Siege Onager

Overview

The strongest standard mangonel-line engine, threatening massed troops and forests.

Availability and investment

Siege Onager becomes available in Imperial Age. Its listed production context is Siege Workshop. The listed cost is 160 Wood, 135 Gold and the training time is 46 seconds. This tells you when it can first join an army and which resources must be reserved alongside Villager production, upgrades, and other military lines.

• Upgrade path: Mangonel → Onager → Siege Onager

Combat profile

The available combat values are included here so the numbers can be read as a profile rather than an isolated list. Hit points and armor describe how long the unit can remain exposed; attack and any bonus damage describe what it threatens; range, reload, accuracy, and movement describe how reliably it can engage or disengage. A value shown for a whole upgrade line applies to the listed stages as recorded, so compare the stage names instead of treating the line as one base unit.

• Attack: 75
• Hit points: 70
• Melee armor: 0
• Pierce armor: 8
• Range: 8
• Line of sight: 10
• Reload time: 6 seconds
• Movement speed: 0.6
• Accuracy: 100%

Field use

Protect the siege engine while it closes on its target. Its value comes from creating pressure against structures or clustered forces, so give it an escort and a clear objective instead of sending it forward alone.

Armor classes and counters

Armor-class bonuses are separate from base attack and the target’s melee or pierce armor. The class list below shows the unit’s documented combat categories and bonus-damage relationships; use it to judge matchups instead of relying on the unit label alone.

• Armor class: Siege weapon
• Siege Onager deals +12 bonus damage to units in the Siege weapon class
• Siege Onager deals +60 bonus damage to units in the All Buildings class
• Siege Onager deals +50 bonus damage to units in the Heavy siege class

Related unit plan: Siege Onager screened firing plan

Siege Onager: Siege Onagers can devastate archers, slow armies, and opposing siege, but they cannot protect themselves from most melee units. Their power depends on firing from a safe line rather than approaching alone Advance behind Halberdiers or another screen and keep the Onagers far enough back to avoid a cavalry dive. Aim at compact ranged formations, or use a predicted ground target when the enemy is moving through a choke. Keep watching each shot so the blast does not hit allied troops Fast melee units can close quickly and friendly fire can destroy your own formation. Use vision, escort units, and a retreat route; do not move Siege Onagers into a fight before the screen is ready