- For the Age of Empires variant, see Ballista (Age of Empires)
Template:Infobox units Like the Age of Empires unit, the Ballista is a bolt-firing siege weapon. It is available to the Norse in the Mythic Age and is strong against both units and buildings.
Attack Bonus
- Ships: x3
God Bonus
Odin increases Ballista hit points by 20%.
Upgrades
General
- Draft Horses increases speed by 20%.
- Engineers increases attack by 25% and attack against walls by 35%.
- Burning Pitch +20% attack.
Strategy
Ballistae fire several bolts which damage multiple units at a time and deal a fairly large amount of damage. They aren't as effective as other siege weapons at destroying buildings, but can destroy them fairly quickly in groups. They have a minimum range, so they should be escorted with cavalry or infantry to protect it from units that get too close.
History
The Ballista was another type of pre-gunpowder era artillery, mainly used against men in formation. It was a large bow mounted sideways. It used a winch and ratchet to create bow tension. The missile was usually a large metal, or metal-headed, bolt. Fired into a mass of men at ranges up to 1000 feet, bolts could disable several enemies. Ballistas could be placed on fixed mounts on walls or ships, or mobile-wheeled mounts for battlefield use. They were not particularly effective against fortified buildings and walls.