Imps are small fast-moving zombies that do not have much health. They are commonly thrown off the backs of Gargantuars which can quickly result in losing the lawn mowers, roof cleaners, or level if not prepared. This is due to the fact that they get thrown into the middle of the plants and possibly at the final column. However, if they are thrown deep into their defenses, they will most likely cause quite a lot of damage if the player's defenses are not strong enough. Imps are small enough to chew on a plant with a Spikeweed or Spikerock in front of it without being damaged.
Imps are tiny zombies hurled by Gargantuars deep into your defenses.
Toughness: low
Imp may be small, but he's wiry. He's proficient in zombie judo, zombie karate, and zombie bare-knuckle brawling. He also plays the Melodica.
(China only)(Archived content)
小鬼僵尸
小鬼僵尸是一群小型的僵尸，被巨人僵尸扔进你的防御体系。
强度： 低
小鬼僵尸虽然瘦小，但却很结实。他很精通僵尸柔道， [sic] 僵尸空手道和僵尸关节技。
In English: Imp
Imps are tiny zombies hurled by Gargantuars deep into your defenses.
Toughness: low
Imp may be small, but he's wiry. He's proficient in zombie judo, zombie karate and zombie bare-knuckle brawling.
Imps are tiny zombies hurled by Giga-Gargantuars deep into your defenses. Also swiftly break through your defenses.
Toughness: low
Speed: fast
Actually, Imps are born runners. Some lazy Imps like to stay around Gargantuars, but the hard-working ones run marathons in groups.
When a regular Gargantuar is hit by an instant kill (but is not killed) or loses half of his health, he will throw the Imp off his back approximately five squares forward (although it can be more in Survival: Endless). Covering the back three columns of the lawn with Pumpkins is a good idea to protect against Imps. The fourth or even fifth column might need a Pumpkin as well if an instant kill is launched when the Gargantuar just walked onto the lawn. In Survival: Endless, Gloom-shrooms with a laddered Pumpkin are often used as the Imp climbs over the ladder without hurting the Pumpkin and will be killed by the Gloom-shroom. Another method is to replace the Sunflower of the last column with other plants, and the best choice is Melon-pult and Winter Melon because they can quickly kill the Imps and may also kill the Gargantuar. If there is not enough sun, replace the Sunflower with the Twin Sunflower. Using Jalapeno after the Gargantuar has thrown the Imp is a good strategy as the Jalapeno will kill the Gargantuar and the Imp in one go.
In the I, Zombie Puzzle Mode levels, although Imps can hardly withstand any damage, they're useful to send down an undefended lane to eat a Sunflower or a brain due to their speed. They can be also used to save sun, if any zombie is killed just before it eats the brain and then you use him (although he may be killed at the same time).
It is best to send an Imp down a lane that has a Potato Mine or Squash or Chomper at the rightmost column in I, Zombie. An Imp can survive one Spikeweed due to his speed. Do not use the Imp if the lane has plants that can attack him, as his low health will kill the Imp and waste 50 sun.
Please note that only official translations are used.
Language
Name
Description
English
Imp
Simplified Chinese
小鬼僵尸
Traditional Chinese
小鬼殭屍
Dutch
Ukkie
French
Diablotin
German
Wicht
Italian
Zombolino
Japanese
インプ
Russian
Зомбёнок
Spanish
Zombidito
A portmanteau of "Zombi" (Zombie) and "Silbidito" (Little whistle), according to his almanac description in spanish.
Trivia[]
Imp appears to only have two visible fingers and thumbs are not seen. However, in the Wabby Wabbo music video, Imp has four visible fingers.
Imp is one of the three zombies with feet that do not wear shoes, the other two being Jack-in-the-Box Zombie and Zombie Yeti (this is assuming that Dr. Zomboss wears shoes, as his feet are not visible).
If a Gargantuar that is carrying an Imp dies before throwing the Imp, the Imp will descend into the trash can he is riding in and will not be released by the Gargantuar. This is similar to Dr. Zomboss hiding in the head of the Zombot when it gets destroyed.
In Last Stand Endless and Survival: Endless, if a Gargantuar throws his Imp while mallet mode is activated and the player smashes the Imp while the Imp is in flight, the Imp will play his death animation mid-air.
If a Ladder Zombie places his ladder on a Wall-nut, an Imp will not climb it, but will just pass through. This does not happen if the ladder is on a Tall-nut.
If an Imp is thrown by a Gargantuar, he will be as slow as a normal zombie, although in I, Zombie, he is faster.
In I, Zombie, the Imp only takes three normal damage shots to kill.
The I, Zombie Imp is the fourth fastest zombie in the game, with the Dolphin Rider Zombie being faster (with its dolphin), the Digger Zombie while he is underground, and the Dancing Zombie when he is doing the moonwalk before he summons Backup Dancers.
If the player uses an Ice-shroom while the Imp is in the air, the Imp will just become slowed down when he lands instead of freezing.
On the Xbox Live Arcade version, if the Imp gets in the back door of the house, the player will hear the chomping sound and the "NOOOO!" scream when the Imp is only halfway into the doorway.
Imp is one of nine zombies unavailable for use in Versus Mode.
Imp is shown rollerskating twice during the Windows Phone 7 trailer. The first time is near the beginning as the new Dancing Zombie is dancing, and the second is at the end as he rolls out of the light.
Imp will disappear in mid air if an instant kill is used at the Gargantuar who threw him. The same thing happens with Pole Vaulting Zombie in the air.
This happens possibly because when the Imp is in the mid air, he will become a flying zombie.
However, the Imp cannot be blown away by Blover or deflected by Umbrella Leaf in this state.
Imp is one of the few zombies in this game without the word "zombie" in the name, the others being Gargantuar, Giga-gargantuar, Backup Dancer, Dr. Zomboss, and Zomboni.
In the Wabby Wabbo music video, an Imp appears with a yellow shirt that says "SHORTY", and he has a "lazy eye". One can tell because only one of his eyes moves around rapidly while the other one does not. He also sings "Crazy Dave".
Imp, Backup Dancer, and Zombie Bobsled Team are the only zombies that depend on other zombies to be able to attack the plants.
However, in Bobsled Bonanza, ice is already on the lawn, so Zombie Bobsled Teams can attack.
Imp, Dr. Zomboss, Money Bag Zombie and Jack-in-the-Box Zombie are the only zombies to have a smile on their faces, albeit an evil one.
According to Imp's Suburban Almanac entry, Imp loves fighting, as well as playing a musical instrument, though he is not shown doing any of those things in-game.
No other plant or zombie plays an instrument (unless counting the Jack-in-the-box) or mentions playing an instrument in their Almanac entry.
In the Almanac, Imp is shown walking, instead of standing still.
The only other zombie that does not have a standing animation is the old Dancing Zombie, as he is not supposed to appear on his own.
If Imp gets hit by a melon or other lobbed projectile, it will detonate over the Imp's head.
On the Plants vs. Zombies website, there is a picture of a Gargantuar with a naked Imp on his back. (Gotcha achievement)
In I, Zombie, a glitch may occur, causing the Imp to walk right through a ladder.
In I, Zombie, Imp (separated from Gargantuar) first appears in Three Hit Wonder.
Imp is the only zombie that has a burnt animation with one arm.
The player can unlock Imp's Almanac even if the Gargantuar is defeated without releasing the Imp.
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Russian
Spanish