Why do people use the banana farm so much?

[Papa Shekels]

For context, I haven't played the game for a few years. I got back recently and played ~30 matches, so I at least know the game hasn't changed too much. I have seen some discussion posts and player strats that seemed to be the "meta", and they all involved using a banana farm through the early game.

It seems like such a waste in every capacity. It takes up a tower slot, uses up a good portion of map space, requires constant attention and micromanagement, and might even cost you (farmers). On top of all that, it doesn't provide a permanent boost to your economy and has a rather linear cap.

I feel like simply sending a barrage of low level bloons at the enemy is a much better alternative. You save space and a tower slot, receive a permanent boost to your income, need to only tap a button in your spare time, and it pays off much more in the long run. Each bloon pays back for itself after exactly 25 income cycles, or 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Past that, everything you gain is pure profit. If you stay consistent, your income by round 17 should be up to 1000, and can even boost it up to multiple thousands within a minute or two with the incredibly fast spawning pinks.

Now, I mainly play assault mode, so I guess there could be a use for it in defense. As far as I know, the income system there is different. Also, I know that sending constant bloons at the enemy is a large strain on resources early on, but so is a banana farm. It's managable as long as you stick to a sustainable system of progression in terms of spending. I've heard that some people consider it an act of aggressiveness, as in trying to sabotage the enemy from the second round, but there is a very clear difference between a constant stream of blues and a boosted rush of camo regen rainbows.

What are the community's opinions? I'd like to know. If you use banana farms regularly, why? If not, why not?

[Alstrolilium]

Originally posted by Papa Shekels:

For context, I haven't played the game for a few years. I got back recently and played ~30 matches, so I at least know the game hasn't changed too much. I have seen some discussion posts and player strats that seemed to be the "meta", and they all involved using a banana farm through the early game.

It seems like such a waste in every capacity. It takes up a tower slot, uses up a good portion of map space, requires constant attention and micromanagement, and might even cost you (farmers). On top of all that, it doesn't provide a permanent boost to your economy and has a rather linear cap.

I feel like simply sending a barrage of low level bloons at the enemy is a much better alternative. You save space and a tower slot, receive a permanent boost to your income, need to only tap a button in your spare time, and it pays off much more in the long run. Each bloon pays back for itself after exactly 25 income cycles, or 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Past that, everything you gain is pure profit. If you stay consistent, your income by round 17 should be up to 1000, and can even boost it up to multiple thousands within a minute or two with the incredibly fast spawning pinks.

Now, I mainly play assault mode, so I guess there could be a use for it in defense. As far as I know, the income system there is different. Also, I know that sending constant bloons at the enemy is a large strain on resources early on, but so is a banana farm. It's managable as long as you stick to a sustainable system of progression in terms of spending. I've heard that some people consider it an act of aggressiveness, as in trying to sabotage the enemy from the second round, but there is a very clear difference between a constant stream of blues and a boosted rush of camo regen rainbows.

What are the community's opinions? I'd like to know. If you use banana farms regularly, why? If not, why not?

Without the banana farm. You have alot less money to defend with. Combined with the dart monkey which is the most efficient tower so you will indirectly get more money there. Combined with sweeper towers that can defend most late game rushes before you kill the opponent like chipper, ace, cannon. Why wouldn't someone use the farm? Because they want to go late game? ♥♥♥♥ that.

[Papa Shekels]

But it seems like the banana farm is setting up to a late game anyway, because it costs a lot initially and only starts being profitable many rounds later. Tower efficiency seems unrelated, as saving money helps you regardless of whether or not you use a banana farm

[Alstrolilium]

Originally posted by Papa Shekels:

But it seems like the banana farm is setting up to a late game anyway, because it costs a lot initially and only starts being profitable many rounds later. Tower efficiency seems unrelated, as saving money helps you regardless of whether or not you use a banana farm

It doesn't cost alot initially. And also, it is almost immediately profitable. By late game I mean round 40+. Also, banana farms aren't the best way to get money. The best way to get money to get the most by round 13+ is mixed eco. Banana farms and bloon eco. Usually by round 13 you will have more banana farms then the opponent and more eco. That's half because the opponent also has to deal with your eco balloons though.

Also, one of the main advantages between a banana farm and eco is. You can sell a banana farm for defence. You cannot sell economy for defence. Therefore, you can play it risky and put ALL your money into banana farms. You can't do that with eco.

[Papa Shekels]

I guess that's fair enough. I don't know exactly how much all of the upgrades cost, but if it's profitable faster with a smaller net gain over time, then it seems like a possible tactical choice if you intend to finish the match quickly.

[I'm bad at games :(]

Farms are a quick investment that can pay back quickly (especially when selling) vs bloon economy that takes a while to pay back. Farms also allow you to send MOABs since you will still get money from farms while your income drops to 0.

The reason why banana farms are meta is because of expensive rainbows meaning that bloon eco players can't punish greedy farmers while farmers can always sell farms to rush whenever they want. This allows farmers to snowball their advantage and build a much stronger economy more quickly than bloon eco players, and then send near-infi ite fast-cooldown ZOMGs.

[Shadow8769]

because farms make much more money in the early game and can be quickly sold for money to defend a rush, I use dart, boomer, and farms, I don't really need the third tower slot since those 2 do all the defending that I need. It is also a lot safer to send MOAB class baloons sine you will not lose any of your icome.

The main advantage is being able to sell them, if somebody is using baloon eco after they buy a big upgrade or use their money to get more eco, you can sell them (or not) and do a huge rush and they won't have nay money to defend

[jonathan testicle]

Funny, I always absolutely destroy people who put down farms asap because they put too much money into the farms and don't have enough time to sell and prepare adequate defenses when I rush THEIR ass.

[Nanonium]

Originally posted by Papa Shekels:

I guess that's fair enough. I don't know exactly how much all of the upgrades cost, but if it's profitable faster with a smaller net gain over time, then it seems like a possible tactical choice if you intend to finish the match quickly.

Even if you don't end the game quickly you will most likely have more money than someone who goes eco unless you spend inefficiently

[The Salt God]

Originally posted by Shadow8769:

because farms make much more money in the early game and can be quickly sold for money to defend a rush, I use dart, boomer, and farms, I don't really need the third tower slot since those 2 do all the defending that I need. It is also a lot safer to send MOAB class baloons sine you will not lose any of your icome.

The main advantage is being able to sell them, if somebody is using baloon eco after they buy a big upgrade or use their money to get more eco, you can sell them (or not) and do a huge rush and they won't have nay money to defend

Just want you to know, you have a severe weakness to rushes of camo bloons (unless you decide to pour all your money into glaive lord)

[The Salt God]

Originally posted by i succ ur nan AND YOU KNOW:

Funny, I always absolutely destroy people who put down farms asap because they put too much money into the farms and don't have enough time to sell and prepare adequate defenses when I rush THEIR ass.

Aaaand that means they are terrible at the game. They don't know: Dart monkeys with farms = huge profit and cheap and easy defense. Also, round 13. Sell Banana Farms (and save up money beforehand) and rush Rainbows or Zebras (your pick, you have the money) and kill them dead.