OSRS Cannon Placement Guide: Maximizing Your DPS & XP Rates

The Dwarf Multicannon is one of the most powerful tools in an efficient Old School RuneScape player's arsenal. When used correctly, it dramatically accelerates Slayer tasks and provides some of the best passive Ranged experience in the game. However, simply dropping your cannon anywhere won't cut it.

Effective cannoning hinges on one key principle: optimal placement. This guide will teach you the core strategies behind placing your cannon to maximize its effectiveness in any situation.

How the Dwarf Cannon Works

Before diving into placement, you need to understand the cannon's mechanics:

  • Rotation and Firing: The cannon rotates 360 degrees, firing at any target that comes within its 9-tile attack radius.
  • Line of Sight: The cannon must have a clear line of sight to a target to fire. Obstacles like walls, pillars, and rocks will block its shots.
  • Accuracy: The cannon's accuracy is not based on your Ranged level. Instead, it's calculated based on your equipped gear's attack bonus. Always wear your best-in-slot gear (for any style) to improve the cannon's hit chance.
  • Multi-Combat vs. Single-Way Combat: The cannon hits all targets in a multi-combat zone but will only hit one target at a time in a single-way combat zone.

The Golden Rule of Cannon Placement

The single most important factor is placing the cannon's base tile in a spot where it can see the maximum number of monster spawn points. Every tile you move can change which monsters are in the cannon's line of sight. The goal is to find the one "sweet spot" that covers the most ground.

Strategy 1: Multi-Combat "Center Point" Domination

In multi-combat areas, the strategy is straightforward: find the geographical center of the monster spawns.

  • Objective: To have the cannon constantly firing as monsters respawn around it.
  • Placement: Place the cannon on a tile that is equidistant from the main monster spawns. In enclosed rooms, this is often the literal center tile.
  • Examples:
    • Dagannoths (Kourend Catacombs): There is a well-known central tile that allows the cannon to hit nearly every Dagannoth in the chamber.
    • Smoke Devils (Smoke Devil Dungeon): Placing the cannon in the middle of the room ensures it tags devils as soon as they spawn.
    • Kalphites (Kalphite Cave): A central placement here allows you to aggro and damage multiple Kalphites simultaneously.

When using this method, your role is to stand near the cannon and finish off any monsters it tags, maximizing both your own and the cannon's DPS.

Strategy 2: Single-Way Combat "Tag and Brag"

In single-way combat, the cannon's role changes. It's no longer about area denial but about acting as your personal aggro machine.

  • Objective: To have the cannon "tag" new monster spawns for you, drawing their aggression so you don't have to run around.
  • Placement: Position the cannon in a spot where it can see and hit monsters that are outside your immediate reach. You then stand in a safespot or a central location to kill the monsters as they run toward you.
  • Examples:
    • Lighthouse Dagannoths: Players often place the cannon on the shoreline to tag the Dagannoths, then stand on a specific safespot tile to kill them one by one as they approach.
    • Trolls: Place the cannon in an open area to pull trolls from various spawn points towards your location.

This method significantly reduces downtime between kills, making single-way combat Slayer tasks much faster.

Advanced Tip: Using Monster Size

Remember to account for the size of the monster. A 1x1 monster like a Kalphite Worker can be targeted on its standing tile. A larger 2x2 or 3x3 monster can be targeted on any of the tiles it occupies. This can sometimes open up new, creative placement opportunities to hit a boss or larger monster from an unexpected angle.

Conclusion

Mastering cannon placement is a hallmark of an efficient player. It turns an already great item into a DPS-multiplying machine that saves you countless hours on your journey to 99 Slayer and beyond. Before starting any cannonable task, take a moment to survey the area, identify the spawn points, and find that perfect tile. The extra cannonballs you spend will be more than worth the time you save.

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