Roadie Z is a Super Rare Engineer variant in Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2. He was revealed on the Plants vs. Zombies Twitter page on November 24, 2015. His appearance is the same as a regular Engineer with a yellow beard and hair but with four drumsticks attached to his hat and something that could possibly be an electric guitar amp on his back. In the Moon Base Z trailer, he is briefly shown shooting soundwaves. He also has extra health, due to his close-ranged weapon. He was the only Engineer variant unlockable in the beta.
"Roadie Z's been on tour for so long, he can't even remember. He would've joined the battle of Zomburbia earlier, but he couldn't hear what anyone was telling him."
In-game description[]
Roadie Z's short-range sound cannon inflicts mega damage up close!
His primary weapon is the Ear-radicator, which is a close-ranged weapon that deals 9 damage and, with the two damage upgrades, can deal up to 11.13 damage. Its ammo capacity is infinite but with an overheating system that after the weapon has been used for 6.2 seconds (Or 7.5s with the Overheat Upgrade) needs to cool down for 2.83s (Or 2.58s with the Overheat Penalty Upgrade). When a player is attacked with the Ear-radicator, their screen begins to blur similarly when attacked by the Hypno-shroom. Enemies being hit by the Ear-radicator get pushed back by it (most noticeable if they jump).
The Sonic Grenade is a grenade that, when thrown, will stun plants in a small radius for a short time and forces BurrowingChompers out from the ground.
An alternate ability of the Sonic Grenade, the Proximity Sonic Mine is a landmine which can stun plants for about five seconds when they come close to it. It makes Chompers come out of their Burrow ability if they are using it. This can be very useful for defending a teleporter or trying to escape from plants.
The Jackhammer allows for quicker movement but at the cost at not being able to use your other abilities, though you can still fire your primary weapon, and if you bump into a plant, the plant will suffer knockback and light damage.
An alternate ability of the Jackhammer, the Turbo Jackhammer functions the same as the Jackhammer except that it travels faster, but lasts for a shorter amount of time.
Strategies[]
This Engineer functions well at close range but is nearly useless at any range further than 8m. Because of this, treat him like a Chemist that has access to the abilities of the Engineer, but cannot heal your allies. The Sonic Grenade is a very important ability for this variant- it will set up plants, preventing them from moving too much and allowing you to damage them at your leisure. Remain mobile at all times and use your Jackhammer as often as possible. Try to remain near Scientists and/or Super Brainz, as both will add to your firepower and Scientists can also sustain you with healing. If necessary, the Big Bolt Blaster provides offensive capabilities at any range and will be efficient at taking out most stationery or moving targets. When using your primary weapon you should always mash the attack button rather than holding it to inflict even more damage, with the two damage upgrades that Roadie can receive coupled with the overheat upgrade this damage can become incredible.
▼ Decreased effectiveness of the overheat upgrade.
Gallery[]
Roadie Z in the Customization Booth
Roadie Z being attacked by Kernel Corn doing Husk Hop
Roadie Z using his Big Bolt Blaster ability
PVZ Garden Warfare 2 Roadie Z Engineer Trailer
In other languages[]
Please note that only official translations are used.
Language
Name
Description
English
Roadie Z
Traditional Chinese
樂隊管理員 Z
French
Roadie Z
German
Z-Roadie
Italian
Z fonico
Polish
Technik Dźwięku
Brazilian Portuguese
Roadie Z
Spanish
Z Roadie
Trivia[]
He was first named in a tweet by Gary Clay,[1], was later renamed and revealed on the Plants vs. Zombies Facebook page and got his final name revealed in the beta.
The end of his trailer reveals a new Engineer gesture named "Jackhammer Strum". This involved him summoning his Jackhammer and strumming it like a guitar, in a similar way to one of the Foot Soldier's gestures in which he does the same thing to his weapon.
His weapon resembles a speaker and is named "the Ear-radicator". This makes sense due to the fact that it shoots soundwaves to attack.
Ear-radicator is a combination of ear and eradicator (which is someone who exterminates rodents and insects).
This is the first Engineer that has no shoes at all. Instead, he wears a sandal on one foot and nothing in the other.
If the Ear-radicator is near its overheating point, the player will begin to hear slight speaker feedback.
He is the first zombie character class to have extra health, the second being Drake Mech.
While playing as this character, the player will constantly hear faint music playing from the amp on his back.
He is the only close-range Engineer variant.
He is the only armor zombie variant.
There used to be a glitch where when you got damaged by the Ear-radicator, you couldn't use your abilities to fight back making him overpowered. This was later patched.