Quick Reference
The build at a glance
Hard mode is where you stop experimenting and start executing. The ceramic rush at round 24 will end a run if your towers aren't upgraded. The MOAB rush at round 30 will end it if you don't have MOAB damage.
Strong MOAB damage and grouped pop are king. The Bomb Shooter's 2-0-0 is non-negotiable.
Step by step
Gwen for the heat-it-up damage buff, or Striker Jones if you want the bomb range + MOAB damage buff. Both are great.
Bomb Shooter first. 1-0-0 (Bigger Bombs) by round 10, 2-0-0 (Heavy Bombs) by round 18. This is mandatory.
Round 24 (60 ceramics) and round 30 (4 MOABs) back-to-back. Do not spend between rounds 18 and 30. Save every dollar.
Place a 0-0-0 Sniper and rush to 2-0-0 (Shrapnel Shot) — pops 4 bloons per shot. Place in range of the Bomb's coverage area.
Save for 4-0-0 Sniper (Deadly Precision). Add a 0-0-0 Dartling to 2-0-0 (Faster Barrel) for cleanup.
Village 0-2-0 for camo. Ninja 0-0-2 (Counter-Espionage) if you need extra camo defense.
Sniper to 4-0-2 for camo + stuns. Bomb to 4-0-0 (MOAB Mauler) for late MOAB-class.
Hard mode has a saving threshold: from round 18 to round 30, don't spend a single dollar. Just sell Dart Monkeys and rebuy as needed. This is counter-intuitive but it's the only way to have enough cash for the 2-0-0 Bomb and 2-0-0 Sniper upgrades in time.
Common mistakes
- Spending on a 0-0-0 Dartling before round 40. You don't need it.
- Going 1-0-0 Sniper first. 2-0-0 Sniper is the priority.
- Upgrading Bomb to 0-1-0 (Frag Bombs) first. The 1-0-0 + 2-0-0 path is strictly better.
- Skipping the Village. Camo comes back at round 35+ and you'll be stuck.