Sebastopol Mortar
Sebastopol Mortar is Ethiopian Industrial Age artillery available through the Palace for Influence. It can fire Solid Shot, Explosive Shot and a siege attack, giving it more than one recorded firing profile.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 1,000 Influence
- Available
- Industrial Age · Palace
- Training
- 60 sec · 8 population · 100 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 475 hit points · 75% ranged resistance · 2.5 speed · 30 line of sight
- Solid Shot
- 300 base damage · range 28 · attack interval 6.0 · area of effect 4 · bonus damage: 10.0x vs. Fixed Gun, 16; 0.5x vs. Cavalry; 0.5x vs. Shock troops; 0.25x vs. Artillery; 0.25x vs. Arrow Knight, 16; 0.0x vs. Herded animals
- Explosive Shot
- 80 base damage · range 28 · attack interval 6.0 · area of effect 8 · bonus damage: 10.0x vs. Fixed Gun, 16; 0.25x vs. Artillery; 0.25x vs. Arrow Knight, 16; 0.0x vs. Herded animals
- Siege attack
- 400 base damage · range 4-28 · attack interval 6.0 · area of effect 1 · bonus damage: 2.0x vs. Fixed Gun, 16; 1.5x vs. Building; 1.25x vs. AbstractWall; 0.75x vs. Ship; 0.5x vs. Artillery; 0.5x vs. Arrow Knight, 16; 0.5x vs. Economic and Military units
Role, availability & values
The Mortar has 475 hit points, 75% ranged resistance and a 28-range maximum in its profile. The three attack entries differ in damage and area of effect; it is an Influence investment and occupies eight population.
Matchup & timing
Choose it when the army can afford the Influence and population cost and needs long-range artillery. Protect its slow movement with a frontline, and use the attack profile that fits the target rather than leaving it exposed to cavalry.
Ethiopian influence artillery
The Sebastopol Mortar is Ethiopian Industrial Age artillery hired through the Palace for 1,000 Influence. It takes 60 seconds to train, uses eight population and has 475 hit points, 75% ranged resistance, speed 2.5 and line of sight 30. Its multiple firing profiles include Solid Shot, Explosive Shot and a siege attack, giving the unit options for different target groups. The maximum listed range is 28. Because the Mortar consumes Influence rather than only Food, Wood and Coin, compare it with other Hausa or Ethiopian uses of that resource before hiring. Eight population and 60 seconds also make it a major army investment. Keep it behind a frontline, choose the attack profile that fits the target and avoid moving it into a position where Cavalry can reach it. Its slow speed makes retreat difficult once the opponent flanks. The Palace is the production route, so plan the unit before the army needs long-range artillery and protect the building. The Sebastopol Mortar is a later-age unit from The African Royals and differs from standard European Mortars in resource cost and attack options. Use it when the force can protect a long-range siege asset and the Influence economy can afford it.
Attack modes and Influence budget
The Sebastopol Mortar uses Influence at the Palace, making its 1,000-Influence price compete with other African units, technologies and allies. Its 28-range artillery profile includes Solid Shot, Explosive Shot and siege options; select the mode that fits the target instead of wasting the long-range unit. Eight population and 60 seconds to train make it a major commitment. The 475 hit points and 75% ranged resistance help it survive ranged fire, but speed 2.5 leaves it vulnerable to cavalry and fast flanks. Add it to a protected push and keep the Ethiopian army between the Mortar and the enemy. The Industrial Age timing gives access after the economy develops, so plan Influence production before the gun is urgently needed.
Positioning an Influence unit
Train from the Palace when Influence and population are available, then keep the Mortar protected. Its 2.5 speed makes movement costly; set a clear firing position before beginning the siege.
Influence and population costs
At 1,000 Influence and eight population, a Sebastopol Mortar uses resources that could fund several other units. Add it when long-range artillery will change the fight, and keep the rest of the army large enough to protect it.
Firing position
Choose a firing position before training the Mortar. Its 2.5 speed and eight-population cost make retreat difficult; keep a screen between it and Cavalry and avoid blocking its line of fire.
High-value late artillery
The Mortar uses eight population and 1,000 Influence, so recruit it only when a protected siege position is available. Keep the Palace safe and support the artillery with units that can stop a cavalry flank.
Choosing a firing lane
Its range and attack options reward a clear firing lane. Avoid positioning the Mortar behind structures or friendly units that block its shot, and keep an escort near the Palace route.
Avoiding overcommitment
The Mortar’s Influence price and eight population can weaken the rest of the army if recruited too early. Build Influence income and population space first, then add the artillery to a push it can support.
Check the firing mode
Use the Mortar’s attack profile that matches the target and keep it behind the frontline. Its high population cost means the unit should not be left idle or exposed.
Mobile artillery that fires without limbering
Sebastopol Mortars perform a role similar to European Mortars and Heavy Cannons, damaging both units and buildings. Unlike those artillery pieces, they do not need to switch between Limber and Bombard modes, which lets them move and fire more quickly on the battlefield. This makes them easier to reposition during a changing fight, though they still need protection from Cavalry and dedicated anti-artillery units.
Break a position with a protected firing line
Use Sebastopol Mortars to pressure a key building or punish a dense formation while the main army holds the front. Their mobility helps them follow a push, but advancing without an escort exposes them to melee attacks. Focus on one objective and keep a retreat route; a lost mortar is an expensive setback. Compare the unit’s range and damage with the civilization’s other artillery before adding several to the same army.
Long-range siege profiles and historical changes
The Sebastopol Mortar is a high-cost Ethiopian artillery investment purchased with Influence at the Palace. Its current profile has 475 hit points and a maximum firing range of 28; before hotfix 39346 it had 500 hit points and range 30, and its line of sight was 42 rather than the current 30. The recorded Solid Shot and Explosive Shot profiles currently deal 80 siege damage, compared with 60 before update 19.18309. Its attack intervals were also adjusted: the current interval is 6 seconds, while older patch records show 8 seconds. The mortar’s other siege profile carries the structure-focused modifiers: 1.5× against Buildings and 1.25× against walls since update 13.58326. Its long range and eight-population footprint reward preparation: establish a protected firing position, screen against fast attackers and avoid committing its large Influence cost before the army can defend it.