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.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Monkey Meadow | Two path upgrade limit basics | Military | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Cubism | Bloon properties and immunities mastery | Military | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Geared | Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling + gear | Primary or Military | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Dark Castle | Build optimization | Primary | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Muddy Puddles | Min-max | Primary or Heroes | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Monkey Meadow)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Beginner difficulty Key Rewards: Easy CHIMPS black border, safe build testing
What to Do in Monkey Meadow
- Learn Two path upgrade limit. A tower can reach tier 5 on one path while a second path is capped at tier 2, and the third path stays empty. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Military as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- Buy the two crosspath tiers before the tier 4 upgrade in most cases. A 2-0-4 Ninja out damages a 0-0-4 Ninja by a wide margin because pierce and attack speed multiply the base attack rather than adding to it.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Ninja Monkey or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Two path upgrade limit fundamentals
- Military selected and functional
- Monkey Meadow main content cleared
- Ready for Cubism
Phase 2: Early Game (Cubism)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Beginner difficulty Key Rewards: Fast round clears, good farm practice
What to Do in Cubism
- Work on Bloon properties and immunities. Black and White bloons resist explosions and freezing, Lead resists sharp attacks, Purple resists energy, magic and fire, and Camo cannot be targeted without detection. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Ninja Monkey if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Sort out camo detection before camo rounds arrive rather than during them. A Monkey Village with Radar Scanner at path 2 tier 2 covers every tower in its radius, and Ninja Monkeys and Sniper Monkeys with the right upgrades see camo without help.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Geared.
- Consider whether Primary might suit your playstyle better than Military.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Bloon properties and immunities integrated into gameplay
- Ninja Monkey acquired
- Cubism fully cleared
- Ready for Geared
Phase 3: Mid Game (Geared)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Advanced difficulty Key Rewards: Advanced map medals, higher XP per round
What to Do in Geared
- Master Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling. Monkey Knowledge points are permanent account upgrades that reduce costs and add small buffs, and heroes gain levels inside a match while only one hero may be placed. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Dart Monkey. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Monkey Intelligence Bureau at Monkey Village path 2 tier 3 lets covered towers pop Black, White, Purple, Lead and Frozen bloons. That single upgrade rescues builds that would otherwise stall completely on Purple or Lead rounds.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Cash income and the Banana Farm for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Monkey Knowledge and hero levelling mastered
- Dart Monkey acquired or in progress
- Geared fully cleared
- Ready for Dark Castle
Phase 4: Late Game (Dark Castle)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Expert difficulty Key Rewards: Expert medals, strong monkey XP
What to Do in Dark Castle
- Finalize your build. You should be running Primary or Military with optimized gear.
- Dart Monkey should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Farms only earn back their cost if you buy them early. A Banana Farm placed on round 12 pays for itself many times over by round 60, while the same farm bought on round 55 is close to wasted money.
- CHIMPS ruleset optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Muddy Puddles.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Dart Monkey upgraded to max
- Dark Castle fully cleared
- Ready for Muddy Puddles
Phase 5: Endgame (Muddy Puddles)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Expert difficulty Key Rewards: Expert medals, CHIMPS bragging rights
What to Do in Muddy Puddles
- Muddy Puddles tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Cluster Ninja Monkeys so Shinobi Tactics stacks, and park the Alchemist where its brew reaches all of them. Positioning is worth more cash than an extra tower in almost every mid game defence.
- The endgame loop: run Muddy Puddles, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Heroes for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where CHIMPS ruleset mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Muddy Puddles fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Buying tier 4 upgrades with no crosspath, which throws away pierce and attack speed that would have cost a few hundred dollars.
- Reaching a camo round with no detection anywhere on the map and watching bloons walk through a full defence untouched.
- Buying the first Banana Farm after round 40, when there is no longer enough time left for the income to compound.
- Spreading towers evenly around the map instead of clustering damage inside Alchemist and Monkey Village buff radii.
- Selling towers to fund an upgrade in modes where selling is legal, then discovering the sold tower was the only thing covering a second track entry.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Buy the two crosspath tiers before the tier 4 upgrade in most cases. A 2-0-4 Ninja out damages a 0-0-4 Ninja by a wide margin because pierce and attack speed multiply the base attack rather than adding to it.
- Sort out camo detection before camo rounds arrive rather than during them. A Monkey Village with Radar Scanner at path 2 tier 2 covers every tower in its radius, and Ninja Monkeys and Sniper Monkeys with the right upgrades see camo without help.
- Monkey Intelligence Bureau at Monkey Village path 2 tier 3 lets covered towers pop Black, White, Purple, Lead and Frozen bloons. That single upgrade rescues builds that would otherwise stall completely on Purple or Lead rounds.
- Farms only earn back their cost if you buy them early. A Banana Farm placed on round 12 pays for itself many times over by round 60, while the same farm bought on round 55 is close to wasted money.
- Cluster Ninja Monkeys so Shinobi Tactics stacks, and park the Alchemist where its brew reaches all of them. Positioning is worth more cash than an extra tower in almost every mid game defence.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
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 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 Maps & Locations
- Bloons TD 6 Crafting Guide
- Bloons TD 6 Classes & Characters
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