Magic
Lightning Onion
An electrified onion plant that generates an electrical field around itself, chaining lightning bolts between nearby zombies and dealing escalating damage the more enemies cluster together.
Plant Stats
Sun Cost
150 Sun
Damage
35 (initial) + 20 per chain
Attack Interval
3 Seconds
Range
3x3 Lightning Field
Target
Ground Zombies
Toughness
900
Recharge
7 Seconds
Best Combo Plants
Details
Every 3 seconds, fires a lightning bolt at a random zombie in its 3x3 field. The bolt chains to each additional zombie in the zone, dealing 35 initial damage plus 20 damage per chain jump. Chain damage is not reduced with distance - each jump deals full 20 damage. Maximum 6 chain jumps per discharge.
Lightning Onion fires lightning bolts that chain between zombies in its 3x3 field, dealing 35 initial damage and 20 additional damage per chain jump. With 5 zombies in range, a single lightning discharge deals 35 + 80 = 115 total damage distributed across the cluster. In Survival Mode, place Lightning Onion in the center of your midfield to cover the densest zombie concentration. Chain damage escalates exponentially with zombie clustering, making it exceptionally powerful in flag waves where many zombies advance simultaneously. Pair with Coldsnap Bean to slow zombies into the 3x3 field, ensuring the maximum number of targets are in range when lightning fires. In Endless Mode, Lightning Onion is a devastating mid-game investment that remains effective into very high flags due to the scaling chain mechanic.
Lightning Onion is most powerful against dense zombie clusters where chain damage maximizes total output. Flag waves in Endless Mode that fill the 3x3 zone with 5-6 zombies simultaneously trigger chain discharges worth 115-155 total damage, which can eliminate entire armor tiers in a single shot.
✓ Strengths
Chain damage scales with zombie density - more enemies means massively higher output
35 base plus 20 per chain can reach 155 total with 6 targets
900 toughness is solid for a mid-field attacker
3-second interval is fast for an area chain weapon
Pairs with slowing effects to maximize cluster density in the field
✗ Weaknesses
Low zombie density dramatically reduces effectiveness
Cannot target aerial or underground zombies
Lightning immunity negates all damage
Random initial target selection within the field may not always prioritize the highest threat
6-chain maximum limits output in truly massive zombie floods
1
Pair with Coldsnap Bean to slow zombies into the 3x3 field for maximum cluster density
2
In Endless Mode, place in the center column where zombie density peaks during flag waves
3
Use Kernel-pult butter stun to freeze zombies in the field so the next lightning discharge hits a static cluster
4
Back it with Gloom-shroom for combined area coverage - fume damage plus lightning chain covers every zombie in the zone
5
In Survival Hard, a Lightning Onion with slowing support melts entire flag waves without needing lobbers
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