Breaking Ballistic

Breaking Ballistic is a third-row Military knowledge that gives the missiles of Ballistic Missile and its upgrades +1 damage against Ceramic Bloons. You need 4 Knowledge Points in the Military tree and Naval Upgrades. It costs one point, no Monkey Money, and unlocks Quad Burst.

How it changes the game

Ballistic Missile (x-3-x Monkey Sub) adds a homing missile to the Sub's attack that deals bonus damage to Ceramics and MOAB-class bloons. One extra point of Ceramic damage per missile is a noticeable share of that bonus:

• First Ceramic rounds: a 2-3-0 or 0-3-2 Sub breaks Ceramics with fewer missiles, which helps during the Ceramic-heavy rounds from the late 30s to the 60s.
• First Strike Capability and Pre-Emptive Strike (x-4-x and x-5-x): their regular missile attacks keep the extra Ceramic damage, so the bonus carries into the late game, where Super Ceramics appear from round 81.
• Sub spam on water maps: several Ballistic Missile Subs each get the bonus, which adds up in Military Only games.

It only applies against Ceramics. MOAB damage, pierce and attack speed do not change, and Monkey Subs without Ballistic Missile get nothing. The Sub's darts are also unaffected; that is what Naval Upgrades and Quad Burst handle.

Is it worth it?

Priority: situational. If you use middle-path Monkey Subs, it is a solid free buff for exactly the bloon type that path is meant to handle. For most other players, it is a stepping stone: you buy it to reach Quad Burst and, after that, Flanking Maneuvers and Sub Admiral. Since Big Bloon Sabotage requires Sub Admiral, anyone aiming for it passes through Breaking Ballistic.

Among third-row Military nodes, Faster Takedowns is the other common pick from the naval side because it leads to Trade Agreements and Military Conscription. You need both columns for Flanking Maneuvers anyway.

Because Ballistic Missiles home in on their targets, nearly every missile reaches a Ceramic when one is in range, so the extra damage is rarely wasted.

Where it works

Breaking Ballistic works wherever Monkey Knowledge is enabled: Standard, Impoppable, Military Only, Races and freeplay. It is disabled in CHIMPS and in challenges that switch knowledge off.

Frequently asked questions

What does Breaking Ballistic do?

Ballistic Missile and its upgrades deal +1 damage to Ceramic Bloons with each missile.

Does Breaking Ballistic increase MOAB damage?

No. Only damage against Ceramics is increased.

Does it affect First Strike Capability and Pre-Emptive Strike?

Their regular missile attacks keep the bonus, since they are upgrades of Ballistic Missile.

What do I need to unlock Breaking Ballistic?

Naval Upgrades and at least 4 points spent in the Military tree.

Is Breaking Ballistic worth it?

Yes if you use middle-path Subs, and it is required on the way to Quad Burst and Sub Admiral.