Guide For Plants vs. Zombies

Stage Three: Pool

Overview

Pool levels have six rows of zombies to invade, the middle two being the pool. The pool has special plants and zombies that can only be planted/appear there. Your mushrooms from the previous levels will fall asleep here (but that does not mean they are pointless - zombies will still stop to eat them, so Puff-shrooms are actually quite helpful at the beginning), but sun falls from the sky again, and graves do not appear here. Also, Lawn Mowers will sink in the water rows, killing only a single zombie, but you can buy Pool Cleaners. Not too different from the Day Levels, overall.

Level 3-1

For full article, see Level 3-1 Aside from the occasional Conehead, nothing remotely smacking of toughness appears here. Ducky Tubers, the pool-only Zombies, appear only during or directly before the wave, giving you plenty of time to prepare. Note that you can use Cherry Bombs to kill the Zombies that pop out of the pool during the final wave, somewhat like graves. This level is so easy, you can try to win.

Plant earned: Squash

Level 3-2

For full article, see Level 3-2

The zombies here have some variety to them, so apply your skills and strategies from earlier levels. Bring Snow Peas as well as your instants, including the new Squash (which is arguably the best instant in the game). Bucketheads appear frequently after the first wave, and both Coneheads and Bucketheads now appear as Ducky Tubers. A single Football Zombie appears at the very end, and Newspaper Zombies are spread throughout. This level isn't a cakewalk.

Plant earned: Threepeater

Present: Mini-games unlocked

Level 3-3

For full article, see Level 3-3 This level simplifies things a bit from the previous one, cutting out the Newspaper, Buckethead, and Football Zombies. Instead, this level introduces Snorkel Zombies directly following the first wave. These zombies stay underwater, out of pea's range, surfacing only to eat your plants. Wall-nuts are practically a necessity on this level. Without Wall-nuts guarding them, Snorkel Zombies will likely eat much of your pool defenses. Given their large numbers, relying on instants is not a valid strategy. Other than that major threat, this level shouldn't be much of a hassle.

Plant earned: Tangle Kelp

New Zombie: Snorkel Zombie

Level 3-4

For full article, see Level 3-4

Around this time, if you have been diligent in collecting dropped coins and saving Lawn Mowers, Crazy Dave will ask you if you would like another seed slot (bringing you up to eight) for $5,000. Take this deal whenever you can - there is nothing else you can spend money on at this point, and seed slots are always helpful. Anyway, Pole Vaulters reappear here early on, and Snorkel varieties crop up past the first wave. Generous amounts of Bucketheads come at you, so prepare accordingly. There are three flags in this level, so beware. Also, if you are using the free PC version, this will be the last level.

Item earned: Crazy Dave's Car Key

Level 3-5

For full article, see Level 3-5 Defend your skins! Peashooters, Wall-nuts, Lily Pads, and Cherry Bombs appear through the conveyor-belt. Use Wall-nuts against Snorkels and Footballs. Use Cherry Bombs liberally, and spread your Wall-nuts evenly throughout. Peashooters will be of some help, but the mass of zombies that you fight will force dependency on Wall-nuts and Cherry Bombs.

Plant earned: Jalapeno

Level 3-6

For full article, see Level 3-6 This level, aside from simple Coneheads and Ducky Tubers, has only one other variant of Zombie, the new Zomboni. The Zomboni has high health, the ability to instantly crush plants, and it leaves behind an ice trail as it drives. Even worse is that they are not slowed down by Snow Peas. As such, try to destroy them with an instant kill as soon as they appear and prevent a Zombie Bobsled Team from appearing. Two waves here, and a Zomboni will appear directly after the first one and during the second one. The new Jalapenos are notable, as they can destroy ice trails left by the Zomboni, as well as the Zomboni itself.

Plant earned: Spikeweed

New Zombies: Zomboni, Zombie Bobsled Team

Level 3-7

For full article, see Level 3-7

Buckethead Zombies, Snorkel Zombies and the Zomboni come back again. This level has three waves. Zombonis do not appear until during the second wave. Spikeweeds, although they can kill Zombonis when they are run over, are somewhat expensive, and die when run over. As such, it should not be relied upon to kill Zombonis. Snorkel Zombies and Bucketheads are nothing new.

Luis Anton Imperial's

Plant earned: Torchwood

Level 3-8

For full article, see Level 3-8 The new Zombie on this level is the Dolphin Rider Zombie, who carries a dolphin into the water, jumps in, and rides it very quickly. Think of it as an aquatic Pole Vaulting Zombie. These zombies appear frequently after the first wave, so plant a Lily Pad in front of them to make them jump. Tangle Kelp is a useful emergency plant for this, as it cannot be vaulted over, but do not rely entirely on it.

Plant earned: Tall-nut

New Zombie: Dolphin Rider Zombie

Level 3-9

For full article, see Level 3-9

Pole Vaulters, Zombonis, Bucketheads, and Dolphin Riders all assault you in this grueling level. The new Tall-nut is a wonderful counter to Pole Vaulters and Dolphin Riders, as they cannot jump over it. The presence of Zombonis necessitates instant kills (or the Spikeweed), and Bucketheads are... Bucketheads. Zombonis do not appear until after the second wave, so stack your Spikeweeds on land and Tall-nuts in the pool, and you'll be set. You may want to use a few more Sunflowers than usual for this.

Item earned: note

Level 3-10

For full article, see Level 3-10

Conveyor-belt time! This level is very Threepeater-centric, and you will have collected tons of them by the third (and last) wave. Jalapenos, Squashes, Lily Pads, Tall-nuts, Spikeweeds, and a few Torchwoods and Tangle Kelps also appear to help beat back the Bucketheads, Dolphin Riders, Snorkelers, and Zombonis. Spikeweed is an instant kill to Zombonis and should be stacked at least two deep in each land row, Tall-nuts should be concentrated in the pool to combat Snorkelers and Dolphin Riders, and Torchwood should be set behind Tall-nuts to make room for your Threepeaters. Easy peasy.