Key takeaways:
- Siege towers allow melee and anti-cavalry units to bypass walls and attack cities directly
- They are effective against Ancient and Medieval walls, but obsolete against Renaissance walls
- Position siege towers adjacent to enemy city walls and protect them as they are vulnerable targets
- Use siege towers in combination with other siege units like battering rams for maximum effectiveness
- Upgrade siege towers to medics in later eras when they are no longer useful for assaulting cities
Siege towers are a powerful tool in Civilization VI that allow players to assault enemy cities in the early to mid game. When positioned adjacent to a city, siege towers enable melee and anti-cavalry units to completely bypass the city walls and attack the city center directly, as if there were no walls at all. This makes siege towers significantly more effective than battering rams from the previous era.
However, there are some important things to keep in mind when using siege towers:
- They are only effective against Ancient and Medieval era walls. Once the enemy has researched Civil Engineering and built Renaissance Walls or Urban Defenses, siege towers become obsolete.
- Siege towers only benefit melee class units like swordsmen and anti-cavalry units like spearmen or pikemen. Ranged units and cavalry do not receive any bonuses from siege towers.
- You only need one siege tower adjacent to a city to provide the wall-bypassing effect. Having multiple siege towers does not provide additional damage.
- Siege towers are large and vulnerable targets. Be sure to protect them with other military units so the enemy cannot easily destroy them.
The key to using siege towers effectively is timing and positioning. You want to build them as soon as you reach the Classical era and research the Construction technology. Then, maneuver your siege towers into position directly adjacent to enemy city walls. Bring along a few melee and anti-cavalry units to take advantage of the siege tower’s bonus and attack the city.
Siege towers work very well in combination with other Classical era siege weapons like battering rams. Use your rams to quickly tear down enemy walls while the siege tower enables your infantry to storm the city and capture it. This one-two punch can make short work of even heavily fortified cities in the early game.
As you progress through the eras, keep an eye on your opponents’ technology. Once they research Civil Engineering, your siege towers will no longer be effective. At this point, it’s best to upgrade them into medics which can heal adjacent units. Shift your focus to other siege weapons like catapults and bombards to deal with Renaissance walls and beyond.
With proper usage, siege towers can be a decisive factor in early game conflicts. Time your construction push to unlock them quickly and mass produce a few siege towers along with offensive melee units. Coordinate your assault by using battering rams to create a breach, then follow up by sending in infantry through your siege towers to capture the city. This tried-and-true technique will serve you well as you fight to expand your empire’s boundaries. Just remember – protect those siege towers and know when it’s time to retire and upgrade them as technology progresses!
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FAQ
What units can use siege towers?
Siege towers can only be used by melee class units like swordsmen and anti-cavalry units like spearmen and pikemen. Ranged units, cavalry, naval units, and support units like battering rams do not benefit from siege towers.
How many siege towers do I need to attack a city?
You only need a single siege tower positioned adjacent to the city walls. Having multiple siege towers next to a city does not provide any additional bonuses or damage. One is enough!
What happens to siege towers in later eras?
Once players research the Civil Engineering technology, siege towers become obsolete as a siege weapon. At this point, it’s best to upgrade them into medics instead, which can provide healing to adjacent friendly units. Switch to more advanced siege weapons like bombards and artillery to deal with Renaissance and later walls.
Can siege towers attack cities by themselves?
No, siege towers do not actually attack cities directly. They simply remove the walls’ defensive bonuses and allow melee and anti-cavalry units to attack the city as if the walls weren’t there. You still need to bring along offensive units to capture cities – siege towers alone won’t cut it.
What’s the best way to use siege towers?
Siege towers are most effective when used in large numbers along with other Classical and Medieval era siege units. Aim to mass produce a handful of siege towers alongside a core force of swordsmen and a couple of battering rams. Position your siege towers and rams near the enemy walls, then attack with your melee units. The rams will create breaches while the siege towers let you bypass the walls entirely for a devastating assault.
