Operating Siege Engines
Right-click an available movable machine with an empty hand to take its operating position.
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Move forward or backward |
W / S
|
| Steer |
A / D
|
| Look around without changing aim | Hold Free Look (Left Alt by default) |
| Dismount | Shift |
Camera direction controls the aim on weapons that can traverse or elevate. Free Look temporarily separates the camera from the machine.
| Harnessed mount | Towed machines |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Many wheeled machines can attach a compatible draft mount for towing.
- Tame the mount and saddle it where the animal supports saddles.
- Put it on a lead and bring it near the machine.
- Right-click the machine with the lead to hitch it.
- Right-click the machine again to mount the attached animal, then use the movement controls.
Right-click with a lead to detach the mount and return the lead to your hand. Shears detach it and drop the lead beside the machine. A machine whose configured towing speed or turn rate is zero can still be hitched. It remains stationary while hitched.
Artillery is loaded one stage at a time. Right-click with the item requested by the action bar and remain within nine blocks until the progress completes. Keep the required item in the same hand.
- Consumable ammunition and powder are removed when their stage completes.
- Ramrods and flint and steel lose durability instead of being consumed.
- Only one person can perform a loading stage at a time.
- Completed stages are retained if a later stage is interrupted.
- The operator can continue loading supported artillery while mounted.
The tower crossbow, arcballista, mangonel and trebuchet wind automatically after ammunition is loaded. When winding is complete, sneak-right-click the machine with an empty hand to cycle its tension from 20% to 110%. Tension multiplies launch speed, changing range and kinetic energy.
By default, siege engines accept damage from axes, vindicators, explosions and direct hits from Siegeworks bolts and rockets. Friendly-fire rules also apply to projectiles and team-owned machines.
Server owners can change accepted damage sources and projectile behavior through data packs; see Data Pack Reference.