Bombard Cannons are mobile, anti-building Siege units that cost 225 Gold, 225 Wood each. They can be trained in the Imperial age once Chemistry has been researched. Bombard Cannons generally outrange buildings, most ships and most other units. Bombard Cannons without Siege Engineers have 12 range but Bombard Cannons with Siege engineers get an additional 1 range making it 13.
Buildings that can return fire to generic Bombard Cannons:
The only buildings not outranged by Bombard Cannons with (or without) Siege Engineers are Korean Keeps, Turkish Bombard Towers and Teuton Castles. These buildings benefit either from civilization bonuses: Koreans get +1 range on towers in Castle age and another +1 range in Imperial age, Turkish Bombard Towers get +2 range as a result of their unique technology (Artillery), Teuton Castles get +3 range because of their Crenellations tech.
Civilizations with best Bombard Cannons
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Turkish Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from +25% HP (making it 100 HP from the regular 80) civilization bonus.
Bombard Cannons benefit from Artillery Technology which gives them +2 range making it 14.
Bombard Cannons are created 20% faster because of the Turkish team bonus.
Chemistry is researched instantly (and for free) on reaching the Imperial Age which allows instant creation of Bombard Cannons.
Gold miners work 15% faster (20% in the expansions) allowing the Turks to gather gold for their Bombard CannonsLack Siege Engineers (to balance out the Artillery Technology)
Conclusion: Top tier Bombard Cannons with bonuses to help a gunpowder unit rush
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Portuguese Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from -15% gold cost civilization bonus.
Bombard Cannons benefit from Arquebus Technology which makes them fire more accurately at moving targets.
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers since the Portuguese have it.
Previously, this tech would make Portuguese Bombard Cannons ridiculously overpowered as they also improved the projectile speed(by 50%, I think)making them hit targets just like Spanish Cannon Galleons. They could even fire at charging cavalry for at least a year (from the time the African Kingdoms expansion pack was released). As of today, I believe the projectile speed is only improved by 20%.
Conclusion: Previously top tier Bombard Cannons but only high tier Bombard Cannons now
3. Italian Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from -25% (previously -15%) cost (gunpowder units bonus). Currently, they cost
180 wood and 180 gold. Previously, this was 191 wood and 191 gold. Cheaper and easier to mass than Trebuchets.
Italians can age up sooner thanks to their civilization bonus that gives them age up for -15% less resource which helps them create Bombard Cannons sooner.
Bombard Cannons can’t benefit from Siege Engineers as Italians lack Siege Engineers.
Conclusion: High Tier Bombard Cannons. Low unit cost and low ageing up cost makes them good for a gunpowder rush.
4. Spanish Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons fire 15% (actually 17.6% faster) faster
Bombard Cannons can’t benefit from Siege Engineers as the Spanish lack it. Besides, Siege engineers + 17.6% faster fire rate would make their Bombard Cannons too good Vs. buildings.
Trade units that produce 33% (25% in the expansions) more gold helps produce gold for the entire team help in massing a gold-heavy unit like Bombard Cannons
Faster builders (30%) helps build Siege Workshops faster
Conclusion: Decent Bombard Cannons without any bonus that makes them too strong.
5. Teutonic Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Iron Clad technology which gives them +4 normal (hack) armor making them more resistant to melee unit.
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers since the Teutons have it.
Conclusion: Decent Bombard Cannons
6. Malian Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from 80% faster university which helps when researching Chemistry and Siege Engineers
Bombard Cannons benefit from wood saved as a result of -15 wood cost for buildings
Bombard Cannons benefit from free gold mining (previously free gold shaft mining) which helps accumulate gold faster.
Conclusion: While the Malians have bonuses to save wood and get gold mining free to help with resources and also, faster researching Chemistry (which takes a while) and Siege Engineers, the unit is pretty generic.
7. Frankish Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers as the Franks have it
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers
8. Saracen Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers as the Saracens have it
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers
9. Persian Bombard Cannons
Bombard cannons can’t benefit from Siege Engineers as the Persians lack it.
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons without Siege Engineers
10. Indian Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers as the Indians have it
Sultans tech helps gather all gold 10% faster
Conclusion: While the unique tech is useful, the Indians still end up with very generic Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers.
11. Korean Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers as the Koreans have it.
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers
12. Gothic Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons can’t benefit from Siege Engineers as the Goths lack it.
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons without Siege Engineers
13. Ethiopian Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from the Torsion Engines technology which improves their blast radius
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers as the Ethiopians have it
Conclusion: High Tier Bombard Cannons
14. Malay Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons can be created earlier since Malays age up 80% (previously 100% faster)
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers since the Malays have it.
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons
15. Vietnamese Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers since the Vietnamese have it.
Conclusion: Very Generic Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers
16. Berber Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers since the Berbers have it.
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers
17. Byzantine Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons can be created sooner since the Byzantines can age up to Imperial Age at a discount.
Bombard cannons can’t benefit from Siege Engineers since the Byzantines don’t have it.
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons without Siege Engineers
18. Burmese Bombard Cannons
Bombard Cannons benefit from Siege Engineers since the Burmese have it
Conclusion: Very generic Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers
Civilizations that used to have Bombard Cannons:
Khmer: They used to get Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers.
