One More Spike

One More Spike gives every pile made by a Spike Factory one extra spike, which means +1 pierce per pile. It is one of the two top-row knowledges in the Support tree, so it has no prerequisite and costs a single Knowledge Point.

The numbers per upgrade: a basic pile pops 6 bloons instead of 5, Bigger Stacks goes from 10 to 11, Spiked Balls, Spiked Mines and Super Mines go from 14 to 15, and Perma-Spike piles go from 50 to 51 (or 90 to 91 at full stack). Abilities that throw spikes on the track, such as Spike Storm and Carpet of Spikes, use the same piles and get the same +1.

How it changes the game

The effect is biggest where the base pierce is lowest. A plain 0-0-0 Spike Factory goes from 5 to 6 pops per pile, a 20% increase. That is why One More Spike shows up in least-tier and low-cost challenges: two cheap Spike Factories can tank more bloons than one upgraded factory, and the extra spike helps a hero plus Spike Factory start hold a few more early rounds.

Late game the bonus shrinks to almost nothing. A Perma-Spike pile with 90 pierce does not care about one more pop, and against ceramics and blimps you are relying on damage, not pierce. Think of it as an early-game and challenge knowledge.

The knowledge does not affect Road Spikes from the Powers menu. That is a different knowledge in the Powers tree, Just One More, and the two are easy to mix up.

Is it worth it?

Priority: situational, but you will take it eventually. One More Spike is weak on its own unless you play a lot of Spike Factory strategies. What makes it worth a point is the branch behind it:

• First Last Line of Defense makes your first Spike Factory $150 cheaper.
• Vigilant Sentries leads to Thicker Foams and Big Traps for the Engineer Monkey.
• First Last Line of Defense leads on to Very Shreddy and Hi-Value Mines, which help Spike Factory heavy Deflation setups.

If you are filling the Support tree for its bottom rows, these points also count toward the 8 and 14 points needed for Better Sell Deals, Bank Deposits and Paragon of Power. Compared with Flat Pack Buildings, it is the second pick in the top row for most players.

Where it works

One More Spike is active in every mode that allows Monkey Knowledge, including Impoppable and Deflation. It is turned off in CHIMPS, so do not count on 6-pierce piles when you plan a CHIMPS run. Challenges with MK disabled, some Odyssey maps and Rogue Legends also run without it.

Frequently asked questions

What does One More Spike do in BTD6?

Every Spike Factory pile gets one more spike, so each pile can pop one extra bloon.

Does One More Spike affect Road Spikes?

No. Road Spikes from the Powers menu get their extra spike from Just One More in the Powers tree.

Is One More Spike worth it?

Only as a stepping stone unless you use Spike Factories often. It is cheap and opens First Last Line of Defense and Vigilant Sentries.

Does One More Spike work in CHIMPS?

No. All Monkey Knowledge is disabled in CHIMPS.