Archmage

Archmage improves every Wizard attack and adds the signature attacks of Dragon's Breath and Shimmer:

• Main bolt: damage 6 to 8, MOAB bonus +10 to +19 (+20 with Arcane Impale), pierce 7 to 11 (16 with 5-0-1), firing every 0.1375 seconds.
• Dragon's Breath: fires every 0.0675 seconds with +8 MOAB damage per flame.
• Shimmer: decamo aura that triggers every second.

Middle crosspaths add more:

• Fireball: 3 fireballs per shot, 9 damage with +24 MOAB damage, 23 pierce, every 1.1 seconds.
• Wall of Fire: MOAB damage rises from +2 to +6 and walls appear twice as often.

When to buy it

Archmage costs $32,000 on Medium. It deals great long-range damage to blimps, with seeking projectiles that pass through walls, so it performs well even on Expert maps such as Ravine in CHIMPS. It is especially strong on DDT rounds.

Crosspaths:

• 5-2-0: more damage to single targets and blimp clumps. Manually target the Wall of Fire onto blimps, since it is a big part of the damage.
• 5-0-2: more pierce, range and built-in camo detection.

Switching target priority between Last and Close helps avoid wasting pierce on ceramics while still catching MOAB rushes.

Strengths and limits

Archmage lacks the pierce for dense rounds and is weak against super ceramics. Pair it with strong cleanup such as The Bloon Solver and with blimp stallers that spread blimps out, such as a Giant Condor.

Is it worth it?

Yes, as a mid-cost late-game anti-blimp tower. Compared with Prince of Darkness, Archmage is much better against blimps but worse at cleanup. Compared with Wizard Lord Phoenix, it is easier to use and more consistent.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Archmage crosspath?

5-2-0 for damage, 5-0-2 when you need built-in camo and more pierce.

Is Archmage good against super ceramics?

No. Pair it with strong cleanup for super ceramic rounds.

How much does Archmage cost?

It costs $32,000 on Medium. Prices for every difficulty are shown on this page.