Puzzle Mode/Strategy guide

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This page is a guide with tips on how to complete Vasebreaker, I, Zombie, and Last Stand in Plants vs. Zombies.

Instructions

Stages in Puzzle Mode can be broken into three groups: Vasebreaker, I, Zombie, and Last Stand.

In Vasebreaker mode, you have to break vases. Each vase will either have a plant or a zombie. Green vases will always contain plants. Like many of the game's other modes, you have to stop the zombies from approaching your house. Once you break all of the vases and kill all of the zombies, the level ends. Note that you are not given Lawn Mowers in this mode.

In I, Zombie mode, you use sun (obtained from having zombies eat Sunflowers) to plant zombies. The objective is to eat the brain in every row.

In Last Stand mode, which is exclusive to the iOS and Android versions, you have pre-selected plants with a limited amount of sun, and you must stop the horde of zombies attacking you.

All stages in Puzzle Mode - with the exception of every Last Stand level other than Last Stand: Night - take place in the front yard at night, meaning mushroom plants will be awake, and sun will not fall from the sky. Each time you complete a puzzle level, the next level is unlocked and you'll get a trophy.

Vasebreaker

Overview

In Vasebreaker mode, you have to use mallets to break vases. These vases contain plants and zombies, which you have to stop from reaching your house. Don't break the vases too fast, or you will likely end up with too many zombies to handle.

You will get two green vases each level. These vases contain plants, so either save them for emergencies, or break them right away for instant offense. When a seed packet begins flashing, it will disappear soon, and you should plant it before it disappears. It is advised to break vases starting from the far right, one row at a time.

Vasebreaker

Zombies: 3x Buckethead Zombies, 6x Zombies, 1x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie

Plants: 5x Peashooters, 5x Snow Peas, 5x Squashes

Vases per row: Five

This is the first level in the Vasebreaker Mode. When you find plants, keep breaking vases until you find zombies. Use Squash for the Buckethead Zombies, but try to save at least three of them, rather than immediately using them on normal Zombies. Plant a Snow Pea in each row, with Peashooters as support. Beware of the Jack-in-the-Box Zombie - its explosion will break open other vases.

To the Left

Zombies: 1x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, 3x Buckethead Zombie, 6x Zombie

Plants: 7x Reverse Repeater, 3x Snow Pea, 3x Wall-nut, 2x Potato Mine

Vases per row: Five

This is the second level in the Vasebreaker Mode, which doesn't make much difference with the first one. You will get some Repeaters, but they will be facing the other way. Use them in conjunction with Wall-nuts to kill the Buckethead Zombies. You can also use Potato Mines for them, but use Wall-nuts to stall long enough to arm them. Again, watch out for the Jack-in-the-Box.

Third Vase

Zombies: 8x Zombie, 2x Buckethead Zombie, 1x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, 1x Dancing Zombie, X Backup Dancers

Plants: 3x Hypno-shroom, 2x Squash, 6x Reverse Repeater, 3x Wall-nut, 4x Snow Pea

Vases per row: Six

Use a Hypno-shroom on the Dancing Zombie the moment it appears, and either Hypno-shroom or Squash the Bucketheads. Stall any troublesome rows with Snow Peas, Wall-nuts, and Reverse Repeaters. Plant Wall-nuts in the second column from the house to leave room for Snow Peas.

Chain Reaction

Zombies: 8x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, 1x Football Zombie, 7x Zombie

Plants: 4x Hypno-shroom, 4x Reverse Repeater, 11x Puff-shroom

Vases per row: Seven

Hypnotize the Football Zombie with the Hypno-shroom, first and foremost. Try not to plant anything near unbroken vases if there are unfound Jack-in-the-Boxes, as they will explode. Two Puff-shrooms are enough to defeat a normal Zombie.

M is for Metal

Zombies: 3x Football Zombie, 4x Buckethead Zombie, 7x Zombie, 1x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie

Plants: 3x Magnet-shroom, 3x Pumpkin, 6x Reverse Repeater, 2x Snow Pea, 4x Squash, 2x Hypno-shroom

Vases per row: Seven

Although you will need a Magnet-shroom for at least one of them, it's a lot easier use a Squash or Hypno-shroom on the Football and Buckethead Zombies as soon as they appear. Pumpkin your Snow Peas if the zombies get too close. Note that you can take away the Jack-in-the-Box using the Magnet-shroom.

Scary Potter

Zombies: 2x Football Zombie, 5x Pole Vaulting Zombie, 1x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, 7x Zombie

Plants: 5x Tall-nut, 4x Torchwood, 7x Reverse Repeater, 2x Threepeater, 2x Squash

Vases per row: Seven

Plant a Tall-nut in each row to stave off the Pole Vaulters, and plant Threepeaters behind them. Use Squash on the Football Zombies, and put the Reverse Repeaters in back, with the Torchwood.

Hokey Pokey

Zombies: 10x Zombie, 1x Buckethead Zombie

Plants: 13x Spikeweed, 3x Squash, 3x Wall-nut

Vases per row: Six

Stall with the Wall-nuts while Spikeweeds whittle away at the Zombie's health. Use a Squash on the Buckethead Zombie, as it will break through your Wall-nut defense without dying, even if a Spikeweed is under it.

Another Chain Reaction

Zombies: 8x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, 4x Pogo Zombie, 4x Zombie

Plants: 4x Reverse Repeater, 7x Puff-shroom, 5x Squash, 3x Tall-nut

Vases per row: Seven

Break open every vase as soon as possible to get rid of the Jack-in-the-Box Zombies, so they don't destroy your plants later. Plant Tall-nuts to stop Pogo Zombies long enough to Squash them. Use Reverse Repeaters and Puff-shrooms for normal Zombies.

Ace of Vase

Zombies: 1x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, 1x Gargantuar (with Imp), 5x Buckethead Zombie, 8x Zombie

Plants: 5x Squash, 1x Plantern, 2x Threepeater, 6x Reverse Repeater, 2x Snow Pea, 1x Wall-nut, 1x Potato Mine, 2x Peashooter

Vases per row: Seven

Use two Squash to kill the Gargantuar, and stall Bucketheads behind a Wall-nut as the Repeaters, Threepeaters or Snow Peas shoot them along with the normal zombies. Use the other Squash and the Potato Mine if urgently needed.

Vasebreaker Endless

Zombies: 1x Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, 1x Gargantuar (with Imp), 5x Buckethead Zombie, 8x Zombie

Every 10 waves a zombie is replaced with a Gargantuar.

Plants: 5x Squash, 1x Plantern, 2x Threepeater, 6x Reverse Repeater, 2x Snow Pea, 1x Wall-nut, 1x Potato Mine, 2x Peashooter

Vases per row: Seven

This level is very similar to Ace of Vase except doing it in multiple times. Just beware that the waves get harder after.

I, Zombie

Overview

In I, Zombie, you have to plant different types of zombies to get the brains at the back of each lane. Usually, you have to eat every plant in a lane in order to get the brains. However, you may not always need to eat, squash or downgrade all plants in certain conditions (e.g. using Pole Vaulting Zombies or Ladder Zombies, or the plants can't be eaten or eaten wholly; e.g. Spikeweed, Garlic). The game takes place at night, so you can only get sun by eating Sunflowers.

The first level

I, Zombie

Zombies: Zombie (50 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Football Zombie (175 sun)

This is the first level in the I, Zombie mode so it is quite easy. Just use cheap Zombies to get sun by eating Sunflowers. Then, use Buckethead Zombies and Football Zombies in lanes with lots of offensive plants. Just make sure that you have enough sun. However, don't use them in lanes with Squashes or they'll be wasted. Use normal Zombies to get rid of them.

I, Zombie Too

Zombies: Zombie (50 sun), Screen Door Zombie (100 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun)

On this level, just put Screen Door Zombies on lanes with two Sunflowers but never on lanes with two Spikeweeds because they will be killed there. As the Screen Door Zombies eat the Sunflowers, you get enough sun to use a Buckethead Zombie on the lane with two Spikeweeds. Normal Zombies are not so commonly used here.

Can You Dig It?

Zombies: Zombie (50 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Digger Zombie (125 sun)

Place a Buckethead Zombie in the lane with the Split Pea. Use normal Zombies to deal with Potato Mines. Use the Digger Zombies on the lanes with the Peashooters and Torchwood near the back. If they are near the front, use Bucketheads instead.

Totally Nuts

Zombies: Zombie (50 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Ladder Zombie (150 sun)

Use Buckethead Zombies on the first two lanes with a single Peashooter, two Sunflowers and a Wall-nut. Next, look for the lane you think is the weakest and put your first Ladder Zombie there. As you get enough sun, use a Ladder Zombie on the second weakest lane and if the Ladder Zombie dies, put a Buckethead Zombie on the lane. After that, you have plenty sun to back-up your Ladder Zombies when they die on the lanes with more risk and you can make the zombies eat the brains. For the lane with the two Fume-shrooms, place a Buckethead Zombie, and when it dies, place another there, as fumes can pass through the Fume-shroom.

Dead Zeppelin

Zombies: Zombie (50 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Bungee Zombie (125 sun), Balloon Zombie (150 sun)

Take two Sunflowers using the Bungee Zombies. Then use another Bungee Zombie to take the Magnet-shroom. Now look for the weakest lane with Sunflowers and put there a Buckethead Zombie. Use another Buckethead Zombie on the second weakest lane with Sunflowers. After that, use the Bungee Zombie again to take the two Cacti. Finally, use the Balloon Zombies on the three remaining lanes.

Me Smash!

Zombies: Zombie (50 sun), Pole Vaulting Zombie (75 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Gargantuar (300 sun)

Use two Pole Vaulting Zombies on the two lanes with Garlic. If you think one of them will die, use another one as back-up after you get enough sun. If a lane has two Squash, use a Buckethead Zombie first to deal with one of them (after all you have lots of sun) or if possible a normal Zombie. Then use The Gargantuars on the remaining three lanes.

ZomBoogie

Zombies: Zombie (50 sun), Pole Vaulting Zombie (75 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Dancing Zombie (350 sun)

Start the level by placing normal Zombies until the Chompers are vulnerable. Then use them to deal with Potato Mines. It would be good if you can put a Dancing Zombie because they eat faster and he summons unlimited Backup Dancers, but if the positioning of the Sunflowers are not that good, then you must depend on normal zombies. To save sun, place a Pole Vaulting Zombie on a row with only one instant kill left.

Three Hit Wonder

Zombies: Imp (50 sun), Conehead Zombie (75 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Bungee Zombie (125 sun), Digger Zombie (125 sun), Ladder Zombie (150 sun)

Use the Bungee Zombie twice on two Sunflowers to gain a profit of 150 sun. If any Squash are on the first closest column, use an Imp to remove them. Then Bungee on all Magnet-shrooms to clear the way for Digger Zombies. If you, to Bungee on a Magnet-shroom, you will have no sun, bungee on a Sunflower first. When all Magnet-shrooms are out of the way, send in the Digger Zombies to where you find most suitable. When the Digger Zombies clear one lane, send an Imp to collect the brain. If one lane only has, say, a Peashooter, send in a Conehead Zombie, saving you time and sun.

All your brainz r belong to us

Zombies: Imp (50 sun), Conehead Zombie (75 sun), Pole Vaulting Zombie (75 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Bungee Zombie (125 sun), Digger Zombie (125 sun), Ladder Zombie (150 sun), Football Zombie (175 sun)

Bungee two Sunflowers first. Place two Ladder Zombies on lane 2 or bungee Magnet-shroom then place a Football Zombie on lane 5. Place Digger Zombies on lane 4 then Imp when there is no Peashooter. Use Imp for lane 1 and 3.

I, Zombie Endless

Zombies: Imp (50 sun), Conehead Zombie (75 sun), Pole Vaulting Zombie (75 sun), Buckethead Zombie (125 sun), Bungee Zombie (125 sun), Digger Zombie (125 sun), Ladder Zombie (150 sun), Football Zombie (175 sun), Dancing Zombie (350 sun)

One to eight Sunflowers is/are also included (eight plants are Puff-shrooms, being the number of Sunflowers)

See: I, Zombie Endless/Strategies

Last Stand

Last Stand: Day

Plant two columns of Repeaters in columns one and two and a column of Torchwoods on column three. Once you get 1000 sun, sell your Torchwoods, put them in column four, and add another column of Repeaters. It should look like this when you're done.

R R R T

R R R T

R R R T

R R R T

R R R T

A cheaper way to do it is to have your lawn like this at the 3rd-4th flag:

R R T C

R R T C

R R T C

R R T C

R R T C

R R T C

R= Reapeater

T=Torchwood

C=Chomper

Note: When possible, make a "minefield" of Potato Mines.

Last Stand: Night

Your layout should start like this:

F

FFGG

Empty Space

FFGG

F

F=Fume-shroom

G=Gloom-shroom

(italic means protected by a Pumpkin)

Remember to take away the graves too, but leave them at three. This is because more will spawn if you leave any less than that. Replace the Pumpkins as they get degraded and also Pumpkin the Fume-shrooms at the top and bottom lanes.

It will end like this:

An image demonstration

F

FFGG

Empty Space

FFGG

F

Your only worries with this(as long as you replace the Pumpkins when needed to) are the Football Zombies, which you can just fend off with your Hypno-shrooms and Doom-shrooms.

Last Stand: Pool

Use the same thing if you're doing a non-gold farming guide in the original Last Stand mini-game. Put Repeaters on each lane on the last column. Use Gatling Peas with Torchwoods to burn the zombies. You won't be able to have enough sun to upgrade your Repeaters. Use mallets if you see Football Zombies. Put a Tall-nut to protect your Repeaters. If you purchased the Wall-nut First Aid, you should repair the nuts. Without the Wall-nut First Aid, remove them and wait for the Tall-nuts to recharge. They are unsellable if you have completed a wave when they're hurt.

Last Stand: Fog

The only way this strategy can go wrong is with a stray Digger Zombie or a Jack-in-the-Box Zombie explodes at an inconvenient time.

Start like this:

ECESM
ECESMP
ECEEM
ECEEM
ECESMP
ECESM


E=Empty Space

C=Cactus

S=Snow Pea

M=Magnet-shroom

P=Plantern

(italic means the plant is protected by a Pumpkin)

Add Starfruit into the empty spaces as you progress. Due to the frequent appearance of Screen Door Zombies and you not being able to use plants that ignore the screen door and attack directly, Magnet-shroom is pretty much a must. Due to the column of Magnet-shroom, the chances of a Digger Zombie getting to the back and eating your plants is small. The only way this can fail is if a Digger somehow gets all the way back, or if a Jack-in-the-Box Zombie explodes and destroys the magnets. It could also fail if you don't replace the pumpkins, but that are the only times you'll need to pay attention if you're doing the strategy correctly.

Last Stand: Roof

There isn't much to be said here. In simple terms, plant as many Melon-pults as you can and protect them with Umbrella Leaves.

For a more detailed strategy it goes like this:

W M
W U
W M
W U
W M

W=Winter Melon

M=Melon-pult

U=Umbrella Leaf

Add one more column of Melon-pults to get this:

W M M
W U M
W M M
W U M
W M M

You may add another column of Melon-pults with Umbrella Leaves to get this:

W M M M
W U M U
W M M M
W U M U
W U M U

Alternatively:

W M M
W U M M
W M M U
W U M M
W M M

Note that you'll be unable to plant another column of Melon-pults. After this, the rounds should mostly go on their own, except for stray Football Zombies, Buckethead Zombies, or if you're unlucky with the Gargantuar. However, as there is only one Gargantuar, it is easy to plant a Jalapeno after he throws the Imp so you will be sure to get rid of the Imp.

Last Stand: Endless

Here are some tips:

  • Spend sun on your Gloom-shrooms wisely. Keep them off land when there are Gargantuars.
  • Plant Umbrella Leaves on the left side on the last column if you see Catapult Zombies. However, destroy the Catapult Zombies first. Digger Zombies will come to eat your Umbrella Leaves. Plant Pumpkins on them to protect them. Alternatively, plant it in the second leftmost column, as a single Gloom-shroom will be enough to kill any Digger Zombie.
  • Gargantuars will appear in the stage in higher waves if you made through fifteen flags. Only use mallets if you seen too many. Don't whack the other zombies. Hit the Gargantuars on the foot, body, hand, or head. If you whack a total of ten, you will gain the achievement called Hammer Time!.
  • Only use Cob Cannons when there are Gargantuars and Giga-gargantuars. Using Cob Cannons will save you a lot of sun on Cherry Bombs.
  • Use your Spikerocks wisely when you face Gargantuars or Giga-gargantuars.
  • Avoid overspending your sun if you are using Winter Melons. Unlike in Survival: Endless, the expenses do not increase, so only put three Winter Melons on each ground.
  • Again, you are restricted to use Magnet-shroom, because there are tons of metallic zombies. Those magnets will have start placing the metallic objects on the ground when recharging. This will also be bad when it removes pickaxes from Digger Zombies.
  • You are also restricted to use peashooting plants (Peashooters, Repeaters, Threepeaters, etc.). Their peas cannot go through screen doors and ladders. You'll want to use catapult plants, such as Melon-pults and Kernel-pults. You also want to use Fume-shrooms and Gloom-shrooms.
  • It is not necessary to use Jalapenos or any other explosions. Use them only in bigger waves, except the Doom-shroom that can put in craters which you cannot plant on.