I play Artillerist Bombardment a lot, and I’ll say this plainly: it’s a ranged demolition job that rewards smart positioning and timing more than button-mashing. I’ve noticed players who treat it like any other DPS class won’t last long in bosses or high-end raids — you’ve got to think like artillery, not a sword-wielder.
Why focus on Bombardment? Because it turns your character into a consistent source of area damage while letting you stay safe behind the frontline. This doesn’t always work if your team demands close-up pressure or the encounter punishes long cast times, and there are exceptions depending on the fight. Between us, some raid leaders still underrate it — I disagree with them, but that’s controversial!
🎯 Core skills and how to use them
Pick skills that scale with holding mechanics and give large-area coverage. I prioritize abilities that let me set a trap (charge), then detonate when the boss walks into it. That’s why I lean on charging shots and a reliable large-area ultimate.
| Skill | Why use it | Tripod focus |
|---|---|---|
| Napalm Shot | Consistent AOE pressure; good for sustained windows | Damage increase, charge hold, area size |
| Air Raid | Huge zone damage for synchronized burst windows | Long cast boost, quick prep, carpet effect |
| Multiple Rocket Launcher | Burst on bosses; use when target is locked | Rocket pods, concentrated hit, quick prep |
Quick note: I’m not saying these are the only valid picks. Depending on the encounter, swap one out (this depends on your niche).
⚙️ Stats, engravings and the why behind them
Specialization increases damage and often shortens cooldowns, which directly raises your sustained output. I aim for high Spec before stacking Crit, because Bombardment needs reliable damage windows more than inconsistent crit spikes. That said, a Crit floor (around 500–700 on modern gear) helps your burst feel cleaner — I’ve tested this in training grounds.
Engraving priority (example):
1) Firepower Enhancement Lv.3
2) Grudge Lv.3
3) Cursed Doll Lv.3
4) Keen Blunt Weapon Lv.3
5) Hit Master Lv.1–3
Why these? Firepower multiplies your core damage. Grudge and Cursed Doll give large raw increases but punish mistakes; if you die, they hurt you more. That trade-off is why I say: don’t chase numbers at the expense of positioning.
đź’Ą Rotation, combos and timing
Start at max range, force bosses to move into your zones. Howitzer or similar opener sets dots and reveals movement; follow with Rocket Launcher to exploit the forced position; then layer Napalm and finish with Air Raid during the big window. Sounds simple — is it? Not always. Will it work if you panic? No.
- Howitzer (set, observe)
- Multiple Rocket Launcher (burst)
- Napalm Shot (sustain)
- Air Raid (big window)
Animation cancelling helps. Practice the timing (in my experience it takes dozens of reps). Watch this: cancel one cast by immediately tapping another skill and you’ll cut downtime — that’s how you keep steady pressure.
🛡️ Staying alive without losing DPS
Distance and map awareness are your shields. Learn boss tells and pre-position before they swing. Use Energy Shield and mobility tools proactively — it’s fine to waste a cooldown if it saves a wipe. Honestly, using a defensive early is better than feeding the boss a free kill.
Escape plan: always have a short route to safety and don’t rely solely on teammates. Leap Attack and Buckshot are both mobility and reposition tools; treat them like life insurance. I’ve lost many runs by sitting on cooldowns. Don’t do that!
đź“Š Gear and accessory choices
The gear meta as of November 26, 2025 favors Specialization-heavy pieces for Bombardment in most endgame content, but your accessories should balance Spec and Crit. Don’t chase high item level if the stats are wrong (many make that mistake). Choose weapons with solid base power first, then engravings that match your build.
| Slot | Primary | Secondary | Typical engraving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neck | Specialization | Crit | Firepower, Grudge |
| Earring | Specialization | – | Cursed Doll / Keen Blunt |
| Ring | Crit | – | +3 Combat engravings |
🔥 Advanced positioning and team play
Predictive positioning wins fights. Don’t follow the boss; lead it into your damage. I treat positioning like planning artillery fire: you aim where it will be, not where it is now (like aiming a lighthouse ahead of a ship). That metaphor works, right?
- Corner the boss to limit angles.
- Use high ground to extend skill coverage.
- Pick exit routes before the phase starts.
“If you die trying to squeeze another percent of DPS from a bad angle, you’ll cost the raid more than you gained.” — Advice I repeat to my raid team
Team coordination matters. Tell supports when your big window is coming. Ask tanks to hold the boss steady for your Air Raid. Some groups will refuse or mock this; frankly, that’s short-sighted — and controversial, yes.
Extra tips, oddities and a counterintuitive idea
Oddly enough, a small investment in Swiftness can increase your uptime more than chasing another 100 Spec in situations with tight repositioning. Try it (on a day you can test).
Counterintuitive insight: sometimes lowering your cast speed to keep a charged, high-damage form is better than maxing everything for instant casts — the longer cast yields monstrous windows when coordinated.
// Quick macro-like reminder (not actual macro)
StartCast(Howitzer);
When(HowitzerLand) Cast(MultiRocketLauncher);
Charge(NapalmShot) -> Release during AirRaidWindow;
Keep(EnergyShield) ready;
There are exceptions. Some arenas and PvP maps make Bombardment weak (it won’t work the way you expect). If you’re forced into that mode, you’ll need to adapt or swap specs. That’s reality.
Finally, practice deliberately. I found the biggest improvement between March and June 2025 came from discipline: timing, not gear. If you take one thing away, let it be this — learn the tells, practice the timing, and don’t be afraid to change a tripod or screw up once while you learn. It’s messy; that’s okay.
Want a short checklist? Here’s something quick: keep range, charge intentionally, coordinate windows, and use defensives early. Got questions? Ask me — I’ll tell you straight, and I’ll admit when I’m wrong (it happens!).
