Tech Bot Prime

The Tech Bot Prime is the Pro version of the Tech Bot. It does everything the normal Bot does, firing a linked tower's abilities as soon as they are ready, but it has more range, sets ambushes without any Monkey Knowledge and can be upgraded to run many abilities at once or make them stronger. It costs 150 Monkey Money and was added in version 54.0.

How to unlock it

• Earn XP by buying and using Tech Bots: buying one gives 400 XP and using one gives 100 XP.
• Unlocking the Prime and its tier 1 upgrades needs 12,500 XP, about 25 Tech Bots bought and used (1,250 Monkey Money).
• Tier 2 upgrades need 70,000 XP and tier 3 needs 200,000 XP. Buying and using the Prime itself earns XP twice as efficiently.

What it does at base

• Placed on land like a tower, with a range of 28 units.
• Links to a tower and activates its abilities automatically, just like a Tech Bot.
• Can set an ambush zone, so abilities only fire once Bloons reach a chosen area. The normal Tech Bot needs the Ambush Tech knowledge for that.
• Normal Tech Bots can link to a Tech Bot Prime that has an activated ability.

Version 55.0 raised its cost from 100 to 150 Monkey Money.

Upgrades

Prices are for Medium difficulty. One path only, and one tier 3 of each path at a time.

Path 1: stronger abilities

1. Initiate Link AMP ($550): projectiles from the linked tower's abilities deal 50% more damage.
2. Chain Link ($1,100): when it fires an ability, every other tower on the map with the same ability (and not linked to another Bot) fires it too.
3. Lead the Storm ($4,050): the linked tower deals double damage for 5 seconds after its ability fires. Since version 56.2 this only applies to abilities that fire a single projectile.

Path 2: more towers

1. AUT0.M8 ($250): links up to three towers at once.
2. NEUR0.MAP ($1,350): also fires the abilities of every tower in its radius.
3. CMDR.Ch1p ($2,050): doubles its range and gains its own ability (5-second cooldown) that fires every linked and in-range ability at once. Automatic firing is turned off, so you choose the moment.

Path 3: drones and cooldowns

1. Drone Ambush Network ($200): place up to three mini drones, each creating its own ambush zone.
2. Trigger Happy Drones ($1,650): the linked tower's ability cooldowns are 25% shorter, and you get up to six drones.
3. Oh Boy, I Can't Wait! ($12,500): gains Pop Off, a 120-second-cooldown ability that forces every ability in range to fire, even on cooldown, with a 25% chance for each to skip its cooldown afterwards.

Best times to use it

• Ability-heavy late game. When you rely on several abilities, the Prime manages them better than a row of normal Bots.
• Spamming one ability type. Chain Link is excellent for many copies of one ability, such as several Blade Maelstroms or Engineer Overclocks.
• Big set-piece moments. CMDR.Ch1p and Pop Off let you unload everything at once when the BAD or a Boss enters your kill zone.

Buy upgrades only after your defence is stable. Spending cash on utility too early can make the early game harder.

Best combos

• Engineer Monkey Overclock and Ultraboost. Path 2 can keep several Engineers firing, and Trigger Happy Drones shortens the cooldown.
• Multiple Tack Shooter Blade Maelstroms or Super Monkey Tech Terrors with Chain Link.
• Super Monkey Beacon and Hype Boost Monkey. Pro Power abilities can be automated too.
• Heroes. Damage abilities from heroes benefit from perfect timing and Initiate Link AMP.

Where you can't use it

• Disabled in CHIMPS, Races and ranked Boss Events.
• Disabled in challenges and Quests that turn Powers off, and in the editors' test mode.
• Contested Territory only allows Powers from Relics, and there is no Relic for it.
• In Odyssey and Rogue Legends only equipped Powers can be used.
• Pro Powers count toward tower limits in challenges and events, though their upgrades do not count toward Least Tiers.

Is it worth the Monkey Money?

At 150 Monkey Money it costs the same as three regular Tech Bots. If you only need to automate one tower, a normal Tech Bot is enough. The Prime pays off when you use its upgrades: one Prime on path 2 can replace several Bots, and path 1 and path 3 make your abilities genuinely stronger, not just automatic.

It is a strong pick for Boss Events and long Impoppable or freeplay games built around abilities.

Frequently asked questions

How do you unlock the Tech Bot Prime?

Earn 12,500 XP by buying and using regular Tech Bots, roughly 25 of them.

How much does the Tech Bot Prime cost?

150 Monkey Money since version 55.0. It cost 100 before that.

Does the Tech Bot Prime need Ambush Tech?

No. It can set ambush zones on its own.

How many towers can the Tech Bot Prime link?

One at base, three with AUT0.M8, and every tower in its radius with NEUR0.MAP.

Which Tech Bot Prime path is best?

Path 2 for automating many towers, path 1 for spamming one ability type with Chain Link, and path 3 for shorter cooldowns and the Pop Off ability.

Can you use the Tech Bot Prime in CHIMPS?

No. Powers and Pro Powers are disabled in CHIMPS, Races and ranked Boss Events.