In The Art of War, Sun Tzu writes that “opportunities multiply as they are seized.” This quote relates greatly to the unsung tactician of the Plants vs. Zombies franchise: the pogo vaulter zombie. As he lets go of his weapon of choice, the unyielding pole vault, he gains a hundred more opportunities in his landing, mostly being his many teeth and grimy hands. His mechanics in gameplay are often glossed over, but are proven to be extremely important. Overall, the pole vaulter zombie is one of the most important zombies in the franchise.

The pole vaulter zombie generally defines gameplay as a whole. He is the first of the gimmicky zombies that the player encounters, and he encapsulates that role very well. He has a very simple gimmick: run fast and avoid the first plant he sees. This gimmick, although quite basic, has a great influence on future zombies. Think of the football zombie and his gimmick for example. His gimmick is being tanky and fast. This is reminiscent of the pole vaulter’s gimmick, whose gimmick also involves being particularly fast. Other examples include the newspaper zombie (gimmick is like a reverse pole vaulter, in which he goes slow until something happens that makes him go fast), and the dolphin rider zombie (of whom functions as a waterborne pole vaulter). He introduces the player to the idea of zombies that bear a special function beside mindlessly charging toward the house. Despite his lack of usage in later stages, he is essential to future stages.

The pole vaulter zombie displays an above average intelligence. Zombies prior to him slowly limp toward the house, baring very little prospect or, quite frankly, self-preservation instinct. Many zombies will die without doing anything of any impact whatsoever, it is a common fact. The pole vaulter, however, does much more than this. When he charges in, he sprints, knowing the danger he’s in if he stays in the line of fire for too long, but also, much like everyone else, not being nearly intelligent enough to live off of a one-dimensional line. He will then do the previously unthinkable: he will leap over the first plant he sees. This proves that he is more intelligent than most zombies, he has the capability of using complex tools. Besides the pole vaulter, there are very few examples of zombies intelligent enough to utilize tools, those examples being the ladder and catapult zombies, as well as a few others. This shows that he is in the top one percent of zombies, he’s got that Einstein IQ. Thinking back to the example, when he is airborne, he dodges the bullets of any plant in front of him like he’s in the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Matrix. This shows that the pole vaulter zombie is cool as ♥♥♥♥, but it also shows that he has the capability of observing and avoiding danger, which is better than most other zombies. He displays intelligence otherwise unseen in zombies.

The pole vaulter’s fashion choices are an example of excellency. His outfit is reminiscent of various athletic uniforms in various sports teams. In particular, upon a quick google search to see what well-known basketball professionals look like, his uniform has great resemblance to that of Kevin Hart. Most people would agree that Kevin Hart is, although not a fashion icon, certainly not a bad looking fella. This comparison is evidence that the pole vaulter is fashionable. He has the drip, as one might say. One could say that the fact that he is balding is generally evidence of his lack of fashion, to which it could be said that his lack of wig displays incredible confidence. He proudly displays that he is balding, in spite of the fact that it may result in judgement being cast upon him. This is more than can be said about the Disco Zombie, who is a coward and wears a wig to mask his hair loss. He also wears a uniform that displays most of his lack of abs. This is clear evidence of confidence and makes the pole vaulter not only a fashion statement, but an icon of body positivity. His shoes are also really awesome. The pole vaulter zombie has various fashion choices that hold up to present day, and, even if one thinks of him as ugly, the clear confidence he displays in his outfit must be appreciated.

The pole vaulter provides incredible value to the Plants vs. Zombies franchise and to society as a whole. His presence in gameplay is a catalyst of the strengths of both future zombies and the player. His role as an introduction to gimmicky zombies is essential. His competence in using basic tools and self-preservation instinct is a clear indication of above-average intellect, which is far more than can be said about most other zombies. His confidence in displaying his flaws make him a symbol of body positivity, and his uniform can generally be considered attractive. Thinking of the pole vaulter could lead one to think of other unsung heroes of digital media. There are several examples of unappreciated characters in forms of media that exist as cornerstones of the entire franchise as a whole, and the pole vaulter zombie is just one of these.

As previously stated, this was inspired by a guide made by user Sald, titled "Why we need to start discriminating against the Pole Vaulting Zombie." It brings up some excellent points and is a hilarious read. I highly suggest checking it out!