Ranged Combat Guide Intermediate
A crossbow line wins the fight before the enemy arrives — or shoots your own front rank if you let it.
Crossbows deal damage before melee, but demand positioning to manage reload time and friendly fire.
The Value Of Range
Crossbows let you damage enemies during their approach, softening raids and large creatures before melee even begins. On base walls they are invaluable.
Friendly Fire
Missed bolts can hit your own squad. Position shooters so their fire lines do not cross your melee, and stage melee to engage after the volley.
Reload & Positioning
Crossbows reload slowly and are best used from a fixed, elevated position with clear sightlines — walls, towers, ridges.
Best Uses
Ranged shines in base defence and against slow, dangerous creatures like Leviathans. It is weaker in chaotic open melee.
“Never travel with a single character. A second body can drag the first to safety.”