Merchantman

Merchantman turns the Buccaneer into a money boat. It earns $200 automatically at the end of every round ($220 with the Trade Agreements Monkey Knowledge), and the amount goes up further with a Central Market Village and a Trade Empire. It also deals double damage while you have at least $10,000 in the bank.

When to buy it

Merchantman is a hands-off, efficient income source. It shines as part of a Trade Empire army on maps with lots of water, because every Merchantman buffed by a Trade Empire earns more and the bonus grows with the number of boats.

How a typical farm grows:

1. Spam Merchantmen on the water, ideally discounted by Monkey Commerce.
2. Upgrade one to Trade Empire once you have about 16.
3. Fill up to 20 buffed Merchantmen, then upgrade them to Favored Trades while buying Central Markets.

Compared with Favored Trades, Merchantmen get more from Trade Agreements and Village discounts, which makes them the better start for raw income.

Leave it uncrosspathed when it is only for money. If it must defend, add Grape Shot and Hot Shot (2-0-3 is weaker; higher-pierce grapes beat Double Shot).

Is it worth it?

Yes, for farming in modes with income. Its damage boost is weak outside a Trade Empire setup, so do not buy it as a defensive tower. It does nothing in modes that block income, such as CHIMPS.

Frequently asked questions

How much money does Merchantman make?

$200 per round on its own, $220 with Trade Agreements, and more with Central Market and Trade Empire.

Is Merchantman better than a Banana Farm?

On maps with plenty of water and a Trade Empire plan, a Merchantman army is one of the strongest income setups. Without that plan, standard farms are easier to scale.

How much does Merchantman cost?

$2,400 on Medium. All difficulty prices are shown at the top of this page.