Trebuchet
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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Trebuchet
ImperialThe coach's briefing
The Trebuchet is the ultimate building destroyer. 200 attack at 16 range makes it the longest-range ground unit. It must unpack to fire and pack to move, making it vulnerable during transitions. Protect with your army and use to destroy enemy Castles and Town Centers from safety.
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 Trebuchet is your **long-range building sniper**. Nothing else matches its range and building damage combination.
Tactical Playbook
Castle Killer
Trebuchets are THE Castle counter. 16 range outranges Castle fire (8 range). Position safely and destroy enemy Castles without taking damage.
Wonder Destruction
In Wonder race games, Trebuchets are essential. Their range and damage make them the fastest Wonder destroyers.
Siege vs Siege
Trebuchets can snipe enemy Trebuchets. The first to hit wins - use attack-ground on enemy Trebs for faster targeting.
Critical Point
**Cavalry dives** are lethal. You can't pack fast enough to escape. Always have Halberdiers or other protection around your Trebuchets.
Understanding The Stats
The Trebuchet is the ultimate siege weapon for destroying buildings from safe distance.
Massive Damage
+250 vs Buildings means 450 total damage per hit. Buildings crumble quickly.
Extreme Range
Longest range ground unit. Outranges every defensive structure except Bombard Towers.
Pack/Unpack
Takes 8 seconds to pack and 8 seconds to unpack. Plan movements carefully.
Minimum Range
Cannot attack units within 4 tiles. Cavalry in melee range cannot be targeted.
Coach's Tip
Your 150 HP is decent but cavalry attacks are devastating. Paladins with 14 attack kill you in 11 hits. That sounds like a lot until 6 Paladins attack you simultaneously.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Building | +250 |
Armor Classes
Siege Weapon
Takes bonus from Mangonels and Bombard Cannons. Can be repaired.
Key Upgrades
Civilizations
* 47 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Trebuchet is a long-range anti-building Siege Weapon that costs 200 wood and 200 gold. It has 150 HP, 200 attack, 2 melee/8 pierce armor, a 4-16 range, 0.8 speed and 19 line of sight, with a 50-second train time. The official help says it must be packed to move and unpacked to attack, cannot attack enemies at close range, and is strong against buildings. Its +250 building bonus explains the number that matters: the Trebuchet is a strategic structure breaker whose power comes with setup time and a vulnerable firing window.
History & balance
The Trebuchet represents the University-era escalation of the Siege Workshop: the official help points to attack and range at the University, creation speed at the Castle and increased resistance to Monks. Its history is a change of tempo rather than a new target list. The unit keeps the anti-building role, but 4-16 range and 200 attack allow it to reach structures from a safer distance once the player has paid 200 wood and 200 gold. Packing and unpacking preserve the intended tension: every move is a decision to stop firing and expose the engine.
In pro play
Use Trebuchets behind a screen that denies the enemy the close-range window. Pack only when the next position matters more than the current shot, then unpack outside the reach of Cavalry and protect the 150-HP engine while it works through a Castle, Town Center or other building. The +250 building bonus rewards focus fire: choose one structure, finish the job and move the army with it. Nineteen line of sight helps you read the approach, but 0.8 speed and the 50-second train time make careless losses expensive. The Trebuchet wins when the rest of the army buys its setup time.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is to attack a Trebuchet with a slow ranged line or to let it unpack inside your economy. In practice, the counters are Cavalry, Bombard Cannons and Eagle Warriors; the same help says it cannot attack at close range. Cavalry and Eagle Warriors exploit that blind spot by reaching the engine, while a Bombard Cannon contests it from long range. Do not trade time for a second building: close the distance, force the pack-up or protect the target with a mobile screen. If you keep losing to Trebuchets without knowing what to build or when, that is exactly what AoE Coach does: it reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.