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]
It has two Activated Abilities, both start in full cooldown when the paragon is created:
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 just over 9 seconds and has a 20-second cooldown.
The Meteor Impact ability targets a Bloon and strikes it with a meteor, dealing heavy damage in a large area around the target and spawning 32 homing fireball projectiles in a circle around the point of impact. It has a 60-second cooldown.
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, do a few cleanups, 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)
The Crucible of Steel and Flame is notable for being the second cheapest Paragon in the game, second to 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, giving Maelstrom greater uptime and further enhancing its main attack by shooting out more blades and tacks as well as Meteor Impact by having a shorter cooldown and dealing much greater damage overall, and the increased flat pierce improves the homing meteor's total DPS.
Crucible of Steel of Flame's best matchup is Blastapopulos; despite the increased ability cooldowns, Meteor Impact's massive burst damage is still very strong for its price. Its worst matchup is Phayze as it lacks any way to naturally affect Camo Bloons, and even with Camo detection from Ascended Shadow it loses almost all of its DPS whenever Phayze hits a skull.
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 (Vortex when his shield is down, Dreadbloon when he is no longer in primary immunity, and Blastapopulos a few seconds after creating his Pyroclastic rocks).
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
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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
Spinning blades of Bloon immolation!
Resolved an issue where Tack Paragon’s Maelstrom ability stopped increasing lifespan (bug fix)
No longer grants full map range to Advanced Intel Subs (bug fix)
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
Portrait
Upgrade icon
Maelstrom icon
Meteor Impact icon
