Lets Talk About Bombard Towers | AoE2

Summary

In this video, the creator dives deep into the Bomber Tower in Age of Empires 2, discussing its unique characteristics, such as its high single-target damage and lack of splash damage. They explore how Bomber Towers are a late-game option, particularly in team games, and how they can be spammed effectively with infinite resources from trade routes. The video highlights the Bomber Tower's role in both offense and defense, particularly in controlling wood lines and raiding. The content also touches on strategies used by top players and suggests using Bomber Towers when gold and stone resources are available.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bomber Towers in Age of Empires 2 are a late-game, high-cost defensive building that requires both gold and stone to construct, making them a luxury item.
• 😀 Not every civilization has access to Bomber Towers; they are available to select civilizations that can research them in the Imperial Age.
• 😀 The Bomber Tower has a high single-target damage of 120, but its lack of splash damage makes it less effective against units like Rams and Trebuchets.
• 😀 Despite its high attack damage, Bomber Towers have a slow firing rate, which can make them easy to dodge individually, though multiple towers can create a difficult situation for opponents.
• 😀 Bomber Towers have an advantage in team games due to the possibility of infinite resources from trade, allowing players to spam Bomber Towers throughout the map.
• 😀 Bomber Towers are highly effective for controlling space, especially when used to defend trade routes or to apply pressure by spreading them across the map.
• 😀 High-cost resources like stone and gold make Bomber Towers a practical strategy in team games, where resource generation from trade is more abundant.
• 😀 In 1v1 games, players can use Bomber Towers to control resources by placing them strategically around enemy wood lines and farms, forcing opponents to relocate or lose access to critical resources.
• 😀 The Bomber Tower's unique ability to deliver a high-damage, single-target attack makes it highly effective against raids, especially against units like Harassers.
• 😀 Some civilizations, like the Turks, gain unique advantages for Bomber Towers, including a 50% discount on the technology and artillery upgrades that increase their range, making them a strong late-game option.
• 😀 While Bomber Towers are powerful in both defense and offense, they are generally best used in late-stage team games and 1v1s with civilizations that have specific bonuses or advantages for Bomber Towers.

Q & A

What is the bomber tower, and why is it considered a luxury item in *Age of Empires 2*?

The bomber tower is a late-game defensive building in *Age of Empires 2* that requires both gold and stone to construct. It is considered a luxury item because not every civilization has access to it, and it is unlocked in the Imperial Age after researching Chemistry and the Bomber Tower upgrade at the University.

How much does it cost to build a bomber tower, and what resources are required?

A bomber tower costs 125 stone and 100 gold to construct. This makes it quite expensive, especially since both resources are precious and tend to run out in standard games.

What are the main characteristics of the bomber tower, including its attack and damage type?

The bomber tower has a base attack of 120 damage, which is single-target and classified as Pierce damage. Unlike other cannons in the game, it does not deal splash damage, making it more effective against high-health units but less effective against Siege units like Rams and Trebuchets.

Why is the bomber tower ineffective against siege units like Rams and Trebuchets?

The bomber tower deals Pierce damage, which is ineffective against Siege units like Rams and Trebuchets because these units have high Pierce armor, making the bomber tower's attacks deal minimal damage to them.

What role does ballistics play in the effectiveness of the bomber tower?

Ballistics improves the accuracy of the bomber tower, making it more likely to hit its targets, especially when multiple bomber towers are grouped together. However, even with ballistics, it can still be difficult to dodge its shots, particularly if the bomber towers are firing in unison.

What is a strategic advantage of using bomber towers in team games?

In team games, bomber towers benefit from trade, which provides virtually infinite gold. This allows players to continuously build bomber towers, using them to either fortify trade routes or apply pressure across the map. Their small footprint (only one tile) allows them to be placed strategically without disrupting the overall base layout.

How does trade affect the use of bomber towers in late-game scenarios?

Trade in team games enables players to generate a substantial amount of gold over time, which can be used to purchase stone from the market, allowing them to spam bomber towers across the map. This makes bomber towers a powerful late-game option for teams with a strong trade setup.

Which civilizations benefit the most from using bomber towers, and why?

Civilizations like the Turks and the Spanish are particularly strong when using bomber towers. The Turks get a 50% discount on the Bomber Tower upgrade and all gunpowder technologies, making bomber towers cheaper and more powerful. The Spanish can use their Supremacy technology to send villagers everywhere, allowing them to rapidly build bomber towers across the map.

What is the unique strategy used by the Spanish in 1v1 matches involving bomber towers?

In 1v1 matches, Spanish players can use Supremacy to send villagers across the map to build bomber towers in key locations, such as behind farms and wood lines, disrupting the opponent’s resource gathering. This strategy allows the Spanish to control map resources and limit the opponent's ability to gather crucial resources like wood and food.

What is the key difference between using bomber towers in 1v1 games versus team games?

In 1v1 games, bomber towers are used for map control and raiding, often to disrupt resource collection, while in team games, they are used more defensively to fortify trade routes or apply pressure across larger areas, taking advantage of the infinite gold provided by trade. The lack of trade in 1v1s makes it harder to spam bomber towers effectively.

What is the potential downside to the bomber tower, and why is it not commonly used in early-game strategies?

The bomber tower’s high cost (requiring both gold and stone) and the long research time for its upgrades make it impractical for early-game strategies. It’s also ineffective against certain units like Siege Rams, limiting its usefulness outside of late-game or team game scenarios. Its slow firing rate and lack of splash damage further restrict its early-game utility.