Plants vs Zombies 2 - Penny's Pursuit - Seedium Showcase - Bamboo Spartan - July 2024

Plant of the Week - Hot Date - was offered between July 20, 2024 through July 27, 2024.

Hot Date is a member of the Pepper-Mint family.
Hot Date costs 175 Sun. (-25 Sun at levels 4, 6, 8 and 10.)
Hot Date has 2,000 hit points. (+200 at levels 2-5, +500 at levels 6-10.)
Hot Date attracts zombies from lanes above and below him.
When Hot Date is defeated, it will explode like a Jalapeño and deals 1,000 damage to all zombies in the lane. (+100 damage at levels 2-9.)

Commentary:
Hot Date marries the attractive ability of Sweet Potato and the lane burning effects of a mini-Jalapeño. This can create some asymmetric strategies which can make some combinations more viable than five (5) identical strategies which many approach the game now.

Bottom Line:
Hot Date won't defeat the zombie horde by himself. The recharge rate is too slow and Hot Date's attractive trait means he will be attacked by zombies not just in one lane but as many as three. So if one uses Hot Date, one needs a strategy as to how to deal with increased zombies coming down that lane.

Hot Date is not a bad plant. Just realize that one needs a full strategy to properly utilize him versus many other plants which are "plant it and forget it".

Level 1 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2.
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Knock-back.
Produce at least 1,500 / 2,250 / 3,500 Sun
Never have more than not offered / 20 / 15 plants.

Level 2 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Sun Perk - Sun drops from the Sky.
Destroy 15 / 25 / 45 gravestones.
Fill a horizontal row with plants. (All 9 tiles must have a plant on it.)

Level 3 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Watering Perk - Plant seeds recharge faster.
Survive and protect the endangered plants - Primal Sunflowers on R234C1 and Zoybean Pod R2C3
Shrink not offered / 15 / 20 zombies.

Level 4 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 2 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is Sun Perk - Sun drops from the Sky.
Survive and protect the endangered plants - Boomberry on R24C1
Spend no more than not offered / 5,000 / 5,000 Sun.

Level 5 - Difficulty 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Bonus 1 of 2
Survive the zombie attack.
Chosen Perk is score multiplier.
Do not lose more than 10 / 10 / 6 plants.
There are precious flowers on the lawn which can not be trampled - not offered / 2 & 3 / 4 & 5

+Timestamps
00:00 Level 1 - Difficulty 3
01:31 Level 2 - Difficulty 3
03:13 Level 3 - Difficulty 3
04:55 Level 4 - Difficulty 3
06:17 Level 5 - Difficulty 3