Alchemist

The Alchemist is the best damage buffer in Bloons TD 6. A single Berserker Brew can turn a good tower into a great one, and Permanent Brew makes that boost last forever. Its middle path also deals real damage, especially against MOAB-class and Fortified Bloons.

Best crosspaths

3-2-0 or 3-0-1 Berserker Brew

Berserker Brew gives the closest tower more damage, pierce, range and attack speed for a time. 3-2-0 adds Perishing Potions, which strips Fortified from regular Bloons and adds MOAB damage. 3-0-1 throws faster, so brews are reapplied more often. This is the most common Alchemist build.

4-2-0 or 4-0-1 Stronger Stimulant

A stronger version of the brew with more pierce, range and attack speed. Worth it next to a main carry in the late game.

5-2-0 or 5-0-1 Permanent Brew

Every newly applied brew lasts permanently while the Alchemist stays on the map. One Permanent Brew can buff many towers if you place it so each of them gets brewed in turn.

0-3-2 or 1-3-0 Unstable Concoction

Throws a MOAB-only potion that splashes and explodes when the MOAB-class Bloon pops. A good mid-game MOAB damage dealer.

0-4-1 or 2-4-0 Transforming Tonic

The Alchemist turns into a laser-firing monster for 20 seconds. Strong burst damage for hard rounds.

0-2-3 or 2-0-3 Lead to Gold

Every Lead Bloon popped by the Alchemist dies in one hit and gives extra cash. Good value on rounds with many Leads.

2-0-4 Rubber to Gold and 0-2-5 Bloon Master Alchemist

Rubber to Gold makes Bloons give more pop income. Bloon Master Alchemist shrinks the strongest Bloons on screen into Red Bloons, which is strong late-game control.

Early game

The Alchemist is rarely bought on round 1. Its acid is good against groups and pops every type, but $550 is a lot early, and it cannot see Camo. Most players add it once they have a main damage tower worth buffing.

If you do use one early, Larger Potions and Stronger Acid are cheap and make its own attacks much better.

Placement matters from the first purchase. The Alchemist needs to be close to both the track (for its own acid) and to the towers you will want to brew later. A spot right next to your planned carry, on the inside of a bend, covers both. Because potions are thrown over obstacles, you do not need to worry about walls or line of sight when choosing that spot.

Mid game

The mid game is where the Alchemist starts paying off:

• Buffing: place a 3-2-0 Berserker Brew next to your main carry. Brew works best on fast-attacking towers, because the extra damage applies to every hit. Bionic and Perma Charge Boomerangs, Sun Avatars, Tack Shooters, Ninjas and Subs all love it.
• Fortified Bloons: Perishing Potions (x-2-x) strips Fortified from regular Bloons, which makes Fortified Ceramic rounds much easier.
• MOAB damage: 0-3-2 Unstable Concoction adds solid MOAB damage.

How brew targeting works

The Alchemist throws its brew at the closest tower in its range that does not already have a brew (with some exceptions). Place it right next to the tower you want buffed, and keep weaker towers out of its range if you do not want brews wasted on them.

Acid and Fortified Bloons

The Alchemist's own acid deals damage over time, which is good against grouped Bloons and slow-moving Ceramics. Perishing Potions (x-2-x) is one of the cheapest upgrades in the game for stripping Fortified from regular Bloons, so even a support Alchemist on 3-2-0 makes Fortified Ceramic and Lead rounds noticeably easier for every tower around it. That makes 3-2-0 the default rather than 3-0-1 in most CHIMPS games.

Late game

In the late game:

• Permanent Brew: every tower that gets brewed keeps the buff forever. Place the Alchemist so it can reach all your carries.
• Total Transformation: transforms the five closest eligible towers into laser monsters for 20 seconds, a strong burst.
• Bloon Master Alchemist: shrinks the strongest Bloons on screen into Red Bloons.

Alchemist in CHIMPS

The Alchemist is a staple of CHIMPS:

1. Build your main damage first.
2. Add a 3-2-0 Berserker Brew next to it in the 30s or 40s.
3. Upgrade to Stronger Stimulant for the late game, and Permanent Brew if you can afford it.
4. Make sure Camo is covered elsewhere.

For full CHIMPS walkthroughs, see our videos on the BTD6 Master YouTube channel.

Best heroes and tower combos

• Fast-attacking carries: Perma Charge, Sun Avatar, The Tack Zone, Grandmaster Ninja, Sub Commander and similar towers get the most out of a brew.
• Obyn Greenfoot: buffs Magic Monkeys in his range from level 11, including Alchemists.
• Adora: pairs well with Berserker Brew.
• Monkey Village: Radar Scanner gives the Alchemist Camo targeting, which it cannot get any other way.

Tier 5 upgrades: are they worth it?

Permanent Brew (5-x-x). One of the best tier 5 upgrades for late-game setups with several carries. It makes every brew permanent.

Total Transformation (x-5-x). Strong burst damage, but less consistent than Permanent Brew.

Bloon Master Alchemist (x-x-5). Strong control in freeplay and high rounds, but not often needed in standard games.

Common mistakes

• Placing the Alchemist next to the wrong tower. Brews go to the closest tower without one.
• Forgetting Camo. The Alchemist can never target Camo on its own.
• Brewing a slow tower. A brew adds damage per hit, so fast attackers benefit most.
• Skipping Perishing Potions. It strips Fortified from regular Bloons for very little money.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Alchemist path?

3-2-0 Berserker Brew is the most common build. In the late game, 4-2-0 Stronger Stimulant or 5-2-0 Permanent Brew.

Can Alchemist see camo?

No. No Alchemist upgrade gives Camo detection. Use a Monkey Village with Radar Scanner or another Camo source.

Can Alchemist pop lead?

Yes. Its acid pops every Bloon type, including Lead, Purple and Black.

Can Alchemist throw over walls?

Yes. Its potions ignore obstacles that block line of sight, so it can attack Bloons behind walls and buildings.

Does Permanent Brew buff more than one tower?

Yes. Every tower that receives a brew from it keeps the buff permanently, so over time a single Permanent Brew can buff every tower within its range.

Which tower benefits most from Berserker Brew?

Fast-attacking towers, because the brew adds damage to every hit. Perma Charge, Sun Avatar and The Tack Zone are classic targets.

Is Alchemist good in CHIMPS?

Yes. Berserker Brew and Stronger Stimulant are among the most common supports in CHIMPS.

Does the Alchemist have a Paragon?

No, the Alchemist has no Paragon.