Dartling Gunner

The Dartling Gunner is a high-damage tower built around aiming. Point it down a long line of track and it can carry the mid and late game; point it badly and it wastes most of its shots. Its tier 4 and 5 upgrades are among the strongest single towers in the game.

Best crosspaths

2-3-0 or 0-3-2 Hydra Rocket Pods

Hydra Rocket Pods fires missiles that explode and damage every Bloon type. 2-3-0 adds accuracy and Laser Shock; 0-3-2 adds faster swivel and pierce. A good all-round mid-game damage tower.

0-4-2 or 2-4-0 Rocket Storm

Rocket Storm adds an ability that launches a storm of rockets in a wide cone. Use it on Ceramic rushes and MOAB waves.

4-2-0 Plasma Accelerator

Plasma Accelerator fires a constant beam that pops Lead and hits everything along its line. With Advanced Targeting it sees Camo. Strong on long straight tracks.

0-2-4 or 2-0-4 Bloon Area Denial System

Bloon Area Denial System turns the Dartling into a four-barrel turret that can attack automatically, so you do not need to aim it. 0-2-4 adds Camo; 2-0-4 adds Laser Shock damage.

2-0-3 Buckshot

Buckshot fires blasts that knock Bloons back. The Laser Shock crosspath adds extra shock damage. A decent stall for rush rounds.

0-5-2 or 2-5-0 M.A.D

M.A.D fires slow mega missiles that deal extreme damage to MOAB-class Bloons. It is one of the best anti-MOAB towers in the game.

5-2-0 Ray of Doom

A solid line of destruction across the screen. With Camo from Advanced Targeting it is one of the strongest late-game carries.

Early game

The Dartling Gunner is expensive for round 1 and only fires where you aim it, so most players add it later. If you use it early, set its targeting to Locked and aim down the longest straight line of track you can find, so even missed shots hit something further along.

In CHIMPS, a Dartling usually arrives in the 20s or 30s once you have enough cash. Buy Advanced Targeting before you rely on it for Camo.

Mid game

The Dartling's mid game is where it gets interesting:

• General damage: 2-3-0 or 0-3-2 Hydra Rocket Pods, which damages every Bloon type.
• MOABs: 0-4-2 Rocket Storm for burst, and plan for M.A.D later.
• Lead and lines: 4-2-0 Plasma Accelerator on long straight tracks.
• Hands-off damage: 0-2-4 Bloon Area Denial System if you would rather not aim at all.

Do not overlook the cheap top path tiers. Focused Firing tightens the spread so more darts hit the line you are aiming at, and Laser Shock makes every hit deal bonus damage a moment later, which also boosts Buckshot and Bloon Area Denial System when crosspathed.

Aiming the Dartling

The Dartling Gunner has three targeting options. Normal follows your cursor or finger, which is great if you want to play actively. Locked fires at a fixed point you choose, which is best for most players. Bloon Area Denial System and above can be set to attack on their own. Aim down the longest straight line where Bloons are dense, ideally from a spot where the gun's line covers two parts of the track.

Picking the right spot

Before you buy expensive upgrades, test the angle. A good Dartling spot lets its line cross the track more than once, for example from the outside of a U-shaped bend so the shots pass through both halves of the U. Avoid spots where a building, tree or rock sits between the gun and the track, because the shots stop at obstacles. Remember that the Dartling turns towards its aim point, and Faster Swivel (x-x-1) helps a lot if you plan to aim it actively during a round.

Late game

Late-game Dartlings are carries:

• Ray of Doom: a line of destruction that hits everything in its path.
• M.A.D: huge damage to MOAB-class Bloons.
• Bloon Exclusion Zone: a six-barrel automatic turret with massive damage.

All three are expensive. The Dartling Gunner has no Paragon.

Dartling Gunner in CHIMPS

The Dartling is a strong late-game CHIMPS tower:

1. Open with cheaper towers.
2. Add a Dartling with Advanced Targeting and grow it into Hydra Rocket Pods or Rocket Storm.
3. For MOAB-heavy late rounds, aim for M.A.D. On long straight maps, Ray of Doom is a strong final carry.

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

Best heroes and tower combos

The Dartling does not have a dedicated hero, so pick one that covers the early game while you save up for it. Strong combos come from towers:

• Monkey Village: extra attack speed and pierce for a fast-firing tower.
• Alchemist: a brew adds damage to every shot or missile.
• Glue Gunner or Ice Monkey: slowing Bloons on the aimed line keeps them in the line of fire.
• Mortar Monkey with Signal Flare or Shattering Shells: removes Camo and Fortified so the Dartling's damage goes further.

Tier 5 upgrades: are they worth it?

Ray of Doom (5-x-x). One of the strongest late-game carries on maps with long straight lines. Expensive but worth it.

M.A.D (x-5-x). One of the best anti-MOAB upgrades in the game. Worth it when MOAB-class Bloons are your main threat.

Bloon Exclusion Zone (x-x-5). Strong automatic damage without aiming. Good for players who do not want to micromanage.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the Dartling on Normal and forgetting about it. Use Locked if you are not going to aim actively.
• Aiming at a short stretch of track. Aim down long lines so missed shots still hit.
• Forgetting Camo. Get Advanced Targeting or another Camo answer.
• Placing it behind obstacles. Its shots are blocked by objects on the map.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Dartling Gunner path?

0-4-2 Rocket Storm and 0-5-2 M.A.D for MOABs, 4-2-0 Plasma Accelerator and 5-2-0 Ray of Doom for line damage, and 0-2-4 Bloon Area Denial System for automatic targeting.

Can Dartling Gunner see camo?

Yes, with Advanced Targeting (x-1-x).

Can Dartling Gunner pop lead?

Yes, with Hydra Rocket Pods (x-3-x) or Plasma Accelerator (4-x-x).

Is Bloon Area Denial System worth it?

Yes, if you do not want to aim. It turns the Dartling into an automatic turret with four barrels that each pick their own targets, which makes it much easier to use on twisty maps where a single aimed line covers little track.

Is M.A.D or Ray of Doom better?

M.A.D is better when MOAB-class Bloons are your main problem, because its missiles deal extreme damage to them. Ray of Doom is better as an all-round carry on maps with long straight lines, since its beam hits everything along its path.

Does the Dartling Gunner need line of sight?

Yes. Its shots are blocked by obstacles on the map, so place it with a clear line to the track.

How do you aim the Dartling Gunner?

It fires towards your cursor or finger on Normal targeting. Use Locked targeting to make it fire at a fixed point instead.

Is Dartling Gunner good in CHIMPS?

Yes, especially in the late game with M.A.D or Ray of Doom.

Does the Dartling Gunner have a Paragon?

No, the Dartling Gunner has no Paragon.