The Desert Phantom

The Desert Phantom

They say Desperado hits so hard it's like a mine blast.

Tower	Desperado — Path 3 — Tier 5
XP cost	29,000
Cash cost	$26,350 — Easy $31,000 — Medium $33,480 — Hard $37,200 — Impoppable

← Avenger

The Desert Phantom is the Desperado's path 3 tier 5 upgrade in Bloons TD 6. This upgrade causes Bloons to explode if they fully pop within 4.55 seconds of being hit by its shotgun shrapnel. Each explosion deals 5 Fire-type damage, with +15 damage to Ceramic Bloons, to up to 3 Bloons within the radius (unaffected by pierce buffs).

Additionally, this upgrade improves both of its attacks:

• Increases the pistol's base damage from 18 to 50 and damage to Ceramic Bloons from +18 to +50, and doubles its attack speed (without affecting its 0.1-second burst interval).
• Increases the shotgun pellets' damage from 3 to 10, grants them +40 damage to MOAB-Class Bloons, and increases their knockback to -300% speed for regular Bloons and -200% speed for MOAB-Class Bloons.
• Increases the shotgun shrapnel's damage from 1 to 3, and grants them damage over time that deals 10 Fire-type damage, and +10 damage to MOAB-Class Bloons, every 1.5 seconds for 9 seconds. Quickdraw causes the shrapnel to also deal +10 damage to Ceramic Bloons.

Stats

For a complete list of Desperado stats, see Stats:Desperado (BTD6).

This data was last updated for: version 55.2

Tower
Display range 60 units Footprint radius 7 units Targeting options First Last Close Strong

Attack
Burst count 2 Burst interval 0.1s Cooldown 0.6s Offset (X, Y, Z) 0, 12.65, 11.25 Targeting Depends on targeting option Targeting range 60 units Speed with no towers in range +45% Penalty per tower in range -15% Speed per Bloon in range +2% Speed per Bloon in range max +50% Filters Cannot target Bloons that the alternate attack can target Cannot target Camo
Projectile Pierce 1 Damage 50 Damage to Ceramic +50 Damage type Sharp Radius 2 units Filters Can only hit the target Ignores blockers

Shotgun attack
Burst count 2 Burst interval 0.2s Cooldown 1.97s Offset (X, Y, Z) 0, 14.73, 8.43 Targeting Depends on targeting option Targeting range 36 units Speed with no towers in range +45% Penalty per tower in range -15% Speed per Bloon in range +2% Speed per Bloon in range max +50% Filters Cannot target Camo
Can fire between rounds
Projectile Count 3 Angle 35° Pierce 3 Damage 10 Damage to MOAB-Class +40 Damage type Shatter Speed 300 units/s Lifespan 0.2s Radius 2 units Filters Cannot hit Camo Knockback Multiplier ×-3 Multiplier for Lead ×-3 Multiplier for Ceramic ×-3 Multiplier for MOAB-Class ×-2 Duration 0.2s Shrapnel Count 3 Angle 120° Pierce 10 Damage 3 Damage type Sharp Speed 300 units/s Lifespan 0.2133s Radius 0.2 units Filters Cannot hit Camo Damage over time Damage 10 Damage to Ceramic +10 Damage type Fire Duration 9.05s Interval 1.5s Layers ∞ Explosion Pierce 3 Max pierce 3 Damage 5 Damage to Ceramic +15 Damage type Fire Lifespan 0.1s Persists between rounds 1 Radius 8 units Filters Cannot hit Camo Ignores blockers

Nomad buff
Cooldown modifier ×0.6 Range bonus +16 Lifespan 15s Cooldown 60s

1-0-5

Attack
Speed per distance from target +1% Speed per distance from target max +50%

Shotgun attack
Speed per distance from target +1% Speed per distance from target max +50%
Shrapnel Damage to Ceramic +10

2-0-5

Attack
Speed with 0 or 1 Bloon in range +60% Penalty per additional Bloon in range -15%

Shotgun attack
Speed with 0 or 1 Bloon in range +60% Penalty per additional Bloon in range -15%

0-1-5

Attack
Filters Can now target Camo

Shotgun attack
Filters Can now target Camo
Projectile Filters Can now hit Camo Shrapnel Filters Can now hit Camo Explosion Filters Can now hit Camo

0-2-5

Attack
Crit multiplier ×4 Crit base chance 2.5% Crit chance per distance from target +0.25%

Shotgun attack
Crit multiplier ×4 Crit base chance 2.5% Crit chance per distance from target +0.25%

Costs and sell values

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	$46,875	$52,080	$25,823	$30,380	$32,813	$36,456
1-0-5	$37,060	$43,600	$47,090	$52,320	$25,942	$30,520	$32,963	$36,624
2-0-5	$37,230	$43,800	$47,305	$52,560	$26,061	$30,660	$33,114	$36,792
0-1-5	$37,020	$43,550	$47,035	$52,260	$25,914	$30,485	$32,925	$36,582
0-2-5	$37,320	$43,900	$47,415	$52,680	$26,124	$30,730	$33,191	$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?

This section was last updated for: version 55.2

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.

Desert Phantom is also used for cleanup in Race scenarios, which fits its strengths.

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.

Update history

For a complete list of Desperado changes, see Update history:Desperado (BTD6).

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Version 49.1

•  Attack speed scaling with Bloons in radius should work correctly (bug fix)

Version 49.2

•  Cash bonus on Bloon leak should no longer stack per Desperado
•  Desperado no longer gains Camo Prioritization when granted Camo detection from external sources (bug fix)

Version 50.0

“

At higher tiers Pistol damage has increased for better long-range Single Target performance.
— Update notes

”

•  Pistol: Damage increased ― 20 → 50
•  Pistol: Bonus damage to Ceramic Bloons increased ― +20 → +50
•  Shotgun: Attack cooldown increased ― 1.56s → 1.97s (attack speed reduced by 20.81%)

Version 51.0

“

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)
•  Shotgun attack: Bonus damage to MOAB-Class Bloons increased ― +10 → +20
•  Shrapnel damage over time: Now deals +10 bonus damage per tick to Ceramic Bloons
•  Shrapnel explosion: Bonus damage to Ceramic Bloons increased ― +5 → +15
•  Pistol now reloads at the end of the round

1-0-5, 2-0-5

•  Shrapnel: Now deals +10 damage to Ceramics (undocumented)

Version 52.0

“

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)
•  Shotgun: Knockback multiplier for MOAB-Class Bloons increased ― -1× → -2×
•  Shotgun: Knockback multiplier for Lead and Ceramic Bloons increased ― -2× → -3×
•  Shotgun: Knockback multiplier for Rainbow and below Bloons increased ― -2× → -3×

Version 53.0

“

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 Wanderer stacks from each other

Version 56.0

“

To make Desperado crosspaths feel smoother to play around, we’ve lowered the buff drop-off on both of the 2xx and xx1 crosspaths. [...] Desert Phantom’s shrapnel pierce reduces as even unbuffed the group coverage is pretty crazy, though this doesn’t really change as much as it may look.
— Update notes

”

•  Wanderer buff: Penalty per tower in range reduced ― -15% → -9%
  • Note: The maximum attack speed remains the same (+45%) but it now takes 6 towers in range to fully negate it instead of 4
•  Shotgun shrapnel: Pierce reduced ― 10 → 6

Gallery

For more Desperado images, see Gallery:Desperado.

Screenshots

This article or section needs more screenshots. See the screenshot guidelines for more information on what screenshots are needed and how to add them.

• 
  X-X-5 Desperado

Assets

• 
  Portrait
• 
  Icon
• 
  Insta Monkey icon

Trivia

• It shares its name with a 1936 American Western film.

In other languages

Name

Language	Text	Notes
Arabic	شبح الصحراء	—
Danish	Ørkenfantomet	—
German	Das Wüstenphantom	—
Spanish	El fantasma del desierto	—
Spanish (Latin America)	El fantasma del desierto	—
Finnish	Aavikon aave	—
French	Le fantôme du désert	—
Italian	Il fantasma del deserto	—
Japanese	砂漠の幻影	—
Korean	사막의 환영	—
Dutch	De Woestijnfantoom	—
Norwegian	Ørkenfantomet	—
Polish	Pustynny upiór	—
Portuguese (Brazil)	O Fantasma do Deserto	—
Russian	Пустынный мираж	—
Swedish	Ökenfantomen	—
Thai	ผีทะเลทราย	—
Turkish	Çöl Hayaleti	—
Chinese (simplified)	沙漠幻影	—
Chinese (traditional)	沙漠幻影	—

Description

Language	Text	Notes
Arabic	يُقال إن ضربات المجرم الطائش قوية جدًا لدرجة أنها تشبه انفجار لغم.	—
Danish	De siger, at Desperado rammer så hårdt, at det er som en minesprængning.	—
German	Man sagt, dass Desperado so hart zuschlägt, dass es wie eine Minenexplosion wirkt.	—
Spanish	Se dice que Desperado golpea tan fuerte como una explosión de mina.	—
Spanish (Latin America)	Dicen que los disparos del forajido son tan fuertes como una explosión.	—
Finnish	Sanotaan, että desperado osuu niin kovaa, että se on kuin miinan räjähdys.	—
French	On dit que le desperado inflige autant de dégâts qu'une explosion de mine.	—
Italian	Si dice che Fuorilegge colpisca così forte da sembrare l'esplosione di una miniera.	—
Japanese	デスペラードの射撃は、地雷が爆発したような衝撃を与えるという噂だ。	—
Korean	데스페라도의 공격이 어찌나 거센지 흡사 지뢰가 폭발하는 것 같다고들 합니다.	—
Dutch	Men zegt dat een treffer van Desperado inslaat als een mijnexplosie.	—
Norwegian	De sier Desperado treffer så hardt at det er som en mine som sprenges.	—
Polish	Ponoć atak Desperado można jedynie porównać do wybuchu miny	—
Portuguese (Brazil)	Dizem que o Pistoleiro bate tão forte que parece a explosão de uma mina.	—
Russian	Говорят, десперадо бьет сильно, как динамитная шашка.	—
Swedish	De säger att Desperado träffar så hårt att det är som en gruvsprängning.	—
Thai	พวกเขาบอกว่าเดสเปราโดโจมตีอย่างแรงเหมือนกับระเบิดเหมือง	—
Turkish	Derler ki Desperado'nun vuruşları adeta mayın patlaması etkisi yaratır.	—
Chinese (simplified)	据说亡命猴的威力堪比地雷爆炸。	—
Chinese (traditional)	據說亡命之猴攻勢超猛，仿佛地雷爆炸般震撼。	—