Activated Abilities (BTD5)

Overview

BTD5

BSM2

BTD6

BATTD

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Activated Abilities tutorial in BTD5 Deluxe

Activated Abilities, also referred to as special abilities, Super Activated Abilities, or simply abilities, are a game mechanic in Bloons TD 5, Bloons TD Battles, and Bloons Monkey City. They are unique and powerful effects that can be triggered by the player, but must undergo a cooldown period after each usage. Some abilities are deployed instantly after activation, some are deployed after a short delay, and some last for a limited amount of time. Many are offensive in nature, typically by launching a powerful attack, bolstering a tower's existing attack, or initiating a power-boosting transformation of some sort. Some offer supportive or supplementary effects, such as generating income, buffing other towers, or hampering the Bloons.

Mechanics

Abilities can be activated at any time when not on cooldown. Most abilities can be used immediately after being granted to a tower, with some exceptions, namely Misdirection and the Supply Drop Ability in the Flash versions, which must undergo an initial cooldown. All abilities have a cooldown, ranging anywhere from 5 seconds to 120 seconds depending on the ability. Some upgrades, namely High Energy Beacon and Bloontonium Reactor, can reduce the cooldowns of abilities for other towers within range. All towers except the Banana Farm have at least one ability, which is always granted by the final upgrade on the second upgrade path. The Support Chinook upgrade is unique in that it grants two different abilities at once.

In Bloons TD 5, some Specialty Buildings can enable additional abilities for certain towers. Some Special Agents have abilities as well; most are exclusive to Special Agent Pros, with the exception of the Bloonsday Device.

In Bloons Monkey City, all upgrades that grant Activated Abilities require a Special Building to be built before they can be researched. A few Special Missions and Special Items provide unique abilities, some of which are not tied to any tower, meaning they cannot have their cooldowns reduced by other towers (though they can be reduced through Activated Ability Monkey Knowledge). Some of the abilities exclusive to the mobile version are used to temporarily unlock additional towers; these can only be activated by paying cash and can only be used once, after which they become unusable and disappear from the ability palette.

List of Activated Abilities

Note: most abilities have separate names and descriptions from their associated upgrades in the Flash versions, and are the names and descriptions used here. Most of the names end in "Ability", but some do not follow this convention for unknown reasons. The Special Mission-exclusive abilities in the mobile version of BMC also have unique names, which are listed before the Flash version's names if applicable.

Upgrade-based abilities

Super Monkey Fan Club Ability

The Super Monkey Fan Club Ability is the ability of the Super Monkey Fan Club upgrade for the Dart Monkey. It temporarily transforms itself and up to 9 other Dart Monkeys on the screen (prioritizing the Dart Monkeys closest to it) into Super Monkeys for a short time. While transformed, Dart Monkeys gain +40 range and throw darts with a cooldown of 0.05s (slightly faster than the Super Monkey's 0.058s). In the Flash versions, instead increases attack speed by 20x, effectively reducing its cooldown to 0.045s.

• Flash description: Converts up to 10 nearby dart monkeys into Super Monkeys for 15 seconds
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 15 seconds
• Cooldown: 50 seconds
• Uptime: 30%

Blade Maelstrom Ability

The Blade Maelstrom Ability is the ability of the Blade Maelstrom upgrade for the Tack Shooter. While active, the Tack Shooter rapidly launches blades in a spiral pattern, with infinite range and pierce. More specifically, it fires two blades in opposite directions every 1/30th of a second, with the angle rotating 12° anticlockwise each time it fires, launching 120 blades in total in 30 directions.

• Flash description: Covers the area in an unstoppable storm of blades.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 2 seconds
• Cooldown: 20 seconds
• Uptime: 10%

Supply Drop Ability

The Supply Drop Ability is the ability of the Supply Drop upgrade for the Sniper Monkey. It calls in an Operation: Dart Storm Monkey Ace that flies across the screen from right to left, dropping a collectable crate near the Sniper Monkey's position. It takes 2-4 seconds for the crate to deploy, and the crate contains $500-$1500 cash, with both being randomized.

In the Flash versions, unlike other abilities, Supply Drop starts on cooldown after being purchased, meaning the player must wait 60 seconds before it can be used for the first time.

• Flash description: Drops a crate full of cash.
• Type: Instant (not including the delay when deploying the crate)
• Cooldown: 60 seconds

Turbo Charge Ability

The Turbo Charge Ability is the ability of the Turbo Charge upgrade for the Boomerang Thrower. It temporarily increases the Boomerang Thrower's attack speed by 5x.

• Flash description: Increase attack speed to hypersonic for 10 seconds.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 8 seconds (BTD Battles Mobile), 10 seconds (other games)
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 17.7% (BTD Battles Mobile), 22.2% (other games)

Sabotage Supply Lines Ability

The Sabotage Supply Lines Ability is the ability of the Sabotage Supply Lines upgrade for the Ninja Monkey. It causes all Bloons (except Boss Bloons) that spawn during its uptime (including those spawned as children of unaffected Bloons) or spawned from the entrance within the last 10 seconds to move at half speed. In BTD5 Deluxe, the latter property does not apply. The slowness effect lasts until the affected layer is popped.

• Flash description: Sabotage the bloons supply lines for 15 seconds. During the sabotage, all new bloons are crippled to half speed.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 15 seconds
• Cooldown: 60 seconds
• Uptime: 25%

MOAB Assassin Ability

The MOAB Assassin Ability is the ability of the MOAB Assassin upgrade for the Bomb Tower. It launches a missile at the strongest Bloon on-screen (including Camo Bloons) and deals 750 damage to it (1000 damage in BTD Battles Mobile), enough to destroy the outer layer of smaller MOAB-Class Bloons and dealing significant damage to ZOMGs. It only deals 375 damage to Boss Bloons, except Dreadbloon and Blastapopoulos in BTD5 only. The damage does not soak through layers, except against ZOMGs in the Flash versions only.

• Flash description: Takes hold of the nearest MOAB-class bloon with a grappling hook and brings it down. ZOMG bloons are immune to this.
• Type: Instant (not including delay)
• Cooldown: 30 seconds (mobile), 45 seconds (Flash)

Absolute Zero Ability

The Absolute Zero Ability is the ability of the Absolute Zero upgrade for the Ice Tower. It freezes all Bloons on-screen for 4 seconds, including White Bloons, Zebra Bloons, and Camo Bloons, and can even hit Bloons inside tunnels. This ability applies the effects of Permafrost and Deep Freeze, but not Snap Freeze or Ice Shards. In the mobile versions, this ability also applies a special version of Permafrost to MOAB-Class Bloons (including Boss Bloons), causing them to move at half speed for 4 seconds.

• Flash description: Freezes the entire screen of bloons for 4 seconds. Does not affect MOAB-class bloons.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 4 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 8.88%

Glue Strike Ability

The Glue Strike Ability is the ability of the Glue Striker upgrade for the Glue Gunner. It covers all Bloons on-screen, including Camo Bloons and Bloons inside tunnels, but not MOAB-Class Bloons. Affected Bloons are slowed to 30% speed for 22.86 seconds. This ability also applies the effects of Glue Soak and Corrosive Glue if the tower has those upgrades.

• Flash description: Glues all bloons on the screen.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 22.86 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 50.8%

MOAB Takedown Ability

The MOAB Takedown Ability is the ability of the Monkey Pirates upgrade for the Monkey Buccaneer. It grabs the strongest applicable Bloon on-screen with a grappling hook and destroys it after a short delay. In the mobile versions, it takes 0.5 seconds to pull down a Bloon, and it prioritizes the Bloon closest to the exit if multiple Bloons have the same priority, and fails if the target has more than 20,000 health through freeplay scaling. In the Flash versions, it takes 4 seconds to pull down a Bloon, and it prioritizes the strongest Bloon first, then the closest Bloon if multiple Bloons have the same priority, and works regardless of the target's health.

This ability cannot target ZOMGs, but it can target Golden Bloons and DDTs. In BTD5, it can also target Dreadbloon and Blastapopoulos, which is presumably an oversight, as it cannot target them in BMC, nor can it target the other Boss Bloons in any game. Despite what the description in the Flash versions implies, this ability can target non-MOAB-Class Bloons as well.

• Flash description: Takes hold of the nearest MOAB-class bloon with a grappling hook and brings it down. ZOMG bloons are immune to this.
• Type: Instant (not including delay)
• Cooldown: 60 seconds (mobile), 55 seconds (Flash)

Ground Zero Ability

The Ground Zero Ability is the ability of the Ground Zero upgrade for the Monkey Ace. It drops an explosive that instantly damages all Bloons on-screen, enough to destroy a MOAB or DDT in one go, including those inside tunnels. It deals 350 damage, except in BTD5 Deluxe, where it deals 500, and in BTD Battles Mobile, where it deals 400.

• Flash description: Drops a single devastating bomb that destroys all bloons on screen and heavily damages MOAB-class bloons.
• Type: Instant
• Cooldown: 45 seconds (mobile), 50 seconds (Flash)

Bloon Annihilation Ability

The Bloon Annihilation Ability is the ability of the Technological Terror upgrade for the Super Monkey. It emits a shockwave that deals 1000 damage to all nearby Bloons (except Camo Bloons) and can soak through MOAB-Class Bloons. In the mobile versions, the shockwave has a radius of 80 units, while in the Flash versions, it has a radius of 200 units.

• Flash description: Destroys all bloons within short radius of tower, completely, and utterly. Does 1000 damage to MOAB-class bloons.
• Type: Instant
• Cooldown: 60 seconds

Summon Phoenix Ability

The Summon Phoenix Ability is the ability of the Summon Phoenix upgrade for the Monkey Apprentice. It summons a phoenix sub-tower, which flies in a clockwise circle above the track for a short time. The phoenix shoots flames at nearby Bloons with a cooldown of ~0.043s (0.08s in the Flash versions), with each flame dealing 1 damage, having 5 pierce, and having no spread. In BTD Battles Mobile, the flames deal +1 damage to MOAB-Class Bloons.

• Flash description: Creates a super powerful flying phoenix that flies around wreaking bloon havoc for 20 seconds.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 23 seconds (BTD Battles Mobile), 20 seconds (BTD5 Mobile / BMC Mobile), 25 seconds (Flash, despite what the description states)
• Cooldown: 60 seconds
• Uptime: 38.3% (BTD Battles Mobile), 33.3% (BTD5 Mobile / BMC Mobile), 41.6% (Flash)

Call to Arms Ability

The Call to Arms Ability is the ability of the MIB Call To Arms upgrade for the Monkey Village. It doubles the attack speed and pierce of all towers within range for a short time.

• Flash description: Doubles the attack speed and popping power of all nearby towers for 10 seconds.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 10 seconds
• Cooldown: 60 seconds (mobile), 50 seconds (Flash)
• Uptime: 16.6% (mobile), 20% (Flash)

Pop And Awe Ability

The Pop And Awe Ability is the ability of the Artillery Battery upgrade for the Mortar Tower. It applies both a stun and burn effect to all Bloons on-screen for a short time. Burning Bloons take 1 damage every second until the ability expires. Despite what the description states, MOABs are stunned for the full duration, BFBs are stunned for 2 seconds, and ZOMGs are stunned for half a second. In the Flash version of BMC, DDTs are stunned for half a second, while in the mobile versions, they are stunned for the full duration. In the mobile versions, the effects do not apply to Bloons that are inside tunnels.

• Flash description: Bombards the screen for 5 seconds, popping every bloon 1 time per second, and immobilizes all bloons during that time. Does not affect MOAB-class bloons.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 5 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 11.1%

Rocket Storm Ability

The Rocket Storm Ability is the ability of the Bloon Area Denial System upgrade for the Dartling Gun. It launches five waves of rockets at up to 100 of the closest Bloons, firing one rocket at each target for up to 100 rockets, with a 2-second delay between each wave. Each rocket explosion can pop up to 23 Bloons (40 Bloons in the Flash versions) in a small area.

• Flash description: Rocket Storm shoots out a missile towards the nearest 100 bloons on screen. Ouch.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 8 seconds
• Cooldown: 30 seconds
• Uptime: 26.6%

Spike Storm

Spike Storm is the ability of the Spike Storm upgrade for the Spike Factory. It launches 200 piles of Road Spikes across the entire track, with each pile containing 5 spikes. In the Flash version of BTD Battles, it only launches 100 spike piles, but each pile has 10 spikes instead of 5. In the Flash versions, each spike lasts for 5-8 seconds at random and deals +3 damage to MOAB-Class Bloons (except Boss Bloons, which only take +1 damage regardless of Monkey Knowledge), while in the mobile versions, each spike lasts for a fixed 8 seconds and deals +2 damage to all MOAB-Class Bloons.

• Flash description: Lays down a thick carpet of Spikes over the whole track
• Type: Instant
• Cooldown: 30 seconds (BTD Battles Mobile), 40 seconds (other games)

Overclock

Overclock is the ability of the Overclock upgrade for the Monkey Engineer. It allows the player to buff one tower of their choosing for a short time, with the effect depending on the tower:

• For most towers, this buff doubles attack speed, though in BTD5 Deluxe and the Flash version of BMC, if the target tower's main attack is at the attack speed cap (i.e. its cooldown is less than 0.033 seconds), it doubles its pierce instead.
• For the Monkey Village, it increases its range by 25%.
• For the Banana Farm, it forces it to produce its bananas in the first half of the round instead of over the whole round, except in BTD5 Deluxe, where it instead causes it to produce twice as many bananas, and in the Flash version of BMC, where it has no effect whatsoever.

In the mobile versions of BTD5 and BMC (but not BTD Battles), this ability's cooldown begins immediately after the tower selection option is opened, not when a tower is selected.

• Flash description: Target tower becomes super powered for 60 seconds.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 60 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 133%

Supa-Vac

Supa-Vac is the ability of the Supa-Vac upgrade for the Bloonchipper. It sucks in all non-MOAB-Class Bloons within its range and holds them a clump near it for a short time. In BTD Battles Mobile, it can also suck in MOABs for the full duration and BFBs for 4 seconds. This does no damage by itself, but its base shredding attack can pull these Bloons in and shred them as it does normally. Other towers can also attack Bloons while it is holding them. It can also suck in Lead Bloons, Ceramic Bloons, and Camo Bloons, but the base attack still needs Heavy Duty Suction or MIB to pop Lead Bloons (and Ceramic Bloons in BTD Battles Mobile) and needs Camo detection to pop Camo Bloons.

• Flash description: Huge burst of suction power brings all nearby non-MOAB class bloons towards it and holds them there until they are sucked into the tower. Lasts 8 seconds.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 8 seconds
• Cooldown: 40 seconds
• Uptime: 20%

Redeploy

Redeploy, also internally named Tower Transport, is one of the two abilities of the Support Chinook upgrade for the Heli Pilot. It allows the player to relocate one tower of their choosing. In BTD5 and BMC (but not BTD Battles), this ability's cooldown begins immediately after the tower selection option is opened, not when a tower is selected.

• Type: Instant (not including delay when repositioning)
• Cooldown: 60 seconds

Vital Supplies

Vital Supplies, also internally named Care Package, is one of the two abilities of the Support Chinook upgrade for the Heli Pilot. It spawns a collectable crate from the aircraft's current position. Its contents alternate each time the ability is used, containing $1500-$2000 cash on odd-numbered uses and containing 50-75 lives on even-numbered uses, with both values being random. It can increase lives above the player's life cap.

• Type: Instant
• Cooldown: 60 seconds

First Strike Capability

First Strike Capability is the ability of the First Strike Capability upgrade for the Monkey Sub. It launches a missile at the strongest Bloon on-screen (including Camo Bloons), dealing massive damage. In the mobile versions, the missile deals 6000 damage to the target (3000 to Boss Bloons), then distributes any excess damage evenly among all Bloons within the blast radius. In the Flash version of BTD5, the missile deals 16,700 damage to the target, then deals excess damage to surrounding Bloons in order from strongest to weakest until all damage is consumed. Due to a bug, in the Flash version of BTD5, if the target has more than 16,700 starting health (not current health) though freeplay scaling, the game crashes.

• Flash description: Activated Ability: First Strike Capability - a devastating missile strike on the largest bloon on screen destroys up to a ZOMG bloon in one go, or many lesser bloons. 60 second cooldown.[sic]
• Type: Instant (not including delay)
• Cooldown: 60 seconds

Misdirection

Misdirection is the ability of the Misdirection upgrade for the BTD Battles Mobile-exclusive COBRA. It targets the strongest Bloon within the tower's range, up to a BFB, and instantly relocates it to the opponent's side, where it is sent from the natural Bloon entrance. Its cooldown depends on the type of Bloon it had sent when it was last used, and it also has an initial cooldown.

• Type: Instant
• Initial cooldown: 15 seconds
• Cooldown:
  • BFB: 60 seconds
  • MOAB: 30 seconds
  • Ceramic Bloon: 15 seconds
  • Other: 5 seconds

Special Agent abilities

Orbital Strike

Orbital Strike is the ability of the Bloonsday Device. After a 2.2-second delay, it summons a laser beam that is controlled by the player's inputs and deals 1 damage per frame (every 0.0166 seconds in the mobile versions, every 0.0333 seconds in the Flash versions) to all Bloons within a 60-unit radius of the target point. Despite what the Flash description implies, this does not deal increased damage to MOAB-Class Bloons. In the Flash versions, the beam starts at the location of the player's cursor and has a slight delay in following it, while in other versions, the beam starts directly on top of the Bloonsday Device and follows the player's inputs almost instantaneously.

• Flash description: Creates a beam that destroys all bloons and does big damage to MOAB-class bloons.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 15 seconds (mobile, does not include delay), 10 seconds (Flash, includes delay)
• Cooldown: 80 seconds
• Uptime: 18.75% (mobile, not including delay), 12.5% (Flash, including delay)

Orbital Strike (Pro)

An upgraded version of Orbital Strike is the ability of the Bloonsday Device Pro. On top of its previous effects, the beam leaves behind small plasma projectiles that deal damage to Bloons on contact, similar to Road Spikes. Each plasma trail projectile deals 1 damage per hit, can hit up to 25 times, and lasts for 40 seconds (80 seconds in the Flash versions). In the Flash versions, one trail projectile is spawned every 0.1 seconds for a total of <100 projectiles, while in the mobile versions, one is spawned every 0.05 seconds for a total of ~300 projectiles.

• Type: Duration
• Duration: 15 seconds (mobile, does not include delay), 10 seconds (Flash, includes delay)
• Cooldown: 80 seconds
• Uptime: 18.75% (mobile, not including delay), 12.5% (Flash, including delay)

Swarm!

Swarm! is the ability of the Beekeeper Pro. It spawns 100 bees that, like its base attack, seek out nearby Bloons and sting them until all layers are popped or the Bloon enters a tunnel. Each bee deals 1 damage every 0.5 seconds to regular Bloons and 1 damage every 0.25 seconds to Regrow Bloons. In the web version and BTD5 Deluxe, the bees last for a random amount of time, rather than a fixed duration like in the mobile version.

• Flash description: Will create a swarm of 100 bees that will seek targets and pop them mercilessly for a short duration.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 8 seconds (mobile), 7-11 seconds (Flash)
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 17.7% (mobile), 15.5%-24.4% (Flash)

Activate Sea Monster!

Activate Sea Monster! is the ability of the Portable Lake Pro. It allows the tower to attack Bloons within its range of 180 units with a tentacle, which attacks once every 1.714 seconds, can hit up to 20 Bloons at once, and stuns non-MOAB-Class Bloons for 1 second. In the mobile versions, the tentacle stuns all Bloons hit, deals 1 damage to regular Bloons, and deals 5 damage to Ceramic Bloons and MOAB-Class Bloons (it is supposed to deal 5 damage to all Bloons, but it doesn't due to a bug). In the Flash versions, the tentacle deals 5 damage to all Bloons, but only stuns one out of every 3 Bloons hit.

• Flash description: Out of the Lake comes a legendary Sea Monster that furiously attacks bloons for a short duration.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 10 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 22.2%

Abominable Ability

The Abominable Ability is the ability of the BTD5 Deluxe-exclusive Mad Snowman Pro. It temporarily increases the Mad Snowman Pro's attack speed by 5x. It is effectively a clone of the Turbo Charge Ability, even having the same cooldown and duration.

• Flash description: Turbo speed snowballs for 10 seconds
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 10 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 22.2%

Special Mission abilities

Summon Super Phoenix Ability

The Summon Super Phoenix Ability is an ability exclusive to the Wizard Lord in BTD5. Its effect is almost identical to the Summon Phoenix Ability in BTD5, except it also deals +4 damage to MOAB-Class Bloons.

• Flash description: Creates a super powerful flying super phoenix that flies around wreaking bloon havoc for 20 seconds and doing extra damage to MOAB class bloons.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 20 seconds (mobile), 25 seconds (Flash, despite what the description states)
• Cooldown: 60 seconds
• Uptime: 33.3% (mobile), 41.6% (Flash)

Activate Whirlpool

Activate Whirlpool (Activate Whirpool Ability[sic] in the Flash version) is an ability exclusive to the Whirlpools on Shipwreck in BMC. It rapidly sucks in nearby Bloons and shreds them over time, similar to Supa-Vac but with less range. In the mobile versions, it sucks Bloons in every 0.3 seconds, takes 1 second to damage a Bloon before ejecting it, has no limit on the number of Bloons it can process at a time, and prioritizes the Bloons closest to reaching the exit. In the Flash versions, it sucks Bloons in every 0.29 seconds, takes 0.5 seconds to damage a Bloon before ejecting it, can process a maximum of 10 Bloons at once, and prioritizes the Bloons closest in proximity.

• Flash description: Pops nearby bloons in its swirling vortex, including leads and camo.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 10 seconds (mobile), 15 seconds (Flash)
• Cooldown: 30 seconds (mobile), 55 seconds (Flash)
• Uptime: 33.3% (mobile), 27.2% (Flash)

Activate Sticky Sap

Activate Sticky Sap (Sticky Sap Flower Ability in the Flash version) is an ability exclusive to the Sticky Sap Flowers on Sticky Sap Plant in BMC. In the mobile versions, its effect is identical to the Glue Strike Ability with the Glue Soak and Corrosive Glue effects, while in the Flash versions, it is distinguished by being unable to hit Camo Bloons and having only half the duration.

• Flash description: Glues all bloons on the screen.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 22.86 seconds (mobile), 11.43 seconds (Flash)
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 50.8% (mobile), 25.4% (Flash)

Activate Phase Crystal

Activate Phase Crystal (Bloon Annihilation Ability in the Flash version) is an ability exclusive to the Phase Crystal in BMC. It is almost identical to the Technological Terror's version of the ability, except it has a radius of 160 units (230 units in the Flash version). In the Flash version, it also has a much shorter cooldown.

• Flash description: Destroys all bloons within short radius of tower, completely, and utterly. Does 1000 damage to MOAB-class bloons.
• Type: Instant
• Cooldown: 60 seconds (mobile), 10 seconds (Flash)

Escape

Escape is the ability exclusive to the Caged Engineer on Engineer Rescue in BMC Mobile. It costs $450 to activate and simply removes the Caged Engineer, gives the player a free Monkey Engineer, and renders itself unusable for the rest of the game.

Repair (Damaged Helicopter)

Repair is the ability exclusive to the Damaged Helicopter on Crash Site in BMC Mobile. It costs $1,000 to activate and simply replaces the Damaged Helicopter with a 0-0 Heli Pilot when used, then renders itself unusable for the rest of the game.

Repair (Damaged Submarine)

Repair is the ability exclusive to the Damaged Submarine on Submarine Alliance in BMC Mobile. It costs $8,000 to activate and simply replaces the Damaged Submarine with a 2-4 Monkey Sub when used, then renders itself unusable for the rest of the game.

Rainstorm

Rainstorm is an ability exclusive to the Dry As A Bone Special Mission in the Flash version of BMC. It is not tied to any specific tower. It forces all Banana Farms to produce an extra round's worth of bananas, without interfering with their normal pattern of banana production. It can only be used once per round.

• Flash description: Waters thirsty Banana Farms.
• Type: Instant
• Cooldown: 60 seconds

Sandstorm Wind

Sandstorm Wind is an ability exclusive to the Sandstorm Special Mission in the Flash version of BMC. It is not tied to any specific tower. It slows all Bloons on-screen to half speed and slowly deals damage to them for a short time. More specifically, each Bloon on-screen has a 10% chance of taking damage every 0.1 seconds while the ability is active.

• Flash description: Sends a strong gust of wind that slows down the bloons.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 20 seconds
• Cooldown: 90 seconds
• Uptime: 22.2%

Other abilities

Shadow Double

Shadow Double is an ability exclusive to the Ninja Monkey in BTD5. It is enabled by unlocking and using the tier 4 (mobile) or tier 3 (Flash) Ninja Academy. It is not restricted to any upgrade. It spawns a temporary clone of the Ninja Monkey at a random position within 100 units (mobile) or 120 units (Flash), who attacks Bloons alongside the Ninja Monkey for a short time. In the Flash versions, the shadow copies the upgrades of the Ninja Monkey that used it, while in the mobile versions, the shadow will always be a 0-0 Ninja Monkey.

• Flash description: Creates a shadow double of the Ninja Monkey for a short duration
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 10 seconds
• Cooldown: 75 seconds
• Uptime: 13.3%

Double Range

Double Range, also named Super Black Powder, is an ability exclusive to the Bomb Tower in BTD5. It is enabled by unlocking and using the tier 4 Bombing Range, which is not available in the Flash version. It is not restricted to any upgrade. It doubles the range of up to 10 nearby Bomb Towers (including itself) for a short time.

• Type: Duration
• Duration: 10 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 22.2%

Temple of the Vengeful Monkey

Temple of the Vengeful Monkey is a hidden ability exclusive to the Temple of the Monkey God in Bloons TD 5 and BMC Mobile. In the former, it is enabled by unlocking and using the tier 4 Super Monkey Lair, while in the latter, it is enabled by unlocking the Dark Temple Idol. An equivalent also exists in the Flash version of BMC, though it permanently replaces the Temple of the Monkey God in that game rather than being an ability. The ability temporarily increases the Temple's range by 50%, doubles its attack speed and pierce, and allows it to fire two sun beams at a time instead of one.

• Type: Duration
• Duration: 10 seconds
• Cooldown: 60 seconds
• Uptime: 16.7%

Anti-camo Dust

Anti-camo Dust is an ability granted by the Anti Camo Dust Special Item, which is exclusive to the Flash version of BMC. It is not tied to any specific tower. It permanently removes Camo from all Bloons on-screen and all Bloons that spawn afterwards for a short time.

• Flash description: Removes camo from all newly spawned bloons for 20 seconds.
• Type: Duration
• Duration: 20 seconds
• Cooldown: 45 seconds
• Uptime: 44.4%

Cuddly Bear

Cuddly Bear is an ability granted by the Cuddly Bear Special Item, which is exclusive to the Flash version of BMC. It is not tied to any specific tower. It grants the player 20 lives, and can increase lives above the player's life cap, but can only be used once per round.

• Flash description: Cuddly Bear spreads the love, providing 20 bonus lives.
• Type: Instant
• Cooldown: 120 seconds

Trivia

• Activated Abilities were first demonstrated in the "Bloons TD 5 Official trailer", where they were referred to as "super abilities". Unlike in the final game, where all ability buttons use a red background, some ability buttons used other background colors in this build:
  • The MOAB Assassin Ability used a purple background.
  • The Blade Maelstrom Ability used a light blue background.
  • The Supply Drop Ability used a light green background.

• In BTD5 Deluxe and older versions of the web version, there was an unused button labelled "TACTICS" on the status bar, on the same vertical position as the save button but hidden off-screen to the right of it. Clicking this button would toggle an unused tab on the bottom status bar, which would only display a black square on the left. The purpose this once served is unknown, though as the internal name of the Activated Ability button sprite is useTactics_btn, it is likely that it was related to Activated Abilities in some way.