Camo

Camo is a bloon property that makes a bloon invisible to towers without Camo detection. A tower that cannot see Camo will not aim at Camo bloons, and its projectiles pass straight through them without doing damage. It does not matter how strong the tower is: a tier 5 tower without detection lets a single Camo Red walk past. Camo bloons have a visible camouflage pattern, so you can spot them on the track.

Every regular bloon up to Ceramic can have the Camo property, and some bloons are Camo by default: the DDT and the boss Phayze. Camo does not change a bloon's health, speed or RBE; it only changes who can hit it.

When do Camo bloons appear?

In standard rounds the first Camo bloon is a single Camo Green on round 24, which most players can leak at the cost of a few lives. After that:

• Round 33: a group of Camo Reds and Camo Yellows.
• Round 36: Camo Regrow Greens mixed with Pinks.
• Round 42: Camo Rainbows. From here you need real Camo coverage, because leaking is no longer an option.
• Round 51: Camo Ceramics.
• Round 59: Camo Leads, which need detection and Lead popping on the same tower.
• Round 90 and later: DDTs, which are Camo blimps with Lead and Black properties.

In Alternate Bloons Rounds the first Camo appears on round 5.

Towers with built-in Camo detection

• Ninja Monkey: sees Camo with no upgrades at all.
• Spike Factory: does not have detection, but its spikes sit on the track and pop Camo bloons that run over them.

Heroes with detection from level 1 are Ezili, Sauda, Psi and Silas. Quincy and Etienne gain it at level 5, Captain Churchill at level 6 and Admiral Brickell at level 7.

Upgrades that give Camo detection

• Dart Monkey: Enhanced Eyesight (0-0-2).
• Sniper Monkey: Night Vision Goggles (0-1-0), which also deals 2 extra damage to Camo.
• Desperado: Eagle Eye (0-1-0).
• Ice Monkey: Cold Snap (2-0-0), which also lets it freeze Lead.
• Monkey Buccaneer: Crow's Nest (0-0-2).
• Monkey Ace: Spy Plane (0-2-0), with bonus damage to Camo.
• Heli Pilot: IFR (0-2-0).
• Mortar Monkey: Increased Accuracy (0-0-1).
• Dartling Gunner: Advanced Targeting (0-1-0).
• Wizard Monkey: Monkey Sense (0-0-2).
• Super Monkey: Ultravision (0-0-2).
• Druid: Ball Lightning (4-0-0).
• Mermonkey: Echosense Precision (0-0-1).
• Beast Handler: Horned Owl (0-0-2).
• Monkey Sub: submerged Bloontonium Reactor (4-0-0) detects Camo; Advanced Intel (2-0-0) lets the Sub shoot Camo that other towers can see.

Monkey Village Radar Scanner

Radar Scanner (0-2-0) gives Camo detection to every tower in the Village's range. It is the classic answer when your main damage dealers cannot see Camo, and it has full uptime. Plan to have it, or another permanent source, ready before round 42. Etienne at level 8 also gives Camo detection to all towers on the map.

The one exception is Phayze, whose Radar Jam regularly disables Camo-granting buffs such as Radar Scanner for 12 seconds. Against Phayze, bring towers that see Camo on their own.

Removing Camo (de-camo)

Some attacks strip the Camo property permanently, so every tower can then hit the bloon:

• Ninja Monkey: Counter-Espionage (0-2-0).
• Mortar Monkey: Signal Flare (0-0-3).
• Wizard Monkey: Shimmer (0-0-3), which reveals nearby Camo bloons periodically.
• Ice Monkey: Ice Shards (3-0-0), which also removes Regrow.
• Engineer Monkey: Cleansing Foam (0-3-0), which also removes Regrow and pops Lead.
• Monkey Sub: Submerge and Support (3-0-0) reveals Camo in its radius while submerged.
• Mermonkey: Alluring Melody (0-0-3).
• Camo Trap Power: removes Camo from bloons that pass over it.

De-camo has a weakness: it usually depends on attack timing or range, so a few Camo bloons can slip through during downtime. Direct detection is more reliable. Also, some towers deal bonus damage to Camo (path 2 Snipers, Spy Plane), and removing Camo throws that bonus away.

Common mistakes

• Waiting too long. Players often survive round 24 and forget about Camo until round 42 Camo Rainbows leak through.
• Building Radar Scanner with no towers in range. It only helps towers inside the Village radius.
• Forgetting Lead on Camo Leads. Round 59 needs a tower that can both see Camo and pop Lead, or two towers covering each other.
• Wrong targeting. Some towers with detection can switch to Camo priority. Use it on your Camo specialist.
• Relying on de-camo against DDTs. DDTs are fast. A reliable detector on your MOAB damage is safer.

Cheap and reliable options

The cheapest early Camo answers are a 0-1-0 Sniper (0-2-0 with Shrapnel Shot for more coverage), a 0-1-0 Desperado and a base Ninja. A base Spike Factory handles every Camo in standard play up to round 37 on a single lane. For late game, Radar Scanner or level 8 Etienne covers your whole defense.

Frequently asked questions

What round do Camo bloons start in BTD6?

The first Camo bloon appears on round 24 in standard rounds. You need full Camo coverage by round 42 at the latest.

Which towers can see Camo without upgrades?

The Ninja Monkey has Camo detection by default. The heroes Ezili, Sauda, Psi and Silas also see Camo from level 1.

Does Radar Scanner give Camo to every tower?

Only to towers inside the Village's range. Etienne at level 8 is the main way to give detection to every tower on the map.

Can DDTs be decamoed?

Yes. Many de-camo effects work on DDTs, but they are fast, so reliable Camo detection on your MOAB damage is usually the safer plan.

Does Camo change a bloon's health?

No. Camo only affects which towers can target and damage the bloon. Its health and RBE stay the same.

Why are my towers not shooting the bloons?

They are most likely Camo bloons and your towers lack detection. Add a detector, a Radar Scanner or a de-camo tower.