Rock Bloon

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The Rock Bloon, also called the Dreadrock Bloon in-game, is a boss servant bloon spawned during the Dreadbloon boss bloon event. It is spawned when Dreadbloon reaches a skull while Dreadbloon's ceramic armor shell is active. It spawns one every few seconds until Dreadbloon loses its rock armor. Rock Bloons count as Boss Bloons in the form of ordinary bloons, packed with enormous health and boasts its prioritization for any Strong targeting options. More importantly, Rock Bloons inherit class-specific immunities to Dreadbloon at the time of spawning.

As of 34.2, Rock Bloons now have damage phases in groups of 25%, making it easier to tell how well one's defenses are doing against them. v35.0 made it so that many blimp instakills such as Pirate Lord work against Rock Bloons, although certain blimp instakills such as Ezili's MOAB Hex still cannot target them.

Quick Answers

What triggers the spawning of the Rock Bloon during the Dreadbloon boss bloon event?

During the Dreadbloon boss bloon event, the Rock Bloon spawns when Dreadbloon hits a skull with its ceramic armor shell active. This spawning continues every few seconds until Dreadbloon's rock armor is lost. The Rock Bloons, resilient and prioritized for Strong targeting options, inherit class-specific immunities from Dreadbloon upon spawning.

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What happens when the Dreadbloon loses its rock armor?

Upon losing its rock armor, the Dreadbloon unveils a lead interior with unique properties and immunity to various Monkey Tower categories whenever the armor regenerates. It also spawns robust Rock Bloons each time it hits a skull and until its stone armor is obliterated. These Rock Bloons compel any Monkey set to strong targeting to attack them first.

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What are the special characteristics of Rock Bloons in the game?

Rock Bloons possess additional health and accelerated spawn rates at elevated tiers, deducting lives based on their tier. They enforce 'Strong' targeting on towers that can target MOAB-class bloons, embodying Boss Bloon properties. They move at 88% of a Red Bloon's speed and are affected by modifiers. Immune to slowdowns, knockback, and stuns, they are susceptible to specialized Boss and MOAB damage.

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What is the relationship between Rock Bloons and Strong targeting options?

Rock Bloons compel most towers capable of targeting MOAB-class bloons to use Strong targeting. This results in these towers prioritizing Rock Bloons over others, such as Dreadbloon. Certain towers, like Dartling Gunner, can bypass this targeting. Sniper Monkeys with Elite targeting prioritize Ceramic Bloons over Rock Bloons unless the Rock Bloons are 75% through the track. A diverse mix of powerful towers of varying classes is crucial for effective Rock Bloon management.

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What does it mean when it's said that Rock Bloons inherit class-specifications?

Rock Bloons, in Bloons game, inherit class-specifications, meaning they share traits of both ordinary and MOAB-class bloons. They resist mobility reduction, similar to BADs and Bosses, and can be targeted by universal attackers like Dart Monkey. They're immune to the same tower class as Dreadbloon and are susceptible to sources inflicting extra damage to Boss Bloons. With increasing tiers, Rock Bloons gain health and spawn faster, deducting lives based on their tier. They enforce Strong targeting on towers that can target MOAB-class bloons.

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Properties

This Bloon is very resilient and is prioritized over all other Bloons by monkeys set to "Strong". Much tankier than a Ceramic Bloon but is neither considered a Ceramic Bloon nor a Fortified Bloon, unlike its appearance. It actually has Boss Bloon properties, which allows Artillery Battery and Pop and Awe to inflict both Extra Damage to Blimps and Extra Damage to Boss bonus damage properties to them. The Rock Bloon is essentially just a Boss Bloon with the body of an ordinary bloon that acts like a MOAB-class bloon (i.e. can't be hit by Target Bloon attacks such as base Ice Monkey or Glue Gunner, but universal attackers such as Dart Monkey can), plus immunity to most Target Blimp attacks (exceptions detailed below). Rock Bloons move at 88% the speed of a Red Bloon and have all properties of Boss Bloons and can be affected by modifiers or boss modifiers, and are notably immune to whatever tower category Dreadbloon is currently immune to. Legend of the Night cannot tank Rock Bloons with its passive portal ability, proving the Rock Bloon has Boss Bloon status.

Rock Bloons cause varying numbers of life loss when leaked. The health of the Rock Bloons increases depending on each tier and whether Dreadbloon is Normal or Elite.

Rock Bloons can also be targeted and affected by Rubber to Gold's Gold status effect and Benjamin's Bloon Trojan but the former does nothing, while the latter causes them to give one cash.

If heroes pop Rock Bloons, cosmetically speaking, they utter the same dialogue as when they pop blimps.

Immunities

As a Rock Bloon is essentially just a Boss Bloon with the body of an ordinary bloon, it has the following properties, plus any other miscellaneous properties:

• Each time a skull is reached, groups spawn from the map entrance frequently until Dreadbloon's stone armor is destroyed
• All towers and their attacks target set to "Strong" prioritize Rock Bloons instead of any other bloon, including Dreadbloon
• Properties of a Boss Bloon (not a Ceramic or Fortified)
  • Immune to all slowdowns, knockback, and stuns, except from Paragons.
  • Vulnerable to specialized Boss damage and MOAB damage
• Not immune to blimp-targeting instakills unless immune to that tower's category.
  • Legend of the Night is an exception to this, as his black hole does not tank rocks. Similarly, Navarch of the Seas is unable to target rock bloons with either active or passive hooks, and Megalodon cannot target Rock Bloons to drag down and instakill them.
  • Pat Fusty's Big Squeeze and Obyn Greenfoot's Wall of Trees can instakill Rock Bloons, although the latter can only do so if it can hold enough RBE, and awards no cash from rocks.
  • Psi's attack and Ezili's MOAB Hex are unable to target Rock Bloons at any level, including level 20.
• Can be targeted and affected by Rubber to Gold's goldifying potion, Benjamin's Bloon Trojan, and Benjamin's Syphon Funding, with no practical effect.
• Immune to most blimp-only attacks (except Fighter Plane anti-MOAB missiles, MOAB Press, MOAB Domination and Glaive Dominus anti-MOAB boomerangs).

Normal Health

Elite Health

Spawning

There are two sets of rock bloons to spawn. One is spawning a certain amount in 5 seconds, which means actual spawning interval is (5/amount)s, the other is spawning continuously until the ceramic armor is destroyed. Both spawns happen at the same time but the former one is more dense.

The frequency of the amount of Rock Bloons for both Normal and Elite Dreadbloon spawns increases for each tier.

Strategy

Summary

Rock Bloons are serious cannon fodder for Dreadbloon, acting as distractions for defenses while additionally possessing massive RBE compacted into tiny bloons. These are tough bloons, so make sure you have serious firepower. It is advised not to rely on Strong targeting, which is especially detrimental for First Strike Capability past the first skull of Dreadbloon. Additionally, consistently pay attention to Dreadbloon's current class immunities (with exception of Primary, the only phase that doesn't summon Rock Bloons outside of Boss Rush), because any change in Dreadbloon's class immunity can suddenly change the tides for the defense versus Rock Bloons. Rock Bloons are technically Boss Bloons in the body of normal bloons, so regular MOAB-class DPS options excel against them.

Tips

• Almost all of the same towers that normally excel against boss bloons will be great for clearing out rock bloons, although towers with more pierce will do better against swarms of rock bloons than towers with less pierce. This is because they are considered boss bloons, and this property is why Cripple MOAB can apply its damage debuff on them.
• Dreadrock Bloons will typically never have a primary immunity, so primary towers can always damage rock bloons. Do note however, that in Boss Rush, Dreadbloon will spawn primary Rock Bloons, which will provide a constant threat that must be managed with no simple workaround beyond diversifying defenses.
• Rock Bloons will only be prioritized by towers with strong targeting, so towers set to any other targeting setting, or towers who require manual aim such as the Dartling Gunner, can safely ignore this bloon.
  • Note that Sniper Monkeys set to Elite targeting will still prioritize Ceramic Bloons over Rock Bloons if the latter are not 75% of the way through the track.
• Rock Bloons primarily become dangerous upon having a lack of sufficient defenses against Dreadbloon's current class immunities. As such, it is even more important to keep a mix of strong towers of different classes, or simply rely on a strong primary tower composition outside of Boss Rush. Aside from Primary, the only phase without Rock Bloons, pay close attention to the careful choices of tower synergies.
  • At Tiers 1 and 2, namely Elite, Rock Bloons at these stages are likely the most problematic. Rock Bloons can easily leak if relying on a single tower class (except Primary) for most of the damage.
  • At Elite Tier 3, Rock Bloons can be dangerous, but not as threatening as earlier tiers. If the player farmed well, there is adequate access to multiple powerful upgrades to cover the class weaknesses of each other. One can also opt for a degree 20 Glaive Dominus to handle every rock bloon from all tiers onward for relatively cheap, provided another tower is used against Dreadbloon's primary immunity.
  • At Tiers 4 and 5, the main threat of Rock Bloons mainly occurs when relying too much on one Paragon type and/or if the majority of the total damage comes from a tower class other than Primary.
  • In Boss Rush, since Rock Bloons can have primary immunity, they can easily overwhelm the player's defenses, especially with tower restrictions making dealing with them more and more difficult. Having a way of dealing with Rock Bloons and normal bloons should be the first priority, followed by Dreadbloon itself. This is especially true once the player starts going for a paragon, as paragons are expensive and can leave the player ill prepared for rock bloons of other types.
• Unlike the Lych-Soul, leaking a Rock Bloon will not instantly lose the game upon leaking. Thus, with enough firepower and/or life generation, one can ignore Rock Bloons until Dreadbloon is defeated.
  • However, do not too rely on this method, otherwise you will be overwhelmed and lost by Elite Tier 4 and 5 Rock Bloons, as they drain too much lives to tank it sustainably.
• As Rock Bloons can't have their movement impeded in any way, rely on damage, DPS boosts, and specific instakills only.
• MOAB instakills , such as Pirate Lord, Bloon Master Alchemist, and XXXL Trap work against them, so if desperate, a player can rely on instakills to handle rock bloons. Does not affect Legend of the Night's black hole, Navarch of the Seas passive hooks or activated ability hook or Megalodon devour attack. This does not work if the Rock Bloon has immunity against their tower category.
  • Pat Fusty's Big Squeeze and Obyn's Wall of Trees can instakill Rock Bloons as well, although they cannot instakill very many rock bloons at a time.

Version History

See Dreadbloon: Armored Behemoth (BTD6)#Version History

Bugs

Current

• [34.0] When Cripple MOAB debuffs a Rock Bloon, it applies the bloon stun particles instead of its unique "X" marks.

Patched

• [34.0] Rock bloons are present in Sandbox mode. This is not intentional. Fixed in 34.2.
• [34.0] Trying to hook in a rock bloon with Monkey Pirates or Pirate Lord will crash the game. Does not affect Navarch of the Seas whatsoever. Fixed in 35.0.
• [34.0] Save and quitting while Dreadbloon has its ceramic armor shell active, then reloading the save during the primary phase, will spawn dreadrock bloons, even though this does not happen otherwise. Patched in 35.0.

Quotes

Sounds

Rock Bloons do not make pop sounds when destroyed. However, if they are immune to a specific class of monkey, they will produce immunity noises.

When a Primary Monkey tries to damage Rock Bloons that are immune to Primary (Boss Rush exclusive):

• [dull metallic hit]

When a Military Monkey tries to damage Rock Bloons that are immune to Military:

• [metal clank]

When a Magic Monkey tries to damage Rock Bloons that are immune to Magic:

• [honk]

When a Support Monkey tries to damage Rock Bloons that are immune to Support:

• [clay knock]

Gallery

Rock Bloon unable to be instakilled by XXXL Trap

MOAB Assassin's ability targeting a MOAB instead of Rock Bloons

0-3-2 Glue Hose not targeting Rock Bloons

2-3-0 Glue Hose targeting but not slowing Rock Bloons

2-5-0 Glue Storm ability targeting Rock Bloons and Tack Zone popping some debuffed ones

Carpet of Spikes ability popping Rock Bloons

Cripple MOAB on Strong targeting Rock Bloons and (incorrectly) applying stun assets

Sky Shredder's anti-MOAB missiles triggered and attempting to hit Rock Bloons but cannot hit them

Carrier Flaghship's anti-MOAB missiles triggered and attempting to hit Rock Bloons but cannot hit them

Legend of the Night versus Rock Bloons

Slightly broken Rock Bloon and very broken Rock Bloon

Rock Bloon with the Gold status effect

ODS targeting anti-MOAB missiles at Rock Bloons

MOAB Press activating anti-MOAB Glaives at Rock Bloons, and ODS anti-MOAB missile exploding at Rock Bloons

Sticky Bomb ignores Dreadrock Bloons.

MOAB Assassin ability ignores Dreadrock Bloons. Note that the main attack still targets Dreadrocks.

Rock Bloons on Primary Immunity bug - patched on v35.0

Monkey Pirates ability hooking in a rock bloon in 35.1.

Phoenix on Last targeting Dreadbloon instead of Rock Bloons

Phoenix on Strong targeting Rock Bloons instead of Dreadbloon

Videos

DJ Ben syphoning and applying trojan to Rock Bloons

Sushi Ben syphoning and applying trojan to Rock Bloons

DJ Ben syphoning and applying trojan to Elite Rock Bloons

Sushi Ben syphoning and applying trojan to Elite Rock Bloons

Teasers

Rock Bloon teaser in the v34.0 video

Trivia

• Rock Bloons, unlike other Bloons or Blimps, are not subject to health and speed scaling on later rounds. This also matches the normal behavior of Lych-Soul, excluding Version 31 Lych-Soul's bugged variant.
• Rock Bloons make no noises when struck, as tested on Sandbox Mode. And when popped, they only make the default pop sound.
• In Version 35.0, blimp instakills have strange visual interactions with Rock Bloons. For instance, Monkey Pirates and Pirate Lord do not show hooks at the Rock Bloons despite them being pulled towards them. Another instance of this is where Pat Fusty uses Big Squeeze to squeeze a Rock Bloon; he simply does his idle animations for the duration of the ability.
• Unlike most Boss Minions, Rock Bloons were temporarily available on Sandbox Mode due to a bug.