Torchlight Zombie

Torchlight Zombie is a zombie encountered in Ancient Egypt in Plants vs. Zombies 2. He is an upgraded version of Explorer Zombie and his appearance is identical to said zombie, but the fire on his torch is larger and has two small flames on his hat and back.

Encounters
Ancient Egypt: Days 30, 32 and 33

Modern Day: Day 40

Strategies
The Torchlight Zombie burns plants just like an Explorer Zombie, but he is much faster and tougher than its basic counterpart, making him even more dangerous to your defenses. The best way to handle him is to use any plant with a freeze or chill effect, such as Winter Melon or Iceberg Lettuce. Against groups of them, use Plant Food on an Iceberg Lettuce to extinguish all of their torches. In a worst case scenario, you can use Power Snow as a last resort or use Primal Potato Mine as they have an area of destruction. When you have extinguished the torch, Stallia and Primal Peashooter are an effective combo as they can slow him down and knock him back at the same time.

Though not as powerful as the chilling or freezing plants, Sap-fling helps with speed and control, allowing you to handle them more easily.

Much like the Explorer Zombie, the Torchlight Zombie cannot burn the Plant Food shields of Moonflower and Infi-nut, so they can be used to stall those zombies fairly effectively.

Like what you used as a defense against the Explorer Zombie, you can use underground plants like Spikeweed, Spikerock, Celery Stalker and Cactus as they cannot be burned while underground. Ghost Pepper can also deal some damage without the plant getting destroyed.

Note: Chard Guards, Chompers, Parsnips, and Guacodiles are useless as Torchlight Zombie will destroy them before they even have the chance to attack.

Modern Day - Day 40
Torchlight Zombie with Excavator Zombie are a very dangerous combo as they both move very fast. While Excavator Zombie's shovel will absorb most of the player's projectiles and protect these zombies, they will instantly destroy many plants, especially when plants are thrown 3 tiles back by Excavator Zombie, allowing the plants to be vulnerable to other threats. Torchlight Zombie, Newspaper Zombie, and Mummified Gargantuars are also a very deadly combo. To prevent them from incinerating your defenses, it is recommended that bring more slowing plants or freezing plants.

Trivia

 * He is not encountered in Pyramid of Doom.