Saffron-O

Saffron-O (/ˈsæfrən-oʊ/) is a Gemium plant available in Plants vs. Zombies 2. Saffron-O supports plants by belting defense-reducing notes to zombies at a short range, and takes a leading, offensive role by shooting piercing projectiles when given spotlight.
Saffron-O takes a supporting role when planted on the lawn, being able to reach zombies on a 5-tile range. When zombies approach her range, she will belt out a melody for 10 seconds (level 1) that increases damage taken by zombies in her AoE, she then has to recharge for 5 seconds before being able to sing her melody again. In higher levels, her melody will also deal slight damage.
During this period, Saffron-O will record how much sun the player gains, which will extend the period of her next attack according to the amount of sun gained in that amount of time. Every sun gained by the player will count for every currently-recharging Saffron-Os, and has a cap that depends on her level.
If there are any spotlight plants present in an adjacent tile, Saffron-O takes centerstage, and gets into a leading, offensive role. Saffron-O will reveal her 3 stigmas, and expands her range to the whole lane. Once she enters this state, all sun-producing plants in her area will have their sun production reduced, in turn of her offensive capabilities. 
When zombies are present, she will shoot one of her stigmas that pierces through the entire lane. Each of her stigma will use up 3 (three) shots for a total of 9 shots. Once she runs out of stigmas, she will have to recharge. At level 1, she will take 14-20 seconds to recharge. 
During her attacking state, she will record how much sun the player gains, which will reduce her recharge period, In higher levels, her damage on the next attacking state will increase according to this counter as well.
In both roles, her counter is indicated by her stamens, in which all 3 (three) will glow when maxed out.
==Origins==
Saffron-O is based on the Autumn Crocus (C. sativus), deriving the name from Saffron, the spice produced from its stigmas. Saffron-O is a play on the name Saffron and the term Soprano, the highest of the four standard singing voices.
Saffron-O's mechanism of having a supporting and leading roles are based on roles in theatrical play, such as in musical theater.
==Almanac Entry==
==Upgrades==
===Plant Food effect===
When given Plant Food, depending on her role, she will unleash different attacks.
In a supporting role, she will unleash a sharp note across the entire lane, shortly stunning all zombies in her lane and weakening them with a stronger debuff of her normal melody that lasts for 25 seconds, and will stack with her normal melody debuff. She will recharge afterwards, but will have all her stamens activated.
In a leading role, she will activate all her stamens, and grow 3 (three) glowing stigmas which transforms her attacks into beams that pass through shields. The beams will also run out at 9 shots. After running out of glowing stigmas, the nearest, random sun-producing plant will produce a maximum of 50 suns (level 1).
===Enlighten-mint effect===
When boosted by Enlighten-mint, she will fully activate all her stamens, and if Saffron-O is in a leading role, remove her sun-production penalty.
===Level upgrade===
Level	Seed Packets	Coins 	Upgrades	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades 	Upgrades
Level	Seed Packets	Coins 	Sun Cost	Recharge (Fast)	Stamen Counter Amount	Supporting Role: Weakening Melody	Supporting Role: Harming Melody	Supporting Role: Base Duration (Max Duration')	Leading Role: Stigma Damage	Leading Role: Sun Production Penalty	Leading Role: Break Duration (Minimal Duration')	Plant Food Power (Weakening Melody)	Plant Food Power (Stun Duration)	Plant Food Power (Glowing Stigma Damage)	Plant Food Power (Sun Bonus)
1 	0 	0 	225 	11 seconds 	100x3 sun 	+50% 	0 dps 	10 seconds (16 seconds) 	115 dps 	+3 seconds 	17,5 seconds (11,5 seconds) 	+100% 	3 seconds 	275 dps 	50 sun
2 	10 	1000 	225 	11 seconds 	95x3 sun 	+60% 	0 dps 	10 seconds (16 seconds) 	135 dps 	+2.75 seconds 	17,5 seconds (11,5 seconds) 	+125% 	3 seconds 	325 dps 	75 sun
3 	25 	2500 	225 	8 seconds 	90x3 sun 	+70% 	10 dps 	12.5 seconds (20 seconds) 	155 dps 	+2.5 seconds 	15 seconds (7.5 seconds) 	+150% 	4 seconds 	375 dps 	100 sun
4 	50 	5000 	200 	8 seconds 	85x3 sun 	+80% 	15 dps 	12.5 seconds (20 seconds) 	165 (+15) dps 	+2.25 seconds 	15 seconds (7.5 seconds) 	+175% 	4 seconds 	425 dps 	125 sun
5 	100 	10,000 	200 	8 seconds 	80x3 sun 	+90% 	20 dps 	12.5 seconds (20 seconds) 	175 (+15) dps 	+2 seconds 	15 seconds (7.5 seconds) 	+200% 	4 seconds 	475 dps 	150 sun
6 	200 	20,000 	200 	8 seconds 	100x2* sun 	+100% 	25 dps 	15 seconds (24 seconds) 	185 (+30) dps 	+1.75 seconds 	12.5 seconds (3.5 seconds) 	+225% 	5 seconds 	525 dps 	175 sun
7 	400 	30,000 	175 	6 seconds 	90x2 sun 	+125% 	30 dps 	15 seconds (24 seconds) 	200 (+30) dps 	+1.5 seconds 	12.5 seconds (3.5 seconds) 	+250% 	5 seconds 	575 dps 	200 sun
8 	800 	50,000 	175 	6 seconds 	80x2 sun 	+150% 	35 dps 	15 seconds (24 seconds) 	225 (+45) dps 	+1.25 seconds 	12.5 seconds (3.5 seconds) 	+275% 	5 seconds 	625 dps 	225 sun
9 	1,200 	75,000 	175 	6 seconds 	70x2 sun 	+175% 	45 dps 	17.5 seconds (28 seconds) 	250 (+45) dps 	+1 second 	10 seconds (1 second) 	+300% 	6 seconds 	675 dps 	250 sun
10 	1,600 	100,000	175 	6 seconds 	50x2 sun 	+200% 	60 dps 	17.5 seconds (28 seconds) 	275 (+60) dps 	+0.75 seconds 	10 seconds (1 second) 	+325% 	6 seconds 	725 dps 	275 sun
*Starting from Level 6, she will always have one stamen activated.'Duration is increased/decreased according to the amount of activated stamen.
==Strategies ==
Saffron-O's dual-role provides versatility in its usage, being able to fulfill in both support and offense. She can conserve seed slots for other plants if needed. However, her interactions with 'spotlight' plants restrict some planting formations.
The following section shows a list of plants that is considered a 'spotlight':
* Sunflower
* Twin Sunflower
* Sun-shroom
* Primal Sunflower
* Shine Vine
* Gold Leaf (or placed on a Gold Tile)
* Tile Turnip (or placed on a Power Tile)
Saffron-O's supporting role allows her to periodically weaken zombies in her range, where her base debuff effect multiplies incoming damage by 1.5x. This boost in incoming damage is universal, which includes insta-kills. A high-tier insta-kill plant such as Primal Potato Mine would be able to one-shot a normal Gargantuar under her debuff. Her effect also benefits charging plants (e.g. Citron, Coconut Cannon) greatly, however having to time her cycle with their attacks to gain the best value.
Her range makes it possible to line up a defensive plant behind her, although it is better to provide enough damaging plants behind her to allow the maximum damage output. However, her mechanic makes it not possible to use sun-producing plants as a wall, as it will put her on the leading role instead.
After leveling her up enough, she will provide slight damage which gets boosted by her own debuff. However, her supporting role is still not recommended to be a source of primary damage, as it is very weak.
Saffron-O's leading role, allows her to deal damage across the whole lane. The total damage output on a single period is relatively similar to a Coconut Cannon, with a tradeoff of being immediately obstructed by the likes of Excavator Zombie or a Shield Zombie's shield. This makes her leading role less beneficial on levels where they are present.
Being required to have a sun-producing plant (or a power tile), her placement would be more suit her better in the back. If not using her with a supporting role Saffron-O, she can be used in the frontline, with sun-producers as walls. As she gives a sun production penalty to adjacent plants (and gold tiles), minimizing her contact with sun producers will give out the maximum value.
Saffron-O's sun collection mechanic, which lengthens/shortens her debuff/recharge duration, makes sun production an important part in maximizing her strengths. Players may actively hoard sun before collecting them while Saffron-O's stamens are counting the sun fluctuation. By keeping sun from the sky and plants before collecting them when she enters a break on her supporting role. In higher levels, maximizing her stamens are even more crucial as they boost her damage output.
Saffron-O's plant food will greatly benefit the damage output on your lawn. Her supporting role has an added benefit of stalling, whilst her leading role will slowly clear the lane.
==Gallery==
File:Saffron-OHD.png|HD Saffron-O
File:Saffron-OHDalt.png|HD Saffron-O (leading role)
File:Saffron-OSeed.png|Saffron-O seed packet with sun cost (Level 1)
File:Saffron-OSeedNoSun.png|Saffron-O seed packet without cost
File:Saffron-OSupporting.png|Saffron-O on the lawn (supporting role)
File:Saffron-OLeading.png|Saffron-O on the lawn, with a Sunflower as her spotlight.
==Trivia== 
*Saffron-O's flavor text is based on The Phantom Of The Opera, the 1986 musical.
*Saffron threads do not have the capability to actually regrow, as only three can be harvested from a single flower.
**Its labour-intensive harvesting process also makes it one of the most expensive spices.