Spike Factory

The Spike Factory is the tower you place near the exit to catch whatever slips past everything else. Its piles build up over the round, so it is at its best in long, heavy rounds, and its MOAB SHREDR and Spike Storm upgrades are some of the most reliable late-game tools in CHIMPS.

Best crosspaths

2-3-0 or 0-3-2 MOAB SHREDR

MOAB SHREDR adds a big damage bonus to MOAB-class Bloons on every spike. With White Hot Spikes (2-3-0) the spikes pop Lead. A strong, cheap anti-MOAB last line.

2-4-0 or 0-4-2 Spike Storm

Spike Storm's ability scatters spike piles over every lane on the map. Use it to stop a wave that is about to leak. 2-4-0 pops Lead; 0-4-2 has longer-lasting spikes and Smart Spikes.

2-5-0 Carpet of Spikes

Carpet of Spikes triggers Spike Storm automatically every 15 seconds. It is a strong late-game safety net that covers the whole map.

4-2-0 or 4-0-2 Spiked Mines

Spiked Mines explode when they expire and deal bonus damage to Ceramic and Fortified Bloons. A good late-game Ceramic answer.

2-0-4 Deadly Spikes

Deadly Spikes deal 3 damage per spike and last for up to three rounds. White Hot Spikes covers Lead. Strong when you want spikes to build up over several rounds.

2-0-5 Perma-Spike and 5-2-0 Super Mines

Perma-Spike makes very strong piles that last many rounds, and Super Mines deal massive explosive damage that pops any Bloon type. Both are late-game options.

Early game

The Spike Factory is not a good round 1 tower. It is expensive, and its spikes only matter once Bloons reach them. In most games it arrives in the 30s or later.

If you add one early, place it near the end of the track and choose the Smart targeting option (Smart Spikes, x-x-2) or Close so piles land where Bloons are about to leak.

Mid game

From the 40s onward, a Spike Factory becomes a reliable safety net:

• MOAB rounds: a 2-3-0 MOAB SHREDR at the end of the track finishes off MOABs and BFBs that survive your main damage.
• Ceramic rounds: Spiked Balls (3-x-x) deal bonus damage to Ceramic and Fortified Bloons.
• Lead: remember White Hot Spikes. Without it, Leads destroy piles without being damaged.

Targeting options

The Spike Factory's targeting decides where piles land. Normal spreads piles across the track in range, Close places them near the factory, Far places them at the edge of its range, and Smart (Smart Spikes, x-x-2) aims them at the part of the track where Bloons are about to leave its range. For a last line of defense, Smart or Close near the exit is usually best.

Placement tips

Put the Spike Factory where Bloons will still be alive when they reach it, which usually means close to the exit. Its range covers only part of the track, so check that the circle covers a long stretch rather than a short corner. On maps with two exits, one Spike Factory per exit is often better than one big one. Spikes that are not used during a round disappear at the end of it unless you have the bottom path, so a factory that rarely sees Bloons is wasted money; if that happens, move your other towers' focus or place the factory a little further up the track.

A Spike Factory set to Close right next to the exit is the classic "nothing gets past" setup, and its MOAB SHREDR damage applies to every spike a MOAB rolls over, so slowed MOAB-class Bloons take enormous damage from a deep carpet.

Late game

Late-game Spike Factories are among the best safety nets in the game:

• Carpet of Spikes: automatic Spike Storms every 15 seconds across all lanes.
• Spiked Mines and Super Mines: heavy damage against Ceramics and everything else.
• Perma-Spike: piles that build up over several rounds.

The Mega Massive Munitions Factory Paragon is a late-game and boss option.

Spike Factory in CHIMPS

The Spike Factory is a classic CHIMPS late-game tower:

1. Build your main damage first.
2. Add a 2-3-0 MOAB SHREDR near the exit around the late 40s or 50s.
3. Upgrade to 2-4-0 Spike Storm and keep the ability ready for emergencies.
4. In the final rounds, Carpet of Spikes or Spiked Mines make the end of the track very hard to get through.

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

Best heroes and tower combos

• Silas: his slows and freezes keep Bloons on the spikes for longer, and Spike Storm is one of his classic partners.
• Glue Gunner or Ice Monkey: slowing Bloons means more of them sit on the spikes.
• Monkey Village: extra production speed from Jungle Drums.
• Engineer Monkey: Overclock can boost a Spike Factory's production a lot.

Tier 5 upgrades: are they worth it?

Super Mines (5-x-x). Very strong but very expensive. Mostly a freeplay and boss tool.

Carpet of Spikes (x-5-x). One of the best late-game safety nets in CHIMPS, with automatic Spike Storms.

Perma-Spike (x-x-5). Strong in long games where spikes can build up over several rounds.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the Smart targeting option. Once you have Smart Spikes, Smart targeting places piles where they will actually be used.
• Placing it at the start of the track. It works best as a last line near the exit.
• Skipping White Hot Spikes. Without it, Lead Bloons destroy your spikes.
• Using Spike Storm too early in a round. Save it for the wave that would actually leak.
• Buying it in the early game. It is expensive and slow to pay off.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Spike Factory path?

2-3-0 MOAB SHREDR for MOABs, 2-4-0 Spike Storm for emergencies, and 2-5-0 Carpet of Spikes as a late-game safety net.

Can Spike Factory pop lead?

Yes, with White Hot Spikes (2-x-x).

Can Spike Factory hit camo?

Yes. Spikes on the track hit Camo Bloons without needing Camo detection.

Do spikes carry over between rounds?

Normally no. Spike piles disappear at the end of the round. Long Life Spikes (x-x-3) and Deadly Spikes (x-x-4) let piles carry over one or two extra rounds, and Perma-Spike lasts even longer.

Is MOAB SHREDR good?

Yes. It adds a large bonus to MOAB-class Bloons on every spike, which makes 2-3-0 one of the cheapest strong last lines against MOABs and BFBs.

Where should I place the Spike Factory?

Near the end of the track as a last line of defense, with Smart or Close targeting.

Is Spike Factory good in CHIMPS?

Yes. MOAB SHREDR, Spike Storm and Carpet of Spikes are common late-game CHIMPS picks.

What is the Spike Factory Paragon?

Mega Massive Munitions Factory, which costs $750,000 on Medium.