The Desert Phantom is the Desperado's path 3 tier 5 upgrade in Bloons TD 6. All its attacks deal much more damage, its pistol attacks much faster, and upgrades its shotgun. Shotgun pellets knock back harder, and its shrapnel burns Bloons while triggering explosions from popping them quickly.
Pistol: Damage increased from 18 to 50, bonus Ceramic damage increased from +18 to +50, and doubles its attack speed (0.6 seconds attack cooldown, without affecting its 0.1-second delay between shots).
Shotgun: Pellets now each deal 10 damage instead of 3, deal +40 damage to MOAB-Class Bloons, and knock back MOAB-Class Bloons at −200% speed and other Bloons at −300% speed. Shrapnel projectiles now have 10 pierce, deal 3 damage, and inflict a damage over time effect that deals 10 fire-type damage, +10 damage to MOAB-Class Bloons, every 1.5 seconds for 9.05 seconds. Additionally, if a Bloon hit by the shrapnel is popped within 4.55 seconds, it generates an explosion that deals 5 fire-type damage, +15 damage to Ceramic Bloons, to up to 3 Bloons within a small radius around it (which cannot have its pierce buffed). With Quickdraw, the shrapnel projectiles deal +10 bonus damage to Ceramic Bloons.
Note: this list does not factor in Monkey Knowledge or other discounts.
Tiers
Total cost
Sell value
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
0-0-5
$36,890
$43,400
$46,870
$52,080
$25,823
$30,380
$32,809
$36,456
1-0-5
$37,060
$43,600
$47,085
$52,320
$25,942
$30,520
$32,960
$36,624
2-0-5
$37,230
$43,800
$47,300
$52,560
$26,061
$30,660
$33,110
$36,792
0-1-5
$37,015
$43,550
$47,030
$52,260
$25,911
$30,485
$32,921
$36,582
0-2-5
$37,310
$43,900
$47,410
$52,680
$26,117
$30,730
$33,187
$36,876
Strategy
This strategy section is empty or incomplete. See the strategy guidelines for more information on how to write strategy sections. The editor who added this notice elaborates: Desphan buffs in v52.0 did improve it, but it's still not the best on its awkward map formats?
The Desert Phantom is an easy to use DPS tower that can consistently push back groups of blimps. Due to its shrapnel and explosions, its primary use is collateral damage against dense groups of Bloons. However, it struggles immensely on harder maps where it is unable to consistently target Bloons in its shotgun range, struggles against DDTs on its own (even with MIB) without Overclock, and its BAD damage is poor for its cost because its explosions only trigger when Bloons are popped. It benefits from buffs that improve its attack speed and pierce, such as Stronger Stimulant or Primary Training, to bolster its grouped cleanup. Targeting on First is typically preferred to trigger explosions often.
Overall, it's a decent choice when playing on a Beginner map or any Intermediate or Advanced map with consistent straight lines (e.g. Sunset Gulch), but should not be considered as a serious option on most Expert maps because of its various weaknesses.
2-0-5 is preferred for general DPS and single-target damage whereas 0-2-5 is better if Quickdraw's attack speed bonus cannot be maintained or no external Camo detection can be granted.
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Meanwhile, The Desert Phantom gains extra initial damage to MOABs as well as Ceramic damage bonuses to the Burn mechanics so it can show up more prepared for Super Ceramics. — Update notes
”
Overall cost reduced by $1,000 (due to cost changes for previous tiers)
Bottom path desperado on the other hand suffers on trickier maps due to its low range design so we are bumping up the knockback at all tiers and reducing Avenger’s cost. — Update notes
”
Overall cost reduced by $2,000 (due to cost changes for previous tiers)
At the same time bottom path Desperado’s low shotgun range is being scaled up to increase their useful placement, and as a fittingness and fun bonus Nomads[sic] will also be allowed to group up in range of other Nomads[sic] with no penalty. The Desert Phantom also gains more single target buckshot power as this big weakness holds it back considerably. — Update notes
”
Overall cost increased by $3,000 (due to cost changes for previous tiers)
Shotgun attack: Range increased ― 28 → 36
Note: Also increases the range required to lose Wanderer stacks
Shotgun main projectile: Bonus damage to MOAB-Class Bloons increased ― +20 → +40
Wanderer buff: Wanderer Desperados in range no longer reduce a Wanderer stack from each other
They say Desperado hits so hard it's like a mine blast.
Attack speed scaling with Bloons in radius should work correctly (bug fix)
Cash bonus on Bloon leak should no longer stack per Desperado
X-X-5 Desperado
Portrait
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Insta Monkey icon