Plants vs Zombies 2 - Penny's Pursuit - Seedium Plant Showcase - Dartichoke - Aug 2023

Dartichoke seeds were offered from September 6, 2023 through September 13, 2023.

Dartichoke is a member of the SPEAR-MINT family.
Dartichoke costs 225 Sun. (-25 Sun on levels 5 and 8.)
Dartichoke will fire a dart that targets the most dangerous zombie in the lane.
Dartichoke does 75 damage. (+15 damage per level.)
Dartichoke has a 30% chance to do 225 damage. (+5% chance and +45 damage per level.)
Dartichoke fires 6 darts before it needs to recharge. (+1 dart on levels 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10.)
Dartichoke needs 3.25 seconds to recharge. (-0.25 seconds per level.)
When given plant food, Dartichoke will launch about a dozen thistles which seek zombies to attack - similar to Homing Thistle.

Commentary:
So the plants get a sniper plant - a plant which prioritizes dangerous zombies. This is a good thing.

The problem with such a plant is that this prioritization means it will target a faraway zombie instead of that little bratty fire imp gnawing away at it.

Bottom Line:
The sniper ability is a trait not found in any other plant. This makes Dartichoke difficult to compare to other plants.

That said, there are a number of things which hold this plant back:
• Expensive.
• Needs support plants as low priority zombies walk through unimpeded if a higher priority is targeted.
• Can not be selected on Last Stand levels.
• Jester zombies can reflect the darts.

Because of the cost of this plant, it is best used on longer levels with strong Sun production and a decent support staff already in place. This typically means a longer level - which does not happen all that often.

Level 1 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - FAIL
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Poison Zombies.
Survive and protect the endangered plants - Red Stingers on R1C5, R3C5 and R5C5 / R15C6 and R3C5 / R135C6
Score to beat - Not offered / 500,000 / 500,000
One needs a high level of knock back to keep the zombies at bay.

Level 2 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 2 of 2
Survive for three (3) minutes.
Chosen Perk is Knock Back.
Survive and protect the endangered plants - Sweet Potato on R3C5
Defeat Cardio 1 / 2 / 3 time(s).
Starting Sun = 1,200 / 1,000 / 750

Level 3 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 0 of 1
Survive for 1.5 minutes.
Chosen Perk is Knock Back
Score to beat: 750,000 / 2,500,000 / 20,0000,000
Starting Sun = 2,200 / 2,000 / 1,750

Level 4 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Sun Perk - Extra Sun drops from the sky.
Survive and protect the endangered plants - Coconut Cannon on R3C3 / R3C5 / R3C6
Never have more than not offered / 19 / 12 plants

Level 5 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive for two (2) minutes.
Chosen Perk is Knock Back.
Score to beat: 500,000 / 750,000 / 1,000,000
Poison zombies not offered / 30 / 50 times.