Military tower
Heli Pilot
Hovers wherever you direct it. Shoots from twin heavy dart guns.
Daily challenges
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Info
The Heli Pilot is a Military Monkey that flies a helicopter from a helipad and follows your cursor or a target point, firing darts at Bloons below. It costs $1,500 on Medium, which makes it one of the most expensive base towers, and it deals Sharp damage. Its biggest strength is mobility: you can move it to any part of the map, which is great for multi-lane maps and for maps full of obstacles.
By default the Heli cannot pop Lead or Frozen Bloons and cannot see Camo Bloons.
The three paths
- Top path (Quad Darts to Apache Prime): damage. Quad Darts fires 4 darts per volley, Pursuit adds a targeting option that chases Bloons automatically, Razor Rotors damages Bloons on contact (including Lead and Frozen), Apache Dartship adds a missile array and machine guns, and Apache Prime is a huge damage upgrade.
- Middle path (Bigger Jets to Special Poperations): utility. IFR adds Camo detection, Downdraft blows Bloons back towards the entrance, Support Chinook blows more Bloons back and gains abilities that drop lives and cash crates or pick up and move Monkeys, and Special Poperations deploys a Monkey Marine.
- Bottom path (Faster Darts to Comanche Commander): MOAB control. MOAB Shove pushes MOAB-class Bloons backwards or slows them, Comanche Defense calls in mini helicopters when needed, and Comanche Commander keeps three more Comanches permanently.
Camo and Lead within its own upgrades
- Camo: IFR (x-2-x).
- Lead: Razor Rotors (3-x-x) pops Lead and Frozen Bloons on contact. Other builds need a separate Lead answer.
Paragon
The Heli Pilot has no Paragon.
Quick summary
- Category: Military
- Base cost: $1,500 (Medium)
- Damage type: Sharp
- Best at: mobility, multi-lane maps, MOAB control with MOAB Shove, rerouting Bloons with Downdraft
- Weak at: early game cost, Lead without Razor Rotors
Upgrades
Top path
Middle path
Stats
Main attack
- Damage
- 1
- Pierce
- 3
- Attack speed
- 0.57s
- Range
- 42
Monkey Knowledge
Knowledge upgrades that change Heli Pilot.
Monkey Ace and Heli Pilot get +1 pierce per shot.
All Military Monkeys get a one-off +1000 XP and earn XP in-game 5% faster permanently.
Special Poperations Heli allows tier 4 and below Monkey Towers to attack Bloons while in transit.
Requires: 14 Knowledge Points Charged Chinooks 1000
All Military Monkeys base costs reduced by 5%.
Requires: 14 Knowledge Points Aeronautic Subsidy Door Gunner 1000
How to use Heli Pilot
The Heli Pilot is the most mobile tower in Bloons TD 6. It costs a lot early, but once it has a few upgrades it can be wherever the action is. Its middle and bottom paths give some of the best control effects in the game, from pushing Bloons back to stopping MOABs in their tracks.
Best crosspaths
2-0-3 or 0-2-3 MOAB Shove
MOAB Shove lets the Heli push MOAB-class Bloons backwards or slow them down. The shove is stronger with Bigger Jets and IFR, so 0-2-3 is the classic choice, and it also gives Camo. It is a great stall for MOABs and BFBs in the 40s to 60s.
0-2-4 Comanche Defense
Comanche Defense calls in mini helicopters when they are most needed and pushes harder against bigger MOAB-class Bloons. A solid mid to late-game support.
0-3-2 or 2-3-0 Downdraft
Downdraft blows Bloons back towards the entrance. It is excellent for stalling rushes, especially when the Heli hovers over a key spot. It does not push MOAB-class Bloons.
4-2-0 or 4-0-2 Apache Dartship
Apache Dartship adds a missile array and powerful machine guns. 4-2-0 adds Camo; 4-0-2 fires faster. A strong mid to late-game damage tower that can move anywhere.
2-4-0 or 0-4-2 Support Chinook
Support Chinook blows back more Bloons and gains abilities to drop crates and to pick up and redeploy most Monkeys. In income modes, the cash and lives crates are valuable. Moving towers mid-game is a unique trick.
5-2-0 Apache Prime
Apache Prime is a powerful late-game damage carry that keeps the Heli's mobility.
Early game
The Heli Pilot is rarely bought on round 1 because of its $1,500 base cost. If you do, use Lock Place or Follow Touch targeting to keep it over the busiest part of the track, and buy Quad Darts for more damage. Pursuit (2-x-x) lets it chase Bloons by itself.
In CHIMPS, the Heli usually arrives in the 20s or 30s once your economy can support it.
Mid game
The Heli shines as a control tower:
- MOAB stall: a 0-2-3 MOAB Shove slows or reverses MOABs and BFBs. Combine it with a damage tower and MOAB rounds become much safer.
- Rush stall: a 0-3-2 Downdraft pushes regular Bloons back.
- Damage: a 4-2-0 Apache Dartship deals strong damage anywhere on the map.
Support Chinook adds a unique trick: its ability can pick up most Monkeys and redeploy them elsewhere. That lets you move a strong tower to a different lane on maps where the active path changes, or reposition a tower that was placed badly without selling it.
Remember that only Razor Rotors gives Lead popping. If your Heli is a main damage source on the bottom or middle path, add a Lead answer.
Targeting options explained
The Heli Pilot's targeting decides where it flies:
- Follow Touch: the Heli follows your cursor or finger. Great for active play and micro, but you have to keep moving it.
- Lock Place: the Heli stays over a spot you choose. The best default for MOAB Shove and Downdraft builds, so they sit where Bloons enter your kill zone.
- Patrol Points: the Heli flies between two points, useful on two-lane maps.
- Pursuit (2-x-x): the Heli chases Bloons on its own.
For control builds, park the Heli just before your main damage. MOAB Shove and Downdraft then push Bloons back into the range of your towers again, so every second of stall turns into more damage.
Placing the helipad
The helipad can go almost anywhere, because the Heli flies to its targets. Tuck it into a corner or along an edge to save space, and keep it inside your Monkey Village radius so the Heli receives the buffs.
Late game
Late-game Heli Pilots fill one of three roles:
- Apache Prime: mobile damage.
- Comanche Commander: permanent extra helicopters with MOAB Shove.
- Special Poperations: a Monkey Marine with a machine gun and crate abilities.
The Heli Pilot has no Paragon, so in freeplay it is a support tower rather than a late carry.
Heli Pilot in CHIMPS
The Heli is a strong CHIMPS support:
- Open with cheaper towers.
- Add a Heli with IFR by the time you can afford it.
- Build 0-2-3 MOAB Shove for MOAB and BFB rounds, or 0-3-2 Downdraft for rush rounds.
- Upgrade to Comanche Defense or Apache Dartship depending on what your defense lacks.
Support Chinook's cash and lives crates do not help in CHIMPS. For full CHIMPS walkthroughs, see our videos on the BTD6 Master YouTube channel.
Best heroes and tower combos
- Rosalia: works well with Heli Pilot and Monkey Ace strategies.
- Monkey Village: extra attack speed and range; keep the helipad within the Village radius so the Heli benefits.
- Damage towers near the Heli's hover spot: MOAB Shove and Downdraft keep Bloons inside their range for longer.
- Ice Monkey or Glue Gunner: more stalling on top of the Heli's pushback.
Tier 5 upgrades: are they worth it?
Apache Prime (5-x-x). Strong mobile damage. Worth it if you want a late carry that can move between lanes.
Special Poperations (x-5-x). A useful support with a Marine and crates, but not a main damage source.
Comanche Commander (x-x-5). Permanent Comanches and strong MOAB Shove. Good for late-game MOAB control.
Common mistakes
- Buying the Heli too early. Its base cost slows down your early economy.
- Forgetting Lead. Only Razor Rotors gives Lead popping.
- Leaving it on the wrong targeting. Use Lock Place or Pursuit to keep it where it is needed.
- Expecting Downdraft to move blimps. It only pushes regular Bloons; use MOAB Shove for MOAB-class Bloons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Heli Pilot path?
0-2-3 MOAB Shove for MOAB control, 0-3-2 Downdraft for stalling rushes, and 4-2-0 Apache Dartship for damage.
Can Heli Pilot see camo?
Yes, with IFR (x-2-x).
Can Heli Pilot pop lead?
Yes, with Razor Rotors (3-x-x), which pops Lead and Frozen Bloons on contact.
Is Heli Pilot good in CHIMPS?
Yes, as a control and support tower. MOAB Shove and Downdraft are common in the mid game.
Is Heli Pilot worth $1,500?
In the mid and late game, yes. Early on the price slows your economy, but MOAB Shove, Downdraft and Apache Dartship give control and damage that few towers match, and the Heli can move to wherever it is needed.
What targeting should Heli Pilot use?
Lock Place for control builds, so the Heli sits just before your main damage. Pursuit or Follow Touch for damage builds that need to chase Bloons across the map.
Can Heli Pilot push MOABs?
Yes, with MOAB Shove (x-x-3). It slows or reverses MOAB-class Bloons, and the shove gets stronger with Bigger Jets and IFR.
Does the Heli Pilot have a Paragon?
No, the Heli Pilot has no Paragon.
