Grapeshot

Grapeshot is a premium plant in Plants vs. Zombies 2. It was featured in the Jurassic Marsh Part 1 teaser Piñata Parties from November 10 to November 16 of 2015.

Similarly to Cherry Bomb, Grapeshot explodes in a 3x3 area, dealing 1800 damage per shot worth of damage to all enemies caught in the blast. However, eight grapes will also be released after the initial explosion in the cardinal and ordinal directions. The grapes can ricochet up to five times in a manner similar to Bowling Bulb's projectile, doing 200 damage per shot for each zombie they hit.

In the Chinese version, its explosion can deal 3600 damage to all zombies in the 3x3 area except Gargantuars or Zombots, which only suffer 1800 damage.

Origins

Grapeshot is based on the real life Grape, a term referring to fruiting berry of vines belonging to the genus Vitis. Its explosive ability is based on grapeshots, a type of artillery shell composed of small metal balls or slugs packed tightly into a canvas bag, akin to a modern shotgun shell.

Almanac entry

Grapeshot	SUN COST 150 RECHARGE 35 SUN COST: 150 RECHARGE: 35 DAMAGE 1800 AREA 3x3 DAMAGE: 1800 AREA: 3x3 FAMILY Bombard-mint FAMILY: Bombard-mint Grapeshots explode and scatter bouncing projectiles in eight directions. Usage: single use, instant "Spa-BOOM!" enthuses Grapeshot. "You liked that? I got a million of 'em! Wa-POW! Buh-BLAM! Za-... um... Ker-... hmmm... Okay, I guess I've only got the three."

Grapeshot

		SUN COST 150			RECHARGE 35

SUN COST: 150
RECHARGE: 35

		DAMAGE 1800			AREA 3x3

DAMAGE: 1800
AREA: 3x3

		FAMILY Bombard-mint

FAMILY: Bombard-mint

Grapeshots explode and scatter bouncing projectiles in eight directions.

Usage: single use, instant

"Spa-BOOM!" enthuses Grapeshot. "You liked that? I got a million of 'em! Wa-POW! Buh-BLAM! Za-... um... Ker-... hmmm... Okay, I guess I've only got the three."

Upgrades

Bombard-mint effect

When boosted by Bombard-mint, Grapeshot's explosion damage will increase by 2400 DPS.

Level upgrade

Costumed (China only)

After exploding, Grapeshot will leave a 3x3 puddle which slows zombies down.

Level upgrade (China only)

Level	Upgrades	Description
	Bounce Exercise	The number of bounces is increased by one.
	Combat Training	Grapeshot gains 50% more attack power and health (150% of initial).
	Powerful Bounce	The number of bounces is increased by two.
	Cell Activation	Grapeshot gains another 50% more attack power and health (200% of initial).

Note: Grapeshot cannot be upgraded to level 4.

Strategies

Grapeshot is mostly considered a straight upgrade to Cherry Bomb - while its initial profile is almost identical to Cherry Bomb's in damage, sun cost and recharge rate, the additional grapes will allow Grapeshot to control the horde far better than Cherry Bomb, as well as destroy obstacles such as tombstones at the early stage of a level in Ancient Egypt and Dark Ages and frozen blocks in Frostbite Caves. Notably, a Grapeshot can instantly defeat a full health Gargantuar (besides a Jurassic Gargantuar) if planted directly on its tile, a feat that can otherwise only be achieved by Electric Blueberry, Caulipower, Witch Hazel, and Citron's Plant Food effect.

Grapeshot is an excellent plant to use in Pirate Seas as it can easily deal with hordes of several Swashbuckler Zombies that tend to ambush the player. They can also be useful against Barrel Roller Zombies, especially if these zombies appear with groups of other zombies, as then the shots can easily hit them. The bouncing grapes can also hit and destroy Imp Cannons, but this depends on the bouncing grapes hitting the cannons, which requires luck.

Grapeshot is also a good choice in Big Wave Beach, as various zombies encountered in this world tend to bring in obstacles that trouble the player's defenses (like Surfer Zombie and Octo Zombie). The initial explosion and the additional grapes can easily get rid of surfboards and octopi so the other offensive plants can be prepared to deal with even tougher zombies like Fisherman Zombies and Deep Sea Gargantuars.

However, the plant is not recommended in Dark Ages levels with Jester Zombies, as they can reflect the bouncing grapes and deal massive damage to the player's defense. However, they cannot deflect grapes that hit it from above or below, so Grapeshot might be of use in certain scenarios. Imp Dragon Zombies are immune to the initial explosion, but not to the ricocheting grapes, so Grapeshot should have little trouble combating them unless the grapes are used too easily.

The plant can also be a problem if a grape bounces and kills a dangerous zombie that releases more zombies early in the level, like Chicken Wrangler Zombies or Weasel Hoarders. They release Zombie Chickens and Ice Weasels respectively, and these can overwhelm most plants if the defense is not ready, especially in Big Bad Butte or Icebound Battleground.

Ultimately, due to the lack of actual difference in usage, Grapeshot should be used in a way similar to Cherry Bomb: to quickly neutralize threats that have breached too far into the player's defense, or to nuke high-health targets. Imitater can also be used to remedy Grapeshot's recharge issue. Using it alongside Cherry Bomb and Bombegranate can allow you to blow up the zombies far more often, assuming you have a good sun production.

Gallery

Plants vs. Zombies Wiki has a gallery for Grapeshot.

Visit this page to see it.

Trivia

• It is the first (if not counting Sunflower Singer or Super Chomper from the Chinese games) plant that is a direct upgrade of an existing plant - Cherry Bomb, regarding factors like sun cost, recharge, and effect. Cold Snapdragon is the second direct upgrade, and Wasabi Whip is the third.
  • All three of them are premium plants and cost 150 sun.
  • It is the first plant to be an upgrade of Cherry Bomb, with the second being Bombegranate.
• One of Grapeshot's faces can only be seen when it explodes.
• It is the only instant-use plant to have two different attacks: the explosion and the release of ricocheting grapes.
• It reuses sounds from Cherry Bomb, Citron, Bowling Bulb, Banana Launcher, and Strawburst.
  • Its charging and exploding sounds are reused from Cherry Bomb's. Sounds from Bowling Bulb, Banana Launcher, and Strawburst are heard when its heads are ricocheting, and Citron's noises are used when a head bursts.
• The advertisement for it reads, "Unleash the grapes of wrath!" This is a reference to a book written by John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath.
• In the Jurassic Marsh Part 1 trailer, Grapeshot is missing its leaf.
• It can be planted during Last Stand setup.
  • After the player plants it and it explodes in Last Stand setup, it will leave behind a shadow that cannot be planted on and will never go away until the player presses "Let's Rock!"
• It is the only premium explosive plant that can be spawned by the Escape Root.

See also

• Cherry Bomb
• Bombegranate
• Bowling Bulb