Beginner map

Skates

Info

Skates is a winter Beginner map added in Version 22.0, in the same update as the Advanced map X Factor and the Dartling Gunner. It is set on an outdoor ice rink surrounded by snow, with penguins waddling around the water.

Bloons enter from the top, loop around the rink and leave on the right. It is a single lane with one entrance and one exit, and the track crosses over itself. At 42.98 RBS (about 1,181 range units) it is an average length for a Beginner map.

Skates was the first Beginner map with a removable obstacle. A group of houses sits inside the curve on the right side of the map, blocking line of sight. You can pay $500 to sink the houses, which clears the obstruction and reveals a plot of water underneath. That gives you both clear vision over that part of the track and a new spot for water towers.

There is already water on the map, so between the existing water and the area under the houses, both land and water towers have room to work. Trees in the bottom-left and top-right corners cannot be built on, which limits how many Banana Farms you can fit. There is no high ground.

Tapping the penguins makes them waddle over to the water, hold their noses and jump in. It is cosmetic, but it is one of the more charming details in the game.

Compared with other Beginner maps, Skates has less open space than Monkey Meadow or Four Circle, but its crossing path and mix of land and water make it flexible. It has also been a popular choice for Boss events, and it was the first map to host Bloonarius three times.

How to beat Skates

Map overview for strategy

Skates is flexible. The crossing path gives central towers several passes at bloons, and the mix of land and water means you can use almost any tower. The main limitations are the houses on the right, which block vision until you remove them, and limited farming space because of the corner trees.

Removing the houses for $500 is usually worth it, but not on round 1. Wait until your defense is stable, then sink them to open up vision and extra water. In CHIMPS, plan the $500 into your mid-game budget, around the time you start adding naval towers.

Where you place your first towers matters more than usual because of the limited land. Put your early damage where the path crosses itself, so it gets two passes at each bloon, and keep your water towers close to the same area. Spread-out defenses struggle here, while a compact core around the crossing with naval support around it holds up well into the late game.

Best towers

Ninja Monkey 4-0-1 and 2-0-4 near the crossing.
Alchemist 4-2-0.
Monkey Sub 2-0-4 in the water, and more Subs or Buccaneers once the houses are gone.
Monkey Buccaneer 3-2-0 / 2-4-0.
Tack Shooter 2-0-4 or Ice Monkey 4-0-1 at the crossing.
Boomerang Monkey 4-2-0.
Monkey Village 2-2-0.

Best heroes

Admiral Brickell: plenty of water, especially after the houses are sunk.
Quincy: cheap and reliable.
Sauda: strong at the crossing early on.
Obyn Greenfoot: good with Ninjas and Druids.

Easy and Medium

A Dart Monkey and a Sub carry the early rounds. Add a Ninja for camo and an Alchemist or Bomb Shooter for leads. Remove the houses once you have spare cash and add Buccaneers. A 4-0-1 Ninja and a Destroyer win Medium.

Hard

Farm two Banana Farms (space is limited). Build Ninja, Alchemist and Tack at the crossing, a 2-0-4 Sub and a Destroyer in the water, and a 2-2-0 Village. Sink the houses around round 40 to 50 for extra boats.

CHIMPS

Rounds 1 to 6: hero near the crossing, plus a Dart Monkey.
Rounds 7 to 18: a Monkey Sub in the water, then a Ninja for camo before round 24.
Rounds 19 to 30: an Alchemist for the round 28 leads. Sub to 2-0-3.
Rounds 31 to 45: Ninja to 4-0-1, Alchemist to 3-2-0, Sub to 2-0-4.
Rounds 46 to 63: sink the houses for $500, then a Buccaneer in the new water going to 3-2-0 Destroyer. A 2-2-0 Village and a Sticky Bomb Ninja by round 60.
Rounds 64 to 80: Alchemist to 4-2-0, a 2-4-0 Monkey Pirates boat, and a Glaive or Tack for 76 and 78.
Rounds 81 to 100: a Carrier Flagship, Sub Commander or Sun Temple as your anchor, with Sticky Bombs and Pirates for 98 and 99.

Impoppable

Farm in the few open spots, then follow the CHIMPS core. Sink the houses early on Impoppable since you will have farm income.

Other modes

Deflation: Subs, Ninjas and an Alchemist give good value. Removing the houses costs part of your budget, so decide if you need the vision.
Military Only: Subs and Buccaneers in plenty of water.
Half Cash: delay removing the houses until your economy is running.

Dangerous rounds on this map

Round 24: one camo green. Subs need a Ninja or radar.
Round 28: six leads.
Round 40: the first MOAB.
Round 63: 122 dense ceramics. The crossing helps, but add pierce.
Round 76: 60 regrow ceramics.
Round 78: camo ceramics and purples. Purples resist fire, energy and plasma.
Round 95: camo regrow purples and fortified leads, then MOABs and DDTs.
Round 98: 30 fortified BFBs and 8 ZOMGs. Monkey Pirates and Sticky Bombs are key.
Round 99: 60 MOABs and 9 fortified DDTs.
Round 100: one BAD that ignores slows.

The BTD6 Master YouTube channel has video guides for Skates.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to remove the houses on Skates?

$500. Sinking them clears line of sight and reveals extra water.

Should I remove the houses on Skates in CHIMPS?

Usually yes, once your defense is stable in the mid-game. The extra water and vision are worth the cost.

What is the best hero for Skates?

Admiral Brickell, thanks to the water. Quincy and Sauda are good land picks.

How do you beat Skates CHIMPS?

Open with a Dart Monkey and a Sub, add a Ninja and Alchemist, sink the houses mid-game, then build a Destroyer, Monkey Pirates and Sticky Bombs. Finish with a naval anchor or Sun Temple.

How much Monkey Money does Skates 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.

Where should I place towers on Skates?

Near the crossing in the middle of the rink, where your towers get two passes at each bloon. Water towers go in the existing water first, then in the plot under the houses once you sink them.