Beast Handler (BTD6): Difference between revisions

{{for|the Beast Handler in general|Beast Handler}}

The '''Beast Handler''' is a [[Support]] [[tower]] in ''[[Bloons TD 6]]'', introduced in {{BTD6 version|36.0}}. It is unlocked by accumulating 3,000,000 total [[Bloon]] pops starting at [[level]] 30 or by purchasing the Beast Handler Unlock Pack from the [[Shop (BTD6)|Shop]]. Bloons popped before reaching level 30 do not count towards unlocking it.

The Beast Handler [[attack]]s by stabbing nearby Bloons with its staff, popping up to 4 at a time. Its staff can pop [[frozen]] Bloons, but not [[Lead Bloon (BTD6)|Lead Bloon]]s or [[Purple Bloon (BTD6)|Purple Bloon]]s, and it cannot detect [[Camo Bloon (BTD6)|Camo Bloon]]s. It ignores [[line of sight]] blockers, but it has very short [[range]]. It cannot be [[tower buff|buffed]] by [[Alchemist (BTD6)|Alchemist]]s or moved with [[Support Chinook (BTD6)|Support Chinook]]s.

 

A Beast can be merged with another Beast of the same upgrade path of the same tier or higher, unless the recipient has already reached maximum Beast Power. Merging a Beast removes it and adds its Beast Power to the other Beast. A merged beast can be repositioned within contributing handlers' range circles, assuming the contributor and recipient's range circles (without buffs) are touching, creating a network of targeting areas for their shared Beast similar to [[Advanced Intel (BTD6)|Advanced Intel]].

 

*The first path unlocks an aquatic Beast that attacks by leaping at nearby Bloons and dealing damage on contact. At higher tiers, it can knock Bloons backwards and can grab stronger Bloons and drag them into the water to insta-kill them. It can be placed and relocated to anywhere on [[water]] within range of the Beast Handler or any Beast Handlers it is merged with. This path can only be accessed if the Beast Handler has any water within its range, excluding range modifiers.

*The third path unlocks an avian Beast that flies around pecking at Bloons. If any Bloons are past a specific point on the track, it can also grab those Bloons and drag them back to that point. It can target Bloons within range of the Beast Handler or any Beast Handlers it is merged with, and the drop-off point can be set to any part of the track within the same area. This path can only be accessed if the Beast Handler has any track within its range, excluding range modifiers.

For [[Velociraptor]] and above, bonus stun damage is also affected by merging. The increased value is related to base damage increase from merging:

<math>\text{Bonus Stun Damage}=\text{Base Bonus Stun Damage} + \lfloor\frac{\text{Damage Range} \times \text{percent}}{\text{Stun Bonus Divisor}}\rfloor</math>

Used for beasts that have a thrash attack (i.e. [[Great White]] and above). The <math>\text{Base Thrash Cooldown}</math> is 0.3 while dragging and 0.6 while latching. The <math>\text{Base Attack Cooldown}</math> is 1.1.

{{BTD6 upgrade list by tower|Beast Handler}}

{{BTD6 hero list by insta|BeastHandler}}

===Artifacts that add Beast Handlers===

 

===Artifacts that affect Beast Handlers===

<!--{{hat|This list does not include Artifacts that affect all Primary towers.}}

{{BTD6 artifact list by name|Fish Nova;Follow Me;Homing Projectiles;Malicious Mauling|columns=1}}

{{main strategy}}{{BTD6 last updated|49.2|section=y}}{{strategy needed}}At the expense of being more micro intensive and space consuming than other towers, the Beast Handler performs exceptionally well in most stages of the game. Many of its upgrades have niches that other towers cannot fulfill, making them top tier, especially in [[CHIMPS]].

* Tier 1 Beast Handlers ([[Piranha]], [[Microraptor]], and [[Gyrfalcon]]) are generally the least desirable upgrades of this tower because of low damage and attack speed. They are rather unreliable as starting towers and should only be used as stepping stones to higher tier upgrades.

** However, Tier 2 Beast Handlers are excellent early game towers. A max power [[Barracuda]] can pop most early game bloons and supports in the mid game by knocking them back. Despite the low range of [[Adasaurus]], a max power one can still carry the early game because of its layer skipping and high attack speed. A [[Horned Owl]] can be used as an early [[Ceramic Bloon (BTD6)|ceramic]] control and help with the insides of early [[MOAB (BTD6)|MOABs]], as well as stall super ceramics for ability cooldowns in the late game.

*Path 1 features the [[Great White]] and [[Orca]], which have extremely high yet inconsistent thrash DPS in the mid game and late game, respectively. They usually require other cleanup towers or stalling to cover their downtime, and it is recommended to use them at the highest merge power. [[Megalodon]] is a powerful [[freeplay]] tower that also works well against [[Boss Bloon|Boss Bloons]]. Orca can save up to it, but it's unnecessary in CHIMPS.

*Path 2 features the [[Velociraptor]] and [[Tyrannosaurus Rex|T-rex]], and [[Giganotosaurus]]. At max power, the Velociraptor is a mid game carry that clears all bloons before Freeplay scaling and still does high damage to blimps. A max power T-rex is a psuedo T5 that performs well for its cost and has a strong support ability with a short cooldown. The Giganotasaurus almost requires max power to be useful and as such is limited to Freeplay, but even there can struggle to be worth the space it takes up.

*Path 3 features the [[Golden Eagle]], [[Giant Condor]], and [[Pouākai]]. A max power Golden Eagle is a solid mid game that requires smart positioning of the drop-off point to be effective. The Giant Condor is a powerful support tower that both stalls blimps and forcefully reposition them. The Pouakai is very powerful even when not at max degree and is a late game win condition that needs additional help against the [[BAD (BTD6)|BAD]].

*Since the Orca and T-rex are Tier 4 towers with the DPS of a Tier 5, Overclock is one of the best towers to pair with them since it is effectively a permanent 66.7% attack speed boost.

*It's better to merge Tier 3 Beast Handlers for Tier 3 and Tier 4 since it is much more space efficient and they can be discounted under a [[Monkey Commerce (BTD6)|discount village]]. If the map allows, a mix of lower and higher tiers can be used so that the beast gets as much intel range as possible.

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