Cacti snipe, set traps, and all around annoy the enemy team in Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare. Their mines can blow up groups and their Tallnuts can completely stop them. The different variants for the Cactus makes it an even more lethal class.

I'll go over each variant, what they do, and some tips for each of them if needed. You'll know everything you need to pick the best Cactus for whatever you want to do. If you want a basic overview of the class, check out my Cactus Guide.

If you want other tips, go to my Master Guide List for everything I've done.

This guide will cover everything about the Cactus variants including:

Cactus Variants : Each variant and what they do.

: Each variant and what they do. Class Variant Tips: Tips for each variant, when necessary.

Cactus Variants

Cactus

Default variant. Shoots needles from long distances as its primary weapon. Does extra damage on critical hits.

Upgrades - Extra Spike Growth, Fast-Load Cactus Training, Pointier Spikes.

Extra Spike Growth, Fast-Load Cactus Training, Pointier Spikes. Extra Spike Growth - Increases ammo capacity.

Increases ammo capacity.

Fast-Load Cactus Training - Makes reloading faster.

Makes reloading faster.

Pointier Spikes - Increased damage of primary weapon.

Increased damage of primary weapon. Stats

Ammo - Cactus Needles



Cactus Needles

Reload - Slow

Slow

Damage Type - Extra Damage on Critical Hits

Extra Damage on Critical Hits

Range - Long

Camo Cactus

This variant has a longer range. It has less ammo though, and longer reload.

Upgrades - Secret Spike Stash, Survival Cactus Training, Perfect Spikes.

Secret Spike Stash, Survival Cactus Training, Perfect Spikes. Secret Spike Stash - Increases ammo capacity.

Increases ammo capacity.

Survival Cactus Training - Makes reloading faster.

Makes reloading faster.

Perfect Spikes - Increased damage of primary weapon.

Increased damage of primary weapon. Stats

Ammo - Camo Ammo



Camo Ammo

Reload - Very Slow

Very Slow

Damage Type - Extra Damage on Critical Hits

Extra Damage on Critical Hits

Range - Extremely Long

Extremely Long Pure sniper for this one. The already longer range gets increased at the cost of less ammo and longer reload.

It is best, and only, to use this when sniping enemies that you normally can't reach.

Fire Cactus

This variant adds fire damage over time to its primary attack. It also has a smaller range than the normal cactus.

Upgrades - Plethora of Flaming Spikes, Super-Rapid Reload, Superheated Flaming Spikes.

Plethora of Flaming Spikes, Super-Rapid Reload, Superheated Flaming Spikes. Plethora of Flaming Spikes - Increases ammo capacity.

Increases ammo capacity.

Super-Rapid Reload - Makes reloading faster.

Makes reloading faster.

Superheated Flaming Spikes - Increased damage of primary weapon.

Increased damage of primary weapon. Stats

Ammo - Fire Needles



Fire Needles

Reload - Slow

Slow

Damage Type - Fire damage over time

Fire damage over time

Range - Mid

Mid This is great for dealing extra damage while moving on to other targets.

Ice Cactus

This variant shoots frozen needle shots that freeze enemies after a few shots.

Upgrades - Extra-Frosty Spikes, Cold Snap Reload, Sharper, Colder Ice.

Extra-Frosty Spikes, Cold Snap Reload, Sharper, Colder Ice. Extra-Frosty Spikes - Increases ammo capacity.

Increases ammo capacity.

Cold Snap Reload - Makes reloading faster.

Makes reloading faster.

Sharper, Colder Ice - Increased damage of primary weapon.

Increased damage of primary weapon. Stats

Ammo - Ice Needles



Ice Needles

Reload - Medium

Medium

Damage Type - Freezing Damage

Freezing Damage

Range - Long

Long Great for stopping enemies in their tracks.

Sniping enemies from far away and freezing them helps to drop zombies before they even get close enough to attack.

Power Cactus

The electric cactus. It shoots electric needles that chain to nearby enemies.

Upgrades - Electric Spike Stockpile, Charged Spike Reload, Supercharged Spikes.

Electric Spike Stockpile, Charged Spike Reload, Supercharged Spikes. Electric Spike Stockpile - Increases ammo capacity.

Increases ammo capacity.

Charged Spike Reload - Makes reloading faster.

Makes reloading faster.

Supercharged Spikes - Increased damage of primary weapon.

Increased damage of primary weapon. Stats

Ammo - Electric Needles



Electric Needles

Reload - Slow

Slow

Damage Type - Electric Damage

Electric Damage

Range - Mid

Mid This is great for groups of zombies when not using the drone.

When you see enemies bunched up, start blasting away with the primary attack to get all of them.

Future Cactus

It has a charged shot called "Future Shot" that does a ton of damage, as well as splash damage.

Upgrades - Far Future Ammo, Futuristic Reload, Incomprehensible Future Shot.

Far Future Ammo, Futuristic Reload, Incomprehensible Future Shot. Far Future Ammo - Increases ammo capacity.

Increases ammo capacity.

Futuristic Reload - Makes reloading faster.

Makes reloading faster.

Incomprehensible Future Shot - Increased damage of primary weapon.

Increased damage of primary weapon. Stats

Ammo - Futuristic Things



Futuristic Things

Reload - Slow

Slow

Damage Type - Impact Damage

Impact Damage

Range - Long

Long The charged shot almost always kills in one shot.

It will automatically shoot a short time after being fully charged. Also, it takes a while to fully charge it.

This is also good for groups because of the splash damage it does.

Great when you want to take down powerful zombies.

Bandit Cactus

It has a gatling gun-like shot, similar to the cactus drone.

Upgrades - Fancier Bandolier, Steely Gaze, Sharpened Needles.

Fancier Bandolier, Steely Gaze, Sharpened Needles. Fancier Bandolier - Increases ammo capacity.

Increases ammo capacity.

Steely Gaze - Makes reloading faster.

Makes reloading faster.

Sharpened Needles - Increased damage of primary weapon.

Increased damage of primary weapon. Stats

Ammo - Rapid Needles



Rapid Needles

Reload - Medium

Medium

Damage Type - Impact Damage

Impact Damage

Range - Long

Long Although it is rapid fire, a nice alternative to the other variants, you still want to be precise for this to be any good.

Each shot does little damage on its own, but if you manage to hit with most or all of them, you can mow down plenty of zombies.

This wraps up the Cactus variants guide. If you have any questions, or anything to add that I left out, let me know in the comments. For more tips and guides, check out my Master Guide List for Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare.