Mixed-Up Gravedigger is a premiumlegendaryzombiecard in Plants vs. Zombies Heroes and a member of the Sneaky class. He costs 5 to play and has 5/5. He does not have any traits, and his ability hides all zombies under gravestones, then randomly moves all gravestones around. This ability only activates when he is played normally without in a gravestone.
Ability: When played: Each Zombie hides in a Gravestone. Mix them up randomly.
Set - Rarity: Premium - Legendary
Card description
Digging graves is hard work, but seeing customers rise out of them makes it all worth it.
Update history
Update 1.6.27
Description change: Was originally Digging graves is hard work. But seeing customers rise out of them makes it all worth it.
Update 1.12.6
▲ Ability mechanic change: Bouncing Mixed-Up Gravedigger no longer removes his ability.
Update 1.16.10
Rarity change: Super-Rare → Legendary
Update 1.22.12
Animation change: Legendary shine added.
Strategies
With
Mixed-Up Gravedigger is useful in activating the "When played" abilities of many zombies. Another way of using this is in rush decks. Protecting every zombie is key, so using this to protect against most threats is a good option. This strategy can be applied to any deck to try and trick your opponent to not knowing what to do that turn. Using Headstone Carver could also boost all of your zombies if he is revealed first or if you play him after this zombie. He will also be able to protect all zombies against anything that don't target gravestones. However, the stats of all zombies will also be reset, so he can prove anti-synergetic, especially when using stat-boosting cards, although, some strategies do use him as a way to regain initiative in hard matches.
A good strategy is to have a zombie in an aquatic lane, along with strong zombies. This is because he only mixes up the zombies' locations, and will therefore not relocate tombstones when Mixed-Up Gravedigger puts every zombie into gravestones, there is a chance that a strong zombie or Mixed-Up Gravedigger himself ends up in that lane, where it will be free from most things and do massive damage.
Super Brainz and Huge-Gigantacus can use a useful tactic using Mixed-Up Gravedigger with science zombies on field, especially Gadget Scientist (this will only work if Gadget Scientist is revealed last, however), or play him in Medulla Nebula to gain an extra 2 during the Zombie Tricks phase. Another strategy they could try when using this zombie is using Teleport or Teleportation Zombie and playing Mixed-Up Gravedigger in the Zombie Tricks phase, protecting all your zombies until the next Zombie Tricks phase. This combo be done on as early as turn 6. However, there are a few ways your opponent can get around this strategy, mainly Strikethrough plants and Grave Buster. Impfinity can use this with Crazy zombies such as Conga Zombie or Foot Soldier Zombie (only if he is revealed on the heights). This can be especially useful with zombies like Jester (in order to reset his health). Neptuna can use this with zombies such as Landscaper and Intergalactic Warlord to destroy plants and boost zombies. Most Brain Freeze decks, on the other hand, do not really benefit from Mixed-Up Gravedigger, as Beastly zombies are better when their stats aren't reset. However, there are some zombies that can work with this, from Loudmouth to Zombot 1000.
However, you need to be careful if Spyris is in play, as your opponent can know what zombie is on what lane and find the lane with the most threatening zombie on it. Most Smarty heroes can then make their plays accordingly, or use Grave Mistake to bounce a Gravestone, leaving a lane open. The Cool Bean + Winter Squash combo is also a massive threat, as it can destroy all Gravestones if it goes off, wiping your board entirely. Citron or Beta-Carrotina can take this further, as they can selectively target a Gravestone with Grave Buster, or use Blockbuster's Evolution ability, which can destroy up to three Gravestones at once and leave all these lanes open to land unblockable damage.
Your opponent can also tap on Mixed-Up Gravedigger before he hides himself and scroll through to see where each zombie is on the field, therefore making him useless.
Against
Unless you use the above strategy, there isn't really a way to counter this zombie, as you do not know which zombies are in which lane. The only good option is to use Grave Buster. However, this is usually ineffective unless there are only a few zombies hiding in their gravestones, because zombies are mixed in random spots and you can only have 4 Grave Busters in a deck. In any other case, just try and play plants against the gravestones and hope for the best.
A great counter to this zombie is Spyris. If you have obtained Spyris in any way like Cornucopia, Plucky Clover, or Seedling, then Spyris can be useful to know what zombie has switched places and can help you keep track of the threatening zombie, including Mixed-Up Gravedigger. You can go further and play Grave Buster on the gravestone that the zombie is hiding in.
Blockbuster is another good counter to this zombie, as her Evolution ability destroys all Gravestones in her lane and next door, eliminating up to three at once. If all lanes are filled with zombies, she has a good chance to even destroy Mixed-Up Gravedigger before he can do serious damage.
The best combo, however, would be playing Winter Squash, then Cool Bean, which instantly destroys all zombies affected by Mixed-Up Gravedigger's ability, including Mixed-Up Gravedigger himself. This can be an effective field clearing play if Mixed-Up Gravedigger has been played last, after all of the opponent's other zombies have been played.
Gallery
Plants vs. Zombies Wiki has a gallery for Mixed-Up Gravedigger.
His ability swaps all zombies on the board, including those under a gravestone before he's played.
This makes him the only card that can move gravestones in addition to the only move-ability card that specifially swaps within existing locations and can effectively end up not moved any fighter.
Moved gravestones will not animate rising as the animation only plays for played/made gravestones. Because his 'swap' ability doesn't animate fighters moving, these gravestones appear teleported along with gravestone-less zombies whose new gravestones animate rising.
If he is made by Portal Technician, he will activate his ability, but the gravestones will immediately open after the ability. This is the rare and only time that a gravestone can be opened during the "Plants Play" or "Fight!" phase of the battle.
When he activates his ability, his left forearm disappears, but his hand and part of his left arm remain.
There was a rare glitch where he could be made with Tomb Raiser Zombie's ability even though he doesn't have the Gravestone trait.
This could be because Mixed-Up Gravedigger also hides himself in a gravestone as a part of his ability.
The game would softlock upon playing him, because the Mixed-up Gravedigger would attempt to hide all zombies in a gravestone, but Tomb Raiser Zombie wouldn't be able to do so, thus causing the turn to never end.
If a zombie on the field appears gigantic due to a rare glitch, then when Mixed-Up Gravedigger is played, that zombie's gravestone will also be gigantic.
Occasionally, if that zombie was shrunk by Shrinking Violet and then Mixed-Up Gravedigger is played, his gravestone will be gigantic as well.
There is a rare bug that when Mixed-Up Gravedigger is Fused with Mustache Monument, does his bonus attack, and activates its ability, he will be outside his gravestone.