Super-Block Meter
The Super-Block Meter is a gameplay mechanic in Plants vs. Zombies Heroes. At every attack, the Super-Block Meter charges, and when it is fully charged, the attack is blocked, and the player receives one random superpower from their superpower set. The superpower can be played immediately for free, or be saved for later. The Super-Block Meter only works properly if there is space on the player's hand for a superpower. Therefore, if the player has 10 cards or more in their hand, the Super-Block Meter cannot activate until they use enough cards to accommodate the resulting superpower.
After every hit, there is an equal chance of charging one, two or three bars of the Super-Block Meter, out of 8 bars total. In the case of plants that can attack in multiple lanes like Tricorn and more than one hit connects with the Zombie Hero, the plant will only charge the Block Meter once per attack. The player can only block three times before the Super-Block Meter is destroyed, and the only way to attack the opposing hero without charging the meter is via fighters with the Bullseye trait, which will also never trigger Super-Blocks. In the case of two plants in the same lane:
- If both plants do not have Bullseye, they will only charge the Super-Block Meter once.
- If only of the plants has Bullseye, then it depends on their placement which affects their attack sequences. If the first plant has Bullseye, its attack will connect, whereas if it does not, both attacks are blocked.
Apart from that, there are several cards which can interfere with the Super-Block Meter:
- Body-Gourd - Fully charges the Plant Hero's Super-Block Meter.
- Mars Flytrap - When it hurts the Zombie Hero successfully, steal one section from their Super-Block Meter.
- Monkey Smuggler - When revealed, it drains 2 sections from the Plant Hero's Super-Block Meter.
- Shieldcrusher Viking - When it hurts the Pland Hero, empty their Super-Block Meter.
Update history
Update 1.2.11
- Mechanic change: Charges based on percentages, randomly fills mini, normal or double amount. 5% chance to "mega charge" and block instantly. → Charges based on sections, with 10 needed to block. May fill 1, 2, 3 sections or "Insta-Block" instead.
Update 1.6.27
- Mechanic change: Removed Insta-Blocks from occurring naturally.
Update 1.8.23
- Section change: The number of sections was reduced from 10 to the current 8 sections.
Update 1.14.13
- ▲ Mechanic change: Only blocks damage that activates it. → Blocks all incoming damage once activated.
Strategies
The Super-Block Meter is a luck-based mechanic, and should not be relied to win games or save yourself from defeating blows. There is no specific strategy or tip either, since there is almost no way to control how the Super-Block Meter works except for the best. The best you can do is attempt to charge the Super-Block Meter in your favor. If there is a low-strength fighter on the field like an Imp or a Peashooter, it is usually preferable let them attack you in order to fill the Super-Block Meter at a minimal health cost, and furthermore, to have a higher chance of blocking an attack from a more powerful fighter, which may be the key to victory. For example, abilities that take effect instantly like Grapes of Wrath and Dandy Lion King's have a higher chance to be blocked by timing the Super-Block Meter well.
The only way to completely counter this mechanic is with the Bullseye trait, especially Shieldcrusher Viking, who drains the entire meter with each direct attack. However, Bullseye decks are not easily viable in the current meta due to their slow tempo, as Aggressive decks can often counter this mechanic better due to dealing consistent damage, hence forcing multiple activations.
Insta-Block (Archived content)
“ | ” | |
—Devin Low, Creative Director and Lead Designer, Plants vs. Zombies Heroes |
Insta-Blocks (called Mega Charges prior to version 1.4.14) were a mechanic that existed in older versions of Plants vs. Zombies Heroes. In those versions, the player had a 5% chance of receiving an Insta-Block whenever struck by a non-Bullseye attack, which would completely fill the block meter immediately regardless of any previous charge. It was removed on update 1.6.27, as PopCap decided that the mechanic introduced an unnecessary layer of luck to the game, created too many unfair situations, and made the block meter more critically rated.[1]
For a time after their removal, due to a glitch, Insta-Blocks could still be triggered after a Soul Patch was played, or when a plant with Bullseye and a plant without Bullseye attacked in the same lane. It is unknown how exactly the glitch worked on a technical level. However, this has since been fixed.
Gallery
Green Shadow unable to block the attack from Surprise Gargantuar due to her Super-Block Meter not activating due to her having 10 cards in her hand
Rustbolt unable to block an attack due to his Super-Block Meter not activating due to him having 10 cards in his hand
Super Brainz unable to block the attack from Heartichoke due to his Super-Block Meter not activating due to him having 10 cards in his hand
Old
Professor Brainstorm defeated despite having all 8 segments filled due to him having 10 cards before update 1.14.13
Both heroes blocking at the same turn (notice Green Shadow's meter is not empty due to the second Jester attacking) before update 1.14.13
Concepts (Scrapped concept)
Trivia
- So far, Shieldcrusher Viking is the only card that can completely empty the Super-Block Meter. This excludes various bugs and glitches.
- Shieldcrusher Viking, Mars Flytrap, Monkey Smuggler, and Body-Gourd are the only cards that can directly influence the Super-Block Meter.
- Sometimes, the Super-Block Meter may stay full, but not negate damage. This usually happens with cards that have abilities that can damage the opposing hero like Sergeant Strongberry or Punish-Shroom. This may also happen if a player wins or loses a battle when these loops occur.
- A wall of leaves appears when the plant hero does a Super-Block, while a line of gravestones appears in the zombie hero's case.
- Curiously, the chance for a Super-Block Meter filling by 2 sections is 34%, while it filling by 1 or 3 sections is 33%.