Microraptor

General Information

Game

Bloons TD 6

Tower

Beast Handler

Unlocked at

250 XP

Cost

$150 (Easy)
$175 (Medium)
$190 (Hard)
$210 (Impoppable)

Targeting Options

First, Last, Close, Strong

Beasts Targeting

Merge

Camo Detection

Restricted (upgradable to 0/1/2)

Other Names

Raptor, M. zhaoianus or Cryptovolans

Popology

Statistics

Damage

1

Pierce

5

Attack Speed

1.0s

Range

20 (beast itself range)

60 (control beast range)

Status Effects

N/A

Tower Boosts

N/A

Income/Life Boosts

N/A

Path Upgrades

Current

Next →

Microraptor

Adasaurus

Path Info

Path

Upgrade Tier

2

1

[Source]

“	Command a sharp clawed little dinosaur.	”
	^{~ In-game description}

Microraptor is the first upgrade of Path 2 for the Beast Handler in Bloons TD 6. The Beast Handler handles a Microraptor, which is placed on any valid land spot and can be targeted anywhere within valid area. As it now handles a beast, it no longer uses its melee attack, instead commanding the Microraptor to attack bloons. Each attack from the Microraptor deals 1 damage and 5 pierce every 1 second with 20 range. Microraptor can be merged with other Beast Handlers that handle higher-tier dinosaurs, but cannot merge with other Microraptors. When initially summoned, the Microraptor always spawns within 20% of their range to the track.

This upgrade costs $150 on Easy, $175 on Medium, $190 on Hard, and $210 on Impoppable.

Description

Overview

When upgraded, the Microraptor Handler controls a microraptor, and the handler is stylized to have an association with prehistoric life. The handler holds a curved stick with an orange-colored-and-yellow-striped bauble. On the stick, there are two pairs of red tape wrapped in the middle of the bends of the stick. The stick also has white tape for gripping. The handler himself has triangle markings on both sides of his forehead. His scarf is now red with black tips at the bottom.

Microraptor is one of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs, although many others are much smaller, such as Anchiornis. Although the Microraptor in-game is shaped like a bipedal lizard in a similar way to most portrayals of theropods in popular media. In life Microraptor zhaoianus was much more bird-like, with a full coat of black, iridescent feathers, and wings on both the forelimbs and hindlimbs. In-game Microraptor is a small green theropod with yellow stripes along its back and tail, and has yellow eyes, thin limbs, and thin sharp teeth. When idle, the microraptor sometimes looks around or looks up showing its teeth.

The Microraptor regularly kicks at bloons, dealing 1 damage onto up to 5 bloons each. It attacks moderately quickly.

Targeting Priorities

As an upgraded Beast Handler, the Microraptor Handler controls a terrestrial beast. It controls a Microraptor. The Microraptor can be merged into stronger terrestrial beasts to transfer energy, empowering the stronger beast via a network of other Beast Handlers. This system utilises the Merge button to select a valid Beast Handler given sufficient energy capacity.

The Beast has multiple styles of attack that follow basic targeting priorities.

First: Targets the first bloon visible within its range.
Last: Targets the last bloon visible within its range.
Close: Targets the closest bloon visible within its range.
Strong: Targets the strongest bloon visible within its range.

Additionally, the beast has a button "Place Beast" that places the beast and repositions it anywhere within valid range of the Beast Handler.

Full Popology

Statistics

Updated as of Version 36.3

Base Stats

Handler:
- Passive type, automatically places a Microraptor beast on valid land within 60 range. Microraptor consumes 1 footprint and gains access to Microraptor Kick. Can reposition the Microraptor manually.
Microraptor Kick:
- Melee "projectile", sharp type, 20 range, 1.0s attack cooldown, 1 damage, 5 pierce.

Crosspathing interactions

Unlike the majority of towers in BTD6, the Beast Handler does not benefit from crosspathing. Each path spawns or upgrades a beast, rather than directly affecting the other crosspaths.

Attack Interactions

See also: Attack Interactions/Bloons TD 6/Support

Updated as of Version 36.2

WIP
This section is yet to be updated... Interactions relating to how it grabs onto bloons may need some tweaking; currently only know a few portions of the attacks

Kick:
- Sharp
- Melee

Costs

Note: This section does not take into account Beast Handler merges.

Updated as of Version 46.0. Listed prices exclude external buffs, any sacrifices, and Monkey Knowledge.

[Module \| Data]	Purchase				Sell
Costs	Easy	Medium	Hard	Impoppable	Easy	Medium	Hard	Impoppable
Upgrade (X-1-X)	$150	$175	$190	$210	-
Total (0-1-0)	$360	$425	$460	$510	$252	$298	$322	$357
Crosspath (1-1-0)	$495	$585	$630	$700	$347	$410	$441	$490
Crosspath (2-1-0)	$1,185	$1,395	$1,505	$1,670	$830	$977	$1,054	$1,169
Crosspath (0-1-1)	$520	$615	$665	$740	$364	$431	$466	$518
Crosspath (0-1-2)	$1,250	$1,475	$1,595	$1,770	$875	$1,033	$1,117	$1,239

This upgrade's prices (or included crosspath's prices) are affected by the following MK: Better Sell Deals

Strategy

Summary

Microraptor is a cheap low-ranged unit with high attack speed and moderate pierce. As its kicks are considered straight-moving "projectile", it is best placed such that it can consistently hit bloons along tight areas of lane. Note that the Microraptor can sometimes be a downgrade, given that the handler stops doing its melee attack and the disadvantage of the Microraptor's low range; this is offset by the capability to micromanage the handler's effective range to beat small amounts of bloons.

Tips

Microraptor can be used as cheap merges into higher-tier Handlers.
In the early-game, make sure to use the Place Beast targeting option to manually move the Microraptor to a new position, taking advantage of its high handling range beyond the low base range of the dinosaur itself.

Version History

Balance Changes

Microraptor was often used for early-game Beast Handlers as a way to get through early rounds. It was nerfed by the general Beast Handler nerf to micromanagement, which affected aquatic beasts and dinosaur beasts. However, Version 43.0 gave Microraptor some substantial buffs, enough to allow for dual beast start.

36.0

Released

39.0

“	Beast Handler’s general repositioning feels far too free right now, the reposition cooldown is being increased to a more reasonably noticeable number so this feels like a meaningful cost.	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Beast Handler beast reposition cooldown increased from 0.5s to 5s

40.0

“	We feel Beast Handler balance is setting down nicely overall but it feels like the reposition cooldown increasing was far more impactful and unfun than intended, we still feel the initial delay was silly but are cutting it down again a little. [...]	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Beast Handler beast reposition cooldown decreased from 5s to 3s

43.0

“	In going over our large list of price changes for Beast Handler’s lower tiers in 42 this change was received very positively, however we did not realize that in making this change we killed off all chance of dual-beast handlers being used as a round 1 starting option for under $650 in hard modes – So we gotta do that math all over again and convert it for difficulty, painful 😀 All T1 beast prices changed to allow 110 & 101 beast handler combos to be placed for under $650 in hard mode, all T2 & T3 prices shifted around to keep these same cost ratios.	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Microraptor cost reduced from $195 to $175

“	Similar to Sentries, Beast spawn placement will now scale closer to the track based on how much range the beast has.	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Microraptor now spawns within 30% of their range to the track

“	We’re slightly reducing beast reposition cooldown as the tiny range leaves movement very tight, which is especially painful for Microraptor path given the low range.	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Beast Handler reposition cooldown reduced from 3s to 2s

45.0

“	Base handler's beast range felt too high starting off when considering the tower is built around sharing range between multiple Handlers so this range is being reduced.	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Microraptor handling range decreased from 60 to 50.

47.0

“	As a quality of life improvement, Beast Handler movement cooldowns have now been separated	”
	^{~ Ninja Kiwi}

Fish and Dino reposition cooldowns are now independent.

Bug Fixes and General Changes

This section is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.

Extra Notes (Version History)

Version 43.0 slightly adjusted the efficiency of 0-1-0 Microraptor for merges by adjusting Microraptor cost.
- Medium: $445 → $425; 445 / 1 power → 425 / 1 power

Sounds

When upgrading to Microraptor:

When relocating Microraptor:

Gallery

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Official artwork

Trivia

The Microraptor represented in the game looks completely different than the reconstruction of the same dinosaur, which is a small, iridescent black^[1] feathered dinosaur with four feathered wings, one on each limb.
If there is no suitable location for the Microraptor to be placed by default after upgrading, the Microraptor will not appear.
According to Ninja Kiwi's 14th February 2025 blog, dinosaurs from Beast Handler evolved to not have feathers.

References

↑ Li, Q.; Gao, K.-Q.; Meng, Q.; Clarke, J.A.; Shawkey, M.D.; D'Alba, L.; Pei, R.; Ellision, M.; Norell, M.A.; Vinther, J. (2012). "Reconstruction of Microraptor and the Evolution of Iridescent Plumage". Science. 335 (6073): 1215–1219. Bibcode:2012Sci...335.1215L. doi:10.1126/science.1213780. PMID 22403389. S2CID 206537426.

[1] Li, Q.; Gao, K.-Q.; Meng, Q.; Clarke, J.A.; Shawkey, M.D.; D'Alba, L.; Pei, R.; Ellision, M.; Norell, M.A.; Vinther, J. (2012). "Reconstruction of Microraptor and the Evolution of Iridescent Plumage". Science. 335 (6073): 1215–1219. Bibcode:2012Sci...335.1215L. doi:10.1126/science.1213780. PMID 22403389. S2CID 206537426.

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