Houfnice
Siege WeaponBase values, before Blacksmith upgrades. The Blacksmith raises attack and armour for infantry, cavalry and archers — Blast Furnace, for instance, gives "+2 Attack for infantry & cavalry". Late in a game, the real numbers are higher.
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Bombard Cannon
Imperial Houfnice
ImperialThe coach's briefing
The Houfnice is the Bohemian unique upgrade to the Bombard Cannon. 90 HP, 50 attack, and splash damage make it superior in every way. The blast radius allows it to damage grouped units like a weaker Onager. Only Bohemians can access this deadly upgrade.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
Just lost against this unit?
Your coach names the counters during the match — not once the game is over.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
The Houfnice is the **ultimate Bombard Cannon**. It combines BBC versatility with Onager-like splash damage.
Tactical Playbook
Splash Damage
Unlike regular BBC, Houfnice has blast radius. It can damage multiple units grouped together, making it effective against infantry blobs.
Siege Dominance
50 attack with +20 vs Siege means you absolutely destroy enemy siege. No other BBC can match your anti-siege capability.
Building Destruction
+250 vs Buildings makes you even more effective than regular BBC. Combine with Hussite Wagons for devastating pushes.
Critical Point
**Still vulnerable to cavalry**. Despite better stats, Houfnice still dies to massed cavalry. Keep Halberdiers or Hussite Wagons protecting your expensive siege.
Understanding The Stats
The Houfnice is the best Bombard Cannon in the game, exclusive to Bohemians.
Superior Attack
+10 over regular BBC. Combined with splash, deals devastating damage.
Splash Damage
Has area damage unlike regular BBC. Effective against grouped units.
Better HP
+10 over regular BBC. Survives 1 extra hit from most threats.
Exclusive
Unique upgrade. A major reason to pick Bohemians for siege play.
Coach's Tip
Your 90 HP is the best of any BBC variant. Combined with 6 pierce armor, you're notably more durable than standard BBC. Still protect them - each costs over 1000 resources including the upgrade.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Building | +250 |
| Siege Weapon | +20 |
| Ship | +50 |
Armor Classes
Siege Weapon
Takes bonus from Mangonels and Bombard Cannons. Can be repaired.
Gunpowder Unit
Vulnerable to Condottieros.
Key Upgrades
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Houfnice is the Bohemian unique Imperial Age upgrade to Bombard Cannon: 225 wood and 225 gold, 56 seconds to train, 90 HP, 50 attack, 2 melee and 6 pierce armor, 5-12 range, 0.7 speed and 14 line of sight. Its classes are Siege Weapon and Gunpowder, with bonuses of +250 against Buildings, +50 against Siege Weapons and +50 against Ships. Bohemian Blacksmiths and Universities cost 100 less wood, easing the infrastructure around this expensive artillery. The unit is a positional investment before it is a damage number.
History & balance
The Houfnice represents the late-game union of siege engineering and gunpowder: a large projectile, a long firing lane and a target that cannot safely stand in a building or beside another siege engine. The official design keeps a sharp boundary around that power. It is slow, expensive and unable to attack at close range, so its strength depends on a screen and deliberate placement. The Bohemian identity makes the surrounding technology path easier to reach, but the unit still asks the player to protect a high-value investment rather than throw it forward.
In pro play
Use Houfnice from behind a screen and make the 5-12 range do the work. At 0.7 speed and 56 seconds of training, replacing one is slow, while 225 wood and 225 gold punish careless trades. Set the firing line before the enemy arrives, focus buildings or siege targets, and move only when the minimum range becomes a danger. The 90 HP and 2/6 armor do not make it a front-line unit. Bohemian infrastructure discounts help you reach the artillery plan, but the correct timing still includes a screen, vision and enough economy to keep both the siege and its protection alive.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is attacking Houfnice from the front with another slow ranged unit, giving its 5-12 range and siege damage every advantage. The official help gives the categories: buildings and Siege Weapons as strong against; units at close range as weak against. Winged Hussar closes at 1.5 speed against Houfnice at 0.7; Legionary also removes minimum-range safety. Surround and force the gun to reposition; these are contact answers, not class bonuses. If Houfnice keeps deciding your fights and you do not know what to produce or when, that is exactly what AoE Coach does: it reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.