Best Artillery Units in Warhammer Total War 2

While maneuvering infantry and placing archers can be fun, you can have some of the best times in Total War: Warhammer II is with artillery. There's something darkly satisfying about lining up the fantasy equivalent of a Gatling gun in front of a rank of charging Bretonnian knights and blasting them away! 

But it's hard to do unless you have suitable units. So check out the Pro Games Guide list of the best Artillery Units in Warhammer Total War 2:

The Empire - Various

With a wide variety of artillery pieces to pick from, The Empire has some of the best artillery in the game. Mortars, Great Cannons, the Helstorm Rocket Battery, and Helblaster Volley Guns are unique pieces of hardware with their own specialties. So whether you're trying to trim massive amounts of infantry from afar or need that elite heavily-armored unit gunned down quickly, there's an Empire artillery weapon for you.

• Artillery Specialization
  • Mortars
    • Groups of enemies
  • Great Cannons
    • Armoured/Monstrous units
  • Helstorm Rocket Battery
    • Lightly Armored Infantry
  • Helblaster Volley Guns
    • Heavy armor and Monstrous units

But beyond just their more static units, the Empire has great mobile artillery pieces in the Steam Tank and War Wagon (Mortar equipped) 

Related: Best Races to choose in Warhammer Total War 2

Skaven - Plagueclaw Catapults

Perhaps surprisingly, the underground-dwelling rat-men have some of the best artillery in the game. That's because of the Area of Effect potential of the Plagueclaw Catapults. When combined with a Lord's abilities or a Warlock-engineer, the raw damage will disintegrate most units in the game. 

Stacks of four, six, or eight catapults are entirely viable because of how much damage you can inflict with them. Just set up your Clanrats, and let loose with your destructive power. Add a few Warpfire Throwers and Cannons to pick up stragglers, and suddenly those heavily armored opponents don't seem so tough.

Dwarfs - Various

The industrious dwarfs have some fantastic artillery. Just like The Empire, they have a huge variety, but in contrast to their human counterparts, Dwarfs' infantry units can better defend and hold opposing forces to protect their artillery.

Bolt Throwers, Cannons, Flame Cannons, Grudge Throwers, and Organ Guns all have their niches. For example, bolt Throwers and Cannons are ideal against large or heavily armored opponents, while Flame Cannons, Grudge Throwers, and Organ Guns are useful against big masses of enemies.

• Artillery Specialization
  • Bolt Throwers
    • Armoured/Monstrous units
  • Cannons
    • Armoured/Monstrous units
  • Grudge Throwers
    • Groups of enemies
  • Flame Cannons
    • Cavalry and close range infantry
  • Organ Guns
    • Heavy armor and Monstrous units

With such hardy infantry defending them, you can get use out of every type of artillery without worrying about depleting your ranks too much. 

Vampire Coast -  Queen Bess

For an army designed around coastal raiding, Vampire Coast managed to have one of the best artillery units in the whole of Total War: Warhammer II. Queen Bess is a monster. A devastating piece of ordnance that deals massive damage and slows targets, it's a battle-winner every time it's deployed.

Couple with a Gunnery Wight for ammo conservation, and add in a Spiteful Shot from the Lore of the Deep magic. Queen Bess is the best single artillery unit in the game.

All this talk of artillery and factions confusing? Then check out the PGG guide on Best Factions for Beginners in Warhammer Total War 2.