Expert map
Ravine
Daily challenges
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Info
Ravine is an Expert map added in version 23.0 in February 2021. A forested gorge with a river at the bottom is crossed by three stone bridges in the same style as the castle on Dark Castle.
Lanes and pattern
There are two entrances. Shortly after each entrance the path splits in two, the four branches cross the three bridges, and then they split again towards four exits. Which entrance is used depends on the round:
- Even rounds: bloons enter from the left entrance.
- Odd rounds: bloons enter from the right entrance.
Because of the splits, every round sends bloons down several branches at once, and the branches from the left entrance are especially short. The fastest route out takes about 9 seconds for a red bloon, while the longest is around 15.4 seconds.
Line of sight and water
Ravine is packed with line-of-sight problems. Trees block sight and placement all over the map, and the tall sides of the bridges block sight too. None of these can be removed. The river at the bottom accepts water towers, but it is so low that they cannot see the bloons above. Water towers only help through attacks that do not need sight: Aircraft Carrier planes, First Strike Capability's ability, the Monkey Pirates ability, a Bloontonium Reactor with enough range, or a 2-0-3 Advanced Intel Ballistic Missile Sub. Submerge and Support can still de-camo bloons through the bridge walls.
The sword in the stone
Tap the sword in the stone 24 times and it flies out of the rock. Since version 24.0 it seeks the strongest bloon on screen, deals three layers of damage to it and pops any type, including camo, lead, purple and frozen bloons. You can only use it once per game. It does not affect line of sight, but it is the key to Ravine CHIMPS: it is the only way to survive rounds 6 and 7.
How it compares
Ravine combines the alternating entrances of maps like Infernal with heavy sight blockers like Sanctuary and the splitting lanes of Bloody Puddles. It is usually considered one of the harder Expert maps, mainly because of the early CHIMPS rounds and the lack of useful placement. Like other Expert maps, it unlocks after you have won on 20 different maps.
How to beat Ravine
Why this map is hard
Ravine attacks your defence from three sides. First, the entrance alternates every round, so towers near one entrance only work half the time. Second, each entrance immediately splits into two branches, and those split again before the exits, so bloons rarely stay in one place long. Third, trees and bridge walls block line of sight almost everywhere, and the river is too deep for water towers to see anything.
The early game in CHIMPS is especially rough. Very few towers can cover the short left-side branches, and rounds 6 and 7 cannot be beaten without using the sword in the stone. After that, you need towers that ignore sight lines or that cover several branches at once.
Best towers
- Spike Factory (Spiked Balls 3-x-x or Spiked Mines 4-x-x): strong mid-game value and good super ceramic cleanup later. Perma-Spike is weaker here, because its stockpile only sits on one side while several lanes are active.
- Sniper Monkey: infinite range, as long as it has a clear view. Find spots that see a bridge and the branches after it.
- Heli Pilot and Monkey Ace: they fly, so the walls and trees do not matter. A Spectre or a Comanche Defense Heli is a solid mid-game carry.
- Monkey Sub in the river: it cannot see bloons directly, but a 2-0-3 Advanced Intel Ballistic Missile Sub can hit any bloon another tower sees, Submerge and Support (3-x-x) de-camos through the bridge walls, a Bloontonium Reactor pops through walls, and First Strike Capability (x-x-4) gives you a big single-target ability.
- Monkey Buccaneer: an Aircraft Carrier's planes ignore the walls, and the Monkey Pirates ability can pull a blimp from anywhere.
- Mortar Monkey: does not need line of sight, so it works from behind trees.
- Monkey Village and Alchemist: put them where they buff your main Spike Factories and Snipers.
Best heroes
- Etienne: one of the strongest Ravine heroes. His large range covers the split paths, Drone Swarm adds early damage, and his UCAV ability is excellent in the mid game.
- Psi: his attacks reach any bloon and see through walls. His mid game is weaker than Etienne's, but late game he snipes super ceramics and his scream helps against MOABs and BFBs.
- Sauda: strong if placed at the fork right after the left entrance, where the short left-side branches start. Do not place her near the bottom intersections as cleanup, since you need her damage early.
Easy and Medium
Start with towers near the forks after the entrances, one for each side. Add a Sniper and a Heli Pilot as soon as you can, since they cover the whole map. Outside CHIMPS, the Monkey Knowledge Pre-Game Prep and Mana Shield make the early rounds much safer. Get camo detection for round 24 and lead popping for round 28, and keep the sword for an emergency.
Hard
On Hard, build Spiked Balls or Spiked Mines near the exits on both sides, add a Spectre or Comanche for blimps, and a First Strike Sub in the river. Rounds 76 and 78 will use whichever entrance matches their number: round 76 is even, so it comes from the left, and round 78 too.
CHIMPS
Ravine CHIMPS was impossible until the sword was changed in version 24.0. Monkey Knowledge is disabled in CHIMPS, so you cannot rely on Pre-Game Prep or Mana Shield.
- Round 1: place your hero, such as Sauda at the fork after the left entrance or Etienne where his range covers several branches, and a cheap tower for the right side.
- Rounds 6 and 7: keep the sword ready. Tap the sword in the stone 24 times on whichever of these rounds a bloon is about to leak. It flies to the strongest bloon on screen and pops three layers.
- Rounds 8 to 20: add towers that cover the other side, for example a Sniper Monkey on a spot that sees a bridge.
- Before round 24: camo detection on both sides, for example Night Vision Goggles on a Sniper. Etienne also brings drones that help cover the map.
- Before round 28: lead popping on both sides.
- Rounds 30 to 50: start Spike Factories towards Spiked Balls near the exits on each side, a Heli Pilot or Ace for blimps, and a Sub in the river towards First Strike for round 40 onward.
- Rounds 50 to 80: more Spiked Balls and Spiked Mines, a Village and an Alchemist next to them, and a 2-0-3 Advanced Intel Ballistic Missile Sub for extra reach.
- Rounds 80 to 100: upgrade to Spiked Mines or Super Mines, add a second First Strike Sub, and get camo coverage on every exit for DDTs. Save First Strikes for rounds 98, 99 and the BAD on round 100, which comes from the left because it is an even round.
Impoppable
On Impoppable you keep Monkey Knowledge, so Pre-Game Prep and Mana Shield make the start much easier, and the sword is still there as an emergency button. See our Impoppable guide.
Dangerous rounds on this map
- Rounds 6 and 7: in CHIMPS, the sword is required on one of them.
- Round 24: one camo green, from the left because it is an even round.
- Round 28: six leads, also from the left.
- Round 40: the first MOAB, from the left.
- Round 63: a ceramic rush from the right.
- Rounds 76 and 78: ceramic rushes from the left.
- Round 90: camo regrow fortified leads and three DDTs.
- Rounds 95, 98 and 99: DDTs and fortified blimps.
- Round 100: the BAD, from the left entrance.
The BTD6 Master YouTube channel has video guides for Ravine.
Frequently asked questions
What does the sword do on Ravine?
Tapping the sword in the stone 24 times launches it at the strongest bloon on screen, popping three layers of any bloon type. It works once per game.
How do you beat Ravine CHIMPS?
Use the sword on round 6 or 7, then build Spiked Balls and Spiked Mines on both sides, aircraft for blimps, and First Strike Subs in the river. Etienne or Psi are the usual heroes.
Which entrance do bloons use on Ravine?
Even rounds come from the left entrance and odd rounds from the right.
Are water towers useful on Ravine?
Only through attacks that ignore sight lines: First Strike, Aircraft Carrier planes, the Pirates ability, Bloontonium Reactors and Advanced Intel Ballistic Missile Subs.
What is the best hero for Ravine?
Etienne for strong early and mid game, or Psi for late-game damage that ignores walls. Sauda works if placed at the left fork.
Is Ravine harder than Sanctuary?
Most players find Ravine harder, mainly because of the early CHIMPS rounds and the alternating, splitting lanes.
