Tsar Bomba

Tsar Bomba upgrades the Ground Zero ability into one of the strongest burst attacks in the game. Each activation deals 3,000 damage to up to 5,000 bloons on screen, starting with the ones nearest the runway, and stuns everything that survives for 8 seconds. It deals double damage to camos and keeps the 35-second cooldown. The bombing runs also improve: damage per bomb rises from 15 to 20, camo bonus from +15 to +20, and each bomb gains +10 damage against ceramics.

When to buy it

At $26,000 on Medium, Tsar Bomba is one of the cheaper tier 5s, so it is often affordable in the 80s of a CHIMPS game. Time each use for when most of a round's blimps are on screen. One activation erases BFB waves, fortified DDTs and heavily damaged ZOMGs, and the stun gives your other towers time to finish what remains.

Tsar is weaker against long, sustained rushes because of the downtime between abilities. Several Ground Zero towers can beat one Tsar in those cases. Cover the gaps with:

• A low-RBE cleanup tower such as a Spike Factory with Perma-Spike.
• A strong single-target damage dealer such as Spike Storm or a sniper path.

Crosspaths follow Ground Zero: 1-5-0 is the usual pick for faster bombing runs, 0-5-2 adds bomb pierce and flight control.

Is it worth it?

For its price, Tsar Bomba is strong late-game insurance in CHIMPS and a standout for races and Time Attack, where one bomb can clear entire waves of BFBs. It is not a solo carry: you need steady damage alongside it. Compared with Sky Shredder or Flying Fortress, it trades constant damage for huge burst, so the best choice depends on whether your defense is failing on single big waves or on sustained pressure.

Frequently asked questions

Can Tsar Bomba solo CHIMPS?

No. It handles burst waves but needs cleanup and single-target support between activations.

Is Tsar Bomba better than Ground Zero?

For single big waves, yes, by a wide margin. For constant rushes, two or three Ground Zeros can give more total ability uptime for similar money.

How much does Tsar Bomba cost?

It costs $26,000 on Medium. Prices for every difficulty are on this page.