Ballista
 | |
 | |
| Unit Type | |
 Ranged ground to air unit, unable to move and attack in the same turn. Critical hit at min range. | |
| Information | |
| Recruited at Barracks | |
| Cost: |  800
|
| Movement: | 6 
|
| Range: | 2 - 6 |
| Sight: | 2 |
| Effective: |     |
| Vulnerable: |      |
| Capture: | No |
Ballistae are ranged combat vehicles, providing low-powered support fire with exceptional range and anti-air strength. They are the highest-ranged unit in the game, but cannot move at the same time as attacking, and cannot fight at melee range. They cannot capture buildings, and cannot use a Wagon or Balloon for transport.
Ballistae are also capable of attacking Water units, covering all unit types.
They're available to recruit from a Barracks for 800.
Ballista Units[edit]
| Unit Name | Faction | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ballista | Cherrystone Kingdom | Each Ballista is manned and maintained by a skilled Bowman. The Bowman will grow to appreciate the eccentricities of his or her particular Ballista, compensating for its shortcomings and leaning into its strengths. Should the machine be damaged in battle, the Bowman will carefully relearn the idiosyncrasies of his newly mended charge.[1] |
 |
Ballista | Felheim Legion | Felheim soldiers take a quantity over quality approach to the operation of Ballistas, learning to reload and fire them with blinding speed and miserable inaccuracy (this actually works better than you'd think). Felheim's Ballistas shoot dread bolts. These are exactly the same as normal bolts, but with the word 'dread' attached.[1] |
 |
Ballista | Heavensong Empire | With a complex system of internal pulleys and ropes, Heavensong's Ballistas are able to loose a bolt that can attain frightening flight speed, providing it with incredible accuracy and power. The front wheels are made of tungsten, delivering enough weight to keep the Ballista grounded despite enormous recoil.[1] |
 |
Ballista | Floran Tribes | The Floran Ballista is a crude device, constructed from wood, bone and springy vines. Despite this, the Florans' honed hunting instincts and keen eyes render it a powerful addition to their arsenal. It fires a vicious bolt made entirely of jagged bone. The bolt is razor-sharp, light-weight and durable, able to cover dramatic distances and pierce the strongest armour.[1] |
Critical Hit[edit]
Critical Hit ratio: ×1.5
When a Ballista attacks a target at the minimum attack range, at only 2 tiles away, it will perform a Critical Hit.
Strategy[edit]
A Ballista is one of only three ground units that can attack air units, next to the Mage and Archer. Much like the Mage, at full health a Ballista can devastate any air unit with a single attack. Of all air unit types, only the Dragon would survive such an attack, but with merely 5% to 15% health remaining, and only if the Ballista didn't score its critical hit.
That said, it can be difficult to employ a Ballista. It can't counterattack air units and can't move and attack in the same turn. This means if a Aeronaut or Dragon attacks the Ballista, not only can the Ballista not counterattack immediately, but it can't even attack that adjacent unit on its next turn. This weakness is only worsened by the fact a Dragon can easily move through a Ballista's entire attack range. It is thus vitally important to protect any Ballista you employ with other units. Even surrounding it with cheap Soldiers is often effective, as this prevents a direct attack against the Ballista itself, and enables it to score a crit against any unit that directly attacked one of the soldiers.
Because of its expense, inability to move-and-attack, and only moderate defenses, a Ballista may be most effective when it used defensively. If well-placed, it can be very threatening to any air unit that would want to rush down your Stronghold, Commander, or other valuable assets. The Ballista's huge attack range only aids it in this purpose.
A Ballista has the useful capability of being able to target and attack any other unit in land, sea, or air—a distinction it shares only with the Archer and Aeronaut. When not targeting an air unit, however, its damage output is extremely modest.
Alternatives[edit]
Because of their lower cost, ability to counterattack, greater mobility, and other benefits, it is often better to employ a Mage or two to fit the role of an anti-air unit on the ground.
For the same gold cost you could also get a Witch, who devastates both Aeronauts and Dragons even if directly attacked by them. You do however require a Tower for this unit, and its use outside of anti-air is very limited.
If there are no air units or Towers in play, the Trebuchet is usually a much better unit to deploy over the Ballista since it does approximately the same job for about the same cost, but deals more than double damage to any unit or structure that isn't airborne. Compared to a Ballista, Trebuchet even takes slightly less damage from every other unit type (except the Aeronaut) when it is attacked.
Indeed, many units outclass the Ballista in at least one way. The Ballista's greatest asset might be its versatility, as it will almost always be able to attack something in its huge attack range for at least modest damage. Deploy this unit wisely, and only if there is infrastructure to make good use of it.
Damage Matrix[edit]
- See also: Damage Matrix
| Villager | Soldier | Spearman | Dog | Mage | Archer | Giant | Cavalry | Wagon | Ballista | Trebuchet | Balloon | Aeronaut | Sky Rider | Dragon | Barge | Turtle | Harpoon | Warship | Amphibian | Commander | Building | Stronghold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attacks | 45 68 |
45 68 |
35 53 |
55 83 |
45 68 |
35 53 |
15 23 |
30 45 |
35 53 |
25 38 |
15 23 |
115 173 |
135 202 |
100 150 |
90 135 |
25 38 |
25 38 |
25 38 |
25 38 |
45 68 |
15 23 |
35 53 |
20 30 |
| Defends | -- | 40 60 |
60 90 |
45 68 |
35 53 |
35 47 |
105 263 |
90 135 |
-- | 25 38 |
90 135 |
-- | 40 50 |
-- | 115 230 |
-- | -- | -- | 90 135 |
30 60 |
60 | -- | -- |
Trivia[edit]
- Ballistae are tied for the highest ranged unit in the game, alongside the Harpoon Ship.
