Artillery —Range, Shells, and Outpost Setup

Artillery is the endgame solution to biter bases.

Gun turret

Gun turrets and

Laser turret

laser turrets defend your walls. Artillery deletes the threat before it reaches you.

TL;DR: Build artillery turrets at outposts, connect them to your rail network, and supply shells via trains. Research range to extend coverage. One shell destroys most biter bases in 2-3 shots.

Artillery outpost logistics chain —main base shell production, train delivery, and targeting range

How Artillery Works

The artillery turret fires explosive shells at biter bases within range. Each shell deals massive area damage, destroying nests, worms, and biters in the blast radius.

Key mechanics:

Manual targeting: click the map, the turret fires
Automatic targeting: turrets auto-fire at biter bases in range (configurable)
Shell consumption: each shot uses one artillery shell
Range: base 7 tiles, max 140 tiles with research

Shell Production Chain

Artillery shells are expensive. Plan your factory:

Component	Source	Notes
Explosive cannon shell	Military science	Standard ammo production
Radar	Green circuits + iron	One per turret for targeting
Artillery shell	Explosive shell + radar	Assemble at dedicated factory

Throughput: One assembler 2 produces 1 shell every 15 seconds. For sustained fire, build 4-6 assemblers.

Outpost Setup

Artillery outposts need three things: a turret, a buffer chest, and a train connection.

The buffer rule: Store 200 shells locally. This covers 50-100 biter bases before resupply is needed. Use requester chests wired to the train stop —trains only dispatch when stock is low.

Placement strategy:

Space outposts 200+ tiles apart (overlap coverage by ~40 tiles)
Connect to your main rail network
Defend the outpost itself —biters attack artillery

Range Research

Research extends artillery range dramatically:

Level	Range	Coverage Area
0 (base)	7 tiles	Tiny
3	60 tiles	Small perimeter
7 (max)	140 tiles	Entire visible map

Priority: Artillery range 3 unlocks practical outpost placement. Range 7 is endgame convenience.

What Veterans Learn the Hard Way

Shells are heavy —one stack is only 10 shells. Trains need dedicated artillery shell cars.
Biters evolve —artillery fire draws evolution. Expect retaliation.
Outposts need defense —the turret fires outward, but biters attack the outpost itself.
Wall
Walls and
Gun turret
turrets required.
Don't overbuild —3-4 outposts cover most maps. More = shell drain without benefit.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Consequence
No shell buffer	Turret runs dry during attack
Outpost too far from rail	Manual shell delivery = tedious
No outpost defense	Biters destroy your investment
Firing at everything	Wastes shells, accelerates evolution

The Bottom Line

Artillery turns biter defense from reactive to proactive. Build shells at main base, deliver by train, store 200 at each outpost. Research range to 3, then 7. Clear the map on your terms.

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