Sharp Shooter

Sharp Shooter makes the Dart Monkey a proper mid-game damage dealer. Each bolt now deals 6 damage instead of 3, the attack cooldown is halved from 0.95 to 0.475 seconds, and every 10th shot is a critical hit that deals far more damage than a normal bolt. Bolts travel faster but for a shorter time, so their reach is about the same. Pierce stays at 4, and the bolts are still sharp, so lead bloons are still a problem.

When to buy it

Sharp Shooter is a decent early mid-game tower. Its crits help break down the first MOABs and its 6 damage handles ceramics well. Its weakness is low pierce, so place it so it fires down a straight stretch of track.

• 0-2-4 is the usual choice, cutting the cooldown to about 0.32 seconds for the best single-target damage.
• 2-0-4 raises pierce to 12 for more group damage when you have a long straight.

Be careful with extra damage buffs on it: more damage can leave ceramics popping into fast clumps instead of being cleared cleanly.

Is it worth it?

It is a solid buy for its price and a natural step toward Crossbow Master. On its own it lacks pierce for late-game rushes, so it works best as part of a defense rather than the whole defense.

Frequently asked questions

How often does Sharp Shooter crit?

Every 10th shot is a critical hit. Crossbow Master makes it every 5th shot.

What crosspath for Sharp Shooter?

0-2-4 for damage against strong single targets, 2-0-4 for pierce on straight lanes.

How much does Sharp Shooter cost?

$2,050 on Medium. Every difficulty's price is listed on this page.