M.A.D

BTD6

BTDB2

M.A.D
General Information
Game	Bloons TD 6
Tower	Dartling Gunner
Unlocked at	60,000 XP
Cost	$51,000 (Easy) $60,000 (Medium) $64,800 (Hard) $72,000 (Impoppable)
Activated Ability	M.A.D. Rocket Storm
Targeting Options	Normal, Locked
Camo Detection	Yes
Popology
Damage Type(s)
Main Missiles: Normal Camo affected Single Projectile Aim-Based Mobility Full Range Erratic Movement Main Explosions: Normal Camo affected Burst 6x Area of Effect Extra Damage Extra Damage to Blimps
Ability	Normal Camo affected Angular Spray 15x10 Aim-Based Mobility Full Range Erratic Movement Area of Effect Extra Damage Extra Damage to Ceramics Extra Damage to Blimps
Statistics
Damage	0 (missile impact, creates 6-7 explosions depending on crosspath) 3 (missile explosions, regular bloons) +550 (missile impact, MOAB-class) 5 (rocketstorm, spray of 10, 15 waves) 9 (rocketstorm,ceramics) 23 (rocketstorm,MOAB-class bloons)
Pierce	6 (missile impact, x-5-0 or 0-5-1, creates explosions per unit pierce) 7 (missile impact, 0-5-2, creates explosions per unit pierce) 8 (missile explosions) 18 (rocketstorm, spray of 10, 15 waves)
Attack Speed	Slow (missile, every 0.4s e.a.u.) Slow (rocketstorm, every 0.5s, spray of 10, 15 waves)
Range	Infinite (missile, e.a.u.) 12 (missile explosion)
Status Effects	N/A
Tower Boosts	N/A
Income/Life Boosts	N/A
Path Upgrades
← Previous	Rocket Storm
← Previous	Rocket Storm
Current	M.A.D
Current	M.A.D
Path Info
Path	2
Path	2
Upgrade Tier	5
Upgrade Tier	5
[Source]

“	Moab Assured Destroyer. Slower firing mega missiles deal extreme damage to MOAB class Bloons.	”
	~ In-game description

M.A.D (MOAB Assured Destroyer, mostly abbreviated as MAD) is the Tier 5 upgrade of Path 2 for the Dartling Gunner in Bloons TD 6. Its much larger missiles now deal extreme damage to MOAB-class bloons. Individual missile collisions inflict a massive +550 MOAB-class damage, and producing multiple explosions per collision that deal 3 damage to all bloons including the initial target, each hit inflicting up to 553 damage to a single MOAB-class bloon. However, it attacks much slower and missile shots alternate between each arm, reducing its overall accuracy. It fires missiles every 0.4s alternating between each arm, and each missile has 12 pierce each and explodes up to 6 times (+2 pierce and +1 explosion with Powerful Darts) due to its multi-explosion mechanic.

In addition, the M.A.D improves its Rocket Storm ability further, shooting 15 waves of larger missiles for 8 seconds, with 0.5s between each wave, and allows each rocket storm missile explosion to damage up to 18 bloons instead of 8. Every ability missile deals 5 damage per missile, improved to 9 Ceramic damage and 23 MOAB-class damage, which cleans up both Super Ceramics and MOAB-class quite effectively. Blast radius for each ability missile also increases from 8 to 12.

This upgrade costs $51,000 on Easy, $60,000 on Medium, $64,800 on Hard, and $72,000 on Impoppable.

Description

Overview

M.A.D demolishing MOABs and doing minor damage to bloons

The M.A.D is no longer the Dartling Gunner it used to be. It now wears a huge, dark mech suit, making it much larger than its predecessors. The M.A.D’s mask has two foreboding green eyes with a triangular “mouth” with two green gas-mask-esque cylinders and two purple pipes either side. It has a green crystal on its forehead and two purple crystals either side of its head, with a green circular design on top that resembles a bicycle helmet’s design. The helmet sits atop a metal pod with a cyan interior that forms the torso of the robot, with another green crystal in front of the belly. Its two “arms” have purple box-shaped cannons with green rings that begin at the elbow, with a neon-green glow coming from within. Its feet are purple with grey bolts on the sides, and it has a black tail with grey rings throughout.

The tower itself is significantly different than its predecessor, now having two arms to alternately shoot rockets, switching between the right and left arms. Both the main attack and the Rocket Storm ability have much bigger rockets than those of the previous upgrade. In exchange for accuracy and much attack speed, the main rockets also gain massively increased damage towards MOAB-Class Bloons, as well as +2 extra damage to regular bloons. The ability's larger rockets have more pierce and blast radius, and also has increased Ceramic and MOAB-class damage.

Targeting Priorities

M.A.D customly aims based on direction and angle of where the Dartling points towards, and uses alternate targeting to shoot missiles between each arm. It shoots straight movement projectiles controlled in a aim-based mobile style guided by touch-based mobility, albeit with some erratic angular deviation.

• Normal: Rotates towards the direction of where the player last tapped. On desktop versions, always rotates towards direction of the cursor inside the game.
• Locked: Locks the Dartling in place. By default, locks at center of map, but can be adjusted in the same way as a Mortar Monkey. On desktop versions, using a hotkey to switch to Locked will default to wherever the mouse currently is pointing.

Ability rockets not only have erratic angular deviation, they also erratically move in a serpentine motion as they travel through the air.

Since all Dartlings already attack based on custom aim, Dartlings don't receive Camo Prioritization even with Advanced Targeting.

Costs

Updated as of Version 42.0. 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-5-X)	$51,000	$60,000	$64,800	$72,000	-
Total (0-5-0)	$61,530	$72,400	$78,195	$86,880	$43,071	$50,680	$54,737	$60,816
Crosspath (1-5-0)	$61,785	$72,700	$78,520	$87,240	$43,250	$50,890	$54,964	$61,068
Crosspath (2-5-0)	$62,550	$73,600	$79,490	$88,320	$43,785	$51,520	$55,643	$61,824
Crosspath (0-5-1)	$61,655	$72,550	$78,355	$87,060	$43,159	$50,785	$54,849	$60,942
Crosspath (0-5-2)	$62,675	$73,750	$79,650	$88,500	$43,873	$51,625	$55,755	$61,950

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 M.A.D is extremely effective at demolishing MOAB-class bloons. Even a single hit to MOAB-class bloons can fully eliminate the layers off MOABs and DDTs, (that is, before freeplay ramping) and it can quickly destroy much stronger bloons, even BADs.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, it is much, much weaker versus regular bloons, due to its much slower attack speed, even to the extent that its main attacks are weaker than Hydra Rocket Pods versus anything that is not a MOAB-class bloon. In a real game, pair a M.A.D with good counters to Super Ceramics or anything that does not have great MOAB-Class damage with the some examples being Prince of Darkness, The Bloon Solver, The Biggest One, and Ray of Doom.

While expensive, the M.A.D is a good option to speed up the process of anti-stalling for purposes of quicker Round 100 Insta Reward runs, because of its extremely high MOAB-class damage without need for an ability. On CHIMPS games, however, it will be very difficult to afford the M.A.D upgrade until at least Round 90 or so, so a cheap but effective defense with Rocket Storm is necessary before then.

Tips

• The M.A.D is extremely effective against MOAB-class bloons, but it is absolutely underwhelming versus Super Ceramics. It is vital to provide the M.A.D with support versus regular bloons.
• Unlike the previous upgrades, the M.A.D. may benefit better with 2-5-0 than 0-5-2. Although extra pierce is desirable at demolishing groups of blimps, the powerful missiles are rather inaccurate and slow. Aiming at specific targets would benefit far better with Focused Firing. Not only that, the extra shock damage from Laser Shock will help pop regular bloons as well.
• Not too many buffs are required to maximize the performance of the M.A.D, but basic attack speed buffs like Jungle Drums, Berserker Brew, and Overclock are often sufficient enough to maximize its massive MOAB-class damage potential.
• Only target the M.A.D. at MOAB-class bloons, as this allows it to work with its strengths. The only exception is to clean up Super Ceramics with the ability if there is no other available tower suited for cleanup.
• Note that even though this tower has exploding missiles, its AOE is minimal.
• The M.A.D can be considered the second strongest late-game DPS tower, surpassed only by the VTSG. A fully buffed M.A.D while in Rocket Storm, with all rockets striking the same target, will achieve hundreds of thousands of DPS, perhaps even stronger than Paragons due to Paragons being unable to receive buffs.
• M.A.D is the perfect option for taking down higher-tier Boss Bloons due to their huge hitboxes and the M.A.D's immense blimp damage. While very expensive, it is very cost-efficient; it is cheaper than many other single powerful towers while dealing huge single-target damage to blimps. It still remains useful even at the final tiers of bosses.
  • M.A.D is an excellent option against Tier 2 Elite Bloonarius because of its extreme single-target MOAB-class damage and the large hitbox size of Boss Bloons. Pair with something to handle any skull sends, as MAD Rocket Storm ability is not sufficient for handling with offspring.

Version History

Balance Changes

Keeping its role as an expensive anti-MOAB upgrade, the M.A.D upgrade got a minor price reduction to make it more usable on CHIMPS scenarios, alongside a few minor quality-of-life changes. M.A.D. got nerfed in Version 26.0 by increasing cooldown for the Rocket Storm ability, and Version 29.0 directly nerfed M.A.D. for the first time by exchanging Boss Bloon optimality for CHIMPS practicality.

22.0

• Initial release.

22.1

• [Bug fix] 0-5-2 M.A.D now (correctly) gains +1 explosion from Powerful Darts.

23.0

“	As our most recently added tower we are very happy with all the excitement surrounding this beloved monkey tower and the general middleground play position. We're happy enough with its time in the wild to make some first impression changes here which we hope you'll continue to enjoy.	”
	~ Ninja Kiwi, referring to multiple Dartling upgrades

• 1-5-0 M.A.D ability spread reduction increased (-30% → -60%).
• M.A.D price reduced ($65,000 → $60,000).

24.0

• Updated description with more detail.
  • Previously was "Moab Assured Destroyer. Each missile does extreme damage to MOAB class bloons."

26.0

“	Storm is currently too powerful as just a 'spam whenever it's ready' without much thinking really required, its cooldown is being lowered [sic] so that it remains quite powerful but may require more timing.	”
	~ Ninja Kiwi

• MAD Rocket Storm ability cooldown increased from 30s -> 40s

29.0

“	The MAD has come to stand out far too much in any Boss situation, often feeling like a crutch that must be used due to how perfectly it fits the Boss situation even though it wasn't appreciated a great deal before that content was added. We've tried to pull it back in this situation with lowered damage per hit while making up for some of this lowered damage with increased pierce.	”
	~ Ninja Kiwi

• MAD damage to MOAB-class reduced from +750 → +550
• MAD pierce increased from 8 → 12

“	Gorgon Storm clearly released overtuned for a single knowledge point due to the way it works with large numbers of projectiles applying consecutive stuns. It will still be extremely powerful even after this, but should be harder to achieve an actual permastall on MOABs most of the time.	”
	~ Ninja Kiwi, referring to Gorgon Storm

• Gorgon Storm stun duration on MOAB class bloons reduced from 0.5s → 0.1s

30.0

“	[...] Middle Path rocket storm is too strong for something also so buffable so is getting some number changes. Additionally Rocket Storm has always fired through blockers as we didn’t want to cripple placement too much, at this point we feel like it should be strong enough of an upgrade to have to deal with the placement problems that come with blocking objects. [...]	”
	~ Ninja Kiwi

• MAD Rocket Storm ability base damage reduced 6 -> 5
• MAD Rocket Storm ability duration reduced 10s -> 8s
• MAD Rocket Storm ability no longer ignores Line of Sight blockers

31.0

• Affected by 0-3-2 Hydra buffs

41.0

“	[...] Focussed [sic] Firing feels too important for Rocket Storm with how wide the base spread is for the ability, so we're improving base spread significantly.	”
	~ Ninja Kiwi

• 0-5-x M.A.D ability degree spread reduced from 120° to 90°
• 1-5-0 M.A.D ability degree spread reduced from 48° to 36°

Sounds

When activating M.A.D. Rocket Storm Ability:

• [Rocket firing]

Gallery

M.A.D shooting a missile (note the expanded right launcher)

M.A.D missile

Laser Shock M.A.D missile

M.A.D shots alternating

M.A.D ability pulse

Two M.A.Ds in Co-Op Mode

M.A.D in front view (only possible via hacking)

One of MAD's idle animations, featuring the monkey looking up at the player

MAD's looking up animation from a side view, showing its tail and arms a bit more clearly

M.A.D ability ignoring Line of Sight blockers (pre-30.0)

M.A.D translation in Spanish

M.A.D hand check idle animation

Accuracy Comparison

1-5-0 M.A.D Rocket Storm (41.0-present)

1-5-0 M.A.D Rocket Storm (pre-41.0)

0-5-x M.A.D Rocket Storm (pre-41.0 but post-23.0)

0-5-x M.A.D Rocket Storm (41.0-present)

Teaser

M.A.D in the original Dartling reveal trailer

M.A.D, using its ability in the reveal trailer

Official artwork

Upgrade artwork

Upgrade icon

Ability icon

Instamonkey

Other languages

Updated as of Version 32.3

Upgrade name

Language	Name	Meaning
English	M.A.D	Abbreviation of MOAB Assured Destroyer
French	M.A.D	Abbreviation of "M.O.A.B. Absolument Détruits"
German	M.A.D	Likely the same abbreviation as used in English
Spanish	D.A.M	Abbreviation of Destructor Asegurado de MOAB

Upgrade description

Language	Name	Meaning
English	Moab Assured Destroyer. Slower firing mega missiles deal extreme damage to MOAB class Bloons.
French	MOAB Absolument Détruits. Des méga-missiles à cadence de tir moins rapide infligent des dégâts extrémes aux Bloons de class MOAB.	MOAB Absolutely Destroyed. Slow-firing Mega Missiles inflict extreme damage on MOAB-class Bloons.
German	Garantierter MOAB-Zerstörer. Langsam fliegende Mega-Raketen verursachen extremen Schaden bei Bloons der MOAB-Klasse.	Guaranteed MOAB Destroyer. Slow-moving Mega Missiles deal extreme damage to MOAB-class Bloons.
Spanish	Destructor asegurado de MOAB. Los megamisiles de disparo más lento hacen muchísimo daño a los bloons clase MOAB.	MOAB Assured Destroyer. The slower firing Mega Missiles do lots of damage to MOAB-class bloons.

Trivia

• The unabbreviated name for the M.A.D is "MOAB Assured Destroyer"; this is a reference to "mutually assured destruction", a form of military strategy involving the threat of full-scale destruction against both opposing sides, usually by both enemy sides gaining access to powerful nuclear weaponry.
• The D of M.A.D is not abbreviated with a period, unlike the M. and A.
• The M.A.D, the pilot, and the mech itself are all strong references to Vile and the Ride Armor in the Megaman X Series.
• Through hacking, the M.A.D is revealed to be the shortest of the Tier 5 Dartling Gunners in terms of 3D height.
• The missiles from the M.A.D are all 3D projectiles, whereas the missiles from Rocket Storm are all 2D.
• Technically speaking, the bonus extreme blimp damage for the main missile only applies on the initial hit of each missile explosion. Therefore, each main missile shot can apply the extreme blimp damage to up to 6 blimps, inflicting a total of around 3300 damage per shot, assuming it does not have pierce buffs via extra explosions.
• M.A.D's second 2MPC on an Expert Map is on Dark Castle, achieved on 20th May 2021.
• In the Spanish translation of the game, it is referred as the D.A.M (Destructor Asegurado de MOAB), roughly translating as "Destruction Ensured of MOABs".