The tower ballista is highly useful for removing stationary targets from long range, with very low fire rate. Its giant bolt deals very high damage to siege engines and it also has potential to kill all but the sturdiest units in one shot. Buildings take one regular arrow's worth of damage upon successful hit.
Ballistae can be mounted on top of square towers and round towers only. There must be enough space the top of a tower (troops must be moved if it is not the case), after which two engineers must be assigned to the ballista to operate automatically.
Ballistae can be instructed to attack a specified area or target. They do not track their target (unlike the fire ballista) and only re-acquire them after their bolt is shot. The ballista also cannot hit targets in towers or turrets at any elevation, firing at them as if they were standing on a wall, resulting in hits constantly bouncing off the side. Some units standing on top of the keep are also impossible to hit, depending on position. Against targets on top of walls or elevated ground however, height differences affect accuracy like normal.
| Stronghold Crusader Units | |
|---|---|
| Barracks | Archer • Spearman • Maceman • Crossbowman • Pikeman • Swordsman • Knight |
| Mercenary Post | Arabian bowman • Slave • Slinger • Assassin • Horse archer • Arabian swordsman • Fire thrower |
| Siege & Cathedral | Engineer • Ladderman • Tunneler • Monk Mantlet • Fire ballista • Catapult • Trebuchet • Battering ram • Siege tower Mangonel • Ballista |
| Related Articles | Peasant • Weapons • Horse |