Ballistics

From Heroes of Might and Magic III
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Secondary skills
Expert Air Magic large.png Air Magic
Expert Archery large.png Archery
Expert Armorer large.png Armorer
Expert Artillery large.png Artillery
Expert Ballistics large.png Ballistics
Expert Diplomacy large.png Diplomacy
Expert Eagle Eye large.png Eagle Eye
Expert Earth Magic large.png Earth Magic
Expert Estates large.png Estates
Expert Fire Magic large.png Fire Magic
Expert First Aid large.png First Aid
Expert Intelligence large.png Intelligence
Expert Interference large.png Interference Horn of the Abyss
Expert Leadership large.png Leadership
Expert Learning large.png Learning
Expert Logistics large.png Logistics
Expert Luck large.png Luck
Expert Mysticism large.png Mysticism
Expert Navigation large.png Navigation
Expert Necromancy large.png Necromancy
Expert Offense large.png Offense
Expert Pathfinding large.png Pathfinding
Expert Resistance large.png Resistance
Expert Scholar large.png Scholar
Expert Scouting large.png Scouting
Expert Sorcery large.png Sorcery
Expert Tactics large.png Tactics
Expert Water Magic large.png Water Magic
Expert Wisdom large.png Wisdom
Ballistics
Basic Ballistics large.png Basic Ballistics: gives the hero control of the Catapult. The Catapult can be aimed and has an increased chance to hit fortifications. It cannot be dealt more than 40% of its Health as Damage from any single damage source. Horn of the Abyssgives control of the catapult to the hero, allowing aimed shots with increased damage. Shadow of Death
Advanced Ballistics large.png Advanced Ballistics: gives the hero control of the Catapult. The Catapult can be aimed, has an increased chance to hit fortifications, and shoots twice. It cannot be dealt more than 40% of its Health as Damage from any single damage source. Horn of the Abyssgives control of the catapult to the hero, allowing two aimed shots with increased damage. Shadow of Death
Expert Ballistics large.png Expert Ballistics: gives the hero control of the Catapult. The Catapult can be aimed, always hits the intended target, and shoots twice. It cannot be dealt more than 40% of its Health as Damage from any single damage source. Horn of the Abyssgives control of the catapult to the hero, allowing two aimed shots at maximum damage. Shadow of Death
None Basic Adv. Expert
Shots 1 1 2 2
Chance to hit Keep* 5% 7% 7% 100% Horn of the Abyss10% Shadow of Death
Chance to hit Arrow Towers* 10% 15% 15% 100% Horn of the Abyss20% Shadow of Death
Chance to hit Drawbridge* 25% 30% 30% 100% Horn of the Abyss40% Shadow of Death
Chance to hit intended wall 50% 60% 60% 100% Horn of the Abyss75% Shadow of Death
Chance for no damage 10% 0% 0% 0%
Chance for 1 damage 60% 50% 50% 0%
Chance for 2 damage 30% 50% 50% 100%
*before all walls are destroyed
NOTE: See Fortifications for the health of town defenses.

If a shot misses the intended target, it will hit a different random wall.

Heroes with Ballistics as a starting skill:

Chance to get[edit | edit source]

Out of total 112 for Shadow of Death, and of (112 + Interference chance) for Horn of the Abyss Horn of the Abyss.
Banned skills change the probability.

Town Class Chance to learn
Town portrait Castle small.png Castle  Knight   8 (highest)
Town portrait Castle small.png Castle  Cleric   4 (lowest) Shadow of Death
Town portrait Rampart small.png Rampart  Ranger   4 (lowest) Shadow of Death
Town portrait Rampart small.png Rampart  Druid   4 (lowest) Shadow of Death
Town portrait Tower small.png Tower  Alchemist   6
Town portrait Tower small.png Tower  Wizard   4 (lowest) Shadow of Death
Town portrait Inferno small.png Inferno  Demoniac   7
Town portrait Inferno small.png Inferno  Heretic   6
Town portrait Necropolis small.png Necropolis  Death Knight   7
Town portrait Necropolis small.png Necropolis  Necromancer   5
Town portrait Dungeon small.png Dungeon  Overlord   7
Town portrait Dungeon small.png Dungeon  Warlock   6
Town portrait Stronghold small.png Stronghold  Barbarian   8 (highest)
Town portrait Stronghold small.png Stronghold  Battle Mage   6
Town portrait Fortress small.png Fortress  Beastmaster   7
Town portrait Fortress small.png Fortress  Witch   8 (highest)
Town portrait Conflux small.png Conflux  Planeswalker   8 (highest)
Town portrait Conflux small.png Conflux  Elementalist   4 (lowest) Shadow of Death
Town portrait Cove small.png Cove Horn of the Abyss     Captain   5
Town portrait Cove small.png Cove Horn of the Abyss     Navigator   2 (lowest) Horn of the Abyss
Town portrait Factory small.png Factory Horn of the Abyss     Mercenary   6
Town portrait Factory small.png Factory Horn of the Abyss     Artificer   8 (highest)


User commentary

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Some may find the information in this section subjective or irrelevant.

Ballistics is not something essential to everyone, but it is really useful when sieging towns, and if a map has many towns you should capture, consider using a hero with Ballistics as your starting hero, eventually improving the skill to Expert. It will make sieging a town way easier, reducing your losses, as you will destroy the drawbridge on an early stage of the battle, and the enemy's defense will worsen significantly. However, the most crucial when sieging a town is properly using your flyers, ranged units, and magic, so as to win as soon as possible and avoid major losses.

Quite useful, since it gives you first chance to cast spells in sieges (provided that the defending hero doesn't have Artillery).

Recommended for: Heroes with walker-heavy armies

While useful for breaking open the gate quickly, one also has to care to consider that it is the only battle-skill that in non-siege battle situations has absolutely no impact. Therefore, in a multiplayer game it may be better to select a more multi-situation skill upon which to invest. In single-player games, more useful, but also situational, as the AI tends to charge out of the castle if an army demonstrates any significant long-range damage abilities. It is very rare that the AI stays in the castle entirely, and that this skill is entirely necessary. I would take this if I had walker armies, and were offered an alternative skill considerably less useful (ie. eagle eye, learning).


See also: