Boombox Zombie is a zombie encountered in Neon Mixtape Tour in Plants vs. Zombies 2. Upon reaching the sixth column, he will raise his boombox to play the power ballad jam for a few seconds, immobilizing all plants on the lawn except Phat Beet, underground plants, instant-use plants and Electric Blueberry. He doesn’t affect new plants on the lawn even if they are affected by his jam playing.
This also overrides any other jam currently playing and significantly slows all zombies on the field in Neon Mixtape Tour only. In Modern Day, all zombies retain their speed. Because Boombox Zombie stops any current jams from playing, he is considered an environment modifier.
Boombox Zombie's jam only lasts for eight seconds and cannot stack, but it can be extended by other Boombox Zombies (as seen on Day 28), as long as they play their jam after the original Boombox Zombie does.
He was first revealed in the Neon Mixtape Tour Side B developer diary, released on September 15, 2015.
Origins[]

He is named after a boombox, a common term for a portable transistorized cassette tape recorder/player and AM/FM radio (and, beginning in the 1980s, a CD player) with an amplifier, two or more loudspeakers and a carrying handle.
He is possibly based on the character Lloyd Dobler from the 1980s movie Say Anything.... His Almanac entry references a line from the film, and he also holds a boombox that plays love songs.
Almanac entry[]
Boombox Zombie
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Boombox Zombie |
Holds aloft a boom box that tranquilizes all plants with its heartfelt tunes. Special: Boom box has no effect on ground plants and Phat Beets |
Overview[]
Boombox Zombie absorbs 250 damage. His appearance changes upon absorbing 125 damage, when he loses his arm, before dying after absorbing 250 damage.
In the Chinese version, Boombox Zombie absorbs 350 damage. His appearance changes at 175 damage, before dying at 350 damage.
Encounters[]
Big Wave Beach: Premium Plant Quest - Electric Peashooter
Neon Mixtape Tour: Days 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and Greatest Hits
Modern Day: Day 41 and Highway to the Danger Room (portal only)
Strategies[]
When you see this zombie, defeat him as soon as possible or he will use his boombox to prevent plants from using their abilities. In Neon Mixtape Tour, he rarely gets far enough into the lawn in order to play his jam, making him not a significant threat.
However, if he is left alive for long enough, then he can potentially be very hazardous as plants that are immobilized cannot do anything, leaving other zombies to take down your plants with little to no harm. Also take caution when Breakdancer Zombies or Glitter Zombies are reacting to their jams.
Highway to the Danger Room[]
In Highway to the Danger Room, Boombox Zombies are far more dangerous as they can spawn through a portal past the third column to the right, allowing them to utilize their ability at the very instant. However, unlike in Neon Mixtape Tour, Boombox Zombie does not make the zombies slower due to lack of jam speeds in Modern Day.
In lower levels of Highway to the Danger Room, Neon Mixtape Tour portals will generally not spawn enough Boombox Zombies to be too dangerous. The real threat begins in higher levels (Level 30 and above), where portals can spawn multiple Boombox Zombies in succession, causing the jam (and stunning effect) to last longer than normal as well as disabling any non-instant plants planted after the first Boombox Zombie plays the jam. If such an event occurs, it is usually better to spend an extra Plant Food per level (if the player does not have Power Lily) in order to prevent stronger zombies such as All-Star Zombie and Robo-Cone Zombie from plowing through the player's defenses while they are stunned. You can also bring Phat Beet, though it may not deal with tougher zombies like Robo-Cone Zombies or Gargantuars.
A safer and economically conservative strategy to use is to feed the Iceberg Lettuce with a Plant Food. However, timing is necessary here because another Boombox Zombie might emerge from the portal or another set of Neon Mixtape Tour portals will appear on the lawn which allows further reinforcements of the same type would extend the jam's duration, allowing Modern Day or other zombies from distant worlds to assimilate and press forward to the player's defenses. A Power Lily is also essential for this technique to give the player a spare Plant Food for last resort option. Assuming that the horde has been frozen by the Iceberg Lettuce, either of the two will happen;
- Another batch of portals will appear accompanied by another batch of Modern Day zombies, whom are leading the assault. If, by chance, no All-Star Zombies or Neon Mixtape Tour portals would appear, conserve the Plant Food that is supposed to be used to the Iceberg Lettuce so that it will neutralize the entire horde (with frozen hordes extending their frozen status). Otherwise, use Plant Food for Iceberg Lettuce.
- Another batch of Neon Mixtape Tour portals appear, accompanied by other portals from each world, and reinforced by the Modern Day zombies. Wait for the Boombox Zombie to arrive via the portal. If it is 8-bit Zombies, spare Plant Food. Otherwise, use Iceberg Lettuce to freeze the horde. The pattern can be very difficult to study, but if the player gets the hang of it, they will have no problem in executing the strategy. Should another Boombox Zombie arrive via the portal and all hordes are frozen, refrain from consuming remaining Plant Foods. Save the rest and wait for the next batch of portals and zombies to appear.
Tips[]
- Area-of-effect plants like Laser Bean or Fume-shroom will defeat Boombox Zombies at ease because of their piercing capability that prevents the boombox from activating too early. The latter must be close enough for the Boombox Zombies to be hit though.
- Use Plant Food on any attacking plant to get rid of the Boombox Zombie to remove immobilization from the plants.
- Thyme Warp can disable his jam and teleport all zombies back to their starting positions, allowing other plants to break free from the jam.
- Spikeweeds and Spikerocks are immune to immobilization and are a good idea, as these plants can damage the Boombox Zombie even after he used his boombox. By extension, this also applies to Spear-mint, who spawns Spikerocks.
- Primal Peashooters and Chard Guards are useful as they can knock him back, preventing him from reaching the sixth column.
- Use an Iceberg Lettuce or Stunion if it is recharged, as it cancels out his ability instantly. Use Plant Food if necessary to freeze more.
- Endurian and a powered Murkadamia Nut can attack the Boombox Zombie even when immobilized, because they don't directly attack and require a zombie to walk up to them.
- Phat Beet and Electric Blueberry are completely immune to immobilization. Therefore, the player should use these plants to defeat the zombies that have been slowed down by the ballad jam.
Balance changes[]
Update 5.8.1[]
- ▲ Health increased from 350 to 700
Update 6.0.1[]
- ▼ Health decreased from 700 to 350
Update 6.3.1[]
- ▼ Health decreased from 350 to 250
Related achievement[]
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Breaking It Off
Defeat a Boombox Zombie before it's able to express its feelings through the power of song |
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Gallery[]
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In other languages[]
Please note that only official translations are used.
Language | Name | Description |
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Boombox Zombie | ||
录音机僵尸 | From lùyīnjī and jiāngshī | |
Zombie radio k7 | ||
Ghettoblaster-Zombie | ||
Zombi stereo | ||
Zumbi do Som | ||
Zombi radiocasetero |
Trivia[]
- Boombox Zombie shares his animation with Ra Zombie and Turquoise Skull Zombie. In general, they all share the same walking animation with each other and share the eating and standing animation of Cowboy Zombies.
- Boombox Zombie’s weakness to Phat Beets and underground plants in the almanac is labeled as a special ability instead of a weakness.
- The heart effect when Boombox Zombie stuns plants is the same effect used during Valenbrainz when Valenbrainz Zombies are defeated and when Plant Food is fed on Sweet Potato.
- Boombox Zombie does not appear to hold his boombox in the Neon Mixtape Tour Side B trailer.
- One of them even sports a blue sleeveless shirt and blueish eyes instead of a yellow shirt and normal zombie eyes.
- Boombox Zombie is the fourth zombie to play music while using its special ability. The first is Jack-in-the-Box Zombie, the second is Pianist Zombie, and the third is Disco-tron 3000.
- Electric Blueberry does not react to Boombox Zombie's music, as it still creates storm clouds.
- Magnifying Grass was also not affected by the music, as it was still able to be tapped, making it fire its projectile. However, this is no longer true after the 6.6.1 update.
- Boombox Zombie is the only zombie that can interrupt other jams.
- Due to a glitch, Boombox Zombie did not play any music in the 4.4.1 update. Instead, he stopped the jam currently playing, but he still stunned the plants when he raised his boombox. The current jam played again when he lowered his boombox. However, this glitch only happened when he was in Neon Mixtape Tour. If he was in a Piñata Party, his boombox would play the music like normal.
- Also, by saving and quitting, and going to another level, the music on that level would not play. Pausing and resuming would play the ballad jam on the level. Pausing and resuming the level again would return the music to normal.
- Defeating a Boombox Zombie before he can play the power ballad jam will reward the player with Breaking It Off achievement.
- If a Boombox Zombie is shrunk by a Shrinking Violet at the same time he plays the power ballad jam, it will sound sped-up and high-pitched.
- Boombox Zombie, Dancing Zombie, Disco Zombie, Electric Boogaloo, Party Imp and Tennis Star are the only zombies with afros.
- If he is defeated when he is about to turn on his music, the music will still be playing, but he won't affect the plants negatively.
- The music he plays is the "Party Time!" music for the Party Rose.
- Electric Currant reacts to the Power Ballad jam created by this zombie. Its electric current is still present when it happens, but it does not damage the zombies on it.
- If a Boombox Zombie plays his jam while Ghost Pepper is attacking at the same time, it will still use its haunting animation, but will not deal any damage. This can happen to Celery Stalker as well.
- In the Chinese version, plants stunned by Boombox Zombie do not produce hearts.
See also[]
V · E | Zombies (Tower defense) | L · G |
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Plants vs. Zombies 2 (Chinese version) | |||||||||||||||||||
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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 · Arbiter-X · Missile Zombie · Transport Boat · 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 · Zombot Troupe Manipulator | ||||||||||||||||||
Heian Age | Shogun Gargantuar · Samurai Zombie · Conehead Samurai Zombie · Buckethead Samurai Zombie · Flag Samurai Zombie · Firework Zombie · Ninjimp · Onmyoji Zombie · Sushi Chef Zombie · Mino Zombie | ||||||||||||||||||
Secret Realms |
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Penny's Pursuit |
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Memory Lane |
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Others | Dr. Zomboss · Lion Dancer Zombie · God of Wealth · Zombie Commander · Ingot Thief Zombie · Vase Gargantuar · Imp Pear Imp |
Plants vs. Zombies Online | |
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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 · Cart Hawker · 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dave's House | Browncoat Zombie · Conehead Zombie · Buckethead Zombie · Flag Zombie · Imp · Gargantuar · Bowling Zombie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Campground | Ducky Tube Zombie · Pigeon Feeder · Disco Zombie · Landscaper · Screen Door Zombie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Begonia Boulevard | Stealth Imp · Rock-N-Rollin' Imp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-2021 |
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