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Siege Weapons - Version 6 vs Version 7
Aug 6, 2026, 10:03 PM
Added an in-game screenshot to illustrate the section
Aug 17, 2026, 03:57 PM
Corrected image alt text and retargeted 1 internal link
11Overview22Siege weapons in Kingmakers are medieval machines that players can place and deploy during battles, particularly during castle assaults. The confirmed siege weapon types include trebuchets, ballistae, and archer towers. These weapons occupy a unique role in the game because they sit at the intersection of the strategy mode and the destructible environments system. While the player has access to modern weapons like grenade launchers, RPGs, and even air strikes, siege weapons provide a medieval alternative that can be operated by AI-controlled troops and positioned for sustained, automated attacks.44Siege weapons are part of the broader strategic toolkit alongside fortifications, troop formations, and guard placements. In the strategy mode overhead view, players can place siege equipment at desired positions, assign troops to operate them, and coordinate their fire with infantry assaults and modern firepower. The combination of medieval siege machinery with modern military hardware creates battlefield scenarios unlike anything in other strategy games.66Siege Weapon Types88Trebuchets1010Trebuchets are large siege engines that use a counterweight to launch heavy projectiles over long distances. In Kingmakers, trebuchets are the primary tool for breaking through castle walls and fortifications from range. Their arcing trajectory allows them to fire over obstacles and hit targets behind cover. Trebuchets were the most powerful siege weapons of the medieval era, capable of hurling stones weighing several hundred pounds, and the game reflects this destructive capability through the destructible environments system. A well-placed trebuchet shot can breach a wall section, creating an opening for infantry to storm through.1212Historically, trebuchets were a defining feature of medieval siege warfare. They could demolish fortifications that would otherwise require months of starvation to overcome. The real Glyndwr Rebellion involved multiple castle sieges, including the captures of Harlech and Aberystwyth, making trebuchets a period-appropriate choice for the game's arsenal.1414Ballistae1616Ballistae function as giant crossbows that fire large bolts at high velocity. Compared to trebuchets, ballistae have a flatter trajectory and are more effective against individual targets or tight groups of soldiers rather than fortifications. They offer a faster rate of fire than trebuchets and can be repositioned more easily. In the context of Kingmakers, ballistae serve as anti-personnel siege weapons, useful for thinning out defenders on walls or targeting enemy officers.1818The historical ballista used torsion springs (typically twisted sinew or animal hair) to power two arms that launched projectiles. In-game, ballistae can be placed on elevated positions or behind friendly lines to provide covering fire during assaults.2020Archer Towers2222Archer towers are defensive structures that can be placed to provide elevated firing positions for archers. While trebuchets and ballistae are primarily offensive siege tools, archer towers serve a dual purpose. They can be used defensively to protect key positions, chokepoints, or the player's base, and they can also be placed forward during an assault to provide suppressive fire. Archers stationed in towers have improved range and accuracy compared to ground-level units, and the tower itself provides protection against return fire.2424Modern Emplacements2626Because the player is a time-traveling mercenary, the siege toolkit is not limited to medieval machines. You can call in modern emplacements such as gatling turrets by tossing a tactical grenade that drops the turret directly onto the battlefield, where it shreds medieval armor that bows and catapults struggle against. These turrets are not invincible: enemies can destroy them, and the game treats them as deployable units, so placement still matters. They pair naturally with the trebuchets, ballistae, and archer towers a commander positions ahead of an assault.2828Siege Weapon Comparison3030WeaponPrimary RoleTarget TypeRangeRate of FireTrebuchetWall breaching / area destructionFortifications, structures, groupsLongSlowBallistaAnti-personnel / precision targetingIndividual targets, tight groupsMedium-LongModerateArcher TowerArea denial / defensive suppressionInfantry, lightly armored targetsMediumContinuous (manned)3232Placement and Strategy3333Siege weapons are placed through the strategy mode interface. When the player switches to the top-down strategic view, they can select and position siege equipment on the battlefield. Placement considerations include line of sight, distance to the target, terrain elevation, and proximity to enemy forces. Placing a trebuchet too close to the front line risks having it destroyed by a cavalry charge; placing it too far back reduces accuracy and increases the time for projectiles to reach their target.3535Once placed, siege weapons can be operated by assigned troops. The player does not need to personally man each weapon; the AI-controlled crew will fire at designated targets or engage enemies of opportunity. This frees the player to fight on the front lines with modern weapons while their siege equipment works autonomously in the background.3737Interaction with Modern Weapons3939One of Kingmakers' defining gameplay dynamics is the coexistence of medieval and modern military technology. Siege weapons fill a niche that modern weapons sometimes cannot. Trebuchets can demolish walls from positions of safety, where an RPG would require the player to be within direct line of sight. Archer towers provide sustained, automated fire without consuming the player's modern ammunition supply. Ballistae can pin down enemies in positions where gunfire might be less effective due to the armor and penetration system.4141At the same time, modern weapons outclass siege equipment in many scenarios. An attack helicopter can destroy a gatehouse faster than a trebuchet, and a grenade launcher has far more flexibility than a ballista. The strategic decision of when to rely on medieval siege machinery versus modern firepower is a core part of Kingmakers' tactical depth.4343Role in Castle Sieges4545Castle sieges are one of the game's signature encounters, and siege weapons play a central role. A typical castle assault might begin with trebuchets softening the outer walls while ballistae target defenders on the battlements. Once a breach is created, infantry (supported by the player with modern firearms) storm through the gap. Archer towers positioned outside the breach provide covering fire during the assault.4747The destructible environments system means that siege weapons have real, physical impact on the battlefield. Walls crumble, towers collapse, and the rubble from destroyed structures can block or create new pathways. The AI pathfinding system updates dynamically as the environment changes, so soldiers (both allied and enemy) recalculate routes when walls are breached or buildings fall.5050Post-Launch Plans5252The post-launch roadmap includes plans for expanded castle siege content. While the specifics of new siege equipment have not been detailed, the developers have mentioned "epic castle sieges" as a priority for post-Early Access development, which may include additional siege weapon types, larger and more complex castle layouts, and new siege-specific scenarios.5454Resource Cost and Recovery5656Siege weapons are not consumable items. Once a trebuchet, ballista, or archer tower is placed, it remains on the battlefield until destroyed, captured, or recovered. This means that the upfront cost of placing siege equipment, paid through kingdom building resources and the time spent in the strategy mode interface, pays dividends over the duration of an engagement rather than being a single-use commitment. Damaged siege weapons can sometimes be repaired by assigned troops, depending on the extent of the damage and whether the structural frame survived.5858Trebuchets in particular are slow to construct and slow to relocate, so their value scales with how long an engagement lasts. In short skirmishes, a modern RPG or grenade launcher finishes the same wall faster. In prolonged castle assaults that stretch across in-game days, trebuchets become the more efficient option because they continue to fire while the player handles other parts of the battle.6060Counter-Siege Considerations6262Siege weapons are a two-sided system. Enemy commanders place trebuchets, ballistae, and archer towers against the player's positions just as the player does against theirs. Defending against enemy siege equipment is one of the more demanding tactical problems in strategy mode. Enemy trebuchets can breach the player's walls from beyond direct line of sight, so the response usually requires either a cavalry sortie to overrun the crew, a precision strike with a modern weapon, or a counter-battery placement on a flanking ridge.6464Archer towers placed by the enemy create chokepoints in their own right. Storming a castle whose approach is covered by two or more archer towers without first neutralizing the towers means the assault force takes sustained ranged damage from elevated positions. The most efficient counter is usually an air support strike called in from the strategy view, which destroys the tower and any crew inside before infantry begins the approach.6666Comparison with Modern Weapons by Use Case6868Use CaseBest Siege OptionBest Modern OptionNotesBreaching a thick outer wallTrebuchetRPG or air strikeTrebuchets are slower but unlimited; RPGs are faster but consume ammunitionSuppressing enemy infantry on the wallBallista or archer towerAssault rifle or sniper rifleBallistae have higher per-shot impact; rifles fire faster but consume modern ammoDefending a fixed position over timeArcher towerMounted machine gun positionArcher towers cost no ammunition and run autonomously once placedDestroying a gatehouse quicklyTrebuchet (multiple hits)Grenade launcher or vehicle ramVehicles like the tank can demolish gatehouses in a single charge under most conditionsEngaging spread-out infantryBallista (limited)Grenade launcher or air supportModern explosives have far better area-of-effect coverage against dispersed targets7070Tips7171Place trebuchets behind your front lines and out of cavalry charge range.Use ballistae to target enemy officers or densely packed formations before an infantry assault.Archer towers work well at chokepoints, such as bridges, narrow passes, or breach points in castle walls.Combine siege weapons with modern firepower for maximum effectiveness. Let trebuchets breach the wall while you use the RPG on the gatehouse.In co-op, assign one player to manage siege weapon placement in strategy mode while others fight on the ground.
