- For other uses, see Backup Dancer (PvZ).
Backup Dancer is the tenth zombie encountered in Adventure Mode and only appear in groups when summoned by Dancing Zombies and the second transformation of Skeleton Demon Zombie. They appear in sets of three or four, surrounding a Dancing Zombie with one on each side while showered by disco lights. Before complaints were made by the Michael Jackson estate, the Backup Dancers and Dancing Zombie used to be a reference to the song (and its zombie-themed music video) Thriller.
Suburban Almanac entry
BACKUP DANCER
These zombies appear in sets of four whenever Dancing Zombie rocks out.
Toughness: low
Backup Dancer Zombie spent six years perfecting his art at the Chewliard Performing Arts School in Zombie New York City.
Overview
Backup Dancers absorb 200 damage per shot and their appearances change upon absorbing 100 damage per shot before dying at 200 damage per shot.
Encounters
- Adventure Mode: 2-8, 2-9, 2-10, 4-5
- Mini-games: Wall-nut Bowling 2, Zombie Trap
- Puzzle Mode: Third Vase, ZomBoogie, I, Zombie Endless, Last Stand: Night
- Survival Mode: all levels (except Roof)
- Co-op Mode: all levels except Co-op Day, Co-op Bowling, Co-op Hard Roof and Co-op Zomboss
- Others: Versus Mode
Strategies
Kill or hypnotize the controlling Dancing Zombie or Skeleton Demon Zombie or it will continue to summon an unlimited number of Backup Dancers when any of them die. Hypnotizing it will get you the achievement Walk This Way, Disco is Undead, or Thrilling the Zombies. Alternatively, plant a Wall-nut in front of the hindmost one or freeze one because when one stops or is slowed, since the rest are forced to follow suit.
The Dancing Zombie or Skeleton Demon Zombie will re-summon missing Backup Dancers about every square if any are missing. Backup Dancers will continue to move after the Dancing Zombie or Skeleton Demon Zombie is killed. They form up a square around the Dancing Zombie. Therefore, a Cherry Bomb planted right next to the Dancing Zombie will instantly kill it and at least two Backup Dancers.
Early on, Fume-shrooms are a good idea against them. If you beat Adventure Mode, you can also use the Melon-pult, Squash, or Winter Melon.
Wall-nut Bowling 2 Mini-game
If you place a Wall-nut the moment a Dancing Zombie walks onto the lawn, it should roll past the lead Backup Dancer just as it is emerging from the lawn. If you fail to do this in time, it is necessary to plant two Wall-nuts in quick succession or the Dancing Zombie will have time to summon more Backup Dancers. If there are four Backup Dancers that surround the Dancing Zombie and you roll a Wall-nut to the front Backup Dancer, it will always ricochet to the next and then bounce to the back Backup Dancer. This will leave the Dancing Zombie unprotected, leaving an open space (and time) to kill the Dancing Zombie.
Another strategy is to ricochet a Wall-nut off of the front Backup Dancer, after which it will usually ricochet off one of the side Backup Dancers (and possibly hit the back one too) and immediately follow the first Wall-nut with another to take out the Dancing Zombie while it is unprotected.
Otherwise, if it is too urgent, you can use a Giant Wall-nut to kill both them and the Dancing Zombie, even though not all of the Backup Dancers will be killed. You can plant an Explode-o-nut to the top or bottom Backup Dancer to kill four of the five.
I, Zombie Puzzle Mode
Placing the Dancing Zombie in the middle lane can help get brains 2, 3, and 4, in addition to dealing with threats with faster zombies (if needed) that are vital to part of your success. In ZomBoogie, they are also the most helpful zombie. Only use them in the middle rows (2, 3, and 4) where they are most effective, and try not to get the Dancing Zombies killed. The best way is to start with row 2 or 4, and then do it on the other. In I, Zombie Endless, if you place a Dancing Zombie in a row with no plants, it can't die (unless there is a Starfruit or Threepeater protecting the row) and will keep summoning Backup Dancers and get the brains easily.
Related Achievement
Gallery
New version (Game of the Year Edition, New iOS, Console, Nintendo DS, and Android)
Old version (Old PC version, Old iOS, and Java version)
Trivia
- The old Backup Dancer's design might be based on the backup dancers from Michael Jackson's music video "Bad".
- If a ladder is placed on a Wall-nut and a Backup Dancer climbs it, it will only dance up to some part of the ladder, then pass through it.
- The old Backup Dancer, Dr. Zomboss, and Imp are the only zombies which don't have standing animations. For example, in the Suburban Almanac, the Backup Dancer is still dancing and the Imp can be seen walking in place. The Zombie Bobsled Team doesn't animate while it is still in its Bobsled. Also, in the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game, in I, Zombie, if the player spawns an Imp, the transparent Imp will not move.
- On the iPad version, the new Dancing Zombie also does not have a standing animation. Instead, it moonwalks in place.
- When a Backup Dancer sticks its tongue out after biting a Garlic, it continues dancing.
- The old Backup Dancer zombie and Pole Vaulting Zombie are the only zombies with headbands.
- If the Dancing Zombie or any of its Backup Dancers are slowed down or paralyzed, the rest of the group will also slow down with it.
- The new Backup Dancer and the Ladder Zombie are the only zombies with mustaches (if mustache mode is off).
- Mustache mode won't affect these zombies.
- The old Backup Dancer's legs change sides when it dances. If it loses an arm, the arms will also change sides.
- If the old Backup Dancer loses one of its arms, no bone can be seen.
- In the iOS version, its jaws will break apart when killed. The same thing will happen to the Dancing Zombie.
- Due to the fact that the Dancing Zombie summons them, the Backup Dancer is one of nine zombies not available for selection in Versus Mode. The others include the Zombie Bobsled Team, Balloon Zombie, Zombie Yeti, Imp, Dr. Zomboss, and all three aquatic zombies (Ducky Tube Zombie, Snorkel Zombie, and Dolphin Rider Zombie).
- Backup Dancers and Zombie Bobsled Team are the only zombies that appear in groups of four.
- They are also one of the zombies that can be avoided in the Suburban Almanac.
- Backup Dancer, Imp, Zomboni, Gargantuar, Giga-gargantuar, and Dr. Zomboss are the only zombies that don't have the word "zombie" in their name.
- Backup Dancer, Zombie Bobsled Team (except for Bobsled Bonanza), Flag Zombie, and Dr. Zomboss are the only zombies that don't appear in the Seed Selection Screen.
- When a Backup Dancer gets to the player's house, and when it is only halfway through the door, they can hear the crunching of the zombie eating the brain, even though it hasn't entered the house.
- This also happens with Imp and Zombie Yeti (through hacking).
- The new Backup Dancer dances a different way like the new Dancing Zombie.
- If a Dancing Zombie is frozen with an Ice-shroom just at the moment it summons Backup Dancers, the Backup Dancers will be frozen, but will not be blue or have ice crystals on their feet.
- The word "Chewliard" from the Backup Dancer's Almanac entry is a pun to the Juilliard School in New York City.
- It was later reused in the Jester Zombie's Almanac entry in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
- This makes two duos who went to the same school. The other one is Cabbage-pult and Cob Cannon.
- Backup Dancer is one of the six zombies that falls backwards when it dies; the other five being Zombie Bobsled Team, Dancing Zombie, Football Zombie, Giga-Football Zombie and Balloon Zombie.
- In Wall-nut Bowling 2, a Wall-nut placed in the row with a Dancing Zombie will bounce of the front Backup Dancer and hit at least one other Backup Dancer unless there are a group of zombies where the Wall-nut bounces to.
- Backup Dancer, Zombie Bobsled Team, and Imp are the only zombies that depend on other zombies to be able to attack on the lawn.
- There is a glitch with the new Backup Dancer that sometimes, when the new Dancing Zombie summons a Backup Dancer while an other Backup Dancer is crunching an other plant, the summoned Backup Dancer will freeze with the movement for a second.
- In Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo DS versions of Plants vs. Zombies, the new Backup Dancers are about as tall as a Gargantuar. This also happens with the Dancing Zombie.
- The old Backup Dancer is called the 80's Zombie in the Plants vs. Zombies Trading Card Game.
- It is somewhat similar to the Conga Dancer in Plants vs. Zombies Adventures.
- It is also similar to the Disco Jetpack Zombie in Plants vs. Zombies 2
- The player can unlock it on the Almanac even if they kill the Dancing Zombie before it summons any Backup Dancers.
- It shares that trait with the Imp and Zombie Bobsled Team.
V · E | Zombies (Tower defense) | L · G |
---|
Plants vs. Zombies 2 (Chinese version) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ancient Egypt | Mummy Zombie · Conehead Mummy · Buckethead Mummy · Flag Mummy Zombie · Ra Zombie · Camel Zombies · Explorer Zombie · Tomb Raiser Zombie · Pharaoh Zombie · Mummified Gargantuar · Zombot Sphinx-inator · Imp Mummy | ||||||||||
Pirate Seas | Pirate Zombie · Conehead Pirate · Buckethead Pirate · Flag Pirate Zombie · Swashbuckler Zombie · Seagull Zombie · Barrel Roller Zombie · Imp Pirate Zombie · Imp Cannon · Pirate Captain Zombie · Zombie Parrot · Gargantuar Pirate · Zombot Plank Walker | ||||||||||
Wild West | Cowboy Zombie · Conehead Cowboy · Buckethead Cowboy · Flag Cowboy Zombie · Prospector Zombie · Pianist Zombie · Poncho Zombie · Chicken Wrangler Zombie · Zombie Chicken · Zombie Bull · Zombie Bull Rider · Wild West Gargantuar · Zombot War Wagon | ||||||||||
Kongfu World | Kongfu Zombie · Conehead Kongfu Zombie · Buckethead Kongfu Zombie · Hammer Zombie · Flag Kongfu Zombie · Torch Kongfu Zombie · Gong Zombie · Exploding Zombie · Qigong Zombie · Drinking Zombie · Conehead Monk Zombie · Buckethead Monk Zombie · Monk Zombie · Flag Monk Zombie · Drinking Monk Zombie · Swordsman Zombie · Imp Monk · Torch Monk Zombie · Nunchaku Zombie · Han Bronze · Knight Bronze · Qigong Bronze · Gunpowder Devil · Blade-Wielding Hero · Admiral Helmet Zombie · Admiral Helmet Monk Zombie · Rocket Imp | ||||||||||
Far Future | Future Zombie · Future Conehead Zombie · Future Buckethead Zombie · Future Flag Zombie · Jetpack Zombie · Disco Jetpack Zombie · Mecha-Football Zombie · Disco-tron 3000 · Robo-Cone Zombie · Shield Zombie · Bug Bot Imp · Gargantuar Prime · Zombot Tomorrow-tron | ||||||||||
Dark Ages | Peasant Zombie · Conehead Peasant · Buckethead Peasant · Peasant Flag Zombie · Knight Zombie · Jester Zombie · Dark Ages Gargantuar · Imp Monk Zombie · Wizard Zombie · Zombie King · Announcer Imp · Imp Dragon Zombie · Zombot Dark Dragon · Archmage Zombie · Cavalry Zombie · Bandit Zombie · Wolf Zombie | ||||||||||
Big Wave Beach | Pompadour Zombie · Pompadour Conehead · Pompadour Buckethead · Beach Flag Zombie · Bikini Zombie · Bikini Conehead · Bikini Buckethead · Snorkel Zombie · Surfer Zombie · Fisherman Zombie · Octo Zombie · Shell Zombie · Imp Mermaid Zombie · Deep Sea Gargantuar · Zombot Sharktronic Sub | ||||||||||
Frostbite Caves | Cave Zombie · Cave Conehead Zombie · Cave Buckethead Zombie · Blockhead Zombie · Cave Flag Zombie · Hunter Zombie · Yeti Imp · Dodo Rider Zombie · Troglobite · Weasel Hoarder · Ice Weasel · Sloth Gargantuar · Zombot Tuskmaster 10,000 BC · Walrus Zombie · Ski Zombie · Chief Ice Wind Zombie | ||||||||||
Sky City | Pilot Zombie · Conehead Pilot Zombie · Buckethead Pilot Zombie · Flag Pilot Zombie · Flying Imp Zombie · Zombie Fighter · Double-Cabin Aircraft Zombie · Lightning Gun Zombie · Missile Zombie · Transport Boat · Arbiter-X · Flying Gargantuar · Zombot Vulture Fighter | ||||||||||
Lost City | Adventurer Zombie · Conehead Adventurer Zombie · Buckethead Adventurer Zombie · Flag Adventurer Zombie · Lost Pilot Zombie · Excavator Zombie · Parasol Zombie · Lost City Imp Zombie · Bug Zombie · Porter Gargantuar · Imp Porter · Relic Hunter Zombie · Turquoise Skull Zombie · Zombot Aerostatic Gondola · Lost Doctor Zombie · Lost Guide Zombie | ||||||||||
Neon Mixtape Tour | Neon Zombie · Neon Conehead · Neon Buckethead · Impunk · Punk Zombie · MC Zom-B · Breakdancer Zombie · Glitter Zombie · Boombox Zombie · Arcade Zombie · Bass Zombie · Hair Metal Gargantuar · Neon Flag Zombie · 8-Bit Zombie · Zombot Multi-stage Masher | ||||||||||
Jurassic Marsh | Jurassic Zombie · Jurassic Conehead · Jurassic Buckethead · Jurassic Fossilhead · Jurassic Flag Zombie · Jurassic Imp · Jurassic Gargantuar · Jurassic Bully · Egg Pusher Imp · Egg Stealer Imp · Eggshell Imp · Zombot Dinotronic Mechasaur | ||||||||||
Modern Day | Basic Zombie · Conehead Zombie · Buckethead Zombie · Flag Zombie · Gargantuar · Imp · Balloon Zombie · All-Star Zombie · Super-Fan Imp · Newspaper Zombie · Sunday Edition Zombie · Digger Zombie · Riot Police Zombie · Solar Car Zombie | ||||||||||
Steam Age | Labor Zombie · Conehead Labor Zombie · Buckethead Labor Zombie · Flag Labor Zombie · Coal Miner Zombie · Gentleman Zombie · Furnace Zombie · Industrial Imp Zombie · Foreman Gargantuar · Steam Zombot | ||||||||||
Renaissance Age | Sculptor Imp Zombie · Aristocrat Gargantuar · Aristocrat Zombie · Conehead Aristocrat Zombie · Buckethead Aristocrat Zombie · Flag Aristocrat Zombie · Perfume Zombie · Ballerina Zombie · Glider Zombie | ||||||||||
Heian Age | Shogun Gargantuar · Samurai Zombie · Conehead Samurai Zombie · Buckethead Samurai Zombie · Flag Samurai Zombie · Firework Zombie · Ninjimp · Sushi Chef Zombie · Mino Zombie · Onmyoji Zombie | ||||||||||
Secret Realms |
| ||||||||||
Penny's Pursuit |
| ||||||||||
Memory Lane |
| ||||||||||
Others | Dr. Zomboss · Lion Dancer Zombie · God of Wealth · Zombie Commander · Ingot Thief Zombie · Vase Gargantuar · Imp Pear Imp |
Plants vs. Zombies Online | |
---|---|
Player's House | Basic Zombie · Conehead Zombie · Buckethead Zombie · Flag Zombie |
Ancient Egypt | Mummy Zombie · Conehead Mummy · Buckethead Mummy · Flag Mummy Zombie · Ra Zombie · Explorer Zombie · Tomb Raiser Zombie · Pharaoh Zombie · Desert Death Zombie · Sphinx |
Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum |
Sergeant Zombie · Bowl Sergeant · Iron Helmet Sergeant · Token Sergeant Zombie · Cavalry Zombie · Archer Zombie · Shield Guardian Zombie · Hawker Cart · Zombie Piggy · Drunk Zombie · Emperor Qin Shi Huang |
Pirate Seas | Pirate Zombie · Conehead Pirate · Buckethead Pirate · Flag Pirate Zombie · Swashbuckler Zombie · Pirate Captain Zombie · Zombie Parrot · Imp Pirate Zombie · Gargantuar Pirate · Pistol Zombie · Torch Juggler Zombie · Peddler Zombie · Zombot Plank Walker |
Far Future | Future Zombie · Future Conehead Zombie · Future Buckethead Zombie · Future Flag Zombie · Jetpack Zombie · Shield Zombie · Bug Bot Imp · Robo-Cone Zombie · Disco-tron 3000 · Disco Jetpack Zombie · Mecha-Football Zombie · Gargantuar Prime · Zombot Tomorrow-tron · Astro-Goop Zombie · Mechanical Wolf Zombie · Harvester Zombie |
East Sea Dragon Palace | Underwater Soldier Zombie · Shrimp Soldier Zombie · Shell Soldier Zombie · Seahorse Zombie · Jellyfish Zombie · Clamshell God Zombie |
Event exclusive | Zombot Sphinx-inator · Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Zombot · Rabbit Zombie · Money Bag Zombie |
Plants vs. Zombies 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neighborville | Browncoat Zombie · Conehead Zombie · Buckethead Zombie · Flag Zombie · Imp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lost Keys Lake | Ducky Tube Zombie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mt. Quesogrande | Rock-N-Rollin' Imp · Bowling Zombie · Gargantuar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-2021 |
|