Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 – Character Class Balance Review

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Introduction

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 (PVZ: GW2) is a third-person shooter developed by PopCap Games and published by Electronic Arts. As a sequel to the original Garden Warfare, it expands on the chaotic, humorous, and strategic gameplay that fans love. One of the most critical aspects of any multiplayer shooter is class balance, ensuring that no single character dominates the battlefield while maintaining fun and fairness.

In this review, we’ll analyze the character class balance in PVZ: GW2, examining the strengths and weaknesses of key Plants and Zombies classes, their roles in combat, and whether the game achieves a fair competitive environment.

Plants vs. Zombies: Core Gameplay and Class Roles

Before diving into balance, it’s essential to understand the class roles in PVZ: GW2. Both factions (Plants and Zombies) feature distinct classes, each with unique abilities, weapons, and playstyles.

Plants Faction Classes

Peashooter – A balanced, all-rounder class with high mobility (Hyper ability) and strong offensive capabilities.
Sunflower – The primary healer/support class, crucial for team survivability.
Chomper – A stealth-based melee assassin, excelling in close-range takedowns.
Cactus – A long-range sniper with defensive capabilities (potato mines, garlic drone).
Kernel Corn – A heavy assault class with explosive attacks (Butter Barrage, Shuck Shot).
Rose (Added in GW2) – A magical support class with crowd control (Time Snare, Arcane Enigma).
Citron – A tanky, shield-wielding combatant with laser-based attacks.

Zombies Faction Classes

Foot Soldier – A versatile soldier with rocket jumps and grenades.
Scientist – A close-range healer with high burst damage (shotgun-like weapon).
Engineer – A defensive/support class with turrets and sonic grenades.
All-Star – A heavy tank with a shield and powerful football cannon.
Super Brainz – A melee-focused brawler with energy beams for ranged attacks.
Imp (Added in GW2) – A small, agile class with a Mech transformation ability.
Captain Deadbeard – A pirate-themed sniper with a parrot drone.

Class Balance Analysis

1. Offensive Classes: Peashooter vs. Foot Soldier

Both the Peashooter and Foot Soldier serve as the backbone of their teams. The Peashooter’s Hyper ability allows for quick repositioning, while the Foot Soldier’s Rocket Jump provides vertical mobility.

Peashooter Strengths: High burst damage with Bean Bomb, excellent mobility.
Peashooter Weaknesses: Struggles against long-range snipers (Cactus/Deadbeard).
Foot Soldier Strengths: Versatile with grenades and ZPG (ultimate ability).
Foot Soldier Weaknesses: Less sustained damage than Peashooter.

Verdict: Fairly balanced, though Peashooter’s mobility gives it a slight edge in close-quarters combat.

2. Support Classes: Sunflower vs. Scientist

The Sunflower and Scientist are the primary healers, but their playstyles differ.

Sunflower Strengths: Strong AoE healing with Sunbeam, consistent damage.
Sunflower Weaknesses: Vulnerable to flanking (especially from Chompers).
Scientist Strengths: High burst healing with Heal Bomb, deadly at close range.
Scientist Weaknesses: Struggles at range; requires aggressive positioning.

Verdict: The Scientist is slightly stronger due to burst healing and offensive potential, making him more impactful in skilled hands.

3. Melee Classes: Chomper vs. Super Brainz

The Chomper and Super Brainz are melee specialists but function differently.

Chomper Strengths: Insta-kill burrow ability, stealth via Goop.
Chomper Weaknesses: Very vulnerable after a failed attack.
Super Brainz Strengths: More survivability with Heroic Kick and ranged beam.
Super Brainz Weaknesses: Struggles against fast-moving targets.

Verdict: Super Brainz is more balanced, while Chomper can feel either overpowered (in ambush) or useless (in open combat).

4. Sniper Classes: Cactus vs. Captain Deadbeard

Both snipers excel at long-range combat but have different utility.

Cactus Strengths: Strong defensive tools (Potato Mines, Garlic Drone).
Cactus Weaknesses: Slow movement, weak in close combat.
Deadbeard Strengths: Higher damage output, Barrel Blast for escapes.
Deadbeard Weaknesses: Less defensive utility than Cactus.

Verdict: Deadbeard is slightly stronger due to higher damage, but both are well-balanced.

5. Tank Classes: Citron vs. All-Star

The Citron (Plants) and All-Star (Zombies) are the tanks of their factions.

Citron Strengths: Energy Shield, EMPeach for disabling enemies.
Citron Weaknesses: Slow when shielding, relies on team support.
All-Star Strengths: High health, Imp Punt for crowd control.
All-Star Weaknesses: Less mobility than Citron.

Verdict: Citron is slightly stronger due to better defensive utility, but both are well-balanced in team fights.

Overall Balance Assessment

PVZ: Garden Warfare 2 does an excellent job maintaining class balance while ensuring each character feels unique. However, some classes (like Scientist and Imp) can feel overpowered in skilled hands, while others (like Chomper) are situational.

Strengths of Class Balance:

✔ Most classes have clear strengths and weaknesses.
✔ Team composition matters, encouraging diverse playstyles.
✔ No single class dominates every match.

Weaknesses of Class Balance:

❌ Some abilities (e.g., Rose’s Time Snare) can feel frustrating.
❌ Melee classes (Chomper) are inconsistent in effectiveness.
❌ Certain variants (unlocked through RNG) can be overpowered.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 delivers a fun, balanced multiplayer experience with a few minor imbalances. While no game achieves perfect equilibrium, PopCap’s design ensures that every class has a role, and skill ultimately determines success.