Foxhole Artillery Guide 2026 — How to Use and Counter Artillery

Artillery is Foxhole’s ultimate force multiplier. A well-coordinated artillery battery can destroy a fortified bunker base in minutes. A poorly-coordinated one wastes hundreds of shells and achieves nothing. This guide covers how to use artillery effectively and how to survive it.

Note: Verified as of July 2026. Check official patch notes for updates.

Artillery Crew Roles

A minimum artillery crew is 3 people. 5+ is ideal.

Role	Count	Responsibility
Gunner	1 per gun	Loads and fires the gun
Spotter	1	Binoculars, calls out targets and corrections
Loader	1-2	Moves shells from pallet to gun
Logi	1	Brings more shells from the backline
Security	2+	Protects the gun from partisans

How to Aim Artillery

Artillery uses an azimuth (compass bearing, 0-360°) and distance (metres) system. The spotter calculates these values and calls them to the gunner.

Spotting workflow:

1. Spotter finds a target using binoculars
2. Spotter calculates azimuth and distance from the gun to the target (use the map grid or a third-party artillery calculator)
3. Spotter calls “Azimuth 045, Distance 150 metres, Fire for Effect”
4. Gunner adjusts the gun using mouse wheel (azimuth) and the distance dial
5. Gunner fires. Spotter watches the shell impact.
6. Spotter calls corrections: “Add 20 metres, left 5 degrees”
7. Repeat until shells land on target, then call “Fire for Effect — 10 rounds”

Critical: The spotter must have direct line of sight to the target. Binoculars extend view range. The spotter is the most important person in the artillery team — a bad spotter wastes every shell.

Artillery Types

Gun	Calibre	Range	Damage	Best Use
Field Artillery	120mm	150-300m	Medium	General purpose
Field Mortar	80mm	80-180m	Low	Infantry support
Heavy Artillery	150mm	200-350m	High	Bunker destruction
Storm Cannon	300mm	400-1,000m	Extreme	Strategic targets (requires power, facility)
Rocket Artillery	—	150-250m	Medium (AoE)	Suppression, area denial

Shell Types

Shell	Effect	Best Against
HE (High Explosive)	Splash damage, destroys structures	Bunkers, trenches, infantry groups
Shrapnel	Infantry-only damage, larger radius	Infantry formations. Does nothing to structures.
Smoke	Obscures vision	Covering advances, retreats
Flare	Illuminates area at night	Night operations

Counter-Battery: Destroying Enemy Artillery

When enemy artillery fires, you can locate them:

1. Watch for shell tracers (the arc of the shell in flight). Trace it back to the source.
2. Use a spotter in a high position to look for muzzle flashes.
3. Deploy your own artillery (or a Howitzer Garrison) to fire on the enemy gun’s position.

Howitzer Garrisons automate counter-battery. They detect incoming artillery shells and fire back at the originating position. Build these on every front-line bunker.

Surviving Artillery as Infantry

• Move immediately. The first shell tells the enemy where you are. They will fire more. Do not stay in the same position.
• Get inside. Bunkers and garrison houses (Town Halls, Safe Houses) provide overhead cover. Shells hit the roof instead of you.
• Lie down. Prone infantry take less splash damage.
• Spread out. Artillery punishes clustering. Stay 10+ metres apart.
• Push toward the guns. The safest place from artillery is under the artillery — the guns cannot depress enough to hit targets directly in front of them.

Summary

Artillery needs a spotter with binoculars. Use HE for structures, shrapnel for infantry. Build Howitzer Garrisons for automated counter-battery. When under fire: move immediately, get inside, lie down, spread out. A well-supplied artillery battery can break any defence — but only with good spotting.

Related Guides

• Foxhole Beginner Guide 2026
• Foxhole Logistics Guide 2026