Scholarships

Scholarships makes it 10% cheaper to buy hero levels with in-game cash. It is a second-row Heroes knowledge that needs More 'Splody, and costs one Knowledge Point with no Monkey Money.

It only affects the cash you pay to level a hero instantly from the hero's menu. It does not change the hero's placement cost; that is Hero Favors, further down the same tree.

How it changes the game

Heroes level up on their own from XP earned every round. You can also pay cash to skip to the next level, and the price depends on how much XP is still missing. Scholarships takes 10% off that price.

Buying levels is usually poor value compared with spending the same money on towers. There are a few moments where it is worth it, and Scholarships makes those moments cheaper:

• Hitting a key level before a key round. For example, getting Quincy to the level where his arrows explode and pop Lead before the first Lead-heavy rounds, or pushing Sauda to the level where she can pop every bloon type.
• Beginner maps. Heroes earn less XP on easier maps, so buying a level or two can be the only way to have the hero ready in time.
• Abilities. Buying the level that unlocks the level 3 or level 10 ability right before a round you need it for.

Because the price of a level drops as XP comes in, Scholarships works best combined with the XP knowledge in this tree. With Self Taught Heroes and Monkey Education active, you need less XP and pay 10% less for the rest.

Is it worth it?

Priority: situational, but required. If you rarely buy hero levels, the discount does little. The real reason to buy Scholarships is that it is the only route to Self Taught Heroes (+10% hero XP), which is one of the two parents of Hero Favors. Every hero player should own it.

Compared with Heroic Velocity, the other second-row Heroes knowledge, Scholarships is a little more useful in practice because it saves real cash in the situations above. Both are stepping stones toward the strong middle of the tree.

Where it works

Scholarships is active wherever Monkey Knowledge is enabled and heroes are allowed, including Impoppable and Boss Events. It is off in CHIMPS, where buying hero levels costs the full price. Challenges with MK disabled and Rogue Legends also use base prices.

Frequently asked questions

What does Scholarships do?

Buying hero levels with in-game cash costs 10% less.

Does Scholarships make heroes cheaper to place?

No. Hero Favors reduces the placement cost. Scholarships only affects buying levels.

Is it worth buying hero levels?

Usually only when you need a specific level before a specific round, such as a Lead-popping level for Quincy.

What does Scholarships unlock?

Self Taught Heroes, which is required for Hero Favors.