Lotus Island

Map overview for strategy

Lotus Island is harder than most Beginner maps because the path is short and rarely overlaps. A tower usually sees only one stretch of track, so you need more damage per tower than on a looping map like Cubism or Four Circle. Obstacles on the island also block line of sight, so check placements carefully.

The lotuses are the answer to those weaknesses. Each pollen blast stuns everything nearby with no pierce limit, which can save a run on a dense rush. Save them for the rounds that matter, such as 63, 76 and 78, rather than using them as soon as they bloom. Middle-path Mortar Monkeys deal extra damage to stunned bloons, so they combine very well with the lotuses.

The water around the island is a big help. Boats and Subs can sit near the track all around the edge.

Best towers

• Ninja Monkey 3-0-2 then 4-0-1: a strong early carry near the end of the track.
• Alchemist 2-2-0 then 4-2-0: buff the Ninja.
• Monkey Sub 2-0-4 and Monkey Buccaneer 3-2-0 / 2-4-0 in the water around the island.
• Mortar Monkey (middle path): bonus damage on bloons stunned by the lotuses.
• Sniper Monkey 4-0-2 (Maim MOAB) on the stone podium, where high ground lets it see over obstacles.
• Monkey Village 2-2-0: radar and speed.
• Super Monkey: a Sun Temple late, or a True Sun God on the podium for the Vengeful bonus if you get that far.

Best heroes

• Sauda: one of the best openers here. Place her on the end of the top claw-shaped section near the end of the track, where the path passes close by.
• Admiral Brickell: lots of water around the island for her and her boats.
• Geraldo: his Rejuv Potion resets the lotus cooldown, so you can stun the same rush twice.
• Quincy: cheap and reliable.

Easy and Medium

A Dart Monkey, Sauda and a Monkey Sub handle the early game. Add a Ninja for camo, an Alchemist for leads, and use the lotuses whenever you feel pressured. A 4-0-1 Ninja and a Destroyer will win Medium.

Hard

Farm two or three Banana Farms on the larger parts of the island. Build Sauda, a Ninja and an Alchemist near the end of the track, a 2-0-4 Sub and a Destroyer in the water, and a 2-2-0 Village. Save lotus blasts for 63, 76 and 78.

CHIMPS

A well-known opening for this map:

1. Rounds 1 to 6: Sauda on the end of the top claw near the end of the track, plus a Dart Monkey if needed.
2. Rounds 7 to 20: save up for a Ninja Monkey near Sauda and take it to 3-0-2.
3. Rounds 21 to 29: an Alchemist at 2-2-0 touching the Ninja. This whole setup can be bought before round 29 and covers the camo on 24 and the leads on 28.
4. Rounds 30 to 45: keep upgrading the top paths: Ninja to 4-0-1 (or 4-0-2), Alchemist to 3-2-0 and later 4-2-0. Add a Monkey Sub in the water near the core.
5. Rounds 46 to 63: Sub to 2-0-4, a 2-2-0 Village, a 2-0-4 Sticky Bomb Ninja for round 60, and a Destroyer or Glaive for round 63. Use a lotus on the ceramic rush.
6. Rounds 64 to 80: a second Sticky Bomb or a 2-4-0 Monkey Pirates boat. Middle-path Mortars near a lotus add damage on stunned rushes.
7. Rounds 81 to 100: a Sun Temple, Sub Commander or Carrier Flagship as your anchor. Save lotus blasts for rounds 95 and 99. Stack Sticky Bombs for 98 and 100, since the BAD ignores lotus stuns.

Impoppable

Farm early on the main island, then follow the CHIMPS core. The lotuses are a free emergency button, so keep at least one ready at all times from round 90 onwards.

Other modes

• Deflation: Ninja and Alchemist near the end of the track, plus a Destroyer.
• Military Only: boats, Subs, a podium Sniper and middle-path Mortars combined with lotus stuns.
• Half Cash: Sauda carries the early game while you build farms.
• Double HP MOABs: lotus stuns only last 1 second on MOAB-class bloons, so add Sticky Bombs early.

Dangerous rounds on this map

• Round 24: one camo green. With few overlaps, a single Ninja must be placed where it sees the right stretch.
• Round 28: six leads. Have the Alchemist ready by then.
• Round 40: the first MOAB. The short track gives you little time, so check single-target damage.
• Round 63: 122 dense ceramics. Use a lotus here, since towers only get one pass at the rush.
• Round 76: 60 regrow ceramics. A well timed lotus blast keeps them in range of your core.
• Round 78: camo ceramics and purples. Purples resist fire, energy and plasma.
• Round 95: camo regrow purples and fortified leads, then MOABs and DDTs. Save a lotus.
• Round 98: 30 fortified BFBs and 8 ZOMGs. Lotus stuns are short on blimps, so you need raw damage.
• Round 99: 60 MOABs and 9 fast fortified DDTs.
• Round 100: one BAD. It is immune to the lotus stun and to all slows.

The BTD6 Master YouTube channel has video guides for Lotus Island if you want to see the lotuses in action.

Frequently asked questions

What do the lotuses do on Lotus Island?

After three minutes a lotus blooms. Tap the pollen orb to stun every bloon nearby for 3 seconds (1 second for MOAB-class). BADs and bosses are immune. It recharges after another three minutes.

Why is Lotus Island harder than other Beginner maps?

The path is short, has very few junctions and obstacles block line of sight, so towers get fewer chances at each bloon.

What is the best hero for Lotus Island?

Sauda is a strong opener on the top claw near the end of the track. Brickell and Geraldo are also good picks.

How do you beat Lotus Island CHIMPS?

Open with Sauda, a 3-0-2 Ninja and a 2-2-0 Alchemist before round 29, then add Subs, a Village and Sticky Bombs. Save lotus blasts for the hardest rounds and finish with a Sun Temple or naval anchor.

What happens if you put a True Sun God on the stone podium?

A Vengeful True Sun God on the podium turns the lotuses purple and extends their stun to 5 seconds (2 seconds for MOAB-class bloons).

How much Monkey Money does Lotus Island give?

First-time medals pay 75, 125, 200 and 300 Monkey Money for the Easy, Medium, Hard and Impoppable/CHIMPS tiers. Replays pay one fifth.