Airburst Darts (BTD6)

BTD5

BTD6

BTDB2

Airburst Darts

General Information

Game

Bloons TD 6

Tower

Monkey Sub

Unlocked at

1,000 XP

Cost

$850 (Easy)
$1,000 (Medium)
$1,080 (Hard)
$1,200 (Impoppable)

Activated Ability

N/A

Targeting Options

First, Last, Close, Strong, Submerge (with Submerge and Support)

Camo Detection

Restricted (upgradable to 2-0-2 and requires another camo detection tower around the map, or upgradable to 3-0-2 and submerged to decamo)

Other Names

airburst

Popology

Damage Type(s)

Main:

Sharp

Single Projectile

Moderate Seeking

Impact

Airburst:

Sharp

Angular Spray x3

Burst

Statistics

Damage

1 (homing dart)
1 (airburst darts)

Pierce

1 (homing dart, excluding additional upgrades)
2 (airburst darts)

Attack Speed

Fast (every 0.35s)

Range

42 (excluding additional upgrades)

Status Effects

N/A

Tower Boosts

N/A

Income/Life Boosts

N/A

Path Upgrades

← Previous

Current

Next →

Twin Guns

Airburst Darts

Triple Guns

Path Info

Path

Upgrade Tier

3

2

[Source]

“	Airburst darts split into 3 on impact for massively increased popping power.	”
	^{~ In-game description}

Airburst Darts is the second upgrade of Path 3 for the Monkey Sub in Bloons TD 6. Upon initial impact, the homing dart will split into three airburst darts (4 with the Quad Burst MK). Each airburst dart can pop up to 2 bloons each (+3 with Barbed Darts, +1 with Naval Upgrades). Airburst darts are bursts, allowing these darts to independently hit the parent target, and they are evenly expelled within a 60° formation from the middle.

Unlike its BTDB2 counterpart, Airburst Darts do not improve crosspaths of Ballistic Missile or Submerge and Support. Ballistic Missile attacks are only improved by +14.2% (0.875x attack cooldown), and Submerge Subs by +42.9% (0.7x attack cooldown).

This upgrade costs $850 on Easy, $1,000 on Medium, $1,080 on Hard, and $1,200 on Impoppable.

Description[]

Overview[]

The rear of the sub is now painted yellow, and it retains the twin guns of its previous upgrade; this also applies to any Sub using this as a crosspath.

Airburst Darts changes the main dart into an Impact attack, and upon collision with a bloon it immediately creates a Burst of 3 darts at a 90 degree angle at the center. Since the Sub already has Twin Guns, darts are shot every 0.35s.

In addition, Airburst Darts retains the improved attack speed for submerged attacks from Submerge and Support and above at +42.9% attack speed (0.7x attack cooldown). For Ballistic Missile, the missiles do not gain an increase of attack speed, only receiving a bonus of ~14% (0.875x attack cooldown) from Twin Guns.

Targeting Priorities[]

Airburst Darts targets bloons using the standard targeting priorities. It shoots straight movement projectiles that can moderately seek at bloons.

First: Targets the first bloon visible within its range.
Last: Targets the last bloon visible within its range.
Close: Targets the closest bloon visible within its range.
Strong: Targets the strongest bloon visible within its range.

Adding Advanced Intel does not add Camo Prioritization, despite being a potential option for camo detection.

Full Popology[]

Statistics[]

Updated as of Version 42.0

Base stats

Dart:
- Projectile, sharp type, 42 range, 0.35s attack cooldown, 1 damage, 1 impact. Moderately homes at bloons at a 170 linear speed and 360 angular speed, with a seeking radius of 27.06. Upon collision with bloon, produce Airburst.
Airburst:
- Burst, sharp type, spray of 3 in a 60° formation from centre, 2 pierce, 1 damage.

Crosspathing interactions

3-0-2: Submersion attack cooldown reduced by 0.7x (+42.9% attack speed), equal to 0-3-1.
4+-0-2: Submersion radioactive and decamo attack cooldown reduced by 0.7x (+42.9% attack speed), equal to 0-3-1.
0-1-2: Airburst pierce increased from 2 to 5.
0-2-2: Dart and Airburst damage type changed from sharp to normal.
0-3+-2: Ballistic Missile attack cooldown reduced by 0.875x (+14.2% attack speed), equal to 0-3-1.

Monkey Knowledge interactions

Naval Upgrades: All Monkey Subs get +1 pierce.
Elite Military Training: All Military Monkeys get a one-off +1000 XP and earn XP in-game 5% faster permanently.
Quad Burst: Airburst Darts split into 4 instead of 3.
Flanking Maneuvers: Attacks 10% faster when set targeting priority to "Last".
Military Conscription: First military tower costs only ⅔ of the original cost.
- Monkey Sub base cost from $275, $325, $350, and $390 → $185, $220, $235, and $260 on Easy, Medium, Hard, and Impoppable, respectively.
Advanced Logistics: All Military Monkeys base costs reduced by 5%.
- Monkey Sub base cost from $275, $325, $350, and $390 → $260, $310, $335, and $370 on Easy, Medium, Hard, and Impoppable, respectively.
  - If Military Conscription is also enabled, the final cost will be $170, $200, $220, and $240.
Monkey Education: All Monkeys XP earn rate increased by 8%.
Better Sell Deals: All Monkeys sell for 5% more. Increases sell potency from 70% to 75%.
Veteran Monkey Training: All Monkeys reload time reduced by 3%.

Attack Interactions[]

See also: Attack Interactions/Bloons TD 6/Military

Updated as of Version 40.2

Base attack(s)

Dart:
- Sharp
- Single Projectile
- Straight Attack
- Moderate Seeking
- Impact
Airburst Dart:
- Sharp
- Burst (origin: Dart)
- Angular Spray (3)
- Straight Attack

Costs[]

Updated as of Version 44.0. Listed prices exclude external buffs, any sacrifices, and Monkey Knowledge.

[Module \| Data]	Purchase				Sell
Costs	Easy	Medium	Hard	Impoppable	Easy	Medium	Hard	Impoppable
Upgrade (X-X-2)	$850	$1,000	$1,080	$1,200	-
Total (0-0-2)	$1,505	$1,775	$1,915	$2,130	$1,054	$1,243	$1,341	$1,491
Crosspath (1-0-2)	$1,615	$1,905	$2,055	$2,285	$1,131	$1,334	$1,439	$1,600
Crosspath (2-0-2)	$2,040	$2,405	$2,595	$2,885	$1,428	$1,684	$1,817	$2,020
Crosspath (0-1-2)	$1,885	$2,225	$2,400	$2,670	$1,320	$1,558	$1,680	$1,869
Crosspath (0-2-2)	$2,140	$2,525	$2,725	$3,030	$1,498	$1,768	$1,908	$2,121

This upgrade's prices (or included crosspath's prices) are affected by the following MK: Military Conscription, Advanced Logistics, Better Sell Deals

Strategy[]

Summary[]

The Airburst Darts upgrade is an incredible source of early-game popping power, soloing not just early grouped bloons but also early Fast Bloons, Black Bloons, and White Bloons. It pairs well with Advanced Intel to maximize its deployment of these powerful attacks, or Barbed Darts to pick out denser formations of bloons within localized range.

Because any darts shot by the Sub seek out bloons, there is a very high chance the Airburst Darts will hit other bloons, clearing up grouped bloons that Twin Guns may fail against.

As for the further bonus attack speed for alternate attacks provided by this upgrade, it is helpful with Submerge Subs for much faster decamo and Reactors if faster rate of damage is desired. Airburst Darts is also helpful for improving the performance of Ballistic Missiles within specific range for fighting single-target bloons, even if it doesn't further improve the ballistic missiles themselves compared to Twin Guns.

Tips[]

This upgrade is very useful for early-game, and can solo up to Rounds 15 with ease, and can make rounds up to Round 27 much easier, especially with the Advanced Intel crosspath.
Adding a Berserker Brew nearby will make all of its airburst darts much, much stronger. The two synergize so well together that combining them is one of the most cost-efficient ways to clear early rounds.
Ballistic Missile does not benefit from the extra attack speed for the missiles, but Airburst Darts can be added to make it easier to destroy MOAB-class bloons, particularly single-target bloons.
In terms of crosspaths, use crosspathing where appropriate. 2-0-2 Airburst Darts has greater range coverage via Advanced Intel. 0-1-2 Airburst Darts is stronger in short-range, but this improvement does not prove very significant except against moderately dense rushes. 0-0-2 may be sufficient for the airburst benefits right away.
The Quad Burst Monkey Knowledge increases this upgrades effectiveness by a whopping 33%, making it one of the best Monkey Knowledge points to grab for a new player.

Version History[]

Balance Changes[]

Airburst Darts are a powerful option in BTD6, especially when paired with Alchemist buffs. There was a small pierce nerf to Airburst Darts, but otherwise it is still a strong option overall for the middle early-game, and even later on in the game with later upgrades. Additionally, like Twin Guns, crosspathing variety to non-dart attacks were added to Airburst Darts.

3.0

Airburst Darts are now affected by external buffs such as Alchemist
- This was likely added because these darts did not intend to be unaffected by external buffs.

12.0

Airburst Darts pierce reduced from 3 to 2.

18.0

Airburst Darts now increases attack speed of Ballistic Missile, Submerge and Support, and Bloontonium Reactor

19.0

Airburst Darts now grants less bonus attack speed for Upper Path 2's ballistic missiles (see Ballistic Missile or Pre-Emptive Strike for more specific info)
- Overall attack speed buff decreased from +100% to +52%, and bonus decreased from +70% to +33% (0.588x → 0.75x).

26.0

“	As Airburst Darts alone already gives a huge benefit to the tower regardless of not applying any crosspath buff, some of the attack speed benefit this upgrade gave to 032 Ballistic Missile has instead been moved into the base 030 Missile.	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi, referring to Ballistic Missile}

Airburst Darts now grants even less bonus attack speed for Upper Path 2's ballistic missiles (see Ballistic Missile or Pre-Emptive Strike for more specific info)
- Overall attack speed buff decreased from +52% to +27%, and bonus decreased from +33% to +11% (0.75x → 0.90x).

30.0

“	Previously the rate increase to Ballistic Missile from crosspath was reduced due to Airburst having enough value on it’s [sic] own. This reason still applies as Airburst provides a significant power boost just on it’s [sic] own, so all rate increase has been removed from Airburst and applied directly to the base Ballistic Missile to help crosspath diversity slightly.	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Airburst Darts no longer grants an attack speed buff to Ballistic Missiles. To compensate, the speed of the un-crosspathed Ballistic Missile is buffed to be roughly equal in power.
- Airburst Darts no longer gives +11% attack speed.

41.0

“	We have come back a number of times to add, fix & balance sub crosspathing, over years of learning though it currently feels messy and we'd like simplification. [...] Likewise Airburst shouldn't be required to maximize the rate of submerged subs, instead we'd rather give people an easier way to work with the Airburst attack if they desire to upgrade to it so 'Submerge' is moving to a new Tower Special rather than target priority. [...]	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Airburst Darts no longer grants a +33% attack speed buff to submerged Subs. Total attack speed bonus reduced from +57% to +42%

Bug Fixes and General Changes[]

This section is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.

18.0

[Undocumented] Description changed from "Airburst darts split into 3 on impact for massively increased popping power." to "Airburst darts split into 3 on impact for massively increased popping power. Further enhances Ballistic Missile and Bloontonium Reactor."

30.0

Description changed from "Airburst darts split into 3 on impact for massively increased popping power. Further enhances Ballistic Missile and Bloontonium Reactor." to "Airburst darts split into 3 on impact for massively increased popping power. Further enhances Bloontonium Reactor."

41.0

Description changed to remove "Further enhances Bloontonium Reactor."

Extra Notes (Version History)[]

Gallery[]

Official artwork[]

Projectiles[]

Trivia[]

The cost of the Airburst Darts upgrade in BTD6 on Medium Difficulty is the same as the cost of the Airburst Darts upgrade in BTDB Mobile.
2-0-2 Airburst Darts is one of three Tier 2 upgrades in BTD6 to have an official 2MPC, the second being 2-2-0 Super Monkey and the third being 2-0-2 Monkey Ace.