Catapult (Civ5)

Catapult
Siege unit of the Classical Era
Introduced in Civilization V
Cost
Production	75
Production	75
Stats
Combat strength	7
Combat strength	7
Moves	2
Moves	2
Range	2
Range	2
Ranged strength	8
Ranged strength	8
Required
Technology	Mathematics
Resource	Iron (None in and )
Upgrades to
Trebuchet
Trebuchet
Hwach'a
Hwach'a
Notes
May not melee attack Bonus vs cities (200) No defensive terrain bonuses Limited visibility Must set up to ranged attack

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Game Info

First siege unit of the game.

• Common abilities:
  • Bonus vs Cities (200)
  • Limited Visibility (-1)
  • May Not Melee Attack
  • No Defensive Terrain Bonuses
  • Must Set Up to Ranged Attack

Strategy

The Catapult is the first siege weapon available, extremely useful when assaulting early enemy cities. It fires large projectiles (usually stones) which shatter upon impact and lay waste to stationary defenses, although they're not that effective against smaller or moving targets.

Like all but the most advanced siege machines, the Catapult is slow to set up and fire, using 1 Movement in the process. Also, it is extremely vulnerable to enemy melee attack and too bulky to use natural terrain defenses, so it always should be supported by other units when it's in the field. Use it primarily for sieges, and never move it into range of an enemy city by itself. One ranged strike from a city followed by one shot from a garrisoned Archer will often destroy a Catapult.

Aside from their usefulness when attacking cities, garrisoned Catapults can provide a strong defense against attacks. They have higher Ranged Strength than Archers and can earn the Accuracy, Barrage, and Range promotions to make their attacks deadlier to incoming land and naval units.

Civilopedia entry

The exact date of the invention of the catapult is uncertain, but Greek armies were known to have employed them as far back as the third century BC. Catapults use energy stored in twisted rope or bent wood to hurl missiles a great distance. They are quite inaccurate, but can be deadly against big or slow targets - forts, for instance (which are fairly large and don't move at all). Generally catapults were transported in pieces, then assembled at the field of battle. Occasionally they were constructed on the spot by engineers. The last catapults to see battle appeared in World War I, used by the French to hurl grenades at the enemy trenches.

Unofficial custom card

Custom homemade card featuring the Catapult.

See also

• Catapult in other games