Cannons

Overview

Cannons are the heaviest ranged weapons in Crimson Desert, firing explosive projectiles that deal area-of-effect damage on impact. They are categorized as hand cannons in the game's weapon system and occupy the dedicated ranged weapon slot. Cannons trade fire rate and mobility for raw stopping power and splash damage, making them the most destructive single-shot option available to any playable character.

Oongka is the primary cannon user. He begins with the Orc Blaster when the player gains control of him at the end of Chapter 7, and his entire ranged playstyle revolves around explosive cannonball fire. Other characters such as Kliff and Damiane can also equip certain cannon-type weapons, though the weapon class is most closely associated with Oongka's brute-force identity.

Compared to bows (versatile, fast, multi-arrow capability), rifles (long-range precision), and pistols (quick mobile shots), cannons fill a distinct niche as the only ranged weapon with true area-of-effect capability. Every shot creates a blast radius that damages all enemies caught in the explosion, staggering groups and interrupting attack animations.

Cannon is a siege weapon mount in Crimson Desert.

Combat Mechanics

Cannon combat revolves around positioning and timing. Each shot requires a wind-up period before firing, and the reload cycle is significantly slower than any other ranged weapon. Players must aim carefully because ammunition is limited relative to arrows or bullets, and every missed shot wastes both ammo and precious time during the reload window.

The explosive shots deal heavy direct damage at the point of impact and moderate splash damage to everything within the blast radius. A well-placed shot into a cluster of enemies can stagger every target in the group simultaneously, disrupting formations and creating openings for melee follow-ups with greataxes, greatswords, or other melee weapons.

Cannons also apply strong stagger on hit. Even large enemies and mini-bosses can be staggered by a direct cannon shot, interrupting their attack animations. This makes cannons valuable as an opener against tough single targets, not just groups.

One standout feature of cannon combat is the slow-motion aiming window that triggers when Oongka fires the Orc Blaster mid-air. Time slows briefly, letting the player line up precision shots before gravity takes over. This mechanic rewards players who combine jumping or aerial movement with cannon fire.

Available Cannons

The following table lists all cannon-type weapons in Crimson Desert. Hand cannons occupy the ranged weapon slot and fire cannonball ammunition. Some cannon weapons are also. It is classified as two-handed weapons that occupy both hand slots, functioning as hybrid melee/ranged tools.

The Orc Blaster stands at the top with 22 base Attack Power, outperforming every other ranged weapon in the game by a wide margin. It is permanently bound to Oongka's inventory and cannot be sold, dropped, or traded. The Bismuth Cannon (20 ATK) is the strongest craftable hand cannon, trading all critical hit bonus for raw power. The Rhinard Cannon (13 ATK) is the entry-level option, craftable early in the game after reading the Two Handed Weapons of the World Vol. 1 crafting manual at a Blacksmith.

Refinement and Customization

All cannons can be upgraded through the Refinement system at a Blacksmith. Refinement raises the weapon's base Attack Power at each level. Most cannons support up to 10 refinement levels, though the Orc Blaster caps at 9.

Each cannon also has 5 Abyss Core slots for further customization. Cores can be socketed at a Witch vendor to add various bonuses. Cores that boost area-of-effect radius, stagger duration, or raw damage output complement the cannon's role as a crowd-clearing tool.

Ammunition

Cannons require cannonball ammunition to fire. Different cannonball types offer varying damage profiles and special effects. Ammunition is equipped in the dedicated ammo slot and can be swapped during combat.

Managing ammunition is a key part of cannon gameplay. Unlike arrows, cannonballs are consumed in small numbers per engagement due to the weapon's slow fire rate, but each shot counts more. Players should conserve specialized cannonballs for boss fights and difficult encounters, relying on standard ammunition for routine combat.

Cannon Skills

Several skills enhance cannon combat. These abilities modify how shots behave and add elemental effects to the explosive blasts.

Elemental variants are particularly effective in the Cannon Challenges, which require defeating enemies with normal, Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Wind Enhanced Charged Shots.

Cannon Challenges

The Cannon Challenges are a set of five Mastery challenges focused on hand cannon proficiency. Completing all five awards the Master of Artillery achievement. Each challenge is activated by picking up a Sealed Abyss Artifact at specific locations across the world.

Tips and Strategy

• Use cannons as fight openers. Fire an explosive shot into a packed group of enemies before charging in with a melee weapon. The stagger effect gives you a free window to close the distance.

• Conserve ammunition for groups. Against a single isolated target, the area-of-effect component goes to waste. Save cannonball shots for clusters of three or more enemies and rely on melee weapons for one-on-one encounters.

• Combine jumping with cannon fire. Firing the Orc Blaster mid-air triggers a slow-motion aiming window. Use this mechanic to line up precision shots against high-value targets or bosses.

• Upgrade Marksmanship early. The passive damage increase applies to every cannon shot and scales well as you refine your weapon to higher levels.

• Match cannonball types to encounters. Specialized cannonballs like the Disruptor Cannonball and Mine Spider Cannonball provide utility beyond raw damage. Reserve them for challenging fights and boss encounters.

• Pair cannons with stagger-focused builds. Socket Abyss Cores that boost stagger duration to maximize the crowd-control window created by each explosive shot.

Cannon Grades

Base Stats

Variants

Cannon has the following variants:

• Flimsy Cannon

• Stationary Cannon

Notes

• Mounts can be obtained through taming, purchasing, or completing specific quests.

Related Articles

• Weapons - Full weapon type overview

• Ranged Weapons - All ranged weapon categories

• Hand Cannons - Detailed hand cannon mechanics and combat guide

• Oongka - Primary cannon-wielding character

• Oongka Skills - Full skill breakdown for Oongka

• Best Oongka Builds - Recommended builds featuring cannons

• Cannon Challenges - All five Barraging Cannon challenges

• Combat System - General combat mechanics

• Mounts - All mounts in Crimson Desert

• Mount Equipment - Gear for mounts

• Mounted Combat - Fighting while riding