Chemist is a Rare variant of the Scientist in Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare and Super Rare in Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2. He is a wildly exaggerated variant of the Scientist's power at close quarters combat. The Chemist's weapon of choice has a much further deviation width but only deals damage approximately one to three feet away from him. He deals 40 damage in Garden Warfare and 35 in Garden Warfare 2 at any range. Dealing this much damage can easily take out enemies since no character deals better damage at close range like the Chemist other than the Marine Biologist, which is also a Scientist variant.
The Chemical Beaker Blaster (called Beaker Blaster in Garden Warfare 2) is the primary weapon of the Chemist. The facts below apply to a fully upgraded weapon.
The Chemist's weapon will not deal any damage past 1 to 2 meters or so, making mid-range and long-ranged combat impossible.
The close range damage per hit base and critical damage is 40 (Garden Warfare), 35 (Garden Warfare 2).
The max DPS at close range is 72.7.
The spread splash damage from the weapon deals 40 damage (Garden Warfare), 35 damage (Garden Warfare 2).
An alternate ability of Sticky Explody Ball, Mega Heal Bomb is a huge ball like the Sticky Explody Ball with a bigger radius. Heals all zombies in its radius by 50 health.
An alternate ability of Warp, Energy Warp allows the Scientist to transform into pure energy (he is invincible in this state). The Scientist is able to travel freely but cannot jump or attack. It also gains a small speed boost.
An alternate ability of Zombie Heal Station, Armored Heal Station heals at a slower rate than the Zombie Health Station, and self-destructs the same time as the Zombie Heal Station. Its incredible size allows players to jump on it to get to most buildings.
The Heal Beam of Science is the Scientist's first activatable ability. Similar to Heal Beam, it will heal any zombie targeted by it, healing faster the closer the Scientist is to the healed target.
An alternate ability of Zombie Heal Station, Armored Heal Station heals at a slower rate than the Zombie Health Station, and self-destructs the same time as the Zombie Heal Station. Its incredible size allows players to jump on it to get to most buildings.
An alternate ability of Warp, Energy Warp allows the Scientist to transform into pure energy (he is invincible in this state). The Scientist is able to travel freely but cannot jump or attack. It also gains a small speed boost.
An alternate ability of Sticky Explody Ball, Mega Heal Bomb is a huge ball like the Sticky Explody Ball with a bigger radius. Heals all zombies in its radius by 50 health.
Weapon upgrades
Description about the Chemist's weapon upgrades
Experimental Reload Kabob
The experimental reload kabob enhances reload speed.
Unobtanium Compression
Unobtanium is compressed allowing for higher ammo capacity.
Enhanced Unobtanium Spray
Chemically formulated to vanquish Plants faster, the Unobtanium Spray boosts damage output.
Unlocking (Garden Warfare only)
The Chemist is unlocked by reaching Level 10 with the Scientist. Each level starting with 5, excluding 6, will reward you with a single character piece until all pieces are unlocked at Level 10. If you did not reach level 10 in Garden Warfare but play Garden Warfare 2, you will be able to collect the missing stickers to unlock this variant.
Strategies
The Chemist's objective is to take out clustered groups of plants, as his weapon deals massive damage up close to an area of plants. However, like the Zoologist, his weapon has an extremely short range and only damages plants at close range, so close-range combat must be done (unless you throw Sticky Explody Balls at the plants).
With
Compared to the Marine Biologist, the Chemist does less damage to a target and has a longer fire rate in exchange for area of effect, making the Chemist more versatile in certain situations, such as getting into gardens in Gardens & Graveyards. Taking on singular targets is still a good option, as 35 damage from close range is still a good number to take out all but the bulkiest plants. If singular targeting is your style, the Marine Biologist is a better choice. If group damage is more important to you than singular targeting, the Chemist and the Zoologist are nearly identical in terms of range and damage.
Against
Vanquish him as a Peashooter, a Cactus, or a Sunflower at longer ranges. Although he is harmless at long ranges, if you are alone or close enough, the Chemist will momentarily chase after you at medium range and vanquish you in seconds. He can also Warp towards you, which can cost you if you are playing as a Cactus. If you are a Cactus, find a group of plants or deploy Tallnut Battlements and Potato Mines if he attempts to get close to you. The Chomper's Burrow is effective against the Chemist, but be careful as he may Warp away, use Energy Warp (which makes him invincible), or jump onto an elevated surface, waiting to vanquish you when you come out of the ground. To ensure he doesn't Warp away or shoot at you, Goop him and then vanquish him with the Burrow.
He is currently the only playable character that does not actually increase his weapon's damage when obtaining the damage increase upgrade.
This is not true in Garden Warfare 2.
His upgrades include a chemical element called "unobtanium." It is misspelled; the correct spelling is unobtainium, and is a fictional term used to describe an extremely rare element.
He received a nerf in the Tactical Taco Party DLC, in which PopCap decreased his clip size from 10 to 6 (12 to 8 with the upgrade). His range was also decreased a tiny but lethal bit.
His primary weapon is similar to the Stubby Shotgun from the Grand Theft Auto series which also can do high damage at point-blank range.
He, Mechanic, and Super Commando are the only returning characters whom have a name change to their primary weapon in Garden Warfare 2.
He underwent several design changes in Garden Warfare 2:
The rim of his safety goggles is now black instead of white.
His safety goggles are also no longer cracked, albeit he still wears them upside down.
His weapon's beakers appear to have a cone-shaped barrel on each.
His pants, shoe, and backpack straps appear to have a slightly brighter brown color.
His pants' damage model is similar to the Camo Ranger.