Ninja Kiwi released Bloons TD 6 in June 2018 and has kept adding to it ever since, past 25 monkey towers split across the Primary, Military, Magic and Support categories. Every tower has three upgrade paths of five tiers, but you may only take two paths and the second one caps at tier 2, which is the single rule that shapes every strategy in the game. Rounds run to 100 in standard play, with the MOAB arriving at 40, the BFB at 60, the ZOMG at 80, the DDT at 90 and the BAD at 100.
Bloons TD 6 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monkey Meadow | Beginner difficulty | Easy CHIMPS black border, safe build testing | Military |
| 2 | Cubism | Beginner difficulty | Fast round clears, good farm practice | Military |
| 3 | Geared | Advanced difficulty | Advanced map medals, higher XP per round | Primary |
| 4 | Dark Castle | Expert difficulty | Expert medals, strong monkey XP | Primary |
| 5 | Muddy Puddles | Expert difficulty | Expert medals, CHIMPS bragging rights | Primary |
Monkey Meadow: Starting Area
The beginner map everyone starts on. One long looping path, unlimited placement space and no obstructions, which makes it the right place to test a new build before taking it somewhere cruel.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Easy CHIMPS black border, safe build testing |
| Recommended Build | Military |
| Key Equipment | Ninja Monkey |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Two path upgrade limit. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Cubism.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Cubism: Early Game
A beginner map with a short winding track, so bloons pass the same towers several times. Short paths reward high pierce placements in the middle rather than long range towers at the edges.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Fast round clears, good farm practice |
| Recommended Build | Military |
| Key Equipment | Ninja Monkey |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Bloon properties and immunities. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Ninja Monkey if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Geared.
Geared: Mid Game
An advanced map built around rotating gears that carry bloons across the board. Placement windows shift as the gears turn, so towers with long range or infinite range like the Sniper Monkey pull ahead here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Advanced difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Advanced map medals, higher XP per round |
| Recommended Build | Primary |
| Key Equipment | Ninja Monkey |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Dart Monkey becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Dark Castle: Late Game
An expert map with limited placement space and dark areas that block line of sight. Tight geometry means every tower slot counts and support towers must be positioned to reach the damage core.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Expert difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Expert medals, strong monkey XP |
| Recommended Build | Primary |
| Key Equipment | Dart Monkey |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Dart Monkey should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- CHIMPS ruleset mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Muddy Puddles.
Muddy Puddles: Endgame
Four separate entry paths converging on separate exits, with water blocking much of the buildable space. It punishes any strategy that leans on one defensive chokepoint.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Expert difficulty |
| Key Rewards | Expert medals, CHIMPS bragging rights |
| Recommended Build | Primary |
| Key Equipment | Dart Monkey |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Heroes for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Monkey Meadow → Cubism → Geared → Dark Castle → Muddy Puddles. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Bloons TD 6 Guides
- Bloons TD 6 Bloons TD 6 Overview
- Bloons TD 6 Best Builds
- Bloons TD 6 Tier List
- Bloons TD 6 Walkthrough
- Bloons TD 6 Beginner's Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Tips & Tricks
- Bloons TD 6 Weapons Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Combat Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Boss Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Crafting Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Classes & Characters
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