Beating CHIMPS mode requires a shift from “greedy” farming to absolute efficiency. Since you cannot sell towers or earn extra income, every placement must serve a purpose for the mid-game (Rounds 60–80) and the final stretch (Rounds 81–100).
Here are the most reliable strategies to secure a Black Border.
1. The “Avatar of Wrath” Strategy (Druid Spam)
This is one of the most consistent strategies for beginner and intermediate maps. It relies on the synergy between Druids and the Obyn Greenfoot hero.
- The Core: A 0-1-5 Avatar of Wrath surrounded by five 0-1-4 Poplust Druids.
- Why it works: Poplust Druids provide a stacking buff to attack speed and pierce. The Avatar of Wrath gains damage based on how many bloons are on screen, making it a beast against Round 98.
- Support needed: A 2-3-0 MIB Village is mandatory so the Druids can damage DDTs and Lead bloons.
2. The “Tack Zone & Super Brittle” Combo
If the map has a loop or a tight curve, this strategy provides some of the highest DPS in the game for a relatively low cost.
- The Core: A 2-0-5 The Tack Zone placed right at a bend, paired with a 5-0-2 Super Brittle (Ice Monkey).
- Why it works: The Tack Zone fires a massive volume of tacks. Super Brittle makes bloons take +4 damage from every single projectile that hits them. This synergy deletes MOABs and the Round 100 BAD in seconds.
- Support needed: A 4-2-0 Primary Mentoring Village and a 4-2-0 Alchemist to maximize pierce and range.
3. The “Permaspike” Safety Net
Before the final rounds, many players invest in a “cleanup” tower at the very end of the track to catch anything that leaks.
- The Core: A 0-2-5 Perma-Spike factory at the exit.
- Why it works: It builds up a massive pile of permanent spikes over time. If a stray DDT or a few Ceramics get past your main defense, the Perma-Spike pile acts as a second life.
- Support needed: A 2-0-0 Alchemist (to allow spikes to pop Lead/DDTs) and a 2-0-2 Village for increased production speed.
4. The “Prince of Darkness” (PoD) Strategy
For maps with a single long path, the bottom-path Wizard is arguably the best “value-for-money” tower in CHIMPS.
- The Core: A 0-2-5 Prince of Darkness.
- Why it works: It reanimates popped bloons into a “zombie army” that travels backward toward the entrance. It is incredibly effective at cleaning up Round 63 and distracting MOABs while your other towers focus on damage.
- Support needed: It works best when placed in the middle of the track where it can “soak up” souls from pops.
5. Essential Support “Cheatsheet”
Regardless of your main strategy, these three towers should be in almost every CHIMPS run:
- 0-2-3 MOAB Glue: Sets to “Strong” to slow down incoming MOABs.
- 0-1-3 MOAB Press (Boomerang): Provides vital knockback against ZOMGs.
- 0-4-0 Ninja (Bloon Sabotage): Use the ability during Rounds 95 and 99 to halve the speed of DDTs.