What's New in BTD2
Bloons Tower Defense 2 builds significantly on the original BTD1 with fresh features and challenging gameplay mechanics. The game introduces three distinct maps with varying difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard), a new Boomerang Monkey tower type, and innovative on-track placeable items including Road Spikes and Monkey Glue.
BTD2 also brings two formidable new bloon enemy types - Lead Bloons and Rainbow Bloons - which require completely new tactical approaches to defeat. Existing towers receive additional upgrades, notably the Super Monkey's powerful Laser Vision upgrade, significantly increasing the game's strategic depth and complexity.
Tower Usage and Upgrade Priorities
Dart Monkey - Your Foundation
The cheapest tower at $250 on Easy mode, Dart Monkeys are essential for early rounds. Prioritize Piercing Darts first to double your popping power by hitting 2 bloons per shot. This upgrade dramatically increases effectiveness for minimal cost. Add Long Range Darts later for extended coverage. Remember: Dart Monkeys cannot pop Lead Bloons, so plan your transition to other towers by mid-game.
Tack Shooter - Area Denial Master
Perfect for corner placement, shooting 8 tacks in all directions. Upgrade priority: Faster Shooting doubles attack speed for superior DPS against clustered bloons. Extra Range helps when positioned away from the path. Tack Shooters excel at destroying Black Bloons (explosion-immune) since tacks count as sharp projectiles. Combine with Bomb Towers for devastating synergy.
Bomb Tower - Lead Bloon Destroyer
Essential for dealing with Lead Bloons (the only tower that can pop them in BTD2). Prioritize Bigger Bombs for increased blast radius, then Extra Range for strategic positioning. Have at least one Bomb Tower ready by Round 20 when first Lead appears. Critical weakness: Cannot pop Black Bloons, so always pair with sharp towers like Tack Shooters or Dart Monkeys.
Boomerang Monkey - The New Crowd Controller
BTD2's new tower throws curved boomerangs that hit bloons twice (going and returning). Multi-Target upgrade is essential, allowing each throw to pop up to 5 bloons. Sonic Boom upgrade enables popping frozen bloons, perfect for Ice Tower combinations. Position where the curved throw path follows the track for maximum effectiveness. Cannot pop Lead Bloons without support.
New Bloon Types and Counter Strategies
BTD2 introduces two game-changing bloon types that require specific counter-tactics and strategic planning.
Lead Bloon
Metal-coated, sharp-damage immune
Lead Bloons move slowly but are completely immune to all sharp damage (darts, tacks, boomerangs, road spikes). They can only be destroyed by explosive damage from Bomb Towers. When popped, they release 2 Black Bloons, creating a double threat that requires layered defenses.
Critical Strategy
First Lead appears on Round 20 - ensure you have at least one Bomb Tower ready. Position sharp towers (Tack Shooters) nearby to immediately handle the Black Bloons that spawn when Leads are destroyed.
Rainbow Bloon
Highest-tier normal bloon (RBE: 37)
Rainbow Bloons are the toughest normal bloons in BTD2, moving faster than Whites but slower than Yellows. When destroyed, they release 2 Black Bloons and 2 White Bloons - creating a massive cascade of offspring that can overwhelm unprepared defenses.
Counter Strategy
Use concentrated firepower: Bomb Towers to break them, then rapid-fire towers (Super Monkey, multiple Dart Monkeys) to handle the flood of offspring. Monkey Glue helps slow the cascade effect.
Powerful Tower Combinations and Placement Strategies
Mastering BTD2 requires understanding tower synergies and strategic placement. Here are the most effective combinations used by expert players.
Bomb + Tack Shooter Combo
The classic "Bombs and Tacks" strategy exploits perfect synergy. Bomb Towers handle Leads and soften thick layers, while Tack Shooters destroy what bombs cannot kill (Black Bloons) and provide superior crowd control. Place bombs early on the path, with Tack Shooters positioned at corners immediately after the blast zone.
Ice + Bomb Freeze-Shatter
Ice Towers freeze bloon clusters, then Bomb Towers shatter the frozen group for massive damage. Add Boomerang Monkeys with Sonic Boom to help pop frozen bloons. Perfect for dense waves in later rounds. Remember: White Bloons are freeze-immune, so maintain other defenses.
Glue + Splash Damage
Monkey Glue slows tough waves, maximizing your towers' damage time. Especially effective with Super Monkeys and Bomb Towers. A glued Rainbow Bloon cluster might take multiple bomb hits instead of one, ensuring complete destruction. Time-multiplies your DPS output.
Super Monkey as Cleanup
Position Super Monkeys in the back half of tracks as cleanup crews. Let Bombs and Tacks handle the heavy work up front, then use Super Monkey's rapid fire to catch any leaks. This approach is more cost-effective than relying on Super Monkeys as primary defense.
Placement Principles
- Bomb Towers: Position at corners where bloons bunch up to maximize splash damage
- Tack Shooters: Place inside curve bends so all 8 tacks can hit multiple times
- Dart Monkeys: Best on straight segments where bloons line up for piercing shots
- Ice/Glue: Place just before your main damage area to slow bloons into the "kill zone"
- Road Spikes: Always keep some ready at the exit as emergency backup
Money Management, Wave Pacing, and Difficulty Adaptation
Economic efficiency and strategic pacing are crucial for conquering BTD2's harder modes and reaching the high rounds.
Early Game Economy
Start with cost-efficient foundations: 2 Dart Monkeys with Piercing Darts or a Tack Shooter with Faster Shooting. Avoid early Super Monkey purchases that leave the rest of your defense underdeveloped. Focus on high-value upgrades over new towers initially.
Upgrade vs. New Towers
Upgrades that increase popping power (like Piercing Darts) are extremely cost-efficient. Generally: upgrade for power, add towers for coverage. If bloons escape in uncovered areas, add towers. If they overwhelm covered areas, upgrade existing defenses.
Hard Mode Adaptations
Less starting cash and higher tower costs demand maximum efficiency. Prioritize Tack Shooters and Bomb Towers for best value. Create layered defenses with primary and backup zones. Delay Super Monkey purchases even longer, focusing on mid-tier towers.
Strategic Wave Timing
Prepare for difficulty spikes: Round 20 brings first Lead Bloons, Rounds 40+ introduce Rainbow swarms. Plan your defense upgrades to peak just before these challenges arrive.
Pro Tip: BTD2 income comes only from popping bloons - leaked bloons mean both lost lives AND lost cash. Invest in Road Spikes to prevent leaks and maintain maximum income for later rounds.
Master BTD2 with Strategic Excellence
BTD2 rewards strategic thinking and tactical adaptation. Master the Bomb + Tack Shooter synergy, prepare for Lead and Rainbow Bloons, and manage your economy efficiently. With these advanced strategies, tower combinations, and placement principles, you'll conquer all difficulty modes and reach the highest rounds. Remember: there's no single solution - the best players adapt their tactics based on what each round demands.
Sources: Bloons Wiki, Strategy guides from Ayumilove and community experts, BTD2 gameplay analysis
