Plants vs Zombies 2 - Penny's Pursuit - Seedium Showcase - Dartichoke - June/July 2024

Dartichoke - was offered between June 29, 2024 through July 6, 2024.

Dartichoke is a member of the Spear-Mint family.
Dartichoke costs 225 Sun. (-25 Sun at levels 5 and 8.)
Dartichoke deals 75 damage. (+15 damage per level.)
Dartichoke has a 30% chance to deal triple damage. (+5% chance per level.)
After six (6) darts (+1 dart per level EXCEPT levels 5, 7 and 9), Dartichoke needs to rest for 3.25 seconds. (-0.25 second per level.)
Dartichoke PRIORITIZES highly dangerous zombies like Wizards and Octo-zombies.

Commentary:
On paper, this seems like a much needed plant - a snipping plant which can eliminate those zombies which cause the most trouble.

The reality is that for the player to really get the most benefit from this plant, one needs a column of Dartichokes. The cost of a column is secondary. Yes, it is expensive but that's the main reason Dartichoke is not utilized much. There are only 45 tiles available to the player. 1/3rd of those are in a firing zone and another 1/3 are in a danger zone.

Players generally need to reserve 10 tiles for Sun Producing plants which does not leave a lot of space available for plants to stop the incoming horde.

But some players may say - OK, so Dartichoke is expensive but I can still reserve a column for Dartichoke and use something else for main offense. While true, one not so obvious weakness of Dartichoke is its strength - prioritizing dangerous zombies. If one plays Dartichoke on a level with lots of dangerous zombies, they'll be prioritized. But that lowly fast moving imp may simply walk across the lawn and eat Dartichoke because at no time was the imp zombie considered dangerous.

Bottom Line:
We think Dartichoke would more valuable if the damage was reduced but had Homing Thistle's homing ability. This would allow a player to plant a couple of Dartichokes to handle those few dangerous zombies.

Level 1 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2.
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Knock-back
Do not lose more than 8 / 3 / 3 plants.
Chill plants not offered / 75 / 100 times

Level 2 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive the zombie attack - Last stand style.
Chosen Perk is score multiplier.
Never have more than 10 / 10 / 10 plants.
There are precious flowers on the lawn which can not be trampled - not offered / 3 & 4 / 4 & 5
Starting Sun = 2,000 / 1,800 / 1,550

Level 3 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is JALAPEÑO. 🌶️🌶️
Never have more than 16 / 15 / 14 plants.
Destroy not offered / 10 / 15 Healer staffs

Level 4 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 2 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Puffball.
Protect the endangered plant: Iceberg Lettuce on column 4 / 5 / 6
Puffball is more consistent but with all the potions, you may have problems properly placing them.

Level 5 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Puffball.
There are precious flowers on the lawn which can not be trampled - 4 & 5 / 4 & 5
Stun zombies not offered / 10 / 25 times
As usual, HR zombie is annoying.