Turrets are one of the most important defensive tools in Age of War. While units are responsible for pushing toward the enemy base, turrets provide automatic fire that can weaken incoming troops and buy you time to build a stronger army. The game features 15 different turrets across five ages, so knowing when to spend gold on defense can make a major difference.
The strongest turret is not always the one with the highest damage. A cheaper turret may be much more useful when you are trying to survive an early rush, while a powerful late-game defense can protect your base during expensive upgrades.
1. Egg Automatic – Best Early Defense
The Egg Automatic is one of the most useful early defensive choices. It costs 200 gold and fires much faster than the basic Rock Slingshot. Its individual shots do less damage, but its high firing speed makes it effective against groups of weaker enemies.
When to Build It
Build the Egg Automatic when the enemy is producing units faster than you can comfortably handle. It is especially useful when you need additional defensive pressure without spending a huge amount of gold.
Do not rush to replace it simply because a stronger turret becomes available. If your economy is limited, keeping a cheap turret while saving for your next important unit can be the smarter choice.
2. Fire Catapult – Strong Castle-Age Option
The Fire Catapult is a major improvement over the earlier catapult. It costs 750 gold, deals 50 damage, and also has shrapnel damage, giving it additional value against groups of enemies.
When to Build It
This turret is particularly useful when enemy waves start becoming larger and tougher. If your opponent is sending several units together, area damage becomes increasingly valuable.
Try to build it when you have enough gold to maintain your offensive units as well. A strong turret cannot compensate for an army that is completely starved of resources.
3. Small Cannon – Reliable Renaissance Defense
Once you reach the Renaissance era, cannons become an important part of your defensive setup. The Small Cannon costs 1,500 gold and has a range of 500, giving it strong reach compared with earlier defenses.
When to Build It
Build the Small Cannon when enemy units are beginning to survive your earlier defenses. It is a useful middle-ground option because it gives you more firepower without requiring the enormous investment of the later cannons.
If you are close to unlocking a significantly stronger turret, however, consider saving rather than spending all your gold immediately.
4. Explosive Cannon – Excellent Mid-Game Upgrade
The Explosive Cannon costs 6,000 gold and deals 100 damage per shot. It also has shrapnel damage, making it particularly useful against groups.
This is one of the best moments to invest heavily in defense. If the opponent is constantly sending waves toward your base, an Explosive Cannon can provide valuable passive damage while you concentrate on producing units.
The important point is timing. Building one at the right moment can stabilize your defense, but buying it too early can leave you without enough gold for offense.
5. Double Turret – Best Modern-Age Choice
The Double Turret is expensive at 14,000 gold, but its rapid firing rate makes it extremely powerful. Its listed damage is 70 per shot, with a firing rate of about 1.82 shots per second, resulting in roughly 127 DPS in the game's listed statistics.
When to Build It
The Double Turret is best when you have reached the Modern Age and can afford a major defensive investment without slowing your entire economy.
At this stage, enemy units can become much more dangerous, so a turret that fires rapidly can provide consistent protection while your army attacks.
6. LazerCannon – Huge Late-Game Damage
The LazerCannon costs 40,000 gold and has a very high firing rate. Its listed damage is 40 per shot, but it fires four times per second, producing around 160 DPS.
This illustrates an important lesson when comparing turrets: damage per shot does not tell the whole story. Firing speed can make a lower-damage turret far more dangerous over time.
When to Build It
Save for the LazerCannon when your economy is strong and you are approaching the later stages of the game. Avoid spending this much gold if doing so prevents you from producing the units needed to finish the battle.
7. IonRay – The Ultimate Defensive Investment
The IonRay sits at the top of the turret progression. It costs 100,000 gold, has an 800 range, and its listed DPS reaches 240.
It is clearly a late-game investment rather than an early defensive purchase.
When to Build It
Build the IonRay when you have a large economy and expect the battle to continue long enough for the investment to pay off. If you are already close to destroying the enemy base, spending 100,000 gold on defense may be unnecessary.
Turret Comparison
| Turret | Cost | Damage | DPS | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egg Automatic | 200 | 5 | 18 | Early defense |
| Fire Catapult | 750 | 50 | 29 | Groups of enemies |
| Small Cannon | 1,500 | 30 | 17 | Mid-game defense |
| Explosive Cannon | 6,000 | 100 | 57 | Strong waves |
| Double Turret | 14,000 | 70 | 127 | Modern Age |
| LazerCannon | 40,000 | 40 | 160 | Late game |
| IonRay | 100,000 | 60 | 240 | Maximum defense |
The statistics above come from the game's turret data; DPS is particularly useful for comparing weapons with very different firing speeds.
When Should You Spend Gold on Turrets?
The biggest mistake is treating turrets as a replacement for your army. Age of War is still about balancing offense and defense. A turret can hold your base, but your units are what ultimately push toward the enemy and damage their base.
A simple approach is to build an affordable turret when you are struggling to survive, then save for a stronger option as your economy grows. Avoid filling every available slot immediately if doing so delays an important evolution or unit purchase.
Extra turret slots can also be purchased, allowing you to have more than one turret active at a time.
Final Strategy
The best turret depends on the stage of the battle. Egg Automatic is excellent for inexpensive early protection, Fire Catapult handles groups well, and Explosive Cannon provides strong mid-game firepower. In the later ages, Double Turret, LazerCannon, and IonRay become increasingly powerful defensive investments.
The key is not to build the strongest turret as soon as it becomes available. Watch your economy, monitor the enemy's attacks, and spend your gold where it gives you the biggest advantage. A well-timed turret can be the difference between barely surviving an enemy wave and turning that wave into an opportunity to counterattack.
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