The Crucible of Steel and Flame's basic attack is similar to the Blade Maelstrom ability, but with limited area coverage. It shoots four rotating streams of white hot blades that each split into a nova of eight tacks when they expire. It constantly fires blades even when Bloons are not within its range. It can only detect Camo Bloons when granted Camo detection by the Ascended Shadow.[1]
The Maelstrom ability temporarily increases its projectile lifespan, allowing both its blades and tacks to travel much further and cover a much larger area overall, and grants it a second attack that blasts jets of flame in a ring around itself, dealing damage in an area similarly to Ring of Fire and Inferno Ring. It lasts for 9 seconds and has a 20-second cooldown.
The Meteor Impact ability targets a Bloon and strikes it with a meteor, dealing enormous damage in a large area around the target and spawning a circle of 32 high damage homing fireballs around the point of impact. It has a 60-second cooldown.
This article or section needs more images. The editor who added this notice elaborates: GIF of a d1 crucible
This article is in need of research. You can help out by editing this article or discussing your findings on the talk page. The editor who added this notice elaborates: Confirm if tacks can hit the same target as blades (look for the presence or absence of a "filter" to the parent, whether it be a property that matches Shrapnel Shot, Airburst Darts, or something like that)
Crucible of Steel and Flame's main attack is a passively attacking blade nova that is offset higher than its own centerpoint. The blade nova consists of two copies of a rotating twin blade attack 180° apart, rotating their offsets in opposite directions at 360° per second. Each blade has 2 radius and moves at 140 units per second, and lasts up to 0.25s. Once expired or hits an obstacle, each blade produces a nova of eight tacks that can hit the same target. The nova has 360° spread. Each tack has 0 radius (i.e. can only hit Bloons with its centerpoint), move at 120 units per second, and last up to 0.15s. Both blades and tacks have low pierce and damage but do extra damage to Bosses. None of its attacks can hit Camo without Camo detection from Ascended Shadow. It is affected by Fast Tack Attacks.
Its range is 42.32, which is roughly less range than its blade nova.
At Degree 1:
The blade attack is shot every 0.0325 seconds.
Each blade deals 20 damage, +30 Boss damage, and has 5 pierce.
Each tack deals 10 damage, +20 Boss damage, and has 3 pierce.
Activated Abilities
Maelstrom ability
This article is in need of research. You can help out by editing this article or discussing your findings on the talk page. The editor who added this notice elaborates: Confirm if bonus lifespan also affects Meteor Impact when triggered while ability is active
Maelstrom ability increases lifespan of all its attacks by ×2.5, and adds a flame ring that is similar to Ring of Fire, both lasting for 9 seconds. The lifespan bonus also affects Meteor Impact when that ability is activated while Maelstrom ability is active. The flame ring has 45 radius, high pierce, and does more damage to Bosses. The flame ring cannot detect Camo Bloons without the support of Ascended Shadow. This ability has a base cooldown of 20 seconds.
At Degree 1:
The flame ring attacks every 1 second and does 250 damage, +250 Boss damage, and has 80 pierce.
Meteor Impact ability
This article is in need of research. You can help out by editing this article or discussing your findings on the talk page. The editor who added this notice elaborates: Confirm delay amount of meteor initial delay between triggering and hitting target.
Meteor Impact creates a meteor that targets and pursues a Bloon based on targeting priority, producing a large explosion that produces 32 homing fireballs that can re-hit Bloons. None of its attacks detect Camo without support of Ascended Shadow. It has a base cooldown of 60 seconds.
The meteor takes about 0.5 seconds to hit its target. The explosion has 120 radius and has very high damage and pierce. The resulting fireballs have 360° spread. Each fireball moves at a rate of 40 units per second, accelerates at 2 units/s2, and has a max speed of 80 units per second. While seeking, a fireball can target Bloons practically everywhere,[fn 1] can seek from any direction, rotates at a rate of 360°/s, and lasts up to 5 seconds. Each fireball has 2 radius and can re-hit Bloons after 0.5s.
At Degree 1:
The meteor does 60,000 damage and has 500 pierce.
Each fireball does 900 damage and has 2 pierce.
Stats
This section is incomplete. You can help out by expanding it. The editor who added this notice elaborates: Add the "delay" stat akin to Mortar and x3x Sub Ballistic Missile
Note: these lists do not factor in Monkey Knowledge or other discounts.
Cost of all required upgrades
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
Total cost
$248,835
$292,755
$316,180
$351,300
Sell value
$174,185
$204,929
$221,326
$245,910
Cost of the upgraded tower
Tiers
Total cost
Sell value
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
5-0-0
$212,760
$250,310
$270,335
$300,370
$148,932
$175,217
$189,235
$210,259
5-1-0
$212,845
$250,410
$270,445
$300,490
$148,992
$175,287
$189,312
$210,343
5-2-0
$213,035
$250,635
$270,690
$300,760
$149,125
$175,445
$189,483
$210,532
5-0-1
$212,855
$250,420
$270,455
$300,500
$148,999
$175,294
$189,319
$210,350
5-0-2
$212,950
$250,530
$270,575
$300,630
$149,065
$175,371
$189,403
$210,441
0-5-0
$186,005
$218,835
$236,345
$262,600
$130,204
$153,185
$165,442
$183,820
1-5-0
$186,130
$218,985
$236,505
$262,780
$130,291
$153,290
$165,554
$183,946
2-5-0
$186,385
$219,285
$236,830
$263,140
$130,470
$153,500
$165,781
$184,198
0-5-1
$186,100
$218,945
$236,465
$262,730
$130,270
$153,262
$165,526
$183,911
0-5-2
$186,195
$219,055
$236,585
$262,860
$130,337
$153,339
$165,610
$184,002
0-0-5
$190,510
$224,130
$242,060
$268,950
$133,357
$156,891
$169,442
$188,265
1-0-5
$190,635
$224,280
$242,220
$269,130
$133,445
$156,996
$169,554
$188,391
2-0-5
$190,890
$224,580
$242,545
$269,490
$133,623
$157,206
$169,782
$188,643
0-1-5
$190,595
$224,230
$242,170
$269,070
$133,417
$156,961
$169,519
$188,349
0-2-5
$190,785
$224,455
$242,415
$269,340
$133,550
$157,119
$169,691
$188,538
Cost of cash investment
Source
Cost per power
Maximum
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
Tower sacrifices
$8.5
$10
$10.8
$12
$510,000
$600,000
$648,000
$720,000
Cash slider
$8.925
$10.5
$11.34
$12.6
$535,501
$630,001
$680,401
$756,001
Investment required per Degree (assuming no other power is provided)
Degree
Power
Tower sacrifices
Cash slider
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
Easy
Medium
Hard
Impoppable
2
2,000
$17,000
$20,000
$21,600
$24,000
$17,850
$21,000
$22,680
$25,200
3
2,324
$19,754
$23,240
$25,099.2
$27,888
$20,741.7
$24,402
$26,354.16
$29,282.4
4
2,666
$22,661
$26,660
$28,792.8
$31,992
$23,794.05
$27,993
$30,232.44
$33,591.6
5
3,027
$25,729.5
$30,270
$32,691.6
$36,324
$27,015.975
$31,783.5
$34,326.18
$38,140.2
6
3,408
$28,968
$34,080
$36,806.4
$40,896
$30,416.4
$35,784
$38,646.72
$42,940.8
7
3,808
$32,368
$38,080
$41,126.4
$45,696
$33,986.4
$39,984
$43,182.72
$47,980.8
8
4,228
$35,938
$42,280
$45,662.4
$50,736
$37,734.9
$44,394
$47,945.52
$53,272.8
9
4,669
$39,686.5
$46,690
$50,425.2
$56,028
$41,670.825
$49,024.5
$52,946.46
$58,829.4
10
5,131
$43,613.5
$51,310
$55,414.8
$61,572
$45,794.175
$53,875.5
$58,185.54
$64,650.6
11
5,615
$47,727.5
$56,150
$60,642
$67,380
$50,113.875
$58,957.5
$63,674.1
$70,749
12
6,121
$52,028.5
$61,210
$66,106.8
$73,452
$54,629.925
$64,270.5
$69,412.14
$77,124.6
13
6,650
$56,525
$66,500
$71,820
$79,800
$59,351.25
$69,825
$75,411
$83,790
14
7,203
$61,225.5
$72,030
$77,792.4
$86,436
$64,286.775
$75,631.5
$81,682.02
$90,757.8
15
7,779
$66,121.5
$77,790
$84,013.2
$93,348
$69,427.575
$81,679.5
$88,213.86
$98,015.4
16
8,379
$71,221.5
$83,790
$90,493.2
$100,548
$74,782.575
$87,979.5
$95,017.86
$105,575.4
17
9,004
$76,534
$90,040
$97,243.2
$108,048
$80,360.7
$94,542
$102,105.36
$113,450.4
18
9,654
$82,059
$96,540
$104,263.2
$115,848
$86,161.95
$101,367
$109,476.36
$121,640.4
19
10,330
$87,805
$103,300
$111,564
$123,960
$92,195.25
$108,465
$117,142.2
$130,158
20
11,032
$93,772
$110,320
$119,145.6
$132,384
$98,460.6
$115,836
$125,102.88
$139,003.2
21
11,761
$99,968.5
$117,610
$127,018.8
$141,132
$104,966.925
$123,490.5
$133,369.74
$148,188.6
22
12,518
$106,403
$125,180
$135,194.4
$150,216
$111,723.15
$131,439
$141,954.12
$157,726.8
23
13,302
$113,067
$133,020
$143,661.6
$159,624
$118,720.35
$139,671
$150,844.68
$167,605.2
24
14,114
$119,969
$141,140
$152,431.2
$169,368
$125,967.45
$148,197
$160,052.76
$177,836.4
25
14,955
$127,117.5
$149,550
$161,514
$179,460
$133,473.375
$157,027.5
$169,589.7
$188,433
26
15,825
$134,512.5
$158,250
$170,910
$189,900
$141,238.125
$166,162.5
$179,455.5
$199,395
27
16,725
$142,162.5
$167,250
$180,630
$200,700
$149,270.625
$175,612.5
$189,661.5
$210,735
28
17,655
$150,067.5
$176,550
$190,674
$211,860
$157,570.875
$185,377.5
$200,207.7
$222,453
29
18,616
$158,236
$186,160
$201,052.8
$223,392
$166,147.8
$195,468
$211,105.44
$234,561.6
30
19,609
$166,676.5
$196,090
$211,777.2
$235,308
$175,010.325
$205,894.5
$222,366.06
$247,073.4
31
20,633
$175,380.5
$206,330
$222,836.4
$247,596
$184,149.525
$216,646.5
$233,978.22
$259,975.8
32
21,689
$184,356.5
$216,890
$234,241.2
$260,268
$193,574.325
$227,734.5
$245,953.26
$273,281.4
33
22,778
$193,613
$227,780
$246,002.4
$273,336
$203,293.65
$239,169
$258,302.52
$287,002.8
34
23,900
$203,150
$239,000
$258,120
$286,800
$213,307.5
$250,950
$271,026
$301,140
35
25,056
$212,976
$250,560
$270,604.8
$300,672
$223,624.8
$263,088
$284,135.04
$315,705.6
36
26,246
$223,091
$262,460
$283,456.8
$314,952
$234,245.55
$275,583
$297,629.64
$330,699.6
37
27,471
$233,503.5
$274,710
$296,686.8
$329,652
$245,178.675
$288,445.5
$311,521.14
$346,134.6
38
28,732
$244,222
$287,320
$310,305.6
$344,784
$256,433.1
$301,686
$325,820.88
$362,023.2
39
30,028
$255,238
$300,280
$324,302.4
$360,336
$267,999.9
$315,294
$340,517.52
$378,352.8
40
31,360
$266,560
$313,600
$338,688
$376,320
$279,888
$329,280
$355,622.4
$395,136
41
32,729
$278,196.5
$327,290
$353,473.2
$392,748
$292,106.325
$343,654.5
$371,146.86
$412,385.4
42
34,135
$290,147.5
$341,350
$368,658
$409,620
$304,654.875
$358,417.5
$387,090.9
$430,101
43
35,579
$302,421.5
$355,790
$384,253.2
$426,948
$317,542.575
$373,579.5
$403,465.86
$448,295.4
44
37,061
$315,018.5
$370,610
$400,258.8
$444,732
$330,769.425
$389,140.5
$420,271.74
$466,968.6
45
38,582
$327,947
$385,820
$416,685.6
$462,984
$344,344.35
$405,111
$437,519.88
$486,133.2
46
40,143
$341,215.5
$401,430
$433,544.4
$481,716
$358,276.275
$421,501.5
$455,221.62
$505,801.8
47
41,743
$354,815.5
$417,430
$450,824.4
$500,916
$372,556.275
$438,301.5
$473,365.62
$525,961.8
48
43,383
$368,755.5
$433,830
$468,536.4
$520,596
$387,193.275
$455,521.5
$491,963.22
$546,625.8
49
45,064
$383,044
$450,640
$486,691.2
$540,768
$402,196.2
$473,172
$511,025.76
$567,806.4
50
46,786
$397,681
$467,860
$505,288.8
$561,432
$417,565.05
$491,253
$530,553.24
$589,503.6
51
48,550
$412,675
$485,500
$524,340
$582,600
$433,308.75
$509,775
$550,557
$611,730
52
50,356
$428,026
$503,560
$543,844.8
$604,272
$449,427.3
$528,738
$571,037.04
$634,485.6
53
52,205
$443,742.5
$522,050
$563,814
$626,460
$465,929.625
$548,152.5
$592,004.7
$657,783
54
54,098
$459,833
$540,980
$584,258.4
$649,176
$482,824.65
$568,029
$613,471.32
$681,634.8
55
56,034
$476,289
$560,340
$605,167.2
$672,408
$500,103.45
$588,357
$635,425.56
$706,028.4
56
58,014
$493,119
$580,140
$626,551.2
$696,168
$517,774.95
$609,147
$657,878.76
$730,976.4
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: Add more strategizations of Crucible, and also state degree processes and how to do paragonning stuff like makeshift paragon and optimizing degrees. (Also, ascended camobuff isn't full uptime on paragons? people are rumoring ascended shadow full uptime on paragons) And verify use cases of when to properly time abilities (maelstrom ability debatable of in center better, might be worse?)
The Crucible of Steel and Flame is notable for being the second cheapest Paragon in the game, behind Apex Plasma Master. The majority of the Crucible's power stems from its abilities, most notably Meteor Impact for its powerful burst damage and AoE making it a very cost-efficient Paragon. Degrees have a great impact on the Crucible's potential DPS all around, especially with the flat pierce boosts for its homing meteors.
One of the Crucible of Steel of Flame's best matchups is Diamondback as its projectiles can all hit the head simultaneously. Furthermore, the Maelstrom ability easily deals with the Bloons it spawns each skull, including Diamond Bloons. Its worst matchup is Phayze as it lacks inherent Camo detection; even with it granted by Ascended Shadow, it loses almost all of its DPS whenever Phayze hits a skull. Additionally, the Maelstrom ability is almost useless versus Lych because the Boss steals the self-buff.
Alongside positioning, timing abilities are important. Time Maelstrom when the Boss is within the Crucible's range to make the most of its Ring of Fire's damage. Use Meteor Impact for certain Bosses when they are no longer immune to damage after reaching a skull (e.g. Vortex when its shield is down, Dreadbloon when no longer in Primary immunity, and Blastapopoulos a few seconds after creating Pyroclastic Rocks).
For maximum pops, place all of the T5 Tack Shooters near the front of the track. For cheapest T2 and T3 crosspaths for the most tiers, use 0-2-2 and 0-2-3. The cheapest T4 for the most tiers is 0-4-2 Blade Maelstrom, and for most expensive use 4-2-0 Ring of Fires. However, 2-0-4 Overdrive is preferred if transitioning into the Paragon, since this T4 has the best DPS against MOAB-Class Bloons.
The Crucible of Steel and Flame was first announced in the update notes for version 44.0 as a feature to be introduced in version 46.0. It revealed that the monkey inside the Tack Shooter would be involved in its design.[2] Its release in version 46.0 was reaffirmed in the update notes for version 45.0.[3]
“
Tack Shooter Paragon! We’ve always known there’s a Monkey inside each one, and now we’ll all get to see what the Paragon-in-a-can can do! — Version 44.0 update notes
This article or section uses Cargo to generate its content. It will automatically fill up as other articles are completed. To add to this section, create the articles it is looking up. Do not add content to this section manually and do not remove this notice until you are sure this section is complete.
Tack Paragon’s abilities on the other hand are both seeing an improvement to help support their roles and highlight that strong ability use case — Update notes
To match the base tacks fired by Tack Shooters the Tack Paragon’s tack nova count is increasing, which along with lower projectile lifespan should tighten up the effective single target damage close to the tower. Eruption ability’s lifespan bonus is also being increased to keep the tower’s long-range buff very similar to how it was before even with the lower starting lifespan. — Update notes
”
Main attack — sub-projectile: Count increased ― 6 → 8
Main attack — main projectile ― Lifespan reduced → 0.3s (0.25s)
Main attack — sub-projectile: Lifespan reduced ― 0.2s → 0.15s
We feel the Tack Paragon needs a nudge to help it compete against other paragons as this price range proves to be quite easy to skip over. — Update notes
This article or section needs more images. The editor who added this notice elaborates: Just the attack animation (watching the upgrade and attack animation stops people from seeing a full loop of the attack animation)
Placeholder portrait in the update preview video
Tack Paragon at Degree 1
Tack Paragon at Degree 20
Tack Paragon at Degree 40
Tack Paragon at Degree 60
Tack Paragon at Degree 80
Tack Paragon upgrade and attack animation
Tack Paragon Maelstrom ability
Tack Paragon Meteor ability
Assets
Portrait
Upgrade icon
Maelstrom icon
Meteor Impact icon
Trivia
The internal file name for the Crucible of Steel and Flame's portrait is Paragon-CycloneOfFireAndMetal.