Wanderburg Side Cannons Guide

Overview

Side Cannons are a foundational module in Wanderburg that fires projectiles from the fortress flanks. Available from the start of a run, they auto-fire while you steer, making route planning more important than manual gun management. Side Cannons form the basis of the Cannon archetype, a recognized build family for burst damage against fortresses, though their weight imposes mobility costs that require careful chassis management.

Side Cannons Overview and Upgrades

Side Cannons are one of the modules available immediately without unlocking. They shoot cannons from the sides of your fortress, providing lateral coverage as you traverse sectors. Modules auto-fire while you steer, so side batteries reward planning the route rather than micromanaging the guns during combat.

Upgrading Side Cannons unlocks the **Frontcannon**, a module described as a powerful long-range cannon. This upgrade path allows players to expand their offensive reach after investing in the side-mounted base.

Side Cannons are distinct from the **Side Ballista**, a separate module that fires giant arrows and requires 1200 Silver to unlock. While Side Ballista is part of the strongest tested core for side-mounted pressure, Side Cannons serve a different role within the Cannon archetype family.

Positioning and Steering Mechanics

Wanderburg uses physics-first steering, which directly impacts how side weapons perform. Side arcs punish flanking enemies only if you steer the angle; positioning is a skill rather than a stat. You must actively maneuver the fortress to present the correct side to targets, as the cannons cannot independently track enemies outside their firing arc.

This mechanic means side placements let damage continue from several angles while the castle moves. Effective builds use side-mounted pressure to keep firing while the castle advances toward the next safe position, maintaining damage output without stopping momentum.

Side Cannons also feature an active ability. Gameplay demonstrations show players pressing **E** to trigger a side cannon ability, adding a burst option to the auto-fire behavior.

Cannon Archetype and Synergies

Cannon lines are a recognized archetype family for vs-fortress burst, standing alongside Archer and Mine/Mortar builds. This archetype focuses on high-impact damage to destroy enemy structures and heavy units.

**Weight and Mobility Trade-offs** Weight is the primary trade-off for side batteries. Heavier side cannons cost mobility, and early sectors reward suspension over armor. Players must balance the damage output of upgraded side cannons against the need to maintain maneuverability, especially when the castle expands and gaps become narrower.

**Observed Build Combinations** One gameplay demonstration highlights a Pirate Captain build where all cannons deal 100% extra damage, though the streamer notes that enemies also take increased damage and reports self-damage risks. This run utilized the **Magma Core** artifact, which causes cannonballs to leave a fire crater when hitting the ground. The streamer observed fire craters dealing significant damage but also mentioned burning the castle, suggesting caution with fire synergies.

In mid-to-late game scenarios, some players transition from Side Cannons to Mortars for area control while retaining cannons for specific burst windows.

Unlocking and Module Availability

Side Cannons are available from the start, making them accessible for every run. Players can experiment with Cannon builds immediately while saving resources for other unlocks.

The Steam community discusses module availability as patches land, with players comparing unlocked options to refine preferred setups. Some players report preferring specific combinations like Pirate Captain, Fire Mage, Side Cannons, and Ram, noting that once modules are unlocked, they may appear randomly during gameplay unless managed with swap functions.

Cannons are central to the game's identity, with official marketing emphasizing upgrading cannons to eat villages and outrun giant war machines. This reinforces the importance of mastering side-mounted firepower for long-term progression.