The Brigand Cannon in Darkest Dungeon is a formidable foe, notorious for its devastating “BOOOOOM!!” attack. This guide will provide you with the essential tactics to dismantle this threat and ensure your party’s survival. Understanding the Cannon’s mechanics and prioritizing the right targets are key to overcoming this encounter. Let’s delve into how to effectively silence the explosive threat of the Brigand Cannon.
Understanding the Cannon and Brigand Matchman
The Cannon itself is a stationary, heavily armored enemy, but its true danger lies in its synergy with the Brigand Matchman. The core mechanic to understand is: if the Brigand Matchman is alive and uses “Fire in the Hole!”, the Cannon will unleash its “BOOOOOOOM!!” attack at the end of the round. This attack deals massive damage to your entire party, making the Matchman your primary target.
Abilities and Attacks
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BOOOOOOOOM!!: This is the Cannon’s signature move. Triggered by the Brigand Matchman, it deals incredibly high damage to all heroes at the end of the combat round.
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Reinforcements: At the start of each round, the Cannon automatically summons a Brigand Matchman. If there are empty enemy slots, it will also summon additional Brigands to fill the ranks.
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Brigand Matchman:
- Fire in the Hole!: This ability is the linchpin of the Cannon’s offense. When used by the Brigand Matchman, it sets up the Cannon to fire its “BOOOOOM!!” attack at the end of the round.
The Brigand Cannon in Darkest Dungeon, highlighting the Brigand Matchman who ignites the devastating 'BOOOOOM!!' attack.
Battle Tactics: Prioritize the Matchman
The strategy to defeat the Brigand Cannon is straightforward: eliminate the Brigand Matchman every turn. If you can consistently take out the Matchman, the Cannon becomes significantly less threatening. The Matchman is relatively weak and lacks special defenses, making him vulnerable to most attacks.
Focusing Fire
- High Priority Target: The Brigand Matchman should be your absolute priority. Even if other Brigands are causing damage, neutralizing the Matchman prevents the devastating “BOOOOOM!!”
- Vulnerability: Exploit the Matchman’s lack of defenses. Heroes with high damage, long-range attacks like the Arbalest are particularly effective at one-shotting him.
- Speed Advantage: The Brigand Matchman is incredibly slow and always acts last in the round. This gives you up to four hero turns to eliminate him before he can trigger “Fire in the Hole!”.
Defensive Considerations
- Cannon’s Immunity: The Cannon is almost entirely immune to debuffs, including Bleed and Blight. Don’t waste your debuff abilities on it. It is also highly resistant to damage in general.
- Brigand Vulnerability: The Brigands accompanying the Cannon are susceptible to most effects, including Mark. However, it’s generally more efficient to focus your Marks and damage on the Matchman or the Cannon itself to speed up the fight.
Advanced Tactics
- Stunning the Matchman: If your damage output is lacking or RNG is not in your favor, consider stunning the Brigand Matchman. Heroes like the Plague Doctor or Abomination (in human form) can reliably stun from a distance, delaying the “BOOOOOM!!”
- Marking the Cannon: To damage the Cannon itself, you’ll need to overcome its high Protection (PROT). Marking the Cannon, especially with a PROT-reducing Mark like the Bounty Hunter’s, can significantly increase your damage output against it.
- Reinforcement Management: While the Cannon summons reinforcements, focusing on the Matchman and the Cannon itself is usually more effective than trying to control the Brigand adds. If you are lucky, the Cannon might summon weaker Brigands, making them less of a threat.
Conclusion: Cannon is a Pushover with the Right Strategy
The Brigand Cannon in the Weald region of Darkest Dungeon is often considered one of the easier boss encounters, provided you consistently eliminate or stun the Brigand Matchman. By prioritizing the Matchman and understanding the Cannon’s mechanics, you can effectively silence the “BOOOOOM!!” and claim victory with minimal risk to your party. Focus your damage, control the Matchman, and the Cannon will fall.
