Monkey Ace

The Monkey Ace is one of the most rewarding towers to learn. It covers huge parts of the map, flies over obstacles, and its tier 4 and 5 upgrades are some of the strongest damage towers in the game. It is expensive early and needs the right flight path to shine.

Best crosspaths

2-0-3 or 0-2-3 Neva-Miss Targeting

Neva-Miss Targeting makes every dart home in on Bloons, which turns the Ace from a scattershot plane into an accurate damage tower. 2-0-3 attacks faster and fires more darts; 0-2-3 adds Camo and explosive pineapples. Both are excellent mid-game picks, especially on maps with several lanes.

2-0-4 or 0-2-4 Spectre

Spectre rapidly fires darts and bombs and dominates most Bloon types. 0-2-4 adds Camo, which matters late. This is one of the best late mid-game damage towers.

4-0-2 or 4-2-0 Operation: Dart Storm

Fires 16 darts per volley twice as fast, plus the anti-MOAB missiles from Fighter Plane. 4-0-2 uses Centered Path and Sharper Darts; 4-2-0 adds Camo.

0-4-2 or 2-4-0 Ground Zero

Ground Zero adds an ability that drops a massive bomb across the whole screen. Use it as a panic button for big rushes or MOAB waves.

2-0-5 or 0-2-5 Flying Fortress

Flying Fortress is one of the most expensive non-Paragon upgrades in the game and one of the strongest. It is a late-game carry.

5-2-0 Sky Shredder

A huge damage boost on the top path. Pair it with Camo and Lead support.

Early game

The Monkey Ace is too expensive for most round 1 starts. If you use it early, pick the flight path that keeps it over the busiest part of the track. The Figure Eight path is a good default on maps with a central loop; Circle works well on compact maps.

Exploding Pineapple is cheap, adds explosive damage and helps with Lead. Spy Plane gives Camo detection before round 24 in CHIMPS.

Mid game

The Ace takes over in the mid game:

• Accuracy: buy Sharper Darts, Centered Path and Neva-Miss Targeting. A 2-0-3 or 0-2-3 homes in on Bloons and covers multiple lanes.
• MOABs: Fighter Plane (3-x-x) adds anti-MOAB missiles, and Spectre later adds heavy damage.
• Rush control: Ground Zero's bomb ability clears the screen.

Plan for the Lead and DDT rounds as well. A bottom path Ace with Sharper Darts and Neva-Miss still fires Sharp darts, so it cannot pop Lead unless it has the middle path. The 0-2-3 and 0-2-4 crosspaths solve this with Exploding Pineapple and Spy Plane in one go, which is why they are so popular.

Ace micro, which means changing the flight path or targeting at the right moment to put the plane where Bloons are, is a real skill and can make a big difference in tough rounds.

Flight paths explained

The flight path decides where the Ace attacks, so it matters as much as the upgrades:

• Circle: a tight loop around the runway. Good on compact maps or when the runway sits right next to a busy section of track.
• Figure Eight: two loops that cover more ground. A solid default on most maps.
• Infinite Loop: a wide pattern that sweeps more of the screen.
• Centered Path (x-x-2): flies through the middle of the map. Very strong on maps where the track crosses the center.

Because the darts fly out in all directions, the Ace does the most damage where it passes over dense parts of the track. Neva-Miss Targeting reduces how much the flight path matters, because homing darts find Bloons on their own, which is one reason the bottom path is so popular.

Placing the runway

The runway itself does not need to be near the track. Place it somewhere it will not block better tower spots, but keep it within your Monkey Village radius if you plan to buff it. The plane takes buffs based on the runway, not where it is flying.

Late game

Late-game Aces carry or support:

• Spectre and Flying Fortress: strong, accurate damage over the whole map.
• Sky Shredder: huge dart output from the top path.
• Tsar Bomba: an even bigger screen-wide bomb for emergencies.

The Goliath Doomship Paragon is the most expensive Paragon and a freeplay and boss option.

Monkey Ace in CHIMPS

The Ace is common in CHIMPS on multi-lane maps:

1. Open with cheaper towers or a hero.
2. Add a Monkey Ace in the 20s and build towards 0-2-3 or 2-0-3 Neva-Miss.
3. Upgrade to Spectre for the 60s and 70s.
4. Add Camo and Lead support if your crosspath lacks them, and consider Flying Fortress for the end.

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

Best heroes and tower combos

• Rosalia: works well with Monkey Ace and Heli Pilot strategies.
• Monkey Buccaneer: Carrier Flagship speeds up Monkey Aces.
• Monkey Village: Radar Scanner gives Camo to bottom path Aces without Spy Plane. Note that the Ace only benefits while its base sits in the Village's radius.
• Glue Gunner or Ice Monkey: slowing Bloons gives a moving plane more time to hit them.

Tier 5 upgrades: are they worth it?

Sky Shredder (5-x-x). Strong damage output but expensive. Worth it in late freeplay and boss events.

Tsar Bomba (x-5-x). A powerful emergency button. Less consistent damage than the other two.

Flying Fortress (x-x-5). The strongest Ace tier 5 for steady damage, but very expensive. Buy it when you have the cash late in the game.

Common mistakes

• Keeping the default flight path. Pick the path that covers the busiest part of the map.
• Forgetting Camo. Only Spy Plane gives the Ace Camo detection.
• Buying the Ace too early. It is expensive for round 1 and its value appears from the 20s onward.
• Ignoring Ground Zero's ability. It is a strong panic button; keep it ready for the hardest rounds.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Monkey Ace path?

2-0-3 or 0-2-3 Neva-Miss Targeting in the mid game, 0-2-4 Spectre later, and Flying Fortress as a late-game carry.

Can Monkey Ace see camo?

Yes, with Spy Plane (x-2-x), which also doubles damage against Camo Bloons.

Can Monkey Ace pop lead?

Yes, with Exploding Pineapple (x-1-x), Bomber Ace (x-3-x) or other explosive upgrades.

What flight path should I use?

It depends on the map. Figure Eight is a good default; Centered Path (x-x-2) is a strong option that flies through the middle of the map.

Is Spectre or Sky Shredder better?

Spectre (x-x-4) is cheaper and more accurate thanks to Neva-Miss homing, so it is the more common choice in CHIMPS. Sky Shredder (5-x-x) has a higher ceiling but needs Camo and Lead support and costs much more.

Does Monkey Ace need line of sight?

No. The Ace flies over obstacles, so walls and buildings do not block its attacks the way they block Snipers or Crossbows.

Is Monkey Ace good in CHIMPS?

Yes, especially on multi-lane maps where Neva-Miss Targeting and Spectre can cover several paths at once.

What is the Monkey Ace Paragon?

Goliath Doomship, which costs $900,000 on Medium.