A cannon is a mechanism that uses TNT to launch TNT or other Entities. The usefulness in SSP is limited because most cannons can only fire in one direction, making the cannon obsolete once the target is destroyed.
Basic Concepts
A cannon is made using two sets of TNT: The Charge and the Shot.
- The Charge is a large amount of TNT used to propel the Shot.
- The Charge is housed in a fluid to stop it from destroying the cannon.
- The Charge is activated first, and the Shot is activated before the Charge explodes. It is important not to activate the Shot at the same time as the Charge, or the cannon will explode.
- Redstone is used to activate each block of TNT in the Charge simultaneously.
- The Shot is often held slightly above the Charge to alter its trajectory.
Building materials
Most people choose to make cannons out of stone or cobblestone due to its availability, but you can make it out of any solid (preferably gravity resistant) block, such as Dirt, Wood or even Diamond. You can use TNT resistant Obsidian to make a 'dry cannon' which doesn't require water to remain intact between shots, but it is extremely difficult to correct problems if you place a block wrong in the construction phase.
Cannon Sizes and Common Features
An example of a super large cannon
When players discuss cannon size, they usually refer to the Charge size. Larger cannons have a larger charge which usually makes them fire further.
Players also like to add features to their cannons including:
- Multiple shots [1]
- Semi-automatic firing and reloading (Not possible in 1.1, unknown version possible)
- Charge Booster (Another piece of TNT that explodes, pushing the Charge towards the front of the cannon to concentrate the blast.)
- Safety features
- Adjustable Shot Delay, which changes when the Shot is activated.
- Alternative Ammo [2]
Limitations
- Cannon power is limited by the number of TNT blocks in the charge and their distance from the shot being propelled. Too many TNT blocks detonating at once will cause an out of memory error and crash the game. With the standard 1.2 GB of memory allocated to Minecraft, the limit is near 500 blocks of TNT.
- Range is limited by the speed the shot leaves the cannon and the fuse delay on the shot. The maximum fuse delay is 4 seconds, which is the time from charge activation to charge detonation. This means that the shot can fly for a maximum of 4 seconds before detonating. This limit does not apply to shots that don't need to be activated, such as minecarts.
Following the 1.0 Minecraft release, making the practically appealing TNT Cannons is now more difficult, since activated TNT entity is no longer affected by water current, thus the propelling power of TNT blocks used as fuse cannot be condensed effectively by that means. However, if a 3rd set of TNT is used, a single TNT block activated slightly before the main charge, can condense the charge. This 3rd set would need to be place far enough away to not affect the TNT block to be launched.
One-Button Middle Range Cannon
The following is a simple cannon that covers automatic delay. Please see this video tutorial if you need additional help [3].
Materials
- Base Material: (all solid blocks can be used)
- 1x Water Bucket
- 6x Redstone Dust
- 2x Redstone Torch
- 4x Redstone Repeater
- 1x Stone Button
Building the Cannon
First build the base of the cannon
Then fill it with water on one side
Build two blocks like on the picture
Place the button
Place the redstone wires on one side
On the other side, place a redstone torch and four repeaters on highest delay
At the front place another block with a torch on the side
load the cannon like this...
...and finish
Condenser Charge
An example cannon with a Condenser Charge.
The concept of a Condenser Charge is to push the Main Charge closer to the soon to be projectile TNT. To do this the Condenser Charge must be activated slightly before the Main Charge. This will cause the Main Charge to be shot forward towards the projectile TNT. However the Condenser Charge must be far enough away from projectile TNT to not prematurely fire the cannon. Not doing so would result in a shot with far less range. Because of this, Condenser Charges should only be used on Mid to Larger size cannons.
Chaos Cannon
This is a type of cannon where the charge ignites the shot- redstone does not ignite the shot. It is relatively easy to make- place TNT in a line, on some sort of block that is floating in the air, then place TNT in front of the first line. Hook up the first line with redstone, then power the redstone. NOTE: Destroys cannon after use. Pros:Cannon causes mass devastation,Relatively easy to build,Little redstone required,Does not have to be "fine-tuned". Cons:1-use,Requires large amounts of TNT,Short range
Because of the large amount of TNT required, this would be mostly used creation of adventure/survival maps, or in Creative Mode.
Credit goes to EthosLab [4]
Railgun
The railgun has big damage and has a rail of explosion. It has a short to mid range shot. The railgun does not need any mod to work.
How to build the railgun:
- Make a structure that has a 6x3x3 and put a hole in the front of the cannon until you reach the end, then cover the end with a block.
- After placing the block at the other end, put a water source to it, then at the other side put a cone shape to catch the water so it will not flood. The front of the railgun and the cone must be made-up of obsidsian so it will be not destroyed by the rail beam. Then put 5 pressure plates starting at the front.
- Lastly put 5 TNT inside, to activate the railgun just walk or run through the 5 pressure plates and go away so you don't get any damage form the beam.
NOTE: At first the first TNT is hard to place because of it is little far, also you can put glowstone at the side so you can see inside. You can also put stairs so after you activate the railgun you can get away safely...
It has different results due to the activation.
Waterless Cannon
Most TNT cannons require water to fire them safely, but if made of blast-resistant materials, and if the priming redstone for the TNT is several blocks above the firing chamber (Five blocks above the chamber is a good place to start out). Waterless TNT cannons fire farther because there is no water to absorb the explosion shock.
Shot Mounting Blocks
The shot mounting block alters the height of the Shot over the trough (hence explosion apex) once primed. Adjusting this height will affect the shot's angle and height trajectory when fired out. Players can use a mounting block to attain a desired flight path and range for their cannon. Generally, the higher the Shot is elevated by the mounting block, the higher the angle of fire but the lower the velocity.
The following are ones tested and deemed safe. Some blocks, such as a pressure plate, can result in the catastrophic failure of the cannon when used as shot mounting blocks.
- No Mounting Block
No Mounting Block
Pros: Highest velocity, simple, scalable
Cons: poor range in smaller cannons, downward trajectory, line-of-sight only
When no mounting block is used, the Shot is either allow to fall onto the water trough or is place on the trough directly. the Shot will fire out completely horizontal, or 0°. Gravity will quickly pulled the Shot to the ground, giving a very flat, downwards trajectory.
With small TNT charges, the range can be extremely limited. To increase the range, ever larger charges are needed or the cannon must be built higher above the ground. A larger charge means a higher velocity to the Shot, pushing the Shot farther away before it drops to the ground.
Players have been known to use up to 70 TNT charges and beyond. But economically, a cannon without a mounting block will take more TNT and longer to load for a certain range.
- Single Block
Single solid mounting block
Pros: Higher firing angle, can lob shots
Cons: Low velocity, reduced power and extremely poor range for smaller cannons
A single full size block such as cobblestone or obsidian is placed under the Shot. This has the effect of elevating the Shot above the water trough, so the blast force from the Charge is applied not just forward, but upwards. The shot is fired out at a high angle and trajectory. This is useful for hitting a elevated target, or one behind terrain or obstruction.
However, part of the blast force is absorbed by a solid mounting block, so the cannon will suffer similar problems of needing large charge sizes. Also, since some of the energy is expelled in the upwards direction, forward shot velocity is reduced greatly.
A better alternative to the single mounting block is using a Ladder instead.
- Half Block
Stone Slab used as a half block mounting
Pros: Smooth trajectory (not too high, not too low), average velocity, more efficient for small and medium cannons
Cons: Slightly reduced power, not best for either straight OR lobe shots, fuse range limit*
A half block is the compromise between a single block and no mounting, and generally more efficient than either. More of a cannon's blast force is directed forward, but there is still an upward vector that raises the angle of fire to roughly 30°. As with a single block, some of the blast energy is absorbed by the block, but much less. From the same TNT load, the half block has greater range than a single block or no block.
When the TNT Shot is initially placed over a half block, it will hang over the half block as if it was a full size block. Once the TNT has been "primed", it will fall down and sit on the true height of the half block.
The firing angle produced by a half block is good for extending the range of a cannon and hitting elevated targets, but its too low for effective lobbing over high walls and obstacles. For straight direct firing, shots fired with a half block mounting generally land level on the ground within a certain range. However, due to the limited fuse time of TNT in the game, scaling up the TNT charges up to a point will result in the shot flying too high and exploding in the air before it lands or reach the cannon's maximum range. This will be refer to as the "fuse range limit*". All cannons are limited by the fuse range limit, but cannons firing at higher angles are especially prone to the fuse limit, as the shot velocity is lower and shots reach higher altitudes.
- Trap Door
Trapdoor used as a mounting block
Pros: (closed) Optimized for flat trajectory, velocity almost the same as no-block, (opened) can be used in open position for higher firing angle, good scaling
Cons: Be sure that priming circuit doesn't activate the trapdoor by accident.
If the firing angle of the half block is too high for your purpose, a closed Trapdoor can be used instead. Like the half block, it provides some upward force to the shot by elevating it above the trough. A trapdoor, however, is only half the height of a half block. Firing angle is roughly 15-20°, making it extremely effective for straight shots at very long range (+180 block).
Little forward velocity is lost when firing, and shot typically fly out at very high speeds. This combine with the low firing angle means cannons firing larger loads can extend their range without encountering too much fuse range problems as with the half block or ladder mounting.
NOTE: Be sure that your priming circuit for the Shot doesn't activate the trapdoor, or open/closed the Trapdoor beforehand. (inapplicable as of 1.1)
Ladder/Iron Bars/Glass Pane
Ladder mounting block
Shot mounting with two ladders
NOTE: As of 1.1, the removal of the collision box for Ladders means they will not support falling TNT anymore. But they can be replaced with Iron Bars or Glass Pane blocks for the same effect.
Pros: Efficient with small and medium cannons, High firing angle, parabolic trajectory, good for lobbing shots and high altitude
Cons: Low velocity, poor scaling, limited range at ±120 blocks
A Ladder placed on the side can serve as a very effective mounting block for firing at high angles and lobbing shots. A primed Shot will be supported by the edge thickness of the ladder, preventing it from falling into the trough. Because a Ladder is not a full size block, none of the energy from the blast is absorbed, and the shot is propelled out at full force. By adding ladders above each other, different firing angles can be achieved. Typically, a single ladder will give an angle just higher than a half block, roughly 40°-45°. Two ladders will give an extremely parabolic flight, shots fly out at about 50°-60°.
A good portion of the blast energy directed upwards on the block, so shot velocities are generally much slower than a no-mount or half block mount cannon. In return, a cannon have no problem lobbing shots over terrain and walls. At larger charge loads, shots can reach very high altitudes.
However, this also means the fuse range limit is a inherent problem with this mounting. Within a 100 block distance, well built cannons level with the ground can expect to land shots low enough to cause damage. But beyond this shots explode midair way beforehand, even with a shot primed at maximum fuse time with a delay circuit. Hence, one can't simply add more TNT to increase the range, as it will only make the shot fly higher. A basic solution is to put the cannon below ground, in a pit with a slanted slope to allow the shot to fly out. Since the shot had a lower starting point, it will explode closer to the ground once its fuse time runs out. To reach ranges beyond 150 blocks, this solution becomes impractical.
Video examples
- Mortar High Angle Shot using a ladder mounting block.
- Compact The Shot is primed by hand, which must now be done with flint and steel.
- Superlarge Cannon Firing other Entities.
Trivia
- Cannons can launch any entity, including mobs, sand, gravel, or players. Sand and gravel can be used to mark the landing spot (assuming it doesn't despawn mid-flight).
- Cannons are ineffective against water based defenses since TNT doesn't destroy any blocks when submerged.
- Cannons are follow the South-West quirk and fire further when facing South or West. [5]