes on the points closest to the ends of each track within its range, keeping their coverage roughly even.
*Set Target — Dispenses spikes to any location within range, the target point can be selected by clicking the Set Target button on the tower's menu and it can be set outside the track.
*Set Target — Dispenses spikes to any location within range, the target point can be selected by clicking the Set Target button on the tower's menu and it can be set outside the track.
*Automatic — Changes behavior depending if there are Bloons in range, if there are, the Spike Factory will target its spikes towards the Bloon that is closest to the exit ("First" targeting). Otherwise it will drop the spikes in the closest point to the front of the track within range, also, if there is more than one track in range, the spikes will be divided in a similar way to the Smart targeting.
*Automatic — Changes behavior depending if there are Bloons in range, if there are, the Spike Factory will target its spikes towards the Bloon that is closest to the exit ("First" targeting). Otherwise it will drop the spikes in the closest point to the front of the track within range, also, if there is more than one track in range, the spikes will be divided in a similar way to the Smart targeting.<section end="lede" />


==Stats==
==Stats==
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==Strategy==
==Strategy==
{{Strategy needed}}
{{BTD6 last updated|52.1|section=y}}
{{BTD6 last updated|51.2|section=y}}
Smart Spikes allows Spike Factory to focus spikes onto specific regions, and its start-of-round speed boost improves short-term production. For lower tiers, a 1-0-2 Spike Factory can be used as a cheap option to catch stray Bloons. [[Spiked Balls (BTD6)|Spiked Balls]] and [[Spiked Mines (BTD6)|Spiked Mines]] may prefer this crosspath on longer maps while [[Spike Storm (BTD6)|Spike Storm]] and [[Carpet of Spikes (BTD6)|Carpet of Spikes]] mainly use it to control where the spikes from their abilities land on maps with alternating lanes. [[MOAB SHREDR (BTD6)|MOAB SHREDR]] can use Set Target to focus its blimp damage bonuses to minimize wastage on non-blimps and is a strong choice in Boss Rush. Specific to [[Boss Rush]], both MOAB SHREDR and Super Mines prefer this crosspath, because the start-of-round boost occurs often enough every Boss kill that it outpaces [[Even Faster Production (BTD6)|Even Faster Production]]. However, Super Mines prefers the middle crosspath outside of Boss Rush due its higher DPS when ignoring the start-of-round boost.
Smart Spikes allows the Spike Factory to focus spikes onto specific regions, and the start-of-round speed boost improves its short-term production of spikes. Combined with the bonus lifespan of [[Long Reach (BTD6)|Long Reach]], this crosspath is great for stockpiling over long periods. Players should be aware that the spikes will still expire at the end of the round, as they still cannot carry over rounds without [[Long Life Spikes (BTD6)|Long Life Spikes]] or above.


As a crosspath, it works well for most upgrades. For lower tiers, a 1-0-2 Spike Factory can be used as a cheap option to catch stray Bloons. [[Spiked Balls (BTD6)|Spiked Balls]] and [[Spiked Mines (BTD6)|Spiked Mines]] may prefer this crosspath on longer maps while [[Spike Storm (BTD6)|Spike Storm]] and [[Carpet of Spikes (BTD6)|Carpet of Spikes]] mainly use it to control where the spikes from their abilities land on maps with alternating lanes. [[MOAB SHREDR (BTD6)|MOAB SHREDR]] can use Set Target to focus its blimp damage bonuses to minimize wastage on non-blimps and is a strong choice in Boss Rush. Specific to [[Boss Rush]], both MOAB SHREDR and Super Mines prefer this crosspath, because the start-of-round boost occurs often enough every Boss kill that it outpaces [[Even Faster Production (BTD6)|Even Faster Production]]. However, Super Mines still prefers middle crosspath outside of Boss Rush due its higher DPS when ignoring the start-of-round boost.
Use cases for each [[targeting option]] are as follows:
 
* Normal: Spikes are randomized thus losing consistency, but may be easier to determine the health of a stockpile.
For targeting priorities, all options (including Normal) have helpful use cases:
* Close: Focusing in one location manually.
* Normal: Although spikes are randomized, this targeting option can be used to roughly determine the health of a stockpile.
* Smart: Automatically switches between active lanes to target towards the exit(s).
* Close: Focusing near the Spike Factory without needing to modify a reticle (unlike Set Target).
* Set Target: Can be set onto an intersection. Can be placed off the track to specifically hit only MOAB-Class Bloons. Care should be taken when a temporary range buff (e.g. [[Berserker Brew (BTD6)|Berserker Brew]]) is active, as setting the Spike Factory's targeting too far may cancel its set targeting due to gaining only temporary range.
* Smart: Allows auto-switching between active lanes to target towards the exit(s).
* Automatic: Anti-stalling. It can also be used as a less micro-intensive option (compared to Set Target) to chase MOAB-Class Bloons.
* Set Target: Allows for any specific location in range. Can be placed off the track to specifically hit only MOAB-Class Bloons, or to micromanage different locations of spikes. Care should be taken not to rely on Set Target when a temporary range buff (e.g. [[Berserker Brew (BTD6)|Berserker Brew]] or [[Stronger Stimulant (BTD6)|Stronger Stimulant]]) is active, as setting the Spike Factory's targeting too far may cancel its custom targeting due to gaining only temporary range.
* Automatic: Anti-stalling. It can also be used as a less micro-intensive option (compared to Set Target) to "chase" MOAB-Class Bloons around while they are in range.


==Update history==
==Update history==