Timekreeper

Timekreeper is a zombie appearing in in the , first appearing on . Every seven seconds, he stops in place, holding up his pocket watch to rewind time. The effect lasts for three seconds.
The time reversal effect undoes any damage and effects inflicted upon zombies within a 5x1 range where Timekreeper stands from four seconds prior to the starting animation is undone, during which Timekreeper and the zombies being reversed by him cannot take any damage until the effect's duration runs out. Timekreeper cannot revive previously defeated zombies, however, but the amount of zombies he can affect at any given moment is unlimited, with some exceptions (see below).
In many ways, he's very similar to . Unlike aforementioned zombie, however, Timekreeper is able to restore the abilities of certain zombies should they lose them in a four-second duration, such as being able to restore and reignite . Also, he doesn't drop his pocket watch upon being killed, further quelling possible frustrations.
Timekreeper holds his pocket watch in his right hand, meaning he won't lose it if his health is lowered to a certain point.
==Origins==
Timekreeper is quite obviously based on a watchmaker, an artisan who makes and repairs watches, specifically one from the industrial era that Steam Age is based around. His time-reversal abilities also bring Doctor Who to mind, although these similarities are very minor and practically unnoticeable. His unofficial English name is a combination of "timekeeper" (a device, typically a watch or clock, used for measuring the time) and "creeper".
The line "time flies when you're having fun" in his almanac is a possible reference to the song "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)" by Janet Jackson. The DeLorean also mentioned in his almanac is a reference to the DeLorean time machine from Back to the Future.
==Almanac entry==
Note: Timekreeper has Protected toughness and Hungry speed in-game.
==Overview==
Timekreeper absorbs 580 damage per shot. He degrades at 270 damage (when his arm is lost) and finally is defeated at 580 damage (when his head is lost).
Timekreeper's primary capability is being able to reverse the damage and negative status effects on zombies and restore their special abilities if they lost them prior. However, one thing that makes Timekreeper different from the likes of is that he's able to undo POSITIVE status effects for the zombies as well! A full list of the status effects Timekreeper is capable of removing can be found below.
* Positive outcome: , , , , , , , , , , , , and are all removed, is restored, reignite, s and s get their respective animals back, s and s get their newspapers back, Furnace Zombie, 's basketballs respawn
* Negative outcome: and calm down, s knighted by become , 's speed boost wears off, 's energy drains, and calm down, speed boosts from eating wear off
Timekreeper cannot affect grid items, such as tombstones, , , , or anything of the sort. Timekreeper cannot rewind the same zombies Healer Zombie cannot heal, as well as Healer Zombie himself and other Timekreepers.
==Encounters==
* : Days , , and .
==Strategies ==
Like , Timekreeper is a very dangerous foe who can make your life miserable if you underestimate his time reversal powers. Despite his increased health, there are a lot less reasons to fear Timekreeper, the first and foremost being , who can steal him watch and make it so he can't heal any zombies around him.
While Timekreeper reverses the negative status effects inflicted on other zombies, he himself is NOT immune to them, so it's recommended to use plants such as , , or to keep him in place, then use high-damaging, AoE plants, like /'s , , , , and , to take out him and other targets simultaneously.
It would also be useful to get rid of Timekreeper as soon as he appears, but what if there are other zombies in his way? If this ever happens, try using tap-to-use plants like , , and on him. He won't have enough health to survive these plants. , , and will also get rid of him instantly.
Finally, , , and can be used to direct Timekreeper into other lanes, preferably one where there are less zombies for it to heal. However, to avoid the possibility of bringing other zombies over as well, shovel Garlic and Sweet Potato up after Timekreeper is diverted. No need to worry about Hot Date though. His AoE explosion should be able to deal with Timekreeper and other zombies as well.
 will prioritize him over other zombies, so plant her as much as you can to deal with him and possibly any other threats that might be in Timekreeper's lane as well.
Onto the plants you should avoid using. Being able to be hypnotized, it might be a good idea to use or to hypnotize him. And while it *does* remove him as a potential threat, due to a glitch, he'll still continue to reverse the health and negative effects on zombies. Shrinking him with and might also seem like a good idea, but unless you can kill him fast enough, he'll eventually undo the effect on both himself and other zombies.
No matter what you do, don't EVER use or 's plant food while he's in the middle of healing, as not only will he receive no damage during it, but bringing him closer to more zombies for him to heal with make things extra difficult. It may prove troublesome even landing a hit on him afterward, should any zombies survive Spikeweed and Spikerock's plant food, and since zombies being reversed by Timekreeper temporarily become immune to damage, they most likely will.
==Gallery==
Timekeeper_HD.png|HD Timekreeper
Timekeeper_Mandom.png|Rewinding time
Timekeeper_almanac_icon.png|Almanac icon
Reversal effect.png|Icon for a zombie afflicted by Timekreeper's time reversal
Labor_rewind_time.png|A under the effects of Timekreeper's time reversal
==Trivia==
* Originally, Timekreeper had the ability to attack plants from four tiles away with his watch, similar to , but this was removed to avoid making him too much of a hassle to deal with, as well as the ability feeling like an unnecessary tack-on in general.
==See also==
*