Smart Spikes (BTD6)

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==Strategy==

Smart Spikes allows the Spike Factory to focus on specific regions~~, with limited functionality~~, 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.

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.

~~The start~~-of-~~round speed bonus also stands out in~~ [[~~Boss Rush~~]] ~~for a boost in production for every Boss kill, particularly for~~ [[MOAB SHREDR (BTD6)|MOAB SHREDR]] and [[Super Mines (BTD6)|Super Mines]].

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.

~~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. However, Super Mines tends~~ to ~~prefer the [[Faster Production (BTD6)|Faster Production]] crosspath outside of Boss Rush due its higher DPS when ignoring~~ the ~~start-~~of~~-round boost~~.

For targeting priorities, all options (including Normal) have helpful use cases:

* Normal: Although spikes are randomized, this targeting option can be used to roughly determine the health of a stockpile.

~~For targeting priorities, all options have helpful use cases:~~

* Close: Focusing near the Spike Factory without needing to modify a reticle (unlike Set Target).

* Smart: Allows auto-switching between active lanes to ~~protect far~~ towards the exit(s).

* Smart: Allows auto-switching between active lanes to target towards the exit(s).

* 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.

* 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.

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 ==Strategy==
 {{Strategy needed}}
-Smart Spikes allows the Spike Factory to focus on specific regions, with limited functionality, 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.
+{{BTD6 last updated|51.2|section=y}}
+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.
-The start-of-round speed bonus also stands out in [[Boss Rush]] for a boost in production for every Boss kill, particularly for [[MOAB SHREDR (BTD6)|MOAB SHREDR]] and [[Super Mines (BTD6)|Super Mines]].
+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.
-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. However, Super Mines tends to prefer the [[Faster Production (BTD6)|Faster Production]] crosspath outside of Boss Rush due its higher DPS when ignoring the start-of-round boost.
+For targeting priorities, all options (including Normal) have helpful use cases:
+* Normal: Although spikes are randomized, this targeting option can be used to roughly determine the health of a stockpile.
-For targeting priorities, all options have helpful use cases:
 * Close: Focusing near the Spike Factory without needing to modify a reticle (unlike Set Target).
-* Smart: Allows auto-switching between active lanes to protect far towards the exit(s).
+* Smart: Allows auto-switching between active lanes to target towards the exit(s).
-* 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.
+* 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.

Smart Spikes (BTD6): Difference between revisions