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Artillery · 12 to 48 inches
Old World war machines: which one hits hardest?
Old World war machines swing wildly from shot to shot, so I decided to fire 19 of them ten times at every target, from 12 to 48 inches, to see which ones actually earn their points.
My short answer: up to 24 inches the Empire Helblaster and Dwarf Organ Gun did the most damage. The Helblaster was the only machine to average over 3 wounds against Rat Ogres, and the Organ Gun led against State Troops and Ironbreakers. Beyond 24 inches both drop to nothing, and the Cathay rocket barrage and Dwarf Grudge Thrower took over. No machine was reliable against knights.
How many simulations I ran
I ran 4,560 individual war machine shots: ten at each of six targets from each of 19 machines and firing modes, at 12, 24, 36 and 48 inches. These were the results.
War machines are the least predictable thing I test: a single bounce, blast or misfire can swing a ten-shot average a long way. Use the war machine tables to compare roles, not to crown a winner, and remember that no machine in my test ever faced a charge or return fire.
Old World war machines at 24 inches, by target
Mean wounds per shot at 24 inches. Click a column heading to sort. n = 10 shots per cell
| War machine | Pts | Knights | Ironbreakers | State Troops | Dregs | Rat Ogres | Skirmish Archers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Grand Cannon | 130 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Cathay Fire Rain Rocket Battery (Bastion rocket) | 130 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| Cathay Fire Rain Rocket Battery (5-inch barrage) | 130 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| Empire Great Cannon | 125 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| Empire Mortar | 95 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Empire Helblaster Volley Gun | 120 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 2.4 |
| Empire Helstorm Rocket Battery | 125 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.8 |
| Dwarf Cannon | 100 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| Dwarf Grudge Thrower | 95 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Dwarf Organ Gun | 120 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Dwarf Bolt Thrower | 55 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 |
| High Elf Eagle-claw Bolt Thrower (single bolt) | 80 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| High Elf Eagle-claw Bolt Thrower (rapid fire) | 80 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| Bretonnian Field Trebuchet | 100 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Skaven Warp Lightning Cannon | 110 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.4 |
| Skaven Plagueclaw Catapult | 110 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
| Orc & Goblin Rock Lobber | 75 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| Goblin Doom Diver Catapult | 95 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| Tomb Kings Screaming Skull Catapult | 105 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
How far can each war machine reach?
This is where the rankings flip. I averaged each machine across all six targets at every distance, so the numbers show the range trend rather than a best target.
Mean wounds per shot across the six targets, by distance. n = 60 shots per cell
| War machine | Pts | 12in | 24in | 36in | 48in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Grand Cannon | 130 | 1.28 | 1.00 | 0.95 | 0.88 |
| Cathay Fire Rain Rocket Battery (Bastion rocket) | 130 | 0.82 | 1.08 | 1.03 | 1.17 |
| Cathay Fire Rain Rocket Battery (5-inch barrage) | 130 | 1.37 | 0.85 | 1.45 | 1.68 |
| Empire Great Cannon | 125 | 1.03 | 0.95 | 1.43 | 0.98 |
| Empire Mortar | 95 | 0.93 | 1.08 | 0.87 | 1.17 |
| Empire Helblaster Volley Gun | 120 | 3.25 | 2.23 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Empire Helstorm Rocket Battery | 125 | 0.57 | 0.82 | 0.73 | 0.77 |
| Dwarf Cannon | 100 | 0.95 | 0.82 | 1.07 | 0.97 |
| Dwarf Grudge Thrower | 95 | 1.10 | 0.97 | 1.20 | 1.68 |
| Dwarf Organ Gun | 120 | 2.65 | 2.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Dwarf Bolt Thrower | 55 | 0.70 | 0.98 | 0.57 | 0.50 |
| High Elf Eagle-claw Bolt Thrower (single bolt) | 80 | 1.12 | 0.98 | 0.92 | 0.82 |
| High Elf Eagle-claw Bolt Thrower (rapid fire) | 80 | 0.95 | 1.08 | 0.72 | 0.63 |
| Bretonnian Field Trebuchet | 100 | 1.22 | 1.62 | 1.07 | 1.12 |
| Skaven Warp Lightning Cannon | 110 | 1.68 | 1.28 | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Skaven Plagueclaw Catapult | 110 | 0.78 | 0.67 | 1.00 | 1.12 |
| Orc & Goblin Rock Lobber | 75 | 1.37 | 0.80 | 1.23 | 1.23 |
| Goblin Doom Diver Catapult | 95 | 1.55 | 1.73 | 1.20 | 1.02 |
| Tomb Kings Screaming Skull Catapult | 105 | 0.95 | 1.05 | 0.78 | 1.22 |
The Helblaster (3.25 at 12 inches) and Organ Gun (2.65) dominate up close and do nothing at 36 or 48 inches. The Warp Lightning Cannon fades the same way. At 48 inches, the Cathay rocket barrage and Dwarf Grudge Thrower both averaged 1.68, the best I recorded at that distance.
Cathay: rocket battery or Grand Cannon?
With one Cathay artillery kit, I would build the Fire Rain Rocket Battery. You choose between its two rocket profiles when it fires, so the same model can drop a large barrage on infantry (3.1 wounds against Dregs at 24 inches) or concentrate a stronger central hit with the Bastion rocket. The barrage also held up best at long range of anything I tested. With two kits, I would add a Grand Cannon as the dedicated hard-target option, with its own bounce mechanic. I would not judge either from a single ten-shot cell.
The 130-point Cathayan Grand Cannon fires at 48 inches with Strength 10, AP −3, Armour Bane (3), Multiple Wounds (D3+1) and Thunderous Impact, using the Cannon Fire rules and the Black Powder Misfire table.
Empire and Dwarf mid-range fire
The Helblaster and Organ Gun both hit hard at 24 inches, and I think they deserve a look if you collect those armies. The trebuchet, Grudge Thrower and bolt throwers trade some of that damage for reach. For just 55 points, the Dwarf Bolt Thrower did 2.0 wounds a shot into State Troops, which I think makes it a sneaky-good points filler.
What I left out
I did not model grapeshot, the Ogre Loader’s re-roll, Engineering Runes, characters, or the lost turns after a misfire. Each shot started with a fresh machine and a fresh target on an empty table, so a wild Skaven misfire did no damage to the intended unit.
Compare them with my Old World shooting units at 140–150 points, or see how I would use Cathay artillery in my Grand Cathay Battle March list guide.
My conclusion
Based on these results, I would use a Helblaster or Organ Gun for hard-hitting fire up to 24 inches, and a Fire Rain Rocket Battery as Cathay’s first artillery kit. I would not use the Helblaster or Organ Gun when I need reach beyond 24 inches, and I would not rely on any war machine to stop heavy cavalry.
FAQs
What is the best war machine in The Old World?
Up to 24 inches, the Empire Helblaster and Dwarf Organ Gun did the most damage in my tests. Neither reaches 36 or 48 inches, where the Cathay rocket barrage and Dwarf Grudge Thrower led my results.
Which war machine is best against monsters and Rat Ogres?
The Empire Helblaster: 3.1 wounds per shot into Rat Ogres at 24 inches, the only machine I tested that averaged over 3.
Which war machine is best against knights?
None of them was reliable. The Goblin Doom Diver topped my 24-inch Knights of the Realm column at 1.1 wounds per shot, and most machines managed well under 1.
Should Cathay take a rocket battery or a Grand Cannon?
With one kit, I would build the Fire Rain Rocket Battery, because you choose its profile when it fires. With two, add a Grand Cannon for hard targets.
Which war machine is the best value for its points?
On damage per point at 24 inches, the 120-point Dwarf Organ Gun came out ahead in my tests, averaging 2.3 wounds a shot across the six targets.