Javelin Thrower Zombie

Javelin Thrower Zombie is a in , found in various levels and . He runs into the lawn up until he reaches the 3rd or 4th column from the right, which at that point he then throws his javelin, which lands on either the 2nd or 3rd column from the left and then acts as an obstacle. If the javelin lands on a , that plant is instantly destroyed and its tile gets occupied by the javelin.
If he encounters a plant while running, he vaults over the plant in a similar fashion to , launching himself 2 tiles forward, while also destroying said plant using his javelin. Like his predecessor, he can't vault over and placed behind the plant he vaulted over.
==Origins==
Javelin Thrower Zombie is based on the sport of , a sport event where the , a spear about 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in length, is thrown as far as possible. The javelin thrower gains momentum by running within a predetermined area, which is exactly what inspired his first ability.
His second ability and overall appearance seem to be a direct reference to , who also based on an Olympic sport - . Also known as pole jumping, it's another track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole as an aid to jump over a bar.
==Appearance==
As mentioned before, his design is very clearly based on , namely his appearance in . The only differences being his jersey and shoes being indigo instead of red, his hair being a lot shinier, and his headband being indigo and white-striped instead of a pale blue. His javelin looks similar to his predecessor's pole, albeit with a pointed head and some rope tied to the end.
== Almanac entry ==
==Overview==
Javelin Thrower Zombie absorbs 500 , losing his arm at 300 damage, and dying at 500 damage. His javelin absorbs 350 damage, degrading at 200 damage before being destroyed at 350 damage.
==Encounters==
* 
* 
==Strategies==
Javelin Thrower Zombie is a pressure zombie that excels at disrupting your offense. It's either he creates an opening or he blocks the shots of your offensive units, and there's no in-between. You'll want to take care of him easily lest you want a hole in your defense.
First off, it's recommended to have some AoE or piercing attackers at the 1st column closest to home. This way you can bypass the threat his javelin throw poses while also being able to counteract it. Good picks would include the likes of and , who both ignore the javelin and benefit from being at the back. Be careful with this strategy though, as ambush zombies like and those carried by can easily take care of them. It's best to come equipped with a in that scenario to give them extra protection, and while you're at it, get some or to help take care of them too.
Another strategy is to bait him into vaulting over a plant to make him waste his javelin. This makes it so that both the zombie and the javelin won't pose a threat to your defenses. Cheap, quick-recharging plants like are great for this.
You can also choose to simply slow him down with , pin him in place with or , or instantly get rid of him using and .
==Gallery==
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==Trivia==
* He'll return in Plants vs. Zombies: All-Out Assault, albeit as his own zombie.
Category:Zombies