Best ammunition for artillery?

[Shogun]

Which type of ammunition for artillery is the best? Normally I use grape-shot or canister-shot and explosion-ammunition. Are the other ammunition types worse or i am just too stupid to use it correctly?^^

[[LYF]Levi o Lusitano]

It depends on the types of artillery you are using and the ranges to do so.

For example when using Fixed artillery/ Foot Artillery/Horse Artillery of any kind i would suggest using round shot (standart shot) and later shnrapel shot to take out enemy artillery or to damage enemy formations from afar,but once they get closer to your lines always switch to canister shot wich is deadly at close range and can wipe an enemy regiment in seconds with each round killing dozens of enemy soldiers;

As for Howitzers i suggest you use either Explosive shells or Gas shells as they prove to be devastating and they have a pretty decent range and fire rate ( the most i killed with 1 round of gas was 220 or so for you to get an idea). The same idea goes for mortars. i ussually alternate fire for example i always try and have 2 horse art,2 howitzers and 1 mortar in my campaign armies wich means i will have 2 howitzers firing gas shells and the mortar firing explosive or vice versa,its really up to your liking.

Same also works for nornal art as AI cav tends to charge your art at start for no reason use 1 cannon with round shot and other ready with canister with inf support nearby.

As for Naval Artillery i would advice Chain shot to bring down the masts of enemy ships (both easier to board or to sink if they are dismasted,and generally 1 good broadside can acomplish that),other wise you can use round shot to destroy smaller ships wich might be faster than your heavy ships and when boarding use grape/canister shot to kill enemy crew for a easy win.

[Insaniac]

It depends on the circumstances.

[Fuzzyballs01 ꦙ]

using Darthmod, I go with basic shells on 2 cannons and 3 howitzers
or if I feel like cheating, I use basic shells on 2 cannons and the lime on the 3 howitzers

it's laughably OP

[Shogun]

@Levi o Lusitano|3FJR|

Thx for your big explanation. The effectivity of the gas shell which you describe surprised me. I read in some older threads about the use of quicklime-ammunition and how strong they are. But if I use them they are nearly worthless so I am not sure if they are really so good or just I don´t understand to use them correctly.
Since the release of the game I used only the standard artillery with grape-shot or canister-shots. But now I use nearly only Howitzers with explosion-ammunition. I like them so much that I spam these kind of artillery in the entire campaign :>
-> because they are far more flexible on battles where you have terrible ground (hills for example) and I think the explosion-ammunition can be very effectiv against a camping AI. So I spam the Army of the AI with a ton of explosion-shots through 5 or more Howitzers-regiments. Sometimes you can kill with it the artillery of the AI and makes for sure huge damage against the cavalry if you focus them.

[[LYF]Levi o Lusitano]

Originally posted by Shogun:

@Levi o Lusitano|3FJR|

Thx for your big explanation. The effectivity of the gas shell which you describe surprised me. I read in some older threads about the use of quicklime-ammunition and how strong they are. But if I use them they are nearly worthless so I am not sure if they are really so good or just I don´t understand to use them correctly.
Since the release of the game I used only the standard artillery with grape-shot or canister-shots. But now I use nearly only Howitzers with explosion-ammunition. I like them so much that I spam these kind of artillery in the entire campaing :>
-> because they are far more flexible on battles where you have terrible ground (hills for example) and I think the explosion-ammunition can be very effectiv against a camping AI. So I spam the Army of the AI with a ton of explosion-shots through 5 or more Howitzers-regiments. Sometimes you can kill with it the artillery of the AI and makes for sure huge damag against the cavalry if you fokus them.

Yes,sometimes most of the shots miss and dont get much kills but if they do hit they cause massive damage ,thats why i take 2 howitzers everytimei can to maximize the hit rate and therefore the enemy casulties rate,but bear in mind the enemy will use gas or explosive so just have a couple cav to rekt them if playing vs AI

[mechafi]

I usually have 3 cannons and 2 howitzers in my late-game full stack armies. I put all the three cannons into the centre of my line and the howitzers behind my line. The first priority for the cannons is to subdue enemy cavalry charges, because the roundshot is excellent for killing horses (especially if you aim manually). Next I will concentrate my fire on enemy artillery (if it is in range) again using the roundshot because while it usually doesn't kill the gunners that easily, it will break the enemy cannons. When the infantry gets into the range, I switch to canister shot.

I don't find the shrapnel shot to be very useful. The shrapnel "release" is so random that the shots don't usually seem to cause that many casualties. For howitzers I prefer quicklime against infantry and percussion shells against cavalry. Quicklime takes so time to spread so it isn't easy to hit the cavalry with them properly.

[[LYF]Levi o Lusitano]

Originally posted by mechafi:

I usually have 3 cannons and 2 howitzers in my late-game full stack armies. I put all the three cannons into the centre of my line and the howitzers behind my line. The first priority for the cannons is to subdue enemy cavalry charges, because the roundshot is excellent for killing horses (especially if you aim manually). Next I will concentrate my fire on enemy artillery (if it is in range) again using the roundshot because while it usually doesn't kill the gunners that easily, it will break the enemy cannons. When the infantry gets into the range, I switch to canister shot.

I don't find the shrapnel shot to be very useful. The shrapnel "release" is so random that the shots don't usually seem to cause that many casualties. For howitzers I prefer quicklime against infantry and percussion shells against cavalry. Quicklime takes so time to spread so it isn't easy to hit the cavalry with them properly.

Agree 100% Only difference,depending on the terrain i will occasionally place my regular art(horse art) on the flanks,1 in the left,linf inf in the middle,1 in the center ,line inf and 1 art on the right,altough i ussually place the reg art together in the middle.

[Inardesco]

Basic ball for standard artillery 6lb, 12lb, horse-artillery
Quicklime Shells for Howitzers --> Has to be manually aimed for most damage; If auto aim then the AI tends to aim at the centre of the group, whereas most damage is inflicted when the shell bursts in front of the enemy forces.
Percussion Shells for Mortars

[MonkeyJack_NZ]

quicklime in depressions when its raining. lovely