Not to be confused with Heartichoke.
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Dartichoke is a premium plant in Plants vs. Zombies 2, that was first introduced in the 7.9.1 update. She[1] fires high damaging spines (every 1.7 - 2 seconds) at high priority targets.
About
Dartichoke costs 225 sun and her ability allows her to fire artichoke spines at zombies in her lane, however she can only fire a limited amount and needs to recharge after firing the max amount of spines. She also has a chance to fire a critical dart which deals more damage.
It takes 3.25 (8 in Chinese version) seconds to reload her darts without leveling up. Her darts do not target grid items such as tombstones. Dartichoke can be unlocked for 250 seed packets.
Dartichoke's spines prioritizes certain zombies in a similar manner to Witch Hazel prioritizing Wizard Zombies, these zombies are (priority targets):
- Explorer Zombie
- Pirate Captain Zombie
- Prospector Zombie
- Treasure Yeti
- Wizard Zombie
- Octo Zombie
- Fisherman Zombie
- All-Star Zombie
- Roman Healer Zombie
Dartichoke will also prioritize certain zombies that aren't listed on her Almanac entry, these zombies are (secondary targets):
- Arcade Zombie
- Balloon Zombie
- Blastronaut Zombie
- Bug Zombie
- Disco Jetpack Zombie
- Dodo Rider Zombie
- Glitter Zombie
- Imp Cannon
- Jetpack Zombie
- Jurassic Rockpuncher
- Mecha-Football Zombie
- Newspaper Zombie
- Punk Zombie
- Seagull Zombie
- Sunday Edition Zombie
- Surfer Zombie
- Troglobite
- Tomb Raiser Zombie
- Turquoise Skull Zombie
- ZCorp Chair Racer
- ZCorp Consultant
- ZCorp HelpDesk
- Zcorpion Zombie
- Zombie Bull
- Zombie Medusa
- Zombie Parrot
In the Chinese version, Dartichoke will also prioritize these zombies:
- Arbiter-X
- Archmage Zombie
- Cavalry Zombie
- Chief Ice Wind Zombie
- Double-Cabin Aircraft Zombie
- Exploding Zombie
- Explode-O-Nut Zombie
- Furnace Zombie
- Gatling Pea Zombie
- Hunter Zombie
- Jalapeno Zombie
- Jester Zombie
- Jurassic Bully
- Leaper Zombie
- Lost Doctor Zombie
- Nunchaku Zombie
- Perfume Zombie
- Pharaoh Zombie
- Relic Hunter Zombie
- Robo-Cone Zombie
- Snow Pea Zombie
- Torch Kongfu Zombie
- Torch Monk Zombie
- Walrus Zombie
- Zombie Fighter
Origins

She is based on a spiny artichoke, more commonly known as an artichoke, a variety of a species of thistle cultivated as a food.
Her name is a portmanteau of "dart," referring to the projectiles that she fires, and "artichoke," the real-life plant she is based on.
Almanac entry
Note: The stats shown below only apply to Level 1.
Dartichoke
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Dartichoke
SUN COST: 225
RECHARGE: 8.5
TOUGHNESS: 300
DAMAGE: 75
Special: Critical Damage
Special: 0.3
FAMILY: Spear-mint
Dartichokes fire high-damage darts down the lane, prioritizing especially dangerous zombies such as Wizards, Octo Zombies and Healers.
Special: each shot has a chance to do critical damage
Usage: has a limited supply of darts, then must recharge
Dartichoke Priority Targets:
All-Star Zombie
Explorer Zombie
Fisherman Zombie
Octo Zombie
Pirate Captain Zombie
Prospector Zombie
Roman Healer Zombie
Treasure Yeti
Wizard Zombie
Why waste shots on foot soldiers when you can win the battle with one well-chosen dart to the dome?" wonders Dartichoke. "Why would you do it? Why would ANYONE do it?
Upgrades

Plant Food effect
When given Plant Food, she spins and shoots blue darts that deal critical damage to a multitude of zombies on the lawn, in a similar matter to Homing Thistle's Plant Food effect.
Spear-mint effect
When boosted by Spear-mint, Dartichoke will receive an additional 210 DPS to her main attack along with an additional 630 DPS to her critical darts and Plant Food darts, and the chance to fire a critical dart will increase to 75%.
Level Upgrades
Level | Seed Packets | Coins | Upgrades | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun Cost | Recharge | Starting Recharge |
Toughness | Damage | Projectile Velocity | Plant Food Power Damage |
Critical Chance |
Max Shots | Cooldown Time* | ||||||
Normal | Critical | Normal | Critical | ||||||||||||
1 | 0 | 0 | 225 | 8.5 seconds | 6 seconds | 300 dps | 75 dps | 225 dps | Normal | Normal | 225 dps | 30% | 6 shots | 3.25 seconds | |
2 | 50 | 8 seconds | 5.75 seconds | 350 dps | 90 dps | 270 dps | +1.03x | +1.03x | 270 dps | 35% | 7 shots | 3 seconds | |||
3 | 100 | 7.5 seconds | 5.5 seconds | 400 dps | 105 dps | 315 dps | +1.07x | +1.06x | 315 dps | 40% | 8 shots | 2.75 seconds | |||
4 | 200 | 7 seconds | 5.25 seconds | 450 dps | 120 dps | 360 dps | +1.1x | +1.09x | 360 dps | 45% | 9 shots | 2.5 seconds | |||
5 | 300 | 200 | 6.5 seconds | 5 seconds | 550 dps | 135 dps | 405 dps | +1.13x | +1.12x | 405 dps | 50% | 9 shots | 2.25 seconds | ||
6 | 400 | 6 seconds | 4.75 seconds | 600 dps | 150 dps | 450 dps | +1.17x | +1.15x | 450 dps | 55% | 10 shots | 2 seconds | |||
7 | 500 | 5.5 seconds | 4.5 seconds | 650 dps | 165 dps | 495 dps | +1.2x | +1.18x | 495 dps | 60% | 10 shots | 1.75 seconds | |||
8 | 600 | 175 | 5 seconds | 4.25 seconds | 700 dps | 180 dps | 540 dps | +1.23x | +1.21x | 540 dps | 65% | 11 shots | 1.5 seconds | ||
9 | 800 | 4.5 seconds | 4 seconds | 800 dps | 195 dps | 585 dps | +1.27x | +1.24x | 585 dps | 70% | 11 shots | 1.25 seconds | |||
10 | 1000 | 4 seconds | 3.75 seconds | 900 dps | 210 dps | 630 dps | +1.3x | +1.26x | 630 dps | 75% | 12 shots | 1 second |
*Time taken to reload her darts.
Mastery upgrades
- Chance to Boost
- Damage Pierce
Level upgrades (China only)
Strategies
Dartichoke is a very interesting plant to use. At level 1, she is very powerful, being able to defeat a basic zombie in 3 hits. Although she is strong, she has a limited number of darts and needs to recharge, so she should not be the main attacking plant to use in a level. As a support plant, Dartichoke can defeat tougher zombies while other plants defeat weaker zombies. She can be used with Electric Peashooter to defeat tough zombies while the latter can defeat groups of weak zombies. Plants that can slow zombies such as Winter Melon, Cold Snapdragon, and Snow Pea can stall zombies while Dartichoke defeats them effectively.
Piercing plants such as Laser Bean, Cactus, and Bloomerang can damage all zombies in a lane to weaken the zombies Dartichoke can attack or prevent weaker zombies from eating it. This plant works fairly well with shadow plants, especially Dusk Lobber and Shadow Peashooter. These two plants can damage lots of zombies at a time (or slow them in the case of Shadow Peashooter), allowing Dartichoke to do as much damage as possible.
She is also good in Pirate Seas, Lost City, Far Future, Dark Ages, Jurassic Marsh, Big Wave Beach and Modern Day because she can target dangerous zombies that appear in those worlds.
One weakness of Dartichoke is that she can't target zombies that may eat her due to her targeting other zombies. She also needs time to recharge her darts so it is recommended to use defensive plants to protect her.
She is not a good choice in Last Stand levels because she gets overwhelmed by zombies in levels such a Pirate Seas - Day 22.
In Neon Mixtape Tour, she will prioritize Punk Zombie, Glitter Zombie, and Arcade Zombie; but not MC Zom-B, Breakdancer Zombie, or Boombox Zombie.
In Lost City, Excavator Zombies can block Dartichoke's darts and in Dark Ages, Jester Zombies can deflect them.
In Pirate Seas, she can target Imp Cannons but cannot target the Imp Pirate Zombies themselves, allowing them to eat Dartichoke.
Gallery
Plants vs. Zombies Wiki has a gallery for Dartichoke.
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In other languages
Language | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Dartichoke | ||
飞镖洋蓟 | ||
Arc-tichaut | ||
Dartischocke | ||
Dardofo | ||
Dardochofra | ||
Dardachofa |
Trivia
- While Dartichoke is never referred to with gendered pronouns in her in-game almanac entry, she was initially referred to with masculine pronouns in her official reddit reveal post[2], but was later referred to with feminine pronouns in a post[1] written by Stephen Notley, the employee who writes most of the almanac entries in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
- Despite her Arena Season coming after Ultomato's, she is before Ultomato in the Almanac.
- She and Witch Hazel are the only plants in Plants vs. Zombies 2 to be able to prioritize a specific kind of zombie.
- The other plants are Carrot Rocket (from Plants vs. Zombies Online), which prioritizes Archer Zombie, and Cactus and Cattail (from Plants vs. Zombies) which prioritize Balloon Zombies (only when flying).
- Dartichoke, Jack O' Lantern, and Stickybomb Rice are the only three plants in Plants vs. Zombies 2 to have a sun cost of 225 at Level 1.
- She and Ultomato are the only 2 straight-shooting plants that can attack through objects.
- Dartichoke got buffed in 8.1.1 update, in which her crit chance was increased and the cooldown period was reduced.
- Dartichoke's costume is very similar to one of A.K.E.E.'s costumes.
- She heavily resembles a shadow plant.
- In the Chinese version, Dartichoke does not prioritize Healer Zombies.
References
See also
V · T · E | L · G |
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Plants vs. Zombies | |
---|---|
Day | Peashooter · Sunflower · Cherry Bomb · Wall-nut · Potato Mine · Snow Pea · Chomper · Repeater |
Night | Puff-shroom · Sun-shroom · Fume-shroom · Grave Buster · Hypno-shroom · Scaredy-shroom · Ice-shroom · Doom-shroom |
Pool | Lily Pad · Squash · Threepeater · Tangle Kelp · Jalapeno · Spikeweed · Torchwood · Tall-nut |
Fog | Sea-shroom · Plantern · Cactus · Blover · Split Pea · Starfruit · Pumpkin · Magnet-shroom |
Roof | Cabbage-pult · Flower Pot · Kernel-pult · Coffee Bean · Garlic · Umbrella Leaf · Marigold · Melon-pult |
Upgrades | Gatling Pea · Twin Sunflower · Gloom-shroom · Cattail · Winter Melon · Gold Magnet · Spikerock · Cob Cannon |
Others | Imitater · Explode-o-nut · Giant Wall-nut · Giant Sunflower · Giant Marigold · Sprout · Tree of Wisdom |
Plants vs. Zombies: Social Edition | |
---|---|
Normal | Peashooter · Sunflower · Cherry Bomb · Wall-nut · Potato Mine · Chomper · Repeater · Puff-shroom · Scaredy-shroom · Snow Pea · Sun-shroom · Fume-shroom · Grave Buster · Lily Pad · Squash · Spikeweed · Tangle Kelp · Torchwood · Sea-shroom · Jalapeno · Coffee Bean · Tall-nut · Pumpkin · Magnet-shroom · Blover · Melon-pult · Cactus |
Premium | Pickled Pepper · Icy Fume-shroom · Fire-shroom · Flamewood · Vine-nut · Gatling Pea · Twin Sunflower · Gloom-shroom · Winter Melon · Super Chomper · Future Star · Calm Chuck |
Plants vs. Zombies Adventures | |
---|---|
>Normal | Peashooter · Sunflower · Aspearagus · Wall-nut · Cherry Bomb · Popcorn · Beet · Snow Pea · Jalapeño · Magnet Plant · Flaming Pea · Shamrock · Bamboo Shoot · Repeater · Chilly Pepper · Twin Sunflower |
VIPs | Sweet Pea · Beeshooter · Hard-nut · Acespearagus · Power Flower · Beetboxer · Ice Queen Pea · Shamrockstar · Bamboom |
Others | Trees |
Plants vs. Zombies 2 (Chinese version) | |
---|---|
Ancient Egypt | Peashooter · Sunflower · Wall-nut · Cabbage-pult · Bloomerang · Iceberg Lettuce · Grave Buster · Bonk Choy · Repeater · Twin Sunflower · Snow Pea · Cherry Bomb · Torchwood |
Pirate Seas | Kernel-pult · Snapdragon · Power Lily · Spikeweed · Spring Bean · Coconut Cannon · Spikerock · Lightning Reed · Tall-nut |
Wild West | Threepeater · Squash · Split Pea · Chili Bean · Jalapeno · Pea Pod · Melon-pult · Winter Melon · Imitater |
Kongfu World | Radish · Fire Gourd · Heavenly Peach · Bamboo-shoot |
Far Future | Laser Bean · Blover · Citron · E.M.Peach · Infi-nut · Magnifying Grass · Tile Turnip · Starfruit |
Dark Ages | Hypno-shroom · Sun-shroom · Puff-shroom · Fume-shroom · Sun Bean · Pea-nut · Magnet-shroom · Oak Archer · Coffee Bean · Plantern |
Big Wave Beach | Acidic Citrus · Lotuspot · Lily Pad · Bowling Bulb · Banana Launcher · Guacodile · Tangle Kelp · Homing Thistle |
Frostbite Caves | Hurrikale · Fire Peashooter · Hot Potato · Pepper-pult · Chard Guard · Stunion · Rafflesia · Tornacorn |
Sky City | Rotobaga · Cycloque · Aspiragus · Saucer Squash · Board Beans · Lantern Cherry · Ampthurium · Spinnapple |
Lost City | Lava Guava · Red Stinger · A.K.E.E. · Stallia · Gold Leaf · Toadstool · Jackfruit |
Neon Mixtape Tour | MC Glory · Phat Beet · Thyme Warp · Celery Stalker · Spore-shroom · Garlic · Intensive Carrot · Cactus |
Jurassic Marsh | Primal Peashooter · Primal Wall-nut · Perfume-shroom · Primal Sunflower · Primal Potato Mine · Primal Rafflesia · Dinonip · Thorns · Mastercane |
Modern Day | Shadow-shroom · Caulipower · Moonflower · Grimrose · Nightshade · Dusk Lobber · Blooming Heart |
Steam Ages | Gold Bloom · Flat-shroom · Passionflower · Lotus Root · Fanilla · Lily of Alchemy · Berry Blaster |
Renaissance Age |
Aloe · Kinnikannon · Wax Guard · Oil Olive · Ruby Red · Dartichoke |
Heian Age | Sumo Melon · Wasabi Whip · Auberninja · Dripphylleia · Splitting Stephania · Kunai Tupistra · Windbreak Dendrobium · Orchid Chef · Geisha Flower · Stickybomb Rice |
Fairytale Forest | Ents · Heath Seeker · Hat Mushroom |
Monthly special | Pyro-shroom · Carrotillery · Cryo-shroom · Dandelion · Aggro Brocco · Pomegunate · Chomper · Sweet Potato · Lord Bamboo · Sap-fling · Ghost Pepper · Chest-nut · Bambrook · Zorrose · Magic-shroom · Electric Blueberry · R.A.D Missiles · Endurian · Pumpkin Witch · Sunflower Singer · Snowy Cotton · Guerrequila · Monkeyfruit · Plumping Plummy · Dragonfruit · Angel Starfruit · Gatling Pea · Match Flower · Firebloom Queen · Cattail · Grapeshot · Cold Snapdragon · Shrinking Violet · Cob Cannon · Apple Mortar · Witch Hazel · Escape Root · Electric Currant · Explode-O-Nut · Parsnip · Missile Toe · Kiwibeast · Electric Peashooter · Hot Date · Icy Currant · Trump Tulip · Banana Dancer · Dual Pistol Pinecone · Narcissus · Alarm Arrowhead · Holly Barrier · Shadow Peashooter · Snap Pea · Frostbloom Queen · Sling Pea · Zapdragon · Electrici-tea · Imp Pear · Strawburst · Egrett Flower · Goo Peashooter · Bud-minton · Curling Corms · Pokra · Dollarweed Drummer · Ultomato · Shadow Fanilla · Bromel Blade · Gumnut · Olive Pit · Nuclear Earthstar · Headbutter Lettuce · Dazey Chain · Boom Balloon Flower · Soda Bottle Palm · Tiger Claw · Impaintiens · Turkey-pult · Hammerflower · Fishhook Grass · Energy Mangosteen · Inferno · Tigerstool · Gardenergrass · Draftodil · Hocus Crocus |
Others | Potato Mine · Flower Pot · Tactical Cuke |
Removed | Rotten Red |
Plants vs. Zombies Online | |
---|---|
Player's House | Sunflower · Peashooter · Wall-nut · Potato Mine |
Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum | Bruce Bamboo · Carrot Rocket · Pomegranate-pult · Dandelion · Venus Flytrap · Wax Gourd · Sod |
Ancient Egypt | Bloomerang · Bonk Choy · Grave Buster · Iceberg Lettuce · Cabbage-pult |
Pirate Seas | Snapdragon · Spikeweed · Spring Bean · Kernel-pult · Coconut Cannon · Narcissus · Endurian · Spikerock · Pineapple Cannon · Threepeater |
Far Future | Laser Bean · Blover · Citron · E.M.Peach · Tile Turnip · Ganoderma · Banana Tree · Nitro-shroom · Infi-nut · Magnifying Grass |
East Sea Dragon Palace | Oxygen Algae · Garlic · Bubble Flower · Electric Anemone |
Upgrades | Twin Sunflower · Repeater |
VIPs | Winter Melon |
Power Ups | Cherry Bomb · Jalapeno |
Premium | Squash · Snow Pea · Tall-nut |
Adventure Mode only | Magic Vine · Split Pea · Chili Bean · Lightning Reed · Pea Pod · Melon-pult · Starfruit · Chomper · Fire Peashooter · Cattail · Zorrose · Clivia · Sap-fling · Acidic Citrus · Magic-shroom · Ghost Pepper · Guacodile · Hurrikale · Plantern · Oak Archer · Homing Thistle · Pepper-pult · Radish · Toadstool · Blooming Heart · Red Stinger · Electric Blueberry · A.K.E.E. · Moonflower · Guerrequila · Aspiragus · Pumpkin Witch · Mine Fruit · Sea Anemone · Lychee Drill · Sea Starfruit |
Plants vs. Zombies 3 | |
---|---|
Neighborville | Sunflower · Wall-Nut · Bamboo Shoots · Peashooter · Bonk Choy |
Lost Keys Lake | Lily Pad · Tangle Kelp · Squash |
Mt. Quesogrande | Chili Bean · Silversword · Cabbage-Pult |
Power-Ups | Grapes of Wrath · Chilly Pepper · Jalapeño · Cherry Bomb · Blover |
Pre-2021 | Puff-Shroom · Buttercup · Garlic · Potato Mine · Pushywillow · Chard Guard · Spikeweed · Kernel-Pult · Caramel Popcorn · Lightning Reed · Melon-Pult · Shuffle Truffle · Blockbuster · Butternut Squash · Ragweed · Sawgrass · Fire Peashooter · Pine Needler · Snow Pea · Night Cap · Aloe Vera · Sweet Potato · Hydrangea · Dogwood · Chomper · Flak Seed · Gravitree · Gloom-Shroom · Lemon-Aid · Starfruit · Snapdragon · Fairy Ring Mushroom · Kalestorm · Star Tree · Magic Beans |