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Backyard Battleground is the hub area in Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 where the player can do quests to level up with the new ranking system, join up with friends, enter game modes and mission portals, and buy sticker packs.

This is also where the player was able to transfer the characters they unlocked from Garden Warfare, as well as their abilities, which is no longer available as of February 28, 2017. It is essentially a "hub world" from which all other modes and activities can be accessed.

Game modes in which it appears[]

Website Description[]

Welcome to your very own Plants vs. Zombies playground. In your Backyard Battleground you can edit your character’s abilities and customizations, choose quests, jump into co-op or multiplayer action modes, or invite up to 3 friends in to your backyard to start a party and take on AI – defeat a wave, and a more powerful wave will show up. You can also switch teams to challenge your friends! Backyard Battleground is your own frontline base to plan your attack before you enter the battle for Zomburbia.

Loading Screen Description[]

Plants on one side, Zombies on the other. Creating a stalemate of epic proportions, where neither side has been able to gain the advantage.

Plants_vs._Zombies_Garden_Warfare_2_Backyard_Battleground_Gameplay_Reveal

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 Backyard Battleground Gameplay Reveal

Features[]

Overhacked map

Map of the Backyard Battleground

In the Backyard Battleground, the player can either play solo, play with a friend in split-screen multiplayer, or invite friends onto their hub.

The player can choose to either be on the plant or zombie faction, and the player has a large map of the Backyard Battleground, which they can use to get to other places quicker. In the main bases of the gardens or graveyards, there is a Multiplayer Portal, where the player can enter online multiplayer, private or solo battles.

There is a sticker pack vending machine, where the player can buy sticker packs using the coins they have obtained. The player can search around the Backyard Battleground to find quests and secrets, and can also play in the brand new Crazy Targets range, in which they test their aim in a frantic shootout to get their best time.

There is a customization booth in each base, in which the player can customize their plants and zombies, and there is a van or airship (depending on which base the player is in), in which the player can access Garden Ops and Graveyard Ops.

In the middle of the Backyard Battleground, there is a flagpole, which the player can raise to start an attack against the other faction. The opposite faction will try to attack you and the flagpole, and powerful waves will keep coming, with each wave stronger than the last. This is a good way for the player to earn coins and XP.

In the middle of the bases (either in the giant tree or in Zomboss' mansion), the player can view a stats board, in which they can see their cool stats, which they can view their Most Vanquishes, Most Time Played, Highest Streak, Most Assists, Most Heals, Most Revives, etc. They can view their Stickerbook, and can also upgrade their character classes and variants via small bobbleheads of them.

Upgrading a character will change their XP bar and their plaque when the character vanquishes a player, ranking from beginner to bronze, silver, gold, gem, and crystal. Out back, the player can enter one to three portals, in which the player can play a story mode, go to places only known by esteemed L.E.A.F. agents or top zombies, and other cool things, too.

Facilities[]

Each faction's base contains various facilities which serve the role of the main menu.

Mailbox[]

Main article: Mailbox (GW2)

The player can see the latest news and announcements. The player formerly had the ability to import the character variants and abilities unlocked in Garden Warfare. The player could also obtain the loyalty rewards from the mailbox.

Split Screen[]

Activating the two TVs vertically stacking will initiate the Split Screen multiplayer. Each player can use their own account and can earn XP independently from their partner.

If the second player doesn't have an account, they can play as a guest, but they can't progress (they can't earn coins or XP) until they get a proper account.

Multiplayer Portal[]

Main article: Multiplayer Portal

This device is used for entering all game modes except Garden Ops, Graveyard Ops, Infinity Time, and modes that take place in Backyard Battleground (Flag of Power, Crazy Targets, Soccer Pitch, etc.).

The player can either find a multiplayer match to play with players around the world (or in their region due to the Region Settings), they can set up a private match to play with friends against AI or the player can play a mode solo against AI.

Quest Board[]

Main article: Quest Board

The Quest Board contains various daily quests. The player will be rewarded with coins, stars and XP multipliers when quests are completed. Occasionally there will be special quests called Epic Quests. They are more challenging quests but they offer bigger rewards than normal quests.

World Options (Friend Join and Backyard Settings)[]

This device allows the player to change the difficulty of the backyard's AI enemies, invite the player's friends to initiate a multiplayer session of Backyard Battleground and also manually save your game.

Ops Mode[]

Main article: Garden Ops
Main article: Graveyard Ops

Crazy Dave's flying RV and Dr. Zomboss' blimp are used to enter their side's respective Ops mode. The player can either create or join a multiplayer match, set up a private Ops match to play with friends or they can go in solo in the new Solo Ops mode.

Character Select[]

Entering the Character Customization booth will allow the player to switch between factions, switch characters, and customize their appearances, abilities, gestures, and upgrades. This booth can also be entered from anywhere by selecting "Respawn" from the pause menu.

Team Swap[]

Each base has a recruitment poster of the opposite faction. Interacting with one will teleport the player to the other faction's base and the player will respawn as the plant or zombie they were last. Note that the player can also switch between factions from the Character Customization booth.

Sticker Shop[]

Main article: Sticker Shop

The player can spend the coins they earn to buy sticker packs which contain reinforcements, character customizations, and character variants.

Stickerbook[]

Main article: Stickerbook

The player can see all unlocked plants and plant variants, zombies and zombie variants, accessories, abilities, gestures, player statistics, and Spawnable Plants and Zombies inside of it, plus the description of them.

Character Stats[]

The player can either go in the giant tree or Zomboss' mansion (depending on which faction you are) and will allow the players to see unlocked characters' individual stats, in the form of small bobbleheads. If a character reaches level 10 it can be promoted here. Promoting a character will grant the player 20,000 coins.

In the middle of the room is the Stickerbook and a large stats board which shows the character who has the Most Vanquishes, Most Time Played, Highest Streak, Most First Strikes, Most Post-Vanquish Taunts, Most Healing, Most Revives and Most Assists.

Loot[]

Around the map, there are chests the player can open. When opened, these chests grant the player loot. However, the player requires stars from quests to open them up. Some chests contain coins while others contain Backyard customization items, which can be used to customize either side's base and also the giant statue near the dock.

Story Quests[]

Main article: Story Quests

In many parts of the map, the player can play solo story quests, either for the Plants or Zombies. The quests reward the player with coins, special customizations and are also good fun to do.

Infinity Time[]

Main article: Infinity Time

Infinity Time is a secret game mode that unlocked when all Story Quests of each faction is completed. In this mode, the players control Infinite Robots to destroy as many Gnomes as possible. Gnomes drop Time Shards which heal the player when collected, and they can also be traded for rewards at the end of the game.

Backyard Missions[]

Main article: Backyard Missions

Around the Backyard there are many missions available for the player to take part in, which vary from fighting enemies, finding friends and shooting gnome targets.

Progress-O-Meter (Archived content)[]

Main article: Progress-O-Meter

In front of the town hall, there was the Progress-O-Meter, released in Trouble in Zombopolis: Part Two DLC. Its purpose was to keep track of how well the community was doing in the Community Challenges that occurred weekly. As the community completes the challenge, the meter gauge fills up. Once filled past a goal, the bell rang, fireworks went off, and a chest opened, giving players a reward for passing a goal.

Mystery Portal[]

Inside the Town Hall, is the Mysterious Portal, which was added in the Trials of Gnomus DLC. When you enter the portal, you will be able to play one of three game modes for a limited time, either Super Mix Mode, Cats vs. Dinos or Boss Hunt. The Town Hall opens on the second Tuesday and closes on 12 days, giving the player plenty of time to play the game mode. Additionally, playing the game modes within the Mystery Portal will reward the player with Rainbow Stars, which the player can use to open the Rainbow Chests in the Town Hall, giving the player classic emotes, community and classic customizations and the ability to a test. Key to access one of the Trials of Eternity.

Rux's Bazaar[]

Main article: Rux's Bazaar

Rux's Bazaar is a shop that was added in the Trials of Gnomus DLC. It is located in the plant and zombie bases and is run by a rich and mysterious gnome named Rux. The store changes every 2 weeks. Rux will sell the player random customization items that they can buy with coins. Rux can sell rare and super rare items that cost between 10,000 and 50,000 coins, at least one special item that costs 250,000 coins, and one legendary or exclusive ability (which is only available through Rux) for 500,000 coins.

Secret Areas[]

The secret area can be accessed through the pipes around the Backyard. They are all connected to a large sewer system, where the player can find the Crazy Targets range, a fish that trades Stars for XP and lots of loot.

There is a subway railway in there.

Game modes[]

Flag of Power[]

Main article: Flag of Power

In Flag of Power, the player fights against hordes of AI enemies to protect the flag. The player must stay in a large ring around the flagpole to ensure the flag stays up. This mode is endless and doesn't end until the flag is dropped by the enemies. In the Beta, When the flag is lowered, the remaining AI must be defeated by the player until no more AI is left. In the final release, an explosion occurs if the flag is lowered, instantly vanquishing any AI left.

Crazy Targets[]

In this mode, the player tries to shoot down all targets as fast as possible. The player can post their best times to the online leaderboard and can compare their records against other players. Crazy Targets needs five stars to open up.

Soccer Pitch[]

On the right side of the plant's base, there is a large soccer pitch. Players in the hub can play soccer by pressing the button in the pitch to start a match. A soccer ball will spawn in the center of the pitch, and plants and zombies can either shoot or push the soccer ball to move it.

The goal is to get the soccer ball into the opposing team's goal, while the opposing team tries to do the same. The scores are tallied on a large scoreboard, and some Weeds and Browncoat Zombies will appear on the stands and cheer the teams on.

If a player shoots someone in the crowd, the entire crowd will come off the stands and start to attack the players in a similar manner to a real-life pitch invasion.

Bullseye Boat Blast[]

Located by the docks and ran by Husky Muskie or Sunken Duncan (depending on the side), the player shoots at gnome targets on a boat within a minute as Cactus or Captain Deadbeard (depending on the side).

Golden Gnome targets given double points while Blue Gnome targets freeze time for about two seconds. There is a leaderboard for this game.

AI[]

AI-controlled plants and zombies (Weeds and Browncoats initially) spawn throughout Backyard Battleground on their respective side of the map. In the middle of the map, there exists a "no man's land" zone where AI plants and zombies will attack and vanquish each other in an endlessly repeating cycle of spawning, vanquishing and respawning.

The player can freely intervene in the fighting and turn the tables into to their team's favor by defeating the opposing team's AI members, however doing so will cause the fighting to gradually increase in severity until it finally escalates into an all-out mass assault with everything from basic foot soldiers to bosses being involved. But the Bosses only focus on the player.

As the player scores more vanquishes, the fighting escalates according to the following steps, with both sides being affected:

Phase 1: []

Increased AI spawn frequency.

Phase 2:[]

AI heroes begin to spawn, AI turrets will be spawned by AI heroes at the enemy base's entrance.

Phase 3:[]

AI champions start spawning, usually one at a time. In addition to those, a maximum of three different AI heroes can also be present on the map.

Phase 4:[]

AI bosses will start appearing, initially only one appears but if the player attacks or defeats it, more will spawn. Friendly bosses will also spawn to combat the opposing team's bosses, usually resulting in dual-sided boss fights.

Below is a list of all the characters that can appear once the fighting reaches phase Phase 2 and beyond. Many of the character variants that spawn are common, rare and ultra rare. Many of them with no "*" marking are common, but some of them such as Chomp Thing are marked "*" as rare, and a few of them such as Camo Cactus or AC Perry are marked "**" as ultra rare.

Plants

  • Peashooter (Champion, Ice Pea, Toxic Pea, Law Pea**, Rock Pea*)
  • Chomper (Champion, Toxic Chomper, Chomp Thing*)
  • Sunflower (Champion, Power Flower*, Shadow Flower*)
  • Cactus (Champion, Fire Cactus, Ice Cactus, Future Cactus, Camo Cactus**, Bandit Cactus**)
  • Rose (Champion, Frost Rose, Druid Rose**)
  • Kernel Corn (Champion, BBQ Corn*)
  • Citron (Champion)
  • Big Stump
  • Giga Torchwood
  • Super Bean
  • Sunflower Queen

Zombies

  • Foot Soldier (Champion, Camo Ranger, General Supremo*, Sky Trooper*, Centurion, Scuba Soldier*, Park Ranger**)
  • Engineer (Champion, Welder, Sanitation Expert, AC Perry**)
  • Scientist (Champion, Astronaut, Chemist, Archaeologist**)
  • All-Star (Champion, Rugby Star, Wrestling Star*, Moto-X Star**)
  • Captain Deadbeard (Champion, Captain Cannon)
  • Super Brainz (Champion, Cozmic Brainz, Electro Brainz)
  • Imp (Champion, Pylon Imp, S.H.R.IMP)
  • Gargantuar
  • House Gargantuar
  • Giga Gargantuar
  • Mech Gargantuar
  • Disco Zombie
  • Yeti Zombie
  • Baron von Bats (Beta only)
  • Zen Sensei (Beta only)

Related achievements[]

It's My Island PSN
It's My Island
Reach the boss wave using Flag of Power in the Backyard Battleground
Playdate PSN
Playdate
Visit a friend's Backyard Battleground, or have a friend visit your Backyard Battleground
Who Can You Trust PSN
Who Can You Trust?
Vanquish a friend in their Backyard Battleground

Gallery[]

In other languages[]

Please note that only official translations are used.

Language Name Description
United States of America English Backyard Battleground
Taiwan Traditional Chinese 後院戰場
France French Front du jardin
Germany German Hinterhof-Kampfplatz
Italy Italian Cortile di battaglia
Poland Polish Podwórkowe pole walki
Brazil Brazilian Portuguese Gramado de Batalha
Spain Spanish Campo de batalla del Patio


Trivia[]

  • This is one of the only maps that has a railway system passing through it, the others being Cactus Canyon, Jewel Junction and Zombopolis.
    • Despite that, Backyard Battleground doesn't appear to have a train going through the sewer.
  • The explosion cutscene in the mission Zero Bark Thirty for Agent Corn after the mission ends reveals that Backyard Battleground is located in either Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, or Nebraska, which can be seen if one slows down a clip of the explosion cutscene.
  • The more AI players vanquish, the more hero, boss, and champion AI that will spawn on both sides.
    • This is reset upon raising the Flag of Power.
  • On the Plants' base, the mailbox resembles a Coconut Cannon, a plant in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
  • On the Plants' side of the backyard, there is an ice cream shop called "Vanhoozer's Ice Cream". This is a reference to Jeremy Vanhoozer, Sr., creative director from PopCap.
  • Behind the town hall, there is a park area named "Chris Park," a nod to the games lead gameplay designer (and Garden Warfare's lead director), Chris Fox.
  • On the Plants' side of the backyard, the player can find a graffiti on one of the buildings which reads "In Taco we trust" with Crazy Dave's head beside it. This is a parody of the national motto of the USA which is: "In God we trust" and Dave's appearance on it vaguely resembles former Cuban President Fidel Castro.
  • In a popular screenshot advertising an unreleased version of the game, hills in the out of bounds area behind the tree are taken from Garden Warfare, the multiplayer portal has an unused screen playing, and large, wooden steps are surrounding the tree strongly suggesting that players would have been able to walk up to the top of the tree and reach the house in this scrapped concept.
  • The soccer field on the plant's side of the Backyard Battleground is labeled 'PEA Sports', a spoof on EA Sports.
  • A billboard showing an image of the Bandit Cactus next to a movie text saying 'The Good, The Bad and The Spikey' is a reference to the movie The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
  • A sign saying 'Save our Seeds' is a spoof of 'Save our Souls'.
  • The limited time Mystery Portal game mode Capture the Taco takes place in a modified version of the Backyard Battleground.
  • When the player starts the game for the first time, they will always enter the Backyard Battleground as a Sunflower, as the intro makes them play as one.
  • If the player goes into a doorway of the other team's base, a siren will go off only one time, and enemy AI, enemy AI heroes and AI bosses will come out to attack you.
    • It is also possible to get some AI to follow you towards the multiplayer portal on the Plants' side, in which when they disappear when they enter it by accident, but only if the portal is activated, and you are behind it.
      • This can also be done on the Zombies' side as well, but take note that you are left vulnerable to bosses from behind, as there is no wall behind the portal.
  • On the Zombie side of Backyard Battleground, near the docks, it is possible to find a gun shop that has four Z-1 Assault Blasters on display in a window.
    • This is the first time the player can find a primary weapon without its owner. The second time is in Z-Tech Factory, the third being Aqua Center and the fourth being Zombopolis.
  • In the multiplayer beta back in January 2016, the player's movement in the Backyard Battleground was restricted, with the Sewers, L.E.A.F agents' homes and Top Zombies' hideouts being inaccessible.
    • However, it was possible to glitch out of the map using Citron or Peashooter and see the top zombies or L.E.A.F. agents homes.
      • The player could also glitch out of the map and see the Crazy Targets range, found in the Sewers.
      • This exploit was, obviously, dealt with before the release of the full game.
  • The Multiplayer Portal resembles the Stargate from the Stargate franchise.
  • It also appears to of been created by the Gnomes, as it has the same symbols that are used in the Trials of Gnomus.
  • At the top of the Multiplayer Portal screen, it reads "GNOME OS" in rainbow color.
  • In the town hall, there is a large Gnome portal which was under construction until the Trials of Gnomus DLC. In the DLC, it was made complete and was named "The Community Portal".
  • On one of the buildings of the Plants' side of the backyard is graffiti that says "Viva la Planta". This references the term "Viva la Revolution" which is sometimes linked to the French Revolution.
    • It may also reference the song "Viva la Vida", a song by Coldplay.
  • The Town Hall that appears near the battlefield bears a striking resemblance to the Hill Valley clocktower from the Back to the Future series.
  • The Split-Screen terminal hinted at a content update, the Trials of Gnomus DLC, as the lower screen shows a Cactus in front of a "Gnome Depot." This Depot is actually in the sewers, and had a sign that reads "For rent." This is later known as "Rux's Bazaar", a place where a Gnome (called Rux) periodically sells items for money, so it is possible that this "Gnome Depot" was an early version of Rux's Bazaar.
  • When going around the map, it is possible that either a Treasure Yeti or a Marigold will spawn (depending on which side the player is on) in the map.
  • When starting a game of Garden Ops, the player may see Crazy Dave inside the RV, before flying off.
  • Near the Zompark, there's a bathroom with the "Girlz" sign having a silhouette of a Zombie wearing a bikini, likely a reference to the Bikini Zombie in Plants vs. Zombies 2.
  • If the player stands in the right location, they can see that the balloons by the Soccer Pitch seem to load in a strange way, as the Peashooter balloon's head and leaves are visible, but not its body.
    Low Poly Peashooter Balloon

    The low poly Peashooter balloon

    • The Chomper balloon at this angle is blocked by the fence, making it impossible to tell if it isn't fully loaded as well.
  • In the Multiplayer Beta, in the Backyard Battleground's loading screen it would say "Main Menu" at the top. In the full version it instead says "Introducing".
V · T · E
Maps
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare maps
Multi-game mode Chomp Town · Crash Course · Garden Center · Jewel Junction · Port Scallywag · Sharkbite Shores · Suburban Flats · Zomboss Estate
Gardens & Graveyards Cactus Canyon · Driftwood Shores · Main Street · Wall-nut Hills
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 maps
Team Vanquish Z-Tech Factory · Frosty Creek · Time Park · Colizeum · Lunar Landing · Zen Peak · Boney Island · Sandy Sands · Aqua Center · Frontline Flats · Backyard Battleground
Turf Takeover
Gardens & Graveyards Seeds of Time · Great White North · Wall-nut Hills
Herbal Assault Moon Base Z · Zomburbia · Zombopolis
Trials of Eternity Trial of Shooty-Shooty · Trial of Recollection · Trial of Hot Doom · Trial of Balance
Other Backyard Battleground · Infinity Time
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville maps
Team Vanquish Colossal Fossil · Daisy Drive · Funderdome · Pressure Pier · Rocky Flats · Ruiny Ruins · Z-Tech Factory · Z-Tech Oozevoir
Turf Takeover Loggy Acres · Peachy District · Goopy Gully · Turning Point · Preserve Pastures · Tourist Trap Island
Battle Arena Funderdome
Regions
Neighborville Dave Manor · Giddy Park · Zomboss HQ
Town Center Sundrop Hills · Up-Down-Uptown · Pressure Pier · The Sewers · Funderdome · Shady Garden
Mount Steep Olde Town · Rocky Flats · Steep Mines · Rock Bottom
Weirding Woods Camp Near-a-Lake · Stirring Swamp · Z-Tech Factory · The Heartwood
V · T · E
Game modes
Game modes and activities in Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
Game modes Gardens & Graveyards · Garden Ops · Team Vanquish · Gnome Bomb · Vanquish Confirmed! · Suburbination · Taco Bandits · Mixed Mode · Welcome Mat · Survival Mode
Game modes and activities in Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
Ops modes Garden Ops · Graveyard Ops · Solo Ops
Mystery Portal
Super Mix Modes Battle of Exploding Heroes · Rando's Revenge · Battle of Accuracy · License to Vanquish · I Believe I can Float · Happy New Year! · Mission Imp-ossible · Splish Splash · Serve and Volley · Lunchtime at the Lab · Triple-F Frenzy · Get-Off-My-Lawn-A-Thon · Tactical Team-Up · Get-Off-My-Lawn-A-Thon Part 2 · Guerrilla Warfare · Objective Rush · Flower vs. Power · Flying Explosives · No Calm Gnome Bomb · Siege the Day · Too Fast, Too Noxious · New Recruits · Past Intense · To Heal, or Not To Heal?
Other Cats vs. Dinos · Boss Hunt · Capture the Taco · Soil Survivors
Other Backyard Battleground · Flag of Power · Gardens & Graveyards · Herbal Assault · Turf Takeover · Welcome Mat · Team Vanquish · Vanquish Confirmed! · Gnome Bomb · Suburbination · Mixed Mode · Infinity Time
Game modes and activities in Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Multiplayer Garden Ops · Graveyard Ops · Turf Takeover · Team Vanquish · Vanquish Confirmed! · Gnome Bomb · Suburbination · Battle Arena
Weekly events Boss Team Vanquish · Boss Turf Takeover · Collision Course · Garden Warfare · Harm, Help, Hinder · Lunchtime at the Lab · Rando Confirmed · Rando Ops · Space Nuts · Suburbination Isolation · The Reinforcements
Free roam Battle Chest · Battle Zone · Bounty Hunt · Gnome challenges · Plumbing Gig
Regions Neighborville · Town Center · Mount Steep · Weirding Woods
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